Forum Discussion

Ivylog's avatar
Ivylog
Explorer III
Aug 20, 2014

Got hung up and could not move. How did I get out?

Tried to get into a friends fairly steep driveway with my air level only in the raised position as I knew it would be close on making it. Drug the hitch for three feet until my drive tires would only spin in both directions. Talk about a OH Sxxxt moment as I could not raise it up any higher to get more traction. How did I get it out without jacks or calling a wrecker? The drive tires were at the bottom of the dip so moving in either direction would make it better. I did make it up the drive.
Class A

27 Replies

  • Bobbo's avatar
    Bobbo
    Explorer III
    Aug 21, 2014
    Mr.Mark wrote:
    zman-az wrote:
    Next time you drive up give her hell with one of these installed. Click here


    zman, I'm certainly no expert and don't claim to be. But, I've read many times that those attachments can be the worst things to add to a hitch. The rear of the motorhome cannot take that much stress at the hitch point.

    MM.

    Not to mention that it actually LOWERS the contact point by 2 or 3 inches.

    OOPS, I mentioned it.
  • Mr_Mark1's avatar
    Mr_Mark1
    Explorer
    Aug 21, 2014
    zman-az wrote:
    Next time you drive up give her hell with one of these installed. Click here


    zman, I'm certainly no expert and don't claim to be. But, I've read many times that those attachments can be the worst things to add to a hitch. The rear of the motorhome cannot take that much stress at the hitch point.

    MM.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Aug 21, 2014
    J-Rooster wrote:
    I would jack it up one wheel at a time and put wood blocks under it just to lift it high enough so it will clear.

    If using the air leveling had not worked, that would have been my next step . I do carry a bottle jack capable of lifting the drive axle but not enough blocking to go under the tires.
    I was one happy camper when it moved and I was not blocking one lane of the road.
  • J-Rooster's avatar
    J-Rooster
    Explorer
    Aug 21, 2014
    I would jack it up one wheel at a time and put wood blocks under it just to lift it high enough so it will clear.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Aug 21, 2014
    It was a fairly shallow dip off of a paved road onto a fairly steep paved drive. I was 90 degrees to the road and I made a good rut in the road with the hitch. I did not raise the tag as I had some traction but the hitch is what was stopping me from moving. I did not look to see how much clearance I had as I was still pushing on the rear raise button. The hitch did not drag nor did the system go to the travel mode while I was pushing the button.
  • Macktee's avatar
    Macktee
    Explorer
    Aug 21, 2014
    Dick, I'm assuming that the tag was up to the highest point as well.
    It happened to me going up a slope and the drive wheels ended up higher than the tag and just started to spin on the gravel. Like you I lowered the front air and let it roll backwards to get traction. I then took a run at it with the tag up as high as it would go and went up no problem. Tom
  • Pangaea_Ron's avatar
    Pangaea_Ron
    Explorer
    Aug 21, 2014
    I did some calculations together with AutoCAD drawings to simulate my MH going up a steep driveway. I can safely go up a 8.7 degree slope (A radius of 106' passes tangent to front wheels, rear wheels, and rear hitch) without dragging the rear hitch. That equates to a 8' long 2x4 centered over the toe of the incline with a 1" gap below, that I can measure if necessary.

    It was a slow afternoon at the office.

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