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omextreme's avatar
omextreme
Explorer
Dec 21, 2015

Blew out back RH window with my camper tonight,,,, Confused

So I managed to hit the truck with the camper tonight on the passenger side and blow out the window and dent the cab but I am confused.

I am running a non slider hitch, The Anderson setup on a short bed. I know I really should have a slider but I went with the Anderson to save weight.

Here is the confusion... When i first tested the setup I was able to turn to the left on flat ground rolling forward to just shy of 90 deg...

I hit the cab tonight during a right turn moving forward not much past 75 deg on totally flat ground.

I never tested a hard right turn I just assumed that since a left turn didnt hit, the right wouldn't either...

What am i missing? Why did i hit on the right turn?



Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

129 Replies

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  • 3oaks's avatar
    3oaks
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2015
    Or another possibility? Rvs are not precision engineered. The 5er could be manufactured "out of square" giving you that slim 1-1/2" clearance on the left and negative clearance on the right while making a sharp turn.

    Why not hitch up and go through the right hand turn sequence while having an assistant watch how sharp you can turn and/or why you hit your cab at a much lessor angle?

    Either way, I would not be comfortable with that slim of clearance. I never came across a perfectly level campsite and approach to match.
  • SDcampowneroper's avatar
    SDcampowneroper
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2015
    The smallest angle of dip can change clearance between cab and camper a lot. Your set up is fine, just a learning curve. Sorry it was a costly one.
    I see hundreds of short box trucks without sliding hitches towing 5ers every year without a problem. The key is awareness. When you are unsure, have a spotter watch the clearance.
  • omextreme's avatar
    omextreme
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2015
    mtofell1 wrote:
    In your picture it doesn't look like you could slide a piece of paper between the window and the 5th so it was pretty close when you tested. I'm betting the problem is un-level ground, either when you tested and/or when the window broke. Any slope is magnified by the time it gets up that high. It doesn't take much to make pretty big changes.


    It is quite possible that the test was unlevel in my favor. We got as close as 1.75 in in the test. Closer then I would have liked but not touching... Live and learn I guess.
  • mtofell1's avatar
    mtofell1
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2015
    In your picture it doesn't look like you could slide a piece of paper between the window and the 5th so it was pretty close when you tested. I'm betting the problem is un-level ground, either when you tested and/or when the window broke. Any slope is magnified by the time it gets up that high. It doesn't take much to make pretty big changes.
  • FLY_4_FUN's avatar
    FLY_4_FUN
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2015
    The thing about having a short box (and I do also) is that at something like 82 degrees your awesome...plenty of clearance, and then you hit 87 degrees and bang! You are now part of a huge club of RV'ers who have the badge of dishonor on our trucks. Backing up is even worse as you can hit max angle so fast. You must now be super careful of near-jacknife situations or get a slider (manual or probably auto)

    Daryll

    Daryll
  • omextreme's avatar
    omextreme
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2015
    RAS43 wrote:
    Either the road wasn't flat, there was a dip, or the trailer tires ran over a curb. Too bad about the damage.


    Thats what has me so confused, was just swinging around in a parking lot, flat as could be. I was not even concerned about the tightness of the turn it totally caught me off guard... Geeze !!! Expensive mistake.
  • RAS43's avatar
    RAS43
    Explorer III
    Dec 21, 2015
    Either the road wasn't flat, there was a dip, or the trailer tires ran over a curb. Too bad about the damage.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Dec 21, 2015
    Well you either need a better protractor or a Long Bed TV. :B

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