Leave nothing behind. Leave nothing broken. Leave on time. Many items here have no arrival equivalent — do them in order.
The most common and most avoidable RV departure mistake is driving away with something still connected. Sewer hose trailing from the tank valve. Water hose dragging on the ground. Shore power cord still plugged in. Awning still extended. TV antenna still raised. These aren't careless errors — they happen to experienced owners because departure pressure compresses the walk-around that would catch them. This checklist makes that walk-around systematic.
Breaking camp is not the reverse of setup. There are departure-specific items with no setup equivalent: dumping tanks, removing the water filter, retracting the TV antenna, collecting outdoor mats and furniture, verifying nothing is under the trailer, and confirming the tow vehicle is hitched before releasing the tongue jack. The order here exists because getting it wrong has costs.
Complete the departure walk-around while stationary, before any movement: verify shore power, water and sewer connections are disconnected and their equipment stowed; confirm stabilizers and other supports are fully retracted for travel, and check the departure path and clearances. Do not use hose tension, resistance or a connection breaking free as a diagnostic test. A controlled brake or hitch check is separate and comes only after these clearance checks, following the applicable equipment instructions.
Leave the site better than you found it. Collect anything in your campsite footprint — including items that were there when you arrived. Take a timestamped photo of the campsite from the road before driving away. It's the only useful evidence if you're later charged for damage you didn't cause.
Checkout Protocol. If the campground requires checkout at the office or via a posted procedure, do it now before you start breaking down — not at the last minute with a fully hitched rig you can't easily move. Know the checkout time, know if there's a penalty for being late, and know whether you need a receipt or confirmation.
Interior First. Secure everything inside before you start disconnecting outside. Once you start hitching up, you'll be moving and can't keep running back in.
Leaf Blower Step. Before retracting any slide, spend 2 minutes with a leaf blower on the slide roof. Pine needles, leaves, and dirt on top of the slide get dragged into the seal and mechanism when retracted. This is the single most preventable source of slide seal damage.
Dump Before You Drive. If you're more than 2/3 full on black or gray, dump before leaving. See the Tank Dump Procedure for full instructions.
Use the Hitch & Go Safety list for the full hitch sequence. The most common departure mistakes: wheel chocks not removed, tongue jack not fully retracted, breakaway cable not connected.
Walk the Full Site — Twice. First pass: collect everything yours. Second pass: verify the site is clean for the next camper. Most often left behind: camping chairs, door mats, kids' toys under the trailer, items behind fire ring, and cord adapters at the pedestal.
Stand at the back of the trailer and do one full visual pass. You're looking for anything moving, hanging, or not where it should be.
Do your walk-around in the same clockwise direction every time. Routine reduces omissions more than any amount of trying harder.
Before any movement, verify while stationary that utilities are disconnected and stowed, supports fully retracted for travel, and the departure path clear. Complete any equipment-prescribed controlled brake or hitch check only after clearance is established.
Before you leave any site, photograph the campsite behind you. It's useful if you're later charged for damage you didn't cause, and it's a quick check for anything left on the picnic table.
While stationary, walk the full exterior in a consistent direction: slides and awning retracted, TV antenna down, outdoor gear packed and compartment doors latched. Verify shore power, water and sewer are disconnected and their equipment stowed. Follow the trailer and equipment manuals to confirm stabilizers and other supports are fully retracted for travel, the hitch connection and safety devices are secure, and the departure path has adequate clearance. Complete these checks before any movement. A controlled brake or hitch check is separate: perform it only after clearance is established and according to the applicable equipment instructions.
Disconnect in this order: turn off the shore power pedestal breaker first, then unplug the power cord. Next, remove the sewer hose and cap both the trailer valve and the hose end. Last, disconnect the water hose and remove the inline water filter if installed. Disconnecting water last keeps any remaining line pressure contained. Always close grey and black tank valves before removing the sewer hose.
At speed, an extended awning acts as a sail and will tear away from the mounting brackets — often taking mounting hardware and a section of the sidewall with it. Even at low campground speeds, an awning hitting a tree branch or post causes the same damage. Awning replacement with installation typically runs $800–2,000. Make 'awning retracted' the first item on your departure exterior check, before you touch anything else.
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