Pre-Trip RV Checklist for Zion, Grand Canyon & Death Valley

Before a trip to Zion, the Grand Canyon or Death Valley, check your tires, brakes and wheel bearings, batteries, A/C, roof seals, propane, lights and hitch, and test every system while still parked at home. Problems found in your driveway cost far less than the same problems found on a remote highway.

Las Vegas is one of the best launch points in the country for road trips. Zion, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Valley of Fire and Lake Mead are all a day’s drive or less. They are also places where help can be far away, summer heat is serious and a breakdown can turn a good trip into a long, expensive one.

This checklist is organized so you can work through it in an afternoon, a few days before you leave. It applies to travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers and motorhomes. Where a step is trailer-specific, we say so.

What makes these trips different from a local weekend?

Each destination has its own demands.

Zion. Steep grades, switchbacks and tight tunnels. The park has size rules and permit requirements for larger vehicles on some roads, so check the National Park Service website for current limits before you go.

Grand Canyon. Long highway miles and cold nights at elevation, especially outside summer. Some facilities, particularly on the North Rim, are seasonal. Confirm what is open before you travel.

Death Valley. Extreme heat, long distances between services and very limited cell coverage. A cooling problem, a bad tire or a dead battery here is a bigger issue than almost anywhere.

All three reward preparation, and all three punish skipped maintenance.

Tires: what should I check first?

Tires are the most common cause of roadside trouble on RVs and trailers.

• Pressure. Check every tire, including spares, cold, and set to the pressure listed for your load. Do not rely on the sidewall maximum.
• Age. Find the four-digit date code on each tire (week and year). Many owners and tire makers advise replacing RV and trailer tires after five to six years, regardless of tread. Sun and heat age tires faster than miles do.
• Condition. Look for cracks in the sidewalls, bulges, uneven wear, flat spots and exposed cords.
• Valve stems and caps. Replace cracked stems.
• Lug nuts. Check torque to the manufacturer’s spec.
• Spare and tools. Make sure the spare is inflated and that your jack and lug wrench actually work with your wheels.

A tire pressure monitoring system is worth considering for long trips.

Brakes and bearings: how do I know they are ready?

For trailers and fifth wheels, brakes and bearings matter as much as tires.

• Test the trailer brake controller and confirm that the trailer brakes engage when you activate them manually.
• Look for brake pad or shoe wear, uneven wear and leaking fluid on hydraulic systems.
• Check wheel bearings for play by lifting each wheel and trying to rock it, and listen for grinding.
• Feel hubs after a short drive. A hub that is much hotter than the others is a warning.
• Ask when the bearings were last repacked. A common guideline is every 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Brake and bearing service is a job for a trailer shop. For trailer lights and wiring, see our guide to trailer lights and wiring for Lake Mead boaters, and our trailer wiring and lighting repair comes to your storage lot or home.

What about the hitch and towing setup?

• Inspect the hitch, ball, coupler and safety chains for wear and damage.
• Confirm the weight rating of everything in the chain, including the tow vehicle.
• Check the weight distribution and sway control settings.
• Test the 7-pin connector and breakaway cable.
• For fifth wheels, inspect the kingpin and hitch plate and lubricate according to the manual.

Electrical: will the lights and batteries hold up?

• Walk around with a helper and test running lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazards.
• Load-test or at least check the voltage of your house and chassis batteries. Heat is hard on batteries, and a weak one often fails on the first hot day.
• Check cable ends for corrosion and loose connections.
• Test shore power and your surge protector before you need them.
• If you have an inverter or solar, confirm they charge and power what you expect.

See our guide on RV electrical repair if something looks off.

Cooling and climate: will the A/C handle it?

If you plan to run the A/C at the destination, test it for at least an hour at home on a warm day. Check airflow, the filter and the temperature drop. A unit that struggles in your driveway will not do better in Death Valley. See why RV A/C quits in Las Vegas heat.

Roof, seals and slides

• Inspect the roof sealant, vents and A/C gasket. A leak on the road is hard to fix. See RV roof maintenance in the desert.
• Check slide-out seals for tears and cycle each slide fully in and out.
• Check awning arms and latches. Secure the awning before you drive.
• Test your leveling jacks and make sure they fully retract.

Propane, water and appliances

• Check propane levels and inspect hoses and connections. Never leave a suspected leak. If you smell gas, shut off the supply and get everyone out.
• Test the refrigerator on both propane and electric, if it supports both.
• Light the water heater and furnace to confirm they ignite.
• Inspect the water system for leaks, and consider sanitizing if the rig has been sitting.
• Test the water pump and flush the toilet.

What should I pack for desert trips?

Carry more water than you think you need. In extreme heat, people are at greater risk than machines.

What should I do on the day I leave?

1. Do a full walk-around: tires, lights, hitch, awnings, vents, compartments and steps.
2. Check pressure on cold tires.
3. Confirm slides, jacks and antennas are retracted.
4. Secure everything inside the RV.
5. Plan fuel and water stops, especially for Death Valley.
6. Check weather and road conditions, and share your itinerary.

When should I get a professional inspection?

If it has been a year since the last professional check, if the RV has been sitting, or if you plan a long or remote trip, an inspection is cheap insurance. A technician can check things you cannot easily see, such as bearing condition, brake wear, roof seals and electrical performance under load.

Our RV inspection service comes to your location in Henderson, Las Vegas and Boulder City, and you receive a written list of findings.

The short version

• Tires, brakes, bearings and batteries cause most trip-ruining breakdowns.
• Test everything at home, including the A/C and propane appliances.
• Check destination rules and seasonal closures with the park service before you go.
• Carry spares, tools, filters and plenty of water.
• A professional inspection before a long desert trip is worth the time.

Planning a trip? Book a pre-trip inspection and we will come to your rig.