Trailer misshaps, and mistakes not to repeat

[DValentine]

My wife and I were working our way out of Montana on our honeymoon, on our way back to my hometown in Alaska. We were at the border in Eureka and decided to get some groceries. I pulled into a wide section of the parking lot and slid the slide out on my 27' Wildcat. We shopped, put away the grub and ate lunch in the trailer. After lunch the mood struck and we made whoopie. Once done I made sure things were secure inside, and hopped in the truck with a grin at the wife. I swung around the parking lot, and eased into traffic on the two lane road. I looked back in the mirror and couldn't understand why I wasn't able to see back along the trailer... . I was looking at the damn slideout. I pulled over and got her slid in and counted my lucky stars I didn't hit anything.

Has anyone done this before????

I have to laugh at myself.

How about leaving the slide dump open on an old flat bottom blackwater tank and not realizing my mistake until things wouldn't flush.

Dave

 

[rwitt]

Has anyone done this before????



I have to laugh at myself.







Dave

Are you talking about right after lunch or leaving the slide out?:-laf

 

[Grizzly]

I drove out of my Trailerport pulling my new 5th Wheel in 1988 and forgot to unplug the 110V cable. I broke the cable and the outlet. That's when I came up with a check list that included everything to do with hitching and unhitching. Now I have to add the slideout to the list.

 

[jelag]

I can't share with you how many times we left the step down on our first unit... but the first time we went around a corner and it scraped the curb I started a check list... . That was over 30 years ago... . We still use a modified list today... and each of my drivers has one for the truck he drives..... its a must...

 

[Bart]

Obivously, my lastest and greatest was the VERY First time I loaded my brand new 5th wheel into the bed, in my yard, and proceeded to drive out from under it. I pray I don't ever forget to move the sliders in. There are three of them, two across from each other. Invision driving down the road with 24' wide rv behind you. They are only 8' wide aren't they. I think I better measure the wideth and height.

The only other time I screwed up (I think) was when my wife and I were dating and we went to the Colorado River with my boat. I backed it into the water. I normally stop quick after the boat is floating and it just floats off. Girl friend is holding the rope from the dock. Not this time, so I back up some more and tried it again. Same result. Girl friend/wife tried to say something but I didn't listen. New truck engine is getting hot and quits running. Then I could hear her saying that the front of the boat was still connected to the trailer. #@$%! I end up getting towed out of the water by another vehicle. I know she was thinking "Yea, big boater!" and "I'm going out there with him"!!?? :-laf

 

[tmh1955]

whoopie: Yes

forgetting slide-out: Not yet

 

[DDevers]

Great item to add to the checklist

What I need to know is: if, after I add this item to my checklist, I can't get any support from my copilot, just how to finish the checklist? In the past I've been told where to ... ... ... ... Ah, nothin' that any married guy hasn't had to deal with.



Just thinkin' that since I read it here, I could let her know it was offical RVing protocal. :-laf

 

[DValentine]

The wife wanted me to delete that from the story. But it was one of the reasons I was not thinking clearly. Oh well. Like I said, no damage done to the trailer.
On another trip she and I were on, we pulled into a campground after midnight. I gave her a flashlight and told her to show me where to go as I backed in. She kept shining the damn thing in my mirror. She thought she was helping me. I got out and walked back to talk to her. She was in tears before I got there. Oh the communication gap between sexes.

Dave

 

[AMink]

Ah, the mishaps! Always look UP while backing into a camping spot. They're usually wide enough. Sometimes there are hangy down branches, though. Always make sure all the bayonet valves are closed on you drains before taking the lid off. YUCK! Make sure the storage doors are latched AND locked. The latches can, and will, vibrate until they aren't latched any more. Close all your roof vents on dusty roads. There's low pressure in the trailer and all the dust wants IN! I carry blue painters tape if we are going anywhere really dusty. I tape all the window drains, storage doors, and whatever else I can reach. It really helps keep the interior clean.



Have you seen "RV" with Robin Williams? If you haven't rv'ed, it's funny. If you have rv'ed, it's hilarious.

 

[Grizzly]

The wife wanted me to delete that from the story. But it was one of the reasons I was not thinking clearly. Oh well. Like I said, no damage done to the trailer.

On another trip she and I were on, we pulled into a campground after midnight. I gave her a flashlight and told her to show me where to go as I backed in. She kept shining the damn thing in my mirror. She thought she was helping me. I got out and walked back to talk to her. She was in tears before I got there. Oh the communication gap between sexes.

Dave

A good solution for that is to use two walkie talkie's. Otherwise tell your wife to stand behind the trailer and to the left so that she can see your left mirror. If she can see your mirror, you can see her. When she wants you to back up, tell her to make large wave motions with her arm extended. My wife used to wave her finger in front her face, so I told her that I can't see what you are doing with your finger, use your extended arm.



Another thing I try to do is to get there before it gets dark. It doesn't always happen. It's hard to see everything around you in the dark.

 

[Blu-meanie]

Don't forget to inform them that you can't answer when they keep the "talk" button pushed!

 

[SnoKing]

What about the boat company that was called to the lake to check out a boat that would not get up on plan, only to find the trailer still attached front and rear under the boat! SNOKING

 

[Grizzly]

What about the boat company that was called to the lake to check out a boat that would not get up on plan, only to find the trailer still attached front and rear under the boat! SNOKING

That's too funny. I wish I could see a picture of that. That would be a good fishing story cartoon.

 

[Grizzly]

In talking to my neighbor, who has an 06 DRW, Dodge/Cummins and a 30' 5er. He has a check list and the last item on the list is, "Walk around the truck and trailer twice before you go". I'm adding that to my list.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Manage the order and it won't happen again:



(1) whoopie

(2) slide in slide out several times

(3) move RV slides in

(4) drive off

 

[CDonaldson]

I have two of those small Coleman rechargable lanterns, I set them on both sides of where I would like the backend of the trailer to be when I am finally done parking at night. Works every time as you can see them, either one or the other as you are backing, and they do not shine into your mirrors and blind you, keeps from having a domestic because you need no one to back you up into place.



If you really want to teach your helper about what is needed for communication in backing, take your trailer to a big open space and put THEM behind the wheel to learn backing. They will FOREVER be better guides after their first frustrating experience. Make sure you run from side to side flailing your arms and hands in front of you so they cannot see you. Chances are if you time it right you will NOT be in the right mirror when they look back and don't forget to shine the light INTO the mirrors a few times too. I did all of that and only had to do it once for the message to make itself known. Then I got the two lanterns to make it easy on myself.



CD

 

[69RoadRunner]

I just bought an open car trailer yesterday. I brought it to my storage spot at our local pool. I'd never removed a trailer by myself before (rented a Uhaul trailer once).



Anyway, I couldn't figure out why the trailer wouldn't detach itself from the truck. Well, I finally figured out that I wasn't completly releasing the ball. I was impressed at the jack's ability to lift the back of my Mega cab.

 

[BGlidewell]

before sliding in, make sure all cabinet doors are closed, otherwise an expensive carpentry repair will be required.



Walk the area before backing in if you are the slightest bit unclear about it.













(not part of the woopie checklist)

 

[DValentine]

I have heard about cabinets being destroyed. I haven't done it yet. I have that on my checklist. I did leave the TV antenna up, and forgot to lock one of the bedroom windows, which broke out as it slapped in the wind.

 

[CRuth]

And if its cold and rainy walk around a third time. I made it 50 miles before I found out I hadn't latched down my pop up camper.



And always set the emergency brake even if it is in compound low. I'm still not ready to tell the rest of that story.