Subjects: Camping Scenes of Errors in Judgement:
Outside rooftop antenna not down while moving – tree limbs, overhangs and wires catch our antenna and damage it.
Extended step not retracted before moving – curbs, gates, gate pedestals, and other moving and stationary objects are contacted and cause damage.
Tire pressure not checked and overloaded or under pressurized tires fail, the “gator” rubber separates from the tire and causes wheel well and sidewall damage.
We do not hold the sewer hose in place while dumping, and get gunk all over our shoes and/or clothing.
We do not check the lights on our ‘toad’ (towed auto behind motorhome) and someone rear ends us – not enough warning time to tell them we are stopping.
We leave our water hose attached and left on while away from our rig – we come back to find the entire rear of the RV flooded from a break
We forget, as we travel, electrical wiring and pipes may vibrate, chafe and break or short out. Be careful, when hooking up after a long day, water may leak, things may vibrate loose, and electrical systems may be damaged.
Open a cabinet after traveling with caution, stuff may fall out and injure you or damage itself.
Check the torque on your lug nuts, wheels do fall off.
Lose your sewer hose on the pavement, the cap fell off of the sewer holder.
Leave your awning(s) out while traveling – or during a windstorm.
Please list your favorite goofs – we all enjoy a good laugh.
Happy New Year!
Fred Brandeberry, SR
RV101byFred
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Steve
Never back a nine foot wide Class A into a nine foot wide space. With a fish eye camera in the back, it looks like you can make it.
Queen of the Road
We just had a near-miss with the dreaded Pyramid of Poop! But, my husband (a science – especially physics buff) came up with a very creative solution:
http://www.doreenorion.com/blog/2008/12/the_pyramid_of_poop.html
Beverly Herman
Be SURE the nut is tight on your tow ball. Our nut wiggled off and when we hit a bump in the road the ball came right out of the hitch still locked into the tow bar. Not good for our new Jeep.
Thomas Becher
I always hang the engine keys on the crank of the antenna.No keys no starta the motor no damaged antenna. Learned the hard way
Ray Shoemake
When I cover my Travel Trailer for storage, I remove the radio antenna so it will not damage the cover. The first time I did, I stored it under the TV antenna. Forgot to screw it back in on first trip. Lost it. Now I store it inside.
Bob Sims
First big rainstorm with our new RV, I found out why people tip their awnings and get a center support for a long awning.
Got up early after a big gullywasher overnight rain, only to find I could barely get out the door — the awning was sunken in to the middle, full of water. I decided to slowly lower one side to let it run off.
The “SNAP” and “WHOOSH” sound of the roller breaking in half and the gallons of water gushing off is funny now and not one I’ll ever forget.
Nick Russell
In Bremerton, Washington a few years ago, I proved that one can drive a 40 foot MCI bus conversion up a hill so steep that the front wheels are on the pavement, the back bumper is ground into the pavement, and the drive wheels are six inches off the ground. I also proved that while you can drive INTO that situation, it is impossible to drive back OUT of it!
barry bogart
Got distracted while adding water to the flush line with the drain valve closed, overfilled the waste tank and the resulting flood was not pretty. Had to throw away alot of rugs.
Another trip forgot to unhook the electric cord from the AC outlet, started to leave campsite and saw the cable dragging the ground. Always do a walk around now to be sure everything from top to bottom is stowed for travel.
williewood
After emptying your holding tanks, make sure all the valves are closed. After all, the next time you go to empty and pull off the cap to engage the hose, there can be quite a surprise (and total mess) if you haven’t.
Sara Kinnard
The first time my husband and I took our 5th Wheel out, we went to a local lake, so we could check out everything. But we got to the park after dark, we found a pull through site we liked, my husband was driving and I was outside watching ever so careful all the sides, front and back to make sure we didn’t hit anything. All of a sudden we heard a loud scrapping sound. We both walked all around the truck and RV and could find nothing. The next morning in the light it was obvious that we had gone under a tree with a low hanging limb, which had pulled our AC up. It is funny now, but not so much then. The AC had to be replaced, but we learned a very valuable lesson.
RubyAnn
Pull over to the side of the road, put the slide out about six inches so you can get to the bathroom, pull out into traffic and the driver , not too calm at this point, sees the slide out, transports whizzing. It’s amazing how quickly a truck and trailer can pull over , the passenger runs back, unlocks the door and pushes the ”in’ button! -Want to guss who got the credit (blame) for this??
John Shelton
Make sure your holding tank drains are closed before showering or using the commode while dry camping; especially in a truck stop or among other dry campers. (Want to know how I learned this one?)
When you are parked very close to the fuel pump while re-fueling, do not pull sharply away from the pumps when finished fueling. This can be very rough on the corner of your RV whether Motorhome or trailer..
Do not travel with the water pump energized on your trailer. 40 gallons of water pumped out on the floor makes an ugly mess when a connection gets pulled loose enroute. (this is covered in the subject article, but it bears confirmation.)
John Christman
Just let someone distract us when we are hooking up to leave and forget that all important snap pin that goes in the tow bar. Of course the result isn’t particularly FUNNY and the moral of the story is don’t go talk to your neighbor when he/she is getting ready to leave the campground!