Monaco rule of thumb: “slides out first and in last”. You got it right. The rule has been contended here many times, but it’s what I was taught by Beaver Coach at our “walk through”, and is still the manufacturer’s guidance that most of us follow. Other manufacturers see it differently.
Even though I memorized the rule, I still find my biscuit burner chastising me right off the bat because, once parked and still seated, I instinctively go for the HWH leveling control pad. She has the rule down as the law! I’m lucky if I don’t get cuffed upside the head
. Except in unavoidable circumstances, the coach should be in Travel Mode when slides are moved; square peg through square hole kinda thing. By the same token, don’t park in such a way as to put a twist in the body for any length of time... it can result in a cracked windshield; been there, done that. Body twist can be sensed by uneven vertical gaps between bay doors and adjoining body walls.
One important tip: if you’ve been dry-camping, run your generator long enough to get your battery charge status beyond Bulk Charge and at least into Absorb Charge on your inverter’s remote screen. Many new owners do in their engine alternators by breaking camp and immediately hitting the road. The poor alternator has to crank out max current for a length of time it’s not built to tolerate, trying to bring the house batteries back up.
Members here are used to new owners’ plethora of questions and are happy to help where they can. So ask away! One of the best things you can do is attend a club rally, especially one of the larger international ones; you’ll get plenty of in-person guidance, answers, and useful tips.
Welcome aboard, Mark.
Joel
