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Garfish · 08-01-2020, 07:58 PM

I like to start early

Bubba L · 08-01-2020, 08:47 PM

We do the same thing. Hook up the day before, pull the trailer to the house, plug it in for the fridge, load up and forget about it until 5:00am the next morning. It’s a comfort to take your time packing and preparing for a trip.

Garfish · 08-01-2020, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubba L

We do the same thing. Hook up the day before, pull the trailer to the house, plug it in for the fridge, load up and forget about it until 5:00am the next morning. It’s a comfort to take your time packing and preparing for a trip.

Exactly

rmkrum · 08-01-2020, 09:07 PM

Exactly what we do. Start refrigerator on propane a day or so before we load, load the list a day or two early, then hook up and park in the street ready to head out.

Since we seem to make three passes past the house to get stuff or check that we closed the garage door we never get underway that early. And, being semi-retired, there is no need to rush. We generally run a very loose schedule nowadays. If it takes 3-4 days to get there, we schedule a week or more.

Worked well on our DisneyWorld trip last year. We dodged a hurricane and still managed an extra day in the hotel and parks. Did take 45 minutes on the phone to make it happen, though. Was a lot of fun.

mikeinca · 08-01-2020, 09:11 PM

Yes. There's plenty of other last minute stuff to take care of so I take my time with all the check points for the truck and trailer and hook up the afternoon before. That doesn't mean that I still don't walk around the rig several times right before we leave to make sure everything is in order!

rmkrum · 08-01-2020, 09:21 PM

Yup. Any time we launch, it’s three walking trips all the way around the full rig, TV and Airstream looking low, middle height and up high while working the checklist to be sure stuff is properly stowed, locked, latched, hitched, unlocked, and connected as applicable.

Do the exact same at fuel stops as well. Paranoia and checklists tend to keep you out of trouble.

Bubba L · 08-01-2020, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Yup. Any time we launch, it’s three walking trips all the way around the full rig, TV and Airstream looking low, middle height and up high while working the checklist to be sure stuff is properly stowed, locked, latched, hitched, unlocked, and connected as applicable.

Do the exact same at fuel stops as well. Paranoia and checklists tend to keep you out of trouble.

Agree on the paranoia and checklists. I like to leave the house knowing we have covered all the safety bases and packing lists. After all the pre-prep we can head out and have fun rather than worrying.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 08-02-2020, 01:29 AM

Hi, while living in the Los Angelus area, we would leave home at 4:00 AM to beat the I-5 parking lot.

Bill M. · 08-02-2020, 06:32 AM

I do not like to "start early". But I still hook up the day before. That lends a little sense of finality to the last minute details.

ROBERT CROSS · 08-02-2020, 06:34 AM

I married my checklist...Streaming 34yrs, SFSG.

One rule that works...If you think of it, YOU do it.
Ask..."did you-----?", and then do it.
Then both of you will know it's been done.

Bob
🇺🇸

urnmor · 08-02-2020, 07:01 AM

Have a list and check off as you go along. OH an start making the list early to be sure all things are covered.

centennialman · 08-02-2020, 07:02 AM

For those of you that hook up the day/night before, do you hitch up and lower the jack foot or just leave it hooked up? Also, do you wait until just before departure to attach the electrical umbilical?

SeaLevel · 08-02-2020, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centennialman

For those of you that hook up the day/night before, do you hitch up and lower the jack foot or just leave it hooked up? Also, do you wait until just before departure to attach the electrical umbilical?

While we are hooked up and loading the trailer, I lower the jack foot just enough to take some weight off the rear suspension of the truck, and I now wait until we're ready to leave to plug in the umbilical cord, because otherwise my new truck will flash the trailer lights every 7 seconds or so.

Mollysdad · 08-02-2020, 08:35 AM

I'm at a storage yard, but with power. So two days before I turn on the fridge, and one ac unit. I also check the tires and air up any that need it.
One day before I pack some clothes and groceries. (No matter how much clothes are in the locker, it seems I bring more and only use 1/3 of them.)
I remove the wheel chocks (I'm on level concrete and under cover.)
Then, on departure day, I store the power cord, and hook up and go.
It still seems stressful for the first 5 miles. Then it's like riding a bike, "Hey this is fun again!"

dmslawson · 08-02-2020, 08:51 AM

1) We’re 72 years old and moving the Airsafe/Equalizer hitch into position (with a custom hand truck dolly—see attached photo) plus loading the truck and trailer with clothes, food, and camping accessories takes a lot of effort. And I cycle 20 miles a day 3 times a week—so I’m doing my best to ease into retirement!
Thus, after a good nite’s sleep at home, we have plenty of time to carefully go thru our checklist (for a second day while clear-headed and not under time pressure) in the morning before departure.
BTW, we’re lucky enough to have our rig stored on our property with pedestal connections (attached photo.)
2) It’s reassuring to have all the electrical and mechanical connections, tire pressures, lug nut torque-ing, etc. completed a day ahead (with no last-minute surprises). Lastly, having added—in the last year, rear axle airbags on the 3/4 ton TV, we can raise the tongue jack the nite before, but we leave the 50amp umbilical cord to the pedestal attached until “lift off” to keep the fridge cold.

**moosetags** · 08-02-2020, 09:30 AM

We are not early birds. The crack of noon is our departure target. We don't hook up the night before as this would leave our tow vehicle slightly out in the alley.

Brian

PB_NB · 08-02-2020, 09:52 AM

I took a pic of this checklist from: Airstream "The History of the Land Yacht".

I like #4, #23 and #27

Looks like this was copyright in 1967.

The instructions also tell you to throw this away! I can only imagine all the litter at the parks!

Ultraclassic · 08-02-2020, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centennialman

For those of you that hook up the day/night before, do you hitch up and lower the jack foot or just leave it hooked up? Also, do you wait until just before departure to attach the electrical umbilical?

Ok I will take this one.

If your hooked and ready to go, have everything hooked up.

As for the jack it is not needed down, unless you have crazy slope while parked.

As for the cord see above

mikeinca · 08-02-2020, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centennialman

For those of you that hook up the day/night before, do you hitch up and lower the jack foot or just leave it hooked up? Also, do you wait until just before departure to attach the electrical umbilical?

Jack foot lifted the afternoon/evening before when everything is hitched with sway bars installed, etc. Since the trailer is still plugged in to shore power at the house until we leave, I wait do the electrical hook up for the 7 pin connector and TPMS until the next morning.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 08-02-2020, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centennialman

For those of you that hook up the day/night before, do you hitch up and lower the jack foot or just leave it hooked up? Also, do you wait until just before departure to attach the electrical umbilical?

Hi, I have everything ready for the road. Jack up and shore power disconnected. I sure would hate to drive off with the jack down and / or my shore power cord connected.