It's getting easier
Yes, easier!
It's been almost 3 months now since we took delivery of our new 5er and we've been on several trips and outings in this short time.
Tomorrow it goes back to my dealer so they can do their 90 day inspection of the unit. It goes back so any warranty items can be identified and fixed, anything the owner is not happy with will be looked at and fixed if its a real issue, and a time to give feed back to the dealer.
There is only a couple small problems with mine, and that is one pull blind came apart the first time we pulled it. The front door (passenger side) drags at the top and needs adjustment. And, the water hose hook-up leaks. So, we've been using the fresh water tank and not hooking up directly to the water spigot. But, we never hooked up to a water spigot anyway with our last camper. Still, it has to be hooked up to fill the fresh water tank, unlike the last trailer that was simply gravity filled. Those are the only issues. Little things, I've simply fixed myself.
Now, about getting "easier." So, considering I'm taking it back to the dealer tomorrow morning, I hitched up tonight. It took about 10 minutes to hitch up, from start to finish. I even impressed myself.
I've done a couple things to make hitching a whole lot easier. First is that 4 foot step ladder so I can reach over the fat fenders of the dually. I can easily reach the release lever for the jaws on the 5er hitch now.
Next, I tied a knot in that long break-away cable and found a good spot to hook it. I'm using a D-ring with the spring loaded snap. It works great! There again, the ladder makes it possible to reach everything easily.
Next, I got a set of those yellow balls on the end of an antenna rod. One attaches on the 5er king pin area, the other on the 5er hitch in the bed of the truck. A third line, 2 inches of black tape, and when all 3 are in alignment, I' know I'm right spot on for hooking-up!
Next, I had problems getting the 5er raised high enough to actually hitch up. I'd back up and raise the hitch, and raise again, and raise again. Then it would be too high, then too low. It was frustrating getting it just right.
Once when it was hitched, I raised the trailer to unhitch. Then I took a Command hook and put it on the side corner of the over hang. I took a long stick and put a hook in the end. I then measured the exact distance from the Command Hook to the ground and cut the wooden rod exactly. I can now hang the wooded rod on the Command Hook and when it just clears the ground, I know the 5er king pin is as exactly the right height to hitch up. I also use it to unhitch, once it clears the ground and swings free, I know the trailer is high enough to comfortably unhitch. It took a while to come up with this idea, but it works so well now. I'm hoping, in time, I won't need that crutch any more. But for now, it works marvelously.
I'm pretty much conquered backing into the drive way and campsites. using empty parking lots and did a lot of measurements and placing objects on the ground to figure out how much distance I need to make the trailer pivot at just the right spot and how much swing my trailer and truck require. These self-taught lessons have paid off. I find backing from the "blind" side, actually easier than from the driver side. Which is bizzare, because all my travel trailers, backing on the blind side was something I absolutely hated. It's actually pretty easy with the 5er now. I like right hand backing much more now than left hand backing. Amazing. It's actually easier. So .. PLUS ONE for the 5er!
The actual hitching time is about the same still. It's just getting easier now. Practice, practice, practice, experience, and time it's working for me.
Anyway, there's my 3 month report for anyone following my drama ... which is easier... TT or 5er?
It's been almost 3 months now since we took delivery of our new 5er and we've been on several trips and outings in this short time.
Tomorrow it goes back to my dealer so they can do their 90 day inspection of the unit. It goes back so any warranty items can be identified and fixed, anything the owner is not happy with will be looked at and fixed if its a real issue, and a time to give feed back to the dealer.
There is only a couple small problems with mine, and that is one pull blind came apart the first time we pulled it. The front door (passenger side) drags at the top and needs adjustment. And, the water hose hook-up leaks. So, we've been using the fresh water tank and not hooking up directly to the water spigot. But, we never hooked up to a water spigot anyway with our last camper. Still, it has to be hooked up to fill the fresh water tank, unlike the last trailer that was simply gravity filled. Those are the only issues. Little things, I've simply fixed myself.
Now, about getting "easier." So, considering I'm taking it back to the dealer tomorrow morning, I hitched up tonight. It took about 10 minutes to hitch up, from start to finish. I even impressed myself.
I've done a couple things to make hitching a whole lot easier. First is that 4 foot step ladder so I can reach over the fat fenders of the dually. I can easily reach the release lever for the jaws on the 5er hitch now.
Next, I tied a knot in that long break-away cable and found a good spot to hook it. I'm using a D-ring with the spring loaded snap. It works great! There again, the ladder makes it possible to reach everything easily.
Next, I got a set of those yellow balls on the end of an antenna rod. One attaches on the 5er king pin area, the other on the 5er hitch in the bed of the truck. A third line, 2 inches of black tape, and when all 3 are in alignment, I' know I'm right spot on for hooking-up!
Next, I had problems getting the 5er raised high enough to actually hitch up. I'd back up and raise the hitch, and raise again, and raise again. Then it would be too high, then too low. It was frustrating getting it just right.
Once when it was hitched, I raised the trailer to unhitch. Then I took a Command hook and put it on the side corner of the over hang. I took a long stick and put a hook in the end. I then measured the exact distance from the Command Hook to the ground and cut the wooden rod exactly. I can now hang the wooded rod on the Command Hook and when it just clears the ground, I know the 5er king pin is as exactly the right height to hitch up. I also use it to unhitch, once it clears the ground and swings free, I know the trailer is high enough to comfortably unhitch. It took a while to come up with this idea, but it works so well now. I'm hoping, in time, I won't need that crutch any more. But for now, it works marvelously.
I'm pretty much conquered backing into the drive way and campsites. using empty parking lots and did a lot of measurements and placing objects on the ground to figure out how much distance I need to make the trailer pivot at just the right spot and how much swing my trailer and truck require. These self-taught lessons have paid off. I find backing from the "blind" side, actually easier than from the driver side. Which is bizzare, because all my travel trailers, backing on the blind side was something I absolutely hated. It's actually pretty easy with the 5er now. I like right hand backing much more now than left hand backing. Amazing. It's actually easier. So .. PLUS ONE for the 5er!
The actual hitching time is about the same still. It's just getting easier now. Practice, practice, practice, experience, and time it's working for me.
Anyway, there's my 3 month report for anyone following my drama ... which is easier... TT or 5er?
