Day 1 New Motorhome tasks

prthomas

prthomas

Joined
Jan 15, 2022
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Hi all,

Picking up our brand new MH this weekend, I have been compiling a list of day 1 tasks to get it setup and also see if I can trigger any snags or problems before we go away or use it for real. I looked for an article on this but couldn't find one so please point me towards something if it exists, or if not please add anything else to the list below that I should do in the first few days.

Anyway, here goes:
  • Sterilise and flush water system
  • Setup toilet chemicals
  • Test water through all taps and shower
  • Test hot water on gas and electric
  • Test heating on gas and electric
  • Test oven/hob gas
  • Test 12v electrics - sockets and lights
  • Test 240v electrics - sockets and lights
  • Test battery charge on EHU
  • Test battery charge on driving
  • Take for long drive
Anything else very welcome.
 
Take some cups, tea bags/ coffee and a little milk if needed, find a spot on that long drive, pull over and boil the kettle. That’s when you know its yours and you have made the best decision ever to buy a way of life that is quite frankly wonderful 😀
 
Run through in your head what you will need for making a meal, washing up, using toilet, personal hygiene etc, then do it on your driveway/parking place ! (y)

Enjoy
 
You forgot the fridge/freezer. make sure it works.
Also does your fridge vents have winter 'covers' on, ours came with them in-situ & they needed to be removed.

Unless you have fixed beds, practice making them up, especially if this involves extra boards & juggling cushions. One of our motorhomes came new from the factory with a cushion missing!

Check you know how to empty the tanks, both fresh water & grey

Do you have a radio installed? If so, does it have satnav and do you have the latest map data if it does?

Don't forget the oily bits;

Check road lights
wipers
screenwash
tyre pressures (there's a rats nest of discussion)
oil
coolant level
Hydraulic fluid levels

Make a note of the vehicle dimensions, weights, capacities. I usually print & laminate this on a card kept within easy reach.

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I wouldn't bother sterilising the water system on a new van but if it makes you feel better it will do no harm.
Also -
check tyre pressures - all 4 of mine were low on collection.
top up adblue - it is unlikely to be full. Mine required approx. 7L
 
Make sure you know where your circuit breakers are.
Locate the boiler safety release so you know where it is when it gets cold and dumps the fresh water.
Find where your main fuses are and buy spares.
Buy a spare water pump (I know it’s a new van, but better safe than sorry).
 
Fill up water tank, check for leaks on it, then empty it straight out to get rid of any installation debris before it gets pumped around the system 👍
 
Locate things like , fuses, circuit breakers, switches, pump, drain off valves, jack. Some newbies have difficulty in finding these when something goes wrong , work out which light switches control which lights (y)

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I would be wanting all those listed as test plus the fridge freezer to be done at handover and preferably before paying the balance.
prthomas said:
Hi all,

Picking up our brand new MH this weekend, I have been compiling a list of day 1 tasks to get it setup and also see if I can trigger any snags or problems before we go away or use it for real. I looked for an article on this but couldn't find one so please point me towards something if it exists, or if not please add anything else to the list below that I should do in the first few days.

Anyway, here goes:
  • Sterilise and flush water system
  • Setup toilet chemicals
  • Test water through all taps and shower
  • Test hot water on gas and electric
  • Test heating on gas and electric
  • Test oven/hob gas
  • Test 12v electrics - sockets and lights
  • Test 240v electrics - sockets and lights
  • Test battery charge on EHU
  • Test battery charge on driving
  • Take for long drive
Anything else very welcome.
Click to expand...
 
Read all the manuals, it'll take some time but it will pay off at a future date when you have a problem, and you will.
 
Check that all the window blinds work as they should and look for damage, check awning comes fully out & secures properly, if fitted.

Check your jack & spare wheel/kit are there. Make sure you get the CofC, key code card & radio code cards from the dealer plus any alarm override codes if fitted.

Before you go away try to establish that all the charging system & solar if fitted are working as they should, make sure you know how to work them & shut down for storage at handover without battery drain if possible.

If you have a Smart fridge check it automatically switches over & any electric step auto retracts when engine started.

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prthomas said:
Hi all,

Picking up our brand new MH this weekend, I have been compiling a list of day 1 tasks to get it setup and also see if I can trigger any snags or problems before we go away or use it for real. I looked for an article on this but couldn't find one so please point me towards something if it exists, or if not please add anything else to the list below that I should do in the first few days.

Anyway, here goes:
  • Sterilise and flush water system
  • Setup toilet chemicals
  • Test water through all taps and shower
  • Test hot water on gas and electric
  • Test heating on gas and electric
  • Test oven/hob gas
  • Test 12v electrics - sockets and lights
  • Test 240v electrics - sockets and lights
  • Test battery charge on EHU
  • Test battery charge on driving
  • Take for long drive
Anything else very welcome.
Click to expand...
It’s something I think I personally would have done or seen done before it even leaves the dealers .
there fix it pretty quick if there is something wrong there but maybe not so quick at a later date.

it could be better to spend an hour there rather than hours on the phone later
 
Welcome from Ciren - and enjoy yourself!! ;) (y)
 
Surely if this is a brand new motorhome, the dealer will show almost all of the things you are going to test as part of the handover.

As for testing battery charging, if they are already fully charged, how can you?
 
prthomas said:
Hi all,

Picking up our brand new MH this weekend, I have been compiling a list of day 1 tasks to get it setup and also see if I can trigger any snags or problems before we go away or use it for real. I looked for an article on this but couldn't find one so please point me towards something if it exists, or if not please add anything else to the list below that I should do in the first few days.

Anyway, here goes:
  • Sterilise and flush water system
  • Setup toilet chemicals
  • Test water through all taps and shower
  • Test hot water on gas and electric
  • Test heating on gas and electric
  • Test oven/hob gas
  • Test 12v electrics - sockets and lights
  • Test 240v electrics - sockets and lights
  • Test battery charge on EHU
  • Test battery charge on driving
  • Take for long drive
Anything else very welcome.
Click to expand...
Remember to use it as often as you can,sitting on the drive does not do it any good.
 
Locate your spare wheel and jack, and familiarise yourself with jacking points.

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We are due to pick up our new campervan later this month. The dealer has allocated at least an hour with the "technician" for the hand over. This is shorter than normal as we are experienced motorhomers. I am sure we will need at least that amount of time, particularly as we know what we don't know on the new van if you see what I mean. We will also spend the night on a site near the dealer so we can return for explanations of things we have forgotten:rolleyes:

So much to learn, so little time:giggle:

Sue
 
Put in stuff from home fridge throw some bedding in make sure you have as said tea/coffee bits and go some where close to enjoy your first adventure .then do all that boring checking stuff ;)::bigsmile:
 
Last edited:
Lots of great advice. Have you emptied your toilet cassette before. If yes carry on. If no. Enjoy the finer part of motorhome life 👍🥃🤪
 
We sorted out the water, gas, etc, parked up on the drive, made the bed, cracked open champagne and spent the night celebrating! :giggle:

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