Pre-Trip RV Inspection Checklist for Mountain Trips

Long descents like the ones on Highway 40 through Kananaskis or the passes into BC put far more heat into your brakes than city driving ever will. On a trailer or fifth wheel, test the brakes at low speed in an empty lot and confirm the breakaway switch actually locks the wheels. In the tow vehicle, check the brake controller settings and make sure the pedal feels firm, not spongy.

Tires deserve just as much attention. Check pressures when the tires are cold and set them to the placard rating, not a guess. Look for cracking between the treads and on the sidewalls, check the date code, and remember that RV tires usually age out before they wear out. Torque the lug nuts, and make sure your spare is inflated and reachable.

Wheel bearings are the quiet failure point on trailers. If yours have not been repacked recently, a hot hub on a mountain grade can end a trip fast. Feel each hub for heat at your first fuel stop, and listen for rumbling or grinding at highway speed.

Climbing out of Calgary and up through the Rockies means long stretches at high engine load. Check the coolant level and condition, squeeze the radiator hoses for soft spots, and inspect belts for cracks or glazing. If you tow, transmission fluid matters just as much, because the transmission works hardest on sustained climbs.

Confirm the engine oil is at the right level and reasonably fresh, and top up washer fluid, since mountain roads throw plenty of grit and bugs. Test all running lights, brake lights and signals on both the tow vehicle and the trailer, and inspect the seven-pin connector for corrosion.

Finally, look over the hitch. Check the coupler latch, safety chains, breakaway cable and any weight distribution hardware, and grease anything that is supposed to move.

Do a basic propane check before you leave. With the appliances off, open the tank valve, then soap-test the connections and look for bubbles. Test the propane and carbon monoxide detectors with their test buttons, and replace any detector that is past its expiry date.

Mountain nights are cold even in July, so run the furnace at home and make sure it ignites, blows warm air and shuts off properly. Do the same with the fridge and water heater on propane. Absorption fridges also struggle when the RV is parked off level, which is common in mountain campgrounds, so pack levelling blocks.

Check the house batteries too. Many campgrounds in Kananaskis and the BC interior have no hookups, so confirm the batteries hold a charge and top up the water levels if they are flooded lead acid.

Mountain weather changes fast, and a seam that only weeps in a light Calgary shower can take on real water in a Rockies downpour. Walk the roof and inspect every sealant joint around vents, skylights, the air conditioner and along the front and rear caps. Check window and slide-out seals while you are up there, and reseal anything cracked or lifting before the trip, not after.

Much of this list is easy driveway work, but brakes, bearings, propane and roof sealant are areas where a mistake can cost you the holiday. If you are not sure what you are looking at, or your RV has been sitting since last season, book a pre-trip inspection at Horton RV Services in Calgary. We go through the chassis and living systems, flag what needs attention now versus what can wait, and you leave for the mountains knowing what shape the rig is really in.