We have a big trip planned this summer and will be overnighting qit a few single nights on the journey. To get things going each morning I want to try to limit how much time I spend getting ready for the road.Question: it is OK to stay hooked up to the hitch (Reese) or should I all together unhook to releive stresses on the trailer hitch and truck.My assumption is it might be best to unhook (not remove) the sway bars and chains as these are under pressure, along with jacking up to the trailer to releive stress on the truck, but otherwise I can keep the trailer on the hitch ball, chains, electrical, emerg brake and essentially 80% hooked up.What do you think?

I have done it many times without any problem. I did put the "foot" down on the trailer to lift a little weight off the hitch and tow vehicle springs sometimes.

I would definitely unhook the trailer 7-way power connector. I would not want to drain the truck start battery down for any reason.In my case my F150 ford truck will disconnect power to the 7-way connector after a short time-out after the ignition key has been turned off but alot of other trucks do not have this feature.Other than that I don't see any benefit one way or the other... Personal preference I suppose.Roy Ken

IF you find yourself in a pretty level site, and don't have to run the hitch jack up much to get level, go for it. But if you find yourself picking the rear wheels up off the ground to get level, don't do that.You gotta keep your rig level overnight to prevent damage to your fridge, as well as to make it comfortable for sleeping. Nothing quite like the thrill of waking up in the middle of the night 'cause you slid right off the end of the bed. And that much slope will kill the fridge in a matter of weeks to days.

We have gone as long as a 4 day weekend without unhooking anything.

We had a tr and now have a 5th wheel and do it if we are just overnighting. Put rear stabilizers down and front until the weight is off the hitch. Plug it in and put out the slide.

Advisable to stay hooked up on overnight stops

16 Replies

full_mosey
Explorer
Jul 18, 2013
I consider my van battery an integral part of the TT battery system and never disconnect unless I need to drive the van(the TV).

Never have I been unable to start the TV.

I am 100% AGM which means all batteries are actually hybrids, including the van's starting battery. I can run down the AGM and it will still start my TV.

HTH;
John
Miles_Away
Explorer
Jul 18, 2013
If I'm just over nighting and there is room, I stay hooked up. I still drop the landing gear and unplug the truck power cord. It takes the weight off the truck and stabilizes the trailer for over night. In the morning you are only 5 minutes from hitting the road. Just don't get into to big of a hurry and forget to unhook your water, shore power, and lower your TV antenna.
Stefonius
Explorer
Jul 17, 2013
othertonka wrote:
The only problem I see if you end up disconnecting just a few items is you need to go back through the whole routine in the morning to make sure you get everything hooked up properly. for example if you unhook the 7 way, make sure you rehook it up again before starting out. Just a thought
Even if I don't unhook, I still check EVERYTHING on the checklist in the morning before getting on the road. I can't guarantee that little gremlins didn't mess with my rig while I slept, and I don't want to find out by having my trailer pass me on the Interstate.
gmw_photos
Explorer
Jul 17, 2013
You can easily check your 7 pin to see if your truck has power to that pin when the key is off. If there is no key-off power there, no need to waste your time unhooking.
Clattertruck
Explorer
Jul 17, 2013
popeyemth wrote:
Unhooking does not "help" the tow vehicle by "relieving stress" as some seem to think. Unless overloaded the suspension (except shocks) will out last the camper .

2X
The dynamic loads while on the road are much greater than just sitting there hooked up.
popeyemth
Explorer
Jul 17, 2013
Unhooking does not "help" the tow vehicle by "relieving stress" as some seem to think. Unless overloaded the suspension (except shocks) will out last the camper .
drae0814
Explorer
Jul 17, 2013
If it pretty flat and you dont need your TV why unhook my DW always wants to go to a store or site seeing we are City folks so we drive so i always have to unhook half way into my camp weekend never fails
Chuck_Gail
Explorer
Jul 17, 2013
We very rarely unhook. If we have lots of time we may put the tongue jack down just enough to take a LITTLE weight off the TV, and drop the stabilizers.
othertonka
Explorer
Jul 16, 2013
The only problem I see if you end up disconnecting just a few items is you need to go back through the whole routine in the morning to make sure you get everything hooked up properly. for example if you unhook the 7 way, make sure you rehook it up again before starting out. Just a thought
skipnchar
Explorer
Jul 16, 2013
The biggest factor that sways ME one way or the other about a particular campsite is the weather. If you're NOT likely to need to pick up and leave QUICKLY then it's fine but the more 'stuff" you do to set up, while remaining hitched, the less able you will be to leave if you should need to find shelter or move out of the way of a storm. This has actually caused me to we walking in the woods once while a tornado bore down on the campground and it wasn't fun.