Why Plan An RV Shakedown Trip?

THE CONCEPT of a shakedown trip may already be familiar to some. I don’t start the camping season without first taking an initial short trip to work out the kinks in my RV and equipment. No matter how many years of experience you have, an RV shakedown trip is the best way to prevent issues.

But what does an RV shakedown trip involve? What are its benefits? How do you plan and execute an RV shakedown as a first-timer? We’ll answer all of those questions and more.

Key Takeaways

• Test Before You Trek: Use a short, local “practice run” to identify mechanical issues, test all appliances, and verify that your systems (water, electrical, and LP) survived the offseason.
• Stay Close to Home: Limit your travel distance to under two hours for your first trip; this ensures you can easily return for forgotten tools or head home if a major repair is needed.
• The “Use Everything” Rule: Don’t just look at your gear—operate it. Cook a full meal, extend every awning, and run the heating and cooling systems to ensure your RV is truly road-ready and comfortable.

What Is an RV Shakedown Trip?

An RV shakedown trip is usually your first trip of the season – or your first trip after your RV has been in long-term RV storage. It’s your chance to test that everything works as expected for your planned adventures. It’s also time to assess any RV annual maintenance needs before you go on longer trips.

The origins of the term “shakedown cruise” can be traced to a nautical term for ship performance testing. An RV shakedown, then, is your chance to test the performance of your RV and ensure everything is ready for another camping season. It’s also a great way to check that nothing has been damaged by weather or other factors, especially if you haven’t taken steps to learn what keeps mice out of a camper.

Most RVers keep their shakedown trip close to home so they can return for any forgotten supplies or tools needed for minor repairs. Towable owners will already have a secondary vehicle, but many motorhome owners will have a partner follow behind in a second vehicle in case of a breakdown. 

Benefits of an RV Shake Down

The main benefit of an RV shakedown trip is to, well, shake everything out! Let’s break that down further to explain why each camping season should start with an RV shakedown. Here’s a quick list of spring RV checks you’ll benefit from planning a trip around:

• Test appliances in a low-stress environment. Confirm that your stovetop, microwave, awnings, and other equipment still function as anticipated.
• Inspect water systems for leaks. Ensure the functionality of your fresh and wastewater systems.
• Compile a damage report. Note any components that require repairs (minor or major).
• Assess how well you stored your RV. Critically examine how well you prepared your RV for seasonal storage and note deficiencies to improve upon. 
• Practice setting up and tearing down your campsite. Recall your processes for setting up and tearing down your RV campsites. Download this RV setup checklist to keep a handy reference on hand.
• Check on key ownership information. Take the time to check that your RV insurance cards, vehicle registration, and other essential paperwork are up to date and onboard. Read your owner’s manuals to refresh your memory of your RV’s standard operating procedures and troubleshooting protocols.
• Refresh your RV driving etiquette. Remember to give yourself extra room for braking and turning, and note your RV height clearance to avoid low bridges or underpasses throughout the upcoming season.

How To Plan an RV Shakedown Trip

An RV shakedown trip can be as simple as camping in your backyard for a weekend to test everything out. But you can have fun and explore a new destination, too. Here are our top five tips for planning your RV shakedown: 

Stay Close to Home

Investigate new campgrounds, state parks, or boondocking areas within an hour or two of home. It’s good to stay close to home for a shakedown trip in case you forget anything or need to return home for tools you didn’t realize you’d need. 

It also helps because you can extend your shakedown trip to work days. If you find a campground in your town, you can still commute to work during the day and focus on shaking down your RV’s systems in the evening. Here’s a great resource with more tips to help you plan an RV staycation.

And if you want to find new camping destinations in your area, use our interactive US map at the link below to filter resources for your state. 

Find Campgrounds Near You!

Bring RV Tools

Seasonal RV shakedowns almost always bring minor repairs to your attention. Sometimes, it’s as simple as tightening the screws on a loose screen door latch. Other times, it has required removing and replacing a broken scissor jack. 

Either way, it’s smart to bring a set of tools on your shakedown so you can make any necessary repairs. In fact, I recommend having a dedicated set of tools for your RV – one that lives inside or in an underneath storage compartment. 

This RV tool kit should be uniquely designed to include the tools most used (or most needed) in your RV. To help you determine which tools those might be, we’ve compiled an RV tool kit checklist for safe travels. You might not need them all, but some are must-haves.

Prepare a Variety of Meals

What better way to complete a thorough kitchen check than by cooking? Cook on every burner on your cooktop. Heat up something in the microwave. Try baking RV cookies if you have an oven. Grill your favorite meats on your outdoor griddle. 

Preparing a variety of meals on your shakedown cruise allows you to ensure that all your kitchen appliances are working to your satisfaction. It also requires nearly all of your kitchen utensils, so you can check for needed upgrades in that department. 

Looking for some camp cooking inspiration?

Use Everything

It’s an RV shakedown, after all! That means using everything inside and outside your RV to ensure it’s working. It starts with simple things like recalling how to open the awning on an RV and remembering your best practices for showering, using the bathroom, and operating electronics like your TV and speakers.

But there are other things you might not think about because you use them less frequently. Open and close all of your windows. Test that the air conditioner is cooling. Open all roof vents and turn on the vent fans. Plug your phone into every indoor and outdoor outlet – or use a receptacle tester. Our checklist below has a more comprehensive list you can download for future reference.

