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frisbeekev's avatar
frisbeekev
Explorer
Aug 12, 2018

Am I the only one this has happened to?

Am i the only one this has happened to? I pull into my site, level up on blocks, and start Unhooking in the rain. After I get the WD bars Unhooked I lower back down and unlock the ball latch. I raise it up again (chains still attached), the ball stays in the socket so I add some pressure, it pops loose and because the wet ground the trailer rolls back, buries the wheel chaulk and the jack comes off the block and buries itself too low to get the hitch on the truck under it. A few pump jacks later, the problem was resolved.

Lessons learned: don't rush because the rain, and leave the safety chains on as long as you can.

I feel like a dope. Been rving for years.
  • Not the only one.

    Camped once on a site very far off level. Needed a bazillion legos under the low-side wheels and put the tongue jack up on a stack of 6x6 blocks. Put the stabilizers atop some big rocks so they'd reach the ground. Next think I know, it rolled over the chocks and off the blocks. Bent the tongue jack a bit, but still functional. There is no such thing as chocks that are too big. I recommend those X-jack things that go between the wheels and lock those babies down tight.
  • No, AZ. I’ve slept with the chains as a safety backup attached to the TV and used a tow strap around a tree when out of camp.
  • DutchmenSport wrote:
    I had something similar happen once at home, except I had the tongue jack (post) directly on the ground and we we got a heavy rain and it sunk. (dirt, not a drive way). This was one of my earliest "oops" with my RVing experience, many years ago.

    After that, I've kept one of these on the tongue tack post, which helps from the post accidently sinking in the ground. I never remove it.



    Funny thing is I have one of those, unfortunately it was not on at the time....doh
  • azdryheat wrote:
    You'd have to take the chains off sooner or later. I have always used wheel chocks and not those cheap plastic things from Camping World. Mine are large and solid rubber.
    Because you've had a plastic one crush to nothing? Solid rubber will sink into mud just as easily as a plastic one. If that's a problem, one needs one with more surface area, not more structural integrity. Carrying a few 2x8 cutoffs covers that.
  • Had that happen to use one time many years ago. I will never forget the sight of my wife with a death grip on the tongue jack trying to hold back that #7000 trailer (it stopped after a couple of feet). :)
  • I've unhooked many times in the rain and also on sunny days on loose gravel. I have used both the plastic chokes and the metal expansion chock. I think of all those times when the truck was just high enough to get it off the ball. High adventure that. BUT I always use a piece of 12 X 8 X 16" under my jack that in itself makes for a safe disconnect and reconnect.
    One my brand new TT I broke down and have the automatic system for leveling and disconnect. What a joy and it has a memory for what the height was for the ball disconnect.... life is good
  • I had something similar happen once at home, except I had the tongue jack (post) directly on the ground and we we got a heavy rain and it sunk. (dirt, not a drive way). This was one of my earliest "oops" with my RVing experience, many years ago.

    After that, I've kept one of these on the tongue tack post, which helps from the post accidently sinking in the ground. I never remove it.

  • You'd have to take the chains off sooner or later. I have always used wheel chocks and not those cheap plastic things from Camping World. Mine are large and solid rubber.