Pre-Trip Inspection For Skoolies
The following list is designed to help you do a pre-trip inspection of your skoolie. This should be done each time you stop or park the bus for any length of time. One of the biggest mistakes skoolie owners make is not checking their skoolie from bumper to bumper before starting out each trip. Even if you are just overnighting somewhere, you should check your skoolie over before you venture out onto the road to your adventure. A problem spotted early can save you ten to tens of thousands of dollars if you miss something simple.
Basic Skoolie Inspection:
1. Beginning with the front of the vehicle, check your grill for foreign objects, debris, or damage, especially around the radiator. Check for damage in the fins on the radiator, and that it is clear of debris.
2. Look at the windshield to see if there are cracks or breaks.
3. Check under your rig for fresh leaks or drips on the ground.
4. These could be an indication of a leaking cooling hose, oil, or hydraulic line.
5. See if the bus is sitting level, a leaning bus could indicate damage to sir bag or a shock going bad.
6. Check your mirrors, and ensure that they are secured to the bus, and clean.
7. Open the hood and give it a good once or twice-over look.
a. Check for leaks or weeping of hoses or fluid-filled components such as the cooling reservoir, brake, and engine oil
b. Pull the dipstick to check the oil level of the engine
c. Look at the belts for wear and tear, being frayed around the edges. Engine belts should not have more than 3/4-inch travel when you push and pull on them.
d. Pulleys are securely in place and not damaged.
e. Inspect the shocks for the right height and leaks.
f. The leaf springs to ensure they are still in place correctly and not missing any hardware.
g. Inspect each tire for tread, objects between treads, or buried into the tire or wheel. Close the hood and secure it in place.
8. Look down the driver's side of the bus, and make sure everything is in place and not loose or opened, battery doors, fuse panel doors, etc.
9. Look at the lights, and make sure that the lens covers are in place and not missing.
10. Look at the windows for cracks or objects sticking to them that you do not put in place.
11. Open the fuse panel, and check for any signs of fraying wires or heat damage.
12. Open the battery door and ensure that the battery/batteries are secure and terminals are tight.
13. Look underneath the bus for loose items, things hanging down that should not be hanging down.
a. Look at the driveshaft and all connections to it for visible wear and tear. Look around the air tanks for signs of leaks.
b. Check the frame for damage.
c. Look at all items you have placed beneath the bus to ensure they are still secured and not about to fall off
d. Pay close attention to the brake lines for bends, kinks, or tears.
e. Look at the tread on the rear tires, and make sure nothing has lodged itself between the two rear tires or wheel assemblies. Inspect lugs nuts, and make sure they are all there and not loose.
f. Look at the mud flaps to make sure that they are still in place and not hanging loose.
14. Check the rear door, and make sure that it is secure.
15. If you have added a deck or have a bike or motorcycle rack on the back, inspect them for damage, cracking, or lose fittings.
16. As you round the bus, check the fuel door, make sure it is secure, and that the fuel cap is firmly in place.
17. Look all over the bus for cracks, tears, or such. Inspect each item carefully that you have added to the bus, folding tables on the sides, ladders leading to the roof, sides of the racks holding anything on the roof, solar panels, roof deck, chimneys, storage boxes, etc.
18. With the lights on, check all exterior lights.
a. Ensure that they are all in working order and that the lenses are in place.
b. Check turn signals, brake lights, and hazard lights, and replace lights as needed.
19. Check to make sure that the horn works.
20. That the driver's seat belt works and the seat is securely bolted to the floor.
21. Start the engine, and check your gauges are in working order.
a. Ensure that the air brakes are in working order.
b. Check your steering wheel to ensure that the wheels turn easily and do not hang up.
22. Make sure that anything and everything that can move while you are going down the road is secured and in place – inside and out. Once a small object is loose or out of place can rapidly become a high-speed projectile.
23. Make sure the exterior door and all doors close securely.
24. Check mirrors to ensure you can see them evenly on both sides of the bus.
Once all that is done, put the bus in drive and continue with the rest of your journey...
Basic Skoolie Inspection:
1. Beginning with the front of the vehicle, check your grill for foreign objects, debris, or damage, especially around the radiator. Check for damage in the fins on the radiator, and that it is clear of debris.
2. Look at the windshield to see if there are cracks or breaks.
3. Check under your rig for fresh leaks or drips on the ground.
4. These could be an indication of a leaking cooling hose, oil, or hydraulic line.
5. See if the bus is sitting level, a leaning bus could indicate damage to sir bag or a shock going bad.
6. Check your mirrors, and ensure that they are secured to the bus, and clean.
7. Open the hood and give it a good once or twice-over look.
a. Check for leaks or weeping of hoses or fluid-filled components such as the cooling reservoir, brake, and engine oil
b. Pull the dipstick to check the oil level of the engine
c. Look at the belts for wear and tear, being frayed around the edges. Engine belts should not have more than 3/4-inch travel when you push and pull on them.
d. Pulleys are securely in place and not damaged.
e. Inspect the shocks for the right height and leaks.
f. The leaf springs to ensure they are still in place correctly and not missing any hardware.
g. Inspect each tire for tread, objects between treads, or buried into the tire or wheel. Close the hood and secure it in place.
8. Look down the driver's side of the bus, and make sure everything is in place and not loose or opened, battery doors, fuse panel doors, etc.
9. Look at the lights, and make sure that the lens covers are in place and not missing.
10. Look at the windows for cracks or objects sticking to them that you do not put in place.
11. Open the fuse panel, and check for any signs of fraying wires or heat damage.
12. Open the battery door and ensure that the battery/batteries are secure and terminals are tight.
13. Look underneath the bus for loose items, things hanging down that should not be hanging down.
a. Look at the driveshaft and all connections to it for visible wear and tear. Look around the air tanks for signs of leaks.
b. Check the frame for damage.
c. Look at all items you have placed beneath the bus to ensure they are still secured and not about to fall off
d. Pay close attention to the brake lines for bends, kinks, or tears.
e. Look at the tread on the rear tires, and make sure nothing has lodged itself between the two rear tires or wheel assemblies. Inspect lugs nuts, and make sure they are all there and not loose.
f. Look at the mud flaps to make sure that they are still in place and not hanging loose.
14. Check the rear door, and make sure that it is secure.
15. If you have added a deck or have a bike or motorcycle rack on the back, inspect them for damage, cracking, or lose fittings.
16. As you round the bus, check the fuel door, make sure it is secure, and that the fuel cap is firmly in place.
17. Look all over the bus for cracks, tears, or such. Inspect each item carefully that you have added to the bus, folding tables on the sides, ladders leading to the roof, sides of the racks holding anything on the roof, solar panels, roof deck, chimneys, storage boxes, etc.
18. With the lights on, check all exterior lights.
a. Ensure that they are all in working order and that the lenses are in place.
b. Check turn signals, brake lights, and hazard lights, and replace lights as needed.
19. Check to make sure that the horn works.
20. That the driver's seat belt works and the seat is securely bolted to the floor.
21. Start the engine, and check your gauges are in working order.
a. Ensure that the air brakes are in working order.
b. Check your steering wheel to ensure that the wheels turn easily and do not hang up.
22. Make sure that anything and everything that can move while you are going down the road is secured and in place – inside and out. Once a small object is loose or out of place can rapidly become a high-speed projectile.
23. Make sure the exterior door and all doors close securely.
24. Check mirrors to ensure you can see them evenly on both sides of the bus.
Once all that is done, put the bus in drive and continue with the rest of your journey...
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