Changing Gears recommends taking a checklist with you when shopping for a new or used truck camper. Areas to inspect include walls; roof; underside; storage compartments; electrical and utilities, if any; propane; trailer coupling components; kitchen; bathroom; and water, waste, heating and cooling systems, if any. It also recommends inspecting all documentation, such as warranties and maintenance records, especially for used truck campers.
Every Mile's a Memory offers suggestions for setting out: Delegate responsibility. Have one person take care of everything inside and another take care of everything outside the camper. For the interior, close and lock all camper windows and clear off all interior counters. Lock the refrigerator door, and make sure all drawers are closed and locked, if possible, to prevent loose items from bouncing around.
For the exterior, connect the camper to the truck. Check the tire air pressure. Check the brake lights. Check all water tanks. Make sure the TV antenna is down. Do a complete walk-around to make sure all loading tools are cleared away and that everything is secure. Don't rush through this process.
Netboy recommends several things to make sure settling in at the campsite is problem-free. Get out and check for obstacles before backing into a space. Level the camper with blocks, if needed. Connect to power, if available, or turn on and test the propane. When raising the TV antenna, put an "antenna up" sign on the steering wheel.
