Camping mistakes
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: SW Chicago Burbs
Wow, where to start.
New trailer, used once pulling back from the dealership after they made a few corrections. The ambilical cord was long and dragged on the ground 30 miles. The replacement one was much shorter
Same trailer later that year. Forgot to unplug before pulling out. No damage done.
Next year. good thing the ground was soft so the wheel chocks could push into the ground when I hit the gas to pull the trailer out of our spot.
Later that year. Leaving early to continue our vacation since it was raining. Soft ground, pulled forward, leaveling board kicks up and as I continue to pull out the drain hits the board and gets ripped apart.
My newest trailer only has had one darwin moment. We always stored the TV on the back bunk. Well I guess the 7 ft longer trailer bounces a little more in the back. The brand new TV we bought for this brand new trailer bounced (and we have the wall damage to prove it bounced) from the back of the bunk to the floor in front of the bunk.
What a great thread. I hope other people contribute, I know we am not the only ones who have done something stupid.
New trailer, used once pulling back from the dealership after they made a few corrections. The ambilical cord was long and dragged on the ground 30 miles. The replacement one was much shorter
Same trailer later that year. Forgot to unplug before pulling out. No damage done.
Next year. good thing the ground was soft so the wheel chocks could push into the ground when I hit the gas to pull the trailer out of our spot.
Later that year. Leaving early to continue our vacation since it was raining. Soft ground, pulled forward, leaveling board kicks up and as I continue to pull out the drain hits the board and gets ripped apart.
My newest trailer only has had one darwin moment. We always stored the TV on the back bunk. Well I guess the 7 ft longer trailer bounces a little more in the back. The brand new TV we bought for this brand new trailer bounced (and we have the wall damage to prove it bounced) from the back of the bunk to the floor in front of the bunk.
What a great thread. I hope other people contribute, I know we am not the only ones who have done something stupid.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
I guess I've been lucky. No damage to trailer or truck yet. And you can bet I'm furiously knocking on wood as I write this.
But what I wanted to say was, make a habit of doing a walk around. Close up, hitch up, start the truck, and just do a slow walk around the entire rig before you pull out. I do it at every stop, pee break or whatever. Feel the hubs to make sure they are not getting hot. Just spending 5 minutes will give you peace of mind, and keep you safe.
Oh, just remembered, we did leave the stove cover up one time. Fell down and bent a hinge a little, but easily pushed back in place. Left the water pump on more than once, usually after a potty break. That's always the wifes fault though.
Bill
But what I wanted to say was, make a habit of doing a walk around. Close up, hitch up, start the truck, and just do a slow walk around the entire rig before you pull out. I do it at every stop, pee break or whatever. Feel the hubs to make sure they are not getting hot. Just spending 5 minutes will give you peace of mind, and keep you safe.
Oh, just remembered, we did leave the stove cover up one time. Fell down and bent a hinge a little, but easily pushed back in place. Left the water pump on more than once, usually after a potty break. That's always the wifes fault though.
Bill
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 451
Likes: 0
From: sw mich
Originally Posted by bpounds
But what I wanted to say was, make a habit of doing a walk around. Close up, hitch up, start the truck, and just do a slow walk around the entire rig before you pull out. I do it at every stop, pee break or whatever. Feel the hubs to make sure they are not getting hot. Just spending 5 minutes will give you peace of mind, and keep you safe.
That said, we had 2 incidents last year:
1) My 3 year old decided to use the bathroom while I was setting up. The drain plug to the sink had closed on the trip. He apparantly tried to wash his hands (I hadn't hooke the water up yet) and after not getting any water to come out, left the faucet on. You guessed it, I turned the water on outside and went next door to visit the rest of the family at their site for about a 1/2 hour. That was a mess to clean up!
2) we have a small entertainment center along side the dinette slideout. it seemed like a good idea while loading up to use the space for the tv to store canned-goods. while traveling 1 of the cans feel between the trim around the slideout and the outside wall. the slideout does make a pretty good can opener. amazingly there was no damage, i stopped the slide as soon as i realized there was a problem.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,888
Likes: 0
From: Fallon, NV
I have 3, two were me and one was my hubby:
1. 24 ft toyhauler 5er, was hooking up and moving to a new location by myself, was ready to go, got out and checked something or other in the bed, forgot to put the tailgate back up, nice hole in front storage comparment door and pulled out tailgate cap.
2. Traded in previous 5er for 33ft. First trip out, had a sprained neck so I couldn't turn around completely, pulling to get fuel and thought I had cleared until I heard the bollard at the end of the fuel island removing the sewer pipe and siding off of the slide out.
3. Now have 38ft 5er toyhauler, husband went to turn around in a gas station, it looked a little low so I asked 'Are you sure we'll fit under there?' he said yes, and proceeded to remove the AC unit upon exiting (it sloped up to that side), missed the vents though. Of course he said 'Why didn't you say anything?' When I said I had, he said 'I know but if you really meant it you should have stopped me.'
1. 24 ft toyhauler 5er, was hooking up and moving to a new location by myself, was ready to go, got out and checked something or other in the bed, forgot to put the tailgate back up, nice hole in front storage comparment door and pulled out tailgate cap.
2. Traded in previous 5er for 33ft. First trip out, had a sprained neck so I couldn't turn around completely, pulling to get fuel and thought I had cleared until I heard the bollard at the end of the fuel island removing the sewer pipe and siding off of the slide out.
