Preparing an RV for Transport

In deciding to transport your RV, it's not simply enough to chose an auto transport company. You also have to make sure that you properly prepare your RV for transport. In fact, before you turn it over to an auto transport company, you need to make sure that you take the necessary time to check that it's not only safe enough to be shipped, but that you don't run into any complications or violations of transport codes that can cause significant delays and lead to you incurring additional charges.

While A-1 Auto Transport can provide you with a list of requirements for transporting your RV, the following is a fail-safe guide.

The Interior.

In the interior of the RV, you should make sure that you do the following:

• Take away any items that are loose.
• Take off any hanging objects, such as pictures, poster frames, and so forth.
• Make sure that the gas lines and power supply are disconnected and that all appliances, such as a stove, are completely turned off.
• Check all of the doors, cabinets, and windows to make sure that they're secured and won't open during the transportation.
• Check the refrigerator to make sure that everything has been cleaned out. Defrost the freezer in order to prevent leakage.

The Exterior.

• Make sure that the cargo doors, pop-ups, and chains are all securely fastened.
• Turn on the RV in order to make sure that all of its lights fully work, namely in regards to the brake, parking, indicator, and turn signal lights.
• Make sure that any of the slide-outs are secured.

Mechanical Components.

• Make sure that the hitch and tow bar are correctly in place and are securely fastened.
• Examine the RV's fluid levels in order to see if there are any leaks occurring. The four main fluid levels that you should examine are the engine oil, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant.
• Examine the RV's battery to see if its volt/amp gauge is within the necessary and required range.

RV Safety Components.

• Check to see if the parking and service brakes are fully operational and working properly. Many RVs also have air brakes. If this is the case with yours, examine its air pressure.
• Examine the tires to see if they have enough air pressure and that they're not damaged.

Additional Advice.

• Make sure that the auto transport company has a complete set of keys. If you have any specific instructions or preferences, let them know ahead of time. This will prevent any miscommunications from happening.
• Make sure that the RV has the necessary supplies. For example, if the weather is going to be quite cold along the route that it's being shipped, it might be necessary to fill up the antifreeze liquid.
• Create a list of instructions for the shipping company, regardless of the method that it's being transported with, specifically in reference to how to turn off batteries, generators, and propane tanks. In addition, make sure that any emergency information is included, including manual overrides as relevant.
• If you have access to the RV manual, then leave it or give it to the company.

Keep in mind that, no matter the insurance that you have, if the RV is damaged during the transportation process due to improperly being prepared, then the fault lies on you, not the transportation company. It may seem a bit exhausting to do all of this, but it'll help to ensure a smooth and stress-free shipping experience.

Read also our article on the cheapest way to ship RVs.

Contact A-1 Auto Transport for all of your RV shipping needs!