Our friend was hooking up his 38' Carriage Cameo to come see us and he dropped the 5th wheel on his Ford F350 dually. The big problem was that his right hand was on the bed and the 5th wheel landed on top of him. His hand was pinned between the truck and the rig and he was in extreme pain. A "hero" neighbor heard the crash and came to the rescue. After raising the 5th wheel to free his hand, the neighbor drove him and his wife to the hospital. His hand looked smashed but he had no broken bones. He is so fortunate, because looking at his hand now, it looks destroyed. The RV neighbor who they did not even know, finally went back to the RV park after spending two hours at the ER with them and got the pickup out of the street and parked the rig, got their poor little dog who was left confused and scared in the pickup,and then walked and fed it. Once again RV people prove they are the best.

That is a GREAT story of how us RV'ers all come together!

That is the worst case scenario. I had not heard of a personal injury by dropping the 5th wheel. Your friend was very lucky.We always think of the bed saver as a device to prevent damage to the truck and 5th wheel. This may change some opinions. Including mine.

You're right…rvers are good people. Please give a follow-up report on how your friend is doing. Will pray for him. Glad the puppy is being cared for.Cat Lady

Glad to hear no broken bones, hope the tissue heals fine.Not sure I understand how one drops the 5er while hooking up.Driver (assumed) out of TV landing gear up, hitch not latched either the 5er or TV needed to move.Once again wishing your friend a fast and complete recovery!

Our lady friend had her middle finger cut off when their fifth dropped on the truck. It was reattached by a doctor that was walking out of the hospital after giving a lecture for his specialty which was sewing limbs back on.the finger is great and warm. Lucky is a good thing.chevman

Friend is so fortunate! | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

Dutch___Di
Explorer
Jan 03, 2014
Great story. Thanks for sharing and we wish the best to your friend and hopefully his hand will be fine. While it is sad that he has damage to his Carriage & truck, what a lovely upbeat story to start the year off! Hugs, Di
Vulcaneer
Explorer
Jan 02, 2014
What great story...about one helping another. That guy is to be commended. And glad the owners hand seems OK. And will soon be back to normal.

Hope he learns a lesson. Unfortunate "accident". He maybe buys some chocks, too.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jan 02, 2014
Sooner Schooner wrote:
rhagfo wrote:
Glad to hear no broken bones, hope the tissue heals fine.
Not sure I understand how one drops the 5er while hooking up.
Driver (assumed) out of TV landing gear up, hitch not latched either the 5er or TV needed to move.

Once again wishing your friend a fast and complete recovery!

That's pretty much what happened. He admits he was in a hurry and negligent. Landing gear was up, did not latch properly, and he was on some kind of an incline. The 5th wheel rolled back and fell onto the truck.

Your friend is very fortunate. Yes his hand was caught between 5rv and bedrail but it wasn't broken.

Hope he heals quickly.

And remind him (no matter how big of a hurry he is in)
Wheel Chocks
1st ON---Last OFF
rattleNsmoke
Explorer
Jan 02, 2014
OUCH! Damn. Let's hope he heals up real soon.
RVcrazy
Explorer
Jan 01, 2014
Good neighbor! Lucky friend...
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 01, 2014
Sooner Schooner wrote:
rhagfo wrote:
Glad to hear no broken bones, hope the tissue heals fine.
Not sure I understand how one drops the 5er while hooking up.
Driver (assumed) out of TV landing gear up, hitch not latched either the 5er or TV needed to move.

Once again wishing your friend a fast and complete recovery!

That's pretty much what happened. He admits he was in a hurry and negligent. Landing gear was up, did not latch properly, and he was on some kind of an incline. The 5th wheel rolled back and fell onto the truck.

Thanks for the information.

I have been lucky, none on the forgetful stuff I have done when in a hurry have caused me or anyone else harm or loss on property.

Once again wishing for a fast Nd full recovery for your friend.
Goostoff
Explorer
Jan 01, 2014
Good thing nothing was broken. That much weight could do serious permanent damage. Imagine it the srailer would have rolled a couple inches after it landed. Oh man the thought even makes my skin crawl.

I'm glad I will never have to worry about dropping the 5th wheel on my truck. Previous owner of the truck already took care of that for me so that is out of the way until I buy a new truck.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Jan 01, 2014
Wow - painful lesson learned :-( Hope your friend heals quickly with no nerve damage....and that he's able to properly thank the neighbor who's quick acting surely helped a worse injury?!

And thanks for posting that - just one more thing to file away in the back of my brain: stay in a "safe zone" while working around the hitch.....
GrandmasHome
Explorer
Jan 01, 2014
Thanks for sharing.
I've had some wonderful rv neighbors as well. Hope his hand heals quick!
Sooner_Schooner
Explorer
Jan 01, 2014
rhagfo wrote:
Glad to hear no broken bones, hope the tissue heals fine.
Not sure I understand how one drops the 5er while hooking up.
Driver (assumed) out of TV landing gear up, hitch not latched either the 5er or TV needed to move.

Once again wishing your friend a fast and complete recovery!

That's pretty much what happened. He admits he was in a hurry and negligent. Landing gear was up, did not latch properly, and he was on some kind of an incline. The 5th wheel rolled back and fell onto the truck.