Inside the checklist
5 focused sections
- Capture the Walkthrough & Manuals
- Build the Rig Reference Card
- Practice Driving, Backing & Roles
- Rehearse Systems at Home
- Run a Close-to-Home Shakedown
Free PDF
First RV Shakedown & Skills Guide
A first-owner checklist for manuals, rig facts, shutoffs, driving practice, utility rehearsals, a local shakedown, and defect logging.
34 items5 sectionsarrival
- New owners preparing a first overnight in an unfamiliar RV
- Dealer or seller walkthrough capture, manual collection, and rig records
- Driving, backing, utility, conversion, resource, and emergency practice
Get the checklist
34 checks in a print-ready PDF.
Editorial information
About this checklist
Last source review:
Compared against government tire, load, and recall guidance, AAA roadside guidance, and manufacturer new-owner skills, hitching, leveling, and hookup guidance. This is a general orientation checklist; exact procedures still follow the current RV and component manuals.
Owner feedback considered
- RV owner discussions about first trips commonly report skipping a local shakedown trip and not logging forgotten gear or rig-specific defects before a longer trip.
Sources consulted
These sources were researched and compared with AI assistance directed by the site owner, not independently cross-checked by the owner against current manufacturer documentation.
- Winnebago: 8 Skills for New RVers to Practice
- Keystone RV: How to Hitch Your Travel Trailer
- Keystone RV: How to Level Your RV at the Campground
- Keystone RV: How to Properly Hook Up Your Fifth Wheel Trailer
- Keystone RV: How to Handle RV Hookups
Show 7 more sources
- Go RVing: Sewer 101: How to Safely Hook Up and Dump Your RV Tanks
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Importation and Certification FAQs
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: TireWise
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Check for Recalls
- Go RVing: Matching a Tow Vehicle to a Towable RV
- AAA: What to Do if Your Car Breaks Down
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: CO Alarms
Read how we create and update checklists. This is a general memory aid; your current manufacturer manuals, labels, and applicable law control when they differ.