Pre-flight checklist

A quick walkround before you move. Tick each item off, and when everything's green you're good to go. The checklist saves automatically so you can come back to it if you get interrupted.

Tent and roof-top tent campers catered for too — pick your setup below and the list adapts to what you actually need to check.

Choose your setup, then work through the checks. Hit "Reset" at the bottom to clear everything for your next trip.

Your setup

How to use the New Zealand pre-departure checklist

Setting off with the caravan or motorhome is the moment when the small things you forgot become big things you can't fix. The TV antenna left up that snags on the first low branch. The gas bottle left turned on. The toilet cassette left full from last trip. The tow ball that wasn't actually clicked down on the hitch. Touring Brain's pre-departure checklist is built so none of those costs you a trip.

The checklist groups checks by what's most likely to bite you: hitch and load, electrics and lights, gas and water systems, tyres and pressures, inside the rig, outside the rig, and documents. Tick them off as you go. The state stays in your browser, so when you're back from the trip and ready to plan the next one, the list comes back fresh — or you can hit "Reset for next trip" to start clean. If you give us an email address, we can send you a copy of your completed list, useful for travel- companion sign-off or for keeping a record of pre-trip checks.

It's especially useful for newer caravan, campervan and motorhome owners — people coming into NZ touring from regular cars often underestimate how many independent systems an RV rolls together. Even seasoned travellers benefit from running through it before a long trip; experienced caravanners overwhelmingly say their worst forgets happened on familiar trips, not new ones.

Frequently asked questions about pre-departure checks

Why bother — I've done this trip dozens of times?

Familiarity is when most people forget things. The classic "I didn't pack the gas bottle key because we always have it" or "I didn't check tyre pressures because I checked them last month" mistake costs a few hours every NZ summer. A simple list breaks the autopilot.

What about gas, water and electrics?

The list covers all three: gas bottle off and properly secured, leak check on connections, water tanks at the level you want to start with (not full unless you need it for weight reasons), grey and black tanks empty, mains lead unplugged and stowed, leisure battery isolator state, fridge swapped to 12V or gas as required.

Does the checklist cover towing-specific checks?

Yes — there's a hitch and load section: jockey wheel up and locked, tow ball clicked and locked, breakaway cable connected, safety chains crossed and connected, electrical plug clicked in, light test (brake, indicator, running lights), load distribution balanced, anything heavy strapped down, awning struts in, TV antenna down.

What about the tow vehicle's WoF, CoF and rego?

The list reminds you to check WoF/CoF, registration, and insurance currency before you leave. None of those are things you want to find out are expired in a roadside check, or worse, after a crash. NZTA fines for expired rego or WoF are not small.

Who is this checklist for?

Caravan owners, campervan owners, motorhome owners, fifth-wheelers, tear-drop trailer owners, and yes — even tent campers and roof-top tent setups. The list adapts: most items only apply to certain rigs, and you skip what's not relevant. The principle (don't drive away with something undone) is universal.

More tools for New Zealand touring

• Plan a route — Loop, A→B with stops, or destination-mode trip planning.
• 3-day weather briefing — wind, rain and gust forecasts before you commit.
• Find NZ campsites & holiday parks — DOC and OSM data on a map.
• Towing calculator — check tow rating, ball weight and ATM against NZ legal limits.
• Motorhome GVM check — make sure your payload is under gross vehicle mass.
• Tyre safety check — read your DOT code for tyre age and get correct pressures.