Getting Underway - the Long Story

When we leave a campsite and whether we go 100 yards or 500 miles, there are certain things we have to do - like stowing things and putting them away so we can close the slides.  And we don't items won't fall off shelves or the desk.  We 'Batten Down the Hatches' which in our case means securing the cupboards and the things in the refrigerator.  Plus we do other things outside.

Here is a look at what we do:
We have to move everything from the middle of the floor and off the counter tops throughout the coach.

The pillows from the couch are use to cushion the bedroom TV which is placed face down on the bed and wrapped in the comforter.  Never been a problem.  It doesn't move.

Then the laundry basket and some plants go in the shower.  The shower door and the sliding doors are locked or latched so they don't move.

Up front, the Driver and Passenger seats need to be turned around and are moved forward so the slides don't hit them when we pull them in.  (In our "Newbie" days, one time we pulled the slide in and the passenger seat started to get mashed.... we learned our lesson.)

 Everything gets cleared off the table.

I put the laptop and iPad on the floor.  That pretty much takes care of the inside things getting it ready for the slides to come in.

Then for the outside items:
We decided the clear water tank was a little low, I filled it.  It was at 15% (13.5 gal) and I filled it up to 35% (31.5 gal).  At 8 lbs a gallon, we usually don't travel with more than that.

The other item on the gauges was the black and grey tanks.  I emptied those, so it shows zero.

In the Passenger Side (PS) rear bay compartment, I carry the cables and connections for towing the car.

I usually put those on first and then move to other things.

Before that though, I fill up the clear tank if it needs it, then empty the black and grey tanks.

Then I fold up the 4" pipe in the wet bay, replace the plastic hose cap that screws into the wet bay floor, then stow the hose and end caps in the black square container under the bay.

I make sure the levers are in the correct position, unhook the flush hose and the regular water hose (and I remove my Y connector from the faucet).  I put an end plug that screws into the end of the hose.

Then I wind the hose up on the reel and use the bottles of 'Pine Sol' and/or bleach to clean up the bay and areas if necessary.

The jacks come up first and then the slides come in.

While Pam is instead raising the jacks and putting the slides in, I am outside making sure each slide came in and is snug.  And I watch the jacks to make sure they raise all the way up.

Then I do a 'walk around' to see that everything looks good outside.  And to make sure I didn't leave anything outside under the coach.

And I do a quick check on the tires.

Uh Oh...
The PS rear outside tire was 'soft'.  Needed quite a bit of air.  

I took off the tire pressure monitoring system sensor and found the valve was not screwed down into the stem.  I used my little tire stem tool and tightened it.  Then I got my extension cord and my air compressor and filled up the tire.  Took about 10 minutes.

Then we were ready to go.  We moved the Roadrunner to a place we could hook up the car.  In this case, it was about 100 feet over in a near by parking lot.

Then Pam stays outside and we do the 'left blinker/right blinker' and 'brake check'.  And I pull forward a could feet while she watches just to make sure everything is rolling like it should.

So that is how we get ready and do everything to leave our campsite!  It usually takes 15-20 minutes from the time we say, "OK lets get going".  Sometimes I drain the tanks and stow the hoses the night before and put the tow bar connectors on the car.  That saves some time.  (And I almost never have to fill up a tire.)

That's it for this edition of the Roadrunner Chronicles.  Thanks for joining us. Until next time...