Have Fun

Your RV shakedown trip shouldn’t be all work and no play. Explore somewhere in your backyard that maybe you’ve been overlooking for years. Spend time outdoors, hiking, biking, fishing, paddling, or enjoying any other recreational pursuit of your choice. All those pursuits require equipment, too! By having fun, you’re even tricking yourself into shaking down all the RV camping equipment you bring on your adventures. 

RV Shakedown Checklist

There’s a lot to remember to inspect on an RV shakedown trip. So, we’ve compiled this checklist to help you thoroughly review your RV after your shakedown so you feel confident it’s ready for the upcoming camping season.

What to Check Outside Your RV

Beginning at the front of your RV…

Start your exterior RV shakedown by checking the presence, condition, and security of:

• Propane container(s) and their levels
• Propane container cover (if applicable)
• Battery (or batteries) and state of charge/water levels
• Battery storage compartment
• Any tongue-mounted accessories (cargo racks, weight distribution hitch components, etc.)
• Tongue jack (manual or electric for towables)
• Pin box (for 5th wheels)

Walking around your RV…

Continue by inspecting the condition of:

• Seals along the wall seams (top, bottom, and sides)
• Exterior paint, aluminum, or fiberglass
• Seals around windows, compartment doors, and entry door(s)
• Awning(s)
• Water heater drain plug (checking tightness, as well)
• Tire sidewalls, tread depth, and age (5-7 years max)
• Stabilizing jacks/landing gear (manual, electric, or hydraulic)
• Underneath storage compartments (a common spot for pests to make seasonal homes)
• Outdoor shower compartment
• Outdoor TV(s) (if applicable)
• Outdoor kitchen compartment (inspect compartment door, latches, cabinetry, and countertops, if applicable)
• Security of any bumper-mounted accessories (if applicable)
• Sewer component storage container (separate from fresh water hoses)

After carefully ascending your RV’s ladder or a secondary ladder…

(Only walking on your roof if allowed by your manufacturer), visually inspect the roof for:

• Damage, cracked or broken seals, and missing roof sealant along seams
• Missing or cracked seals around roof-mounted vents and accessories (A/C, antenna, etc.)

Before towing or connecting to RV utilities…

Check on the presence and condition of:

• Wheel chocks and leveling blocks
• Shore power cord and surge protector
• City water inlet and fresh tank fill
• Low-point drains and drain caps
• Potable water hose, water filter, pressure regulator, and any applicable hose connectors
• Sewer termination outlet cap(s)
• Sewer hose(s), connectors, elbows, and supports

Before driving or towing…

You’ll also want to inspect the operation and condition of:

• Installed backup, marker, and side view cameras (if applicable)
• Side view mirrors (for motorhomes)
• Windshield wipers (for motorhomes)
• Fluid levels (engine oil for motorhomes and generators; windshield wiper fluid, coolant, brake fluid, and hydraulic fluid for motorhomes)
• Generator (portable or onboard)

With your RV connected to utilities…

You can now check the operation of:

• Stabilizing jacks/landing gear (manual, electric, or hydraulic)
• Outdoor shower
• Outdoor kitchen (fridge, griddle, and faucet operation, if applicable)
• Outdoor TV(s) (if applicable)
• Awning(s) and slide rooms
• Outdoor speakers and outlets
• Sewer termination valves (once connected to a dump station)

In addition to these checks, draining your water heater annually and sanitizing the fresh tank seasonally are highly recommended. Learn more about these RV maintenance tasks:

What to Check Inside Your RV

As your RV shakedown moves inside, one of the most important visual checks you can make is for signs of water damage, especially in corner cabinets and at slide-room corners.

Before worrying about power systems…

You can walk through and check the operation and condition of:

• Cabinets, drawers, closet doors, and openings to other storage areas
• Convertible sleeping areas (dinettes, tri-fold sofas, flip-up bunks, drop-down bunks, and all others as applicable)

With power to the RV…

You can now inspect the operation, condition, and effectiveness of:

• All interior lights
• RV control systems (holding tank sensors, battery level indicator, Bluetooth connectivity for more advanced systems, and others as applicable)
• Roof vents and vent fans
• Air conditioner(s)
• Range vent fan
• Electric fireplace (if applicable)
• All indoor electronics (TVs, radios, speakers, DVD players, Wi-Fi routers, antennas, and others as applicable)
• Electric-only kitchen appliances (microwave, toaster, and others as applicable)
• Solar system components (if applicable)

With power still intact and water connected…

(Ideally, city water and in the fresh tank); proceed to check the connection and operation of:

• Water pump
• Shower(s) (hot and cold)
• Sink faucets (hot and cold)
• Toilet(s) (flush ball and sprayer)

Assuring power, water, and LP supply…

Check the operation and effectiveness of:

• Remaining kitchen appliances (all cooktop burners, oven, dishwasher, ice maker, and others as applicable)
• Water heater (on all applicable modes)
• Furnace

And for these critical driving systems…

Inspect the operation of:

• Turn signals, brake lights, and emergency flashers
• Backup camera (if applicable)
• Engine (for motorhomes)
• Dashboard console instruments (for motorhomes)

We also recommend scheduling an appointment early in the season to have the LP and 120-volt AC systems professionally tested to ensure safety and proper functionality.

We hope these checklists and tips excite you to plan an RV shakedown trip to start your next camping season. To provide further assistance, here are a few more resources you should be thinking about in the spring: 

• How To Dewinterize Your RV to Prep for Spring Camping
• RV Spring Camper Cleaning Tips to Stay Organized
• Camping Supplies to Make Spring Camping Extra Fun
• Are You Planning An RV Trip?

Is there anything you’d add to our RV shakedown checklist? Let us know in the comments below.