3. Now have 38ft 5er toyhauler, husband went to turn around in a gas station, it looked a little low so I asked 'Are you sure we'll fit under there?' he said yes, and proceeded to remove the AC unit upon exiting (it sloped up to that side), missed the vents though. Of course he said 'Why didn't you say anything?' When I said I had, he said 'I know but if you really meant it you should have stopped me.'
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by racerchick21
3. Now have 38ft 5er toyhauler, husband went to turn around in a gas station, it looked a little low so I asked 'Are you sure we'll fit under there?' he said yes, and proceeded to remove the AC unit upon exiting (it sloped up to that side), missed the vents though. Of course he said 'Why didn't you say anything?' When I said I had, he said 'I know but if you really meant it you should have stopped me.'
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
1. Stacked chairs next to the auto open button for awing in the basement. They shifted and the awing started to open as we were driving down the highway. Fortunately I was able to pull over and no damage.
2. First time pulling the 5th Wheel - No experience other than pulling a TT. Hooked the 5th up to the hitch, started to move forward......the 5th wheel wasn't latched properly and it slid out....fortunately the legs hadn't been raised all the way and it just slid backwards for 3-4 feet. Man my heart was pounding......
2. First time pulling the 5th Wheel - No experience other than pulling a TT. Hooked the 5th up to the hitch, started to move forward......the 5th wheel wasn't latched properly and it slid out....fortunately the legs hadn't been raised all the way and it just slid backwards for 3-4 feet. Man my heart was pounding......
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,888
Likes: 0
From: Fallon, NV
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Originally Posted by elmo8641
it is always the wifes fault. thats why we have you, to keep us from doing something stupid
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: New Philadelphia, Ohio
Bring my new TT home from the dealer, first I pulled into an alley, It had telephone poles on both side, well you know what happenedThen after getting it out I backed it in, under a tree, about took the awning off
I have learn to have the wife help now!!
New User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: yakima, washington
when I back the tt into the drive way I will pull into the neighbors drive to get a nice stright shot at mine. forgot that the tailgate was down ande the neighbors drive is steep uphill, whent in and put the tong jack into the tailgate, 1990 f-250 and it HAD a perfect tailgate
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 783
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Area, Illinois
heres a good one...
i was excited to use my brand new pop up and my buddys got a large back yard and invites me to use it there so we could have a bbq and a bonfire. set it all up, light the grill, get the fire goin everythings great. untill he decides to throw several still green evergreen bushes that they just pulled out that week. those lil buggers burn fast and all the limbs throw off little flaming blobs that get cought in the wind. needles to say most of them landed on my new campers roof, by time i got back there with a garden hose they had burned nice little holes in it. the guys at the RV dealer the next day thought it was funny. yes me and him are still friends lol!!
i was excited to use my brand new pop up and my buddys got a large back yard and invites me to use it there so we could have a bbq and a bonfire. set it all up, light the grill, get the fire goin everythings great. untill he decides to throw several still green evergreen bushes that they just pulled out that week. those lil buggers burn fast and all the limbs throw off little flaming blobs that get cought in the wind. needles to say most of them landed on my new campers roof, by time i got back there with a garden hose they had burned nice little holes in it. the guys at the RV dealer the next day thought it was funny. yes me and him are still friends lol!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 16
From: Kuna ID
I had a little 15' TT I was restoring. It needed tires and it didn't have plates yet. I used the tongue jack and 2 jackstands to hold it up while I took the rims in to get the tires. It rained while I was gone and one jack sank causing the whole thing to fall on the ground. The trailer had low sides to begin with so there was barley enough room for me to fit a hi-lift in the wheel wells to jack it back up. At least the ground was soft so damage was just a little touch up paint.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
I pulled in to a tent spot late one night, set up the tent with my girlfriend, went to sleep. We got up pretty early, we were heading to get my boat in the water.
I pulled forward about 4 ft, heard a dragging sound, didnt see anything, pulled forward more. Looked over our shoulders out the back to see if there was anything there, just about that time the water hit the window!
I drove over the 4x4 in the ground that had the water spigot, broke the line and there was water shooting 20 feet in the air.
Of course this was at 7am before the camp store opened. I had to wait until 7:45 before anyone showed up to turn off the water and fix it.
I pulled forward about 4 ft, heard a dragging sound, didnt see anything, pulled forward more. Looked over our shoulders out the back to see if there was anything there, just about that time the water hit the window!
I drove over the 4x4 in the ground that had the water spigot, broke the line and there was water shooting 20 feet in the air.
Of course this was at 7am before the camp store opened. I had to wait until 7:45 before anyone showed up to turn off the water and fix it.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: NORTHERN Minn
I tried to cook breakfast sausage on a small portable barbecue grill in a camp ground. Needless to say that breakfast sausage has a lot of fat in it. Under heat the fat converts to grease and drips onto a heated steel plate called the flavorizor on my grill. Grease hitting that hot steel vaporizes the grease and it ignites causing more heat which causes more grease. (well you get the picture). I had flames shooting about 6 feet above the grill and everything that was flammable close to the grill was on fire. It happened in just a few seconds. Putting a lid on the grill and turning it off the heat, solved the grill problem. My wife helped me put out the rest of the fires.
That will get your heart started pumping in the morning better than coffee.
That will get your heart started pumping in the morning better than coffee.