Making it easy

I'm with you there. I've always preferred a 3/4 ton pickup. I use WD only to be within the rating of the receiver. No sway control needed. With the electric tongue jack, hitching up is a breeze. I can understand though as the years go by how it could become too much physically. At 55+, I'm not nearly the athelite I use to be.

We are selling it for several reasons. First, my husband is entirely non-mechanical and panics when anything goes wrong. Second, related to the first, we both massively appreciate all the help we've gotten from other RVers when that happens, but it's also an occasion for humiliation for him. Third, as a 75-year-old disabled vet, he's finding it increasingly difficult to crawl around under the truck hauling heavy chains, manhandling heavy WD hitches, etc.

We sold our Class A years ago because he wasn't comfortable with yet another vehicle, especially one that we bought used - he lived in fear of something going wrong. So the trailer seemed like an easy way to continue self-contained travel - a box on wheels, with no motor. It turns out to be a lot more complex to set up and use. The hitching process often takes a long time and is physically difficult for him. I can help but only so far, since my knees prevent me from crawling around under the truck.

We leased an F-150 to haul it, which it does very well. While we know that some people don't bother with WD hitches and sway control bars, we haven't tried that - knowing as little as we do about what's going on, we don't want to take any chances.

I posted another statement about selling the trailer, which someone saw fit to report without telling me why. Shortly thereafter, it was removed, again without a word to me - it just disappeared. Those kinds of treatment aren't conducive to encouraging people to post here. So I'm posting this reply because TomG2 was kind enough to encourage me to do so. I hope our experiences, both with the trailer and here, are helpful to others.

TomG2 wrote:
Someone listed their trailer as being for sale recently and hinted at the reasons why. What have you done to make your travel trailer easier to use? My biggest was to purchase a HD pickup that did not require a weight distributing hitch. I am as lazy as the next person and always looking for ways to avoid work.

IMHO, personally I choose safety over convince:)

djgarcia wrote:

IMHO, personally I choose safety over convince:)

I have no idea what a "convince" is, but towing well within the limits of a tow vehicle is not a safety problem. It might be your problem, but the equipment will do what it is designed to do. Is a WD hitch "required" when towing a small U-Haul trailer with a F-350? Is that unsafe? The post was intended to help people make using a travel trailer easier and more fun. Not whether "everyone" needs a WD "All the time".

TomG2 wrote:

djgarcia wrote:

IMHO, personally I choose safety over convince:)

I have no idea what a "convince" is, but towing well within the limits of a tow vehicle is not a safety problem. It might be your problem, but the equipment will do what it is designed to do. Is a WD hitch "required" when towing a small U-Haul trailer with a F-350? Is that unsafe? The post was intended to help people make using a travel trailer easier and more fun. Not whether "everyone" needs a WD "All the time".

Maybe djgarcia means safety is better than trying to 'convince' the insurance company you did something correctly. (even if you didn't) :B

Convenience, maybe?

gbopp wrote:
Maybe djgarcia means safety is better than trying to 'convince' the insurance company you did something correctly. (even if you didn't) :B

Is that your suggestion for making a travel trailer easier and more fun for those who suffer with less physical ability?

GM will have to "convince" the insurance company since they are willing to put it in writing and back it up in such cases. They have a little more invested than us forum experts.

There are thousands of posts about WD hitches if that is an argument you want to follow.

MargaretB,

Here's a couple of ideas to make it easier.

1. Heavy chains? If you're referring to the safety chains between the trailer and truck, go to you local RV place and they can replace them with cables like they use to secure cars behind motor homes. They're a lot lighter.

2. I'm not sure what you mean by getting underneath the truck? I never have to get under mine.
2.A If you mean to hook up the safety chains, then replace them with cables (above).
2.B If the chains are using those "C" style clamps that you have to screw the ends close, buy the above cables with hooks that have the safety snaps on them - a lot easier to use.
2.C The trailer electrical cord can be inserted when kneeling - see #3.

3. For all of my kneeling, I use a very good kneeling pad like this.

Kneeling pad

There's lots of them out there that are cheaper, but in this case you really get what you pay for, your knees will thank you. I also have a much larger one for when I have to lay under the TT or DP and do repairs.

4. You talked about "manhandling heavy WD hitches" - why are you doing anything with it? Leave it installed in the truck - maybe take it off for the winter. And then, ask a neighbor for 5 minutes worth of help or pay one of the local kids $5. We always have a Rent-A-Kid in the neighborhood. If you're taking it off when you get to an RV park - don't. Yes some states have rules about leaving them on, but I'm not about to take mine off. If what you were referring to was the WD bars, then there's not much you can do about that.

5. The reason your for-sale post was deleted is because this forum doesn't allow for-sale posts - simple, it's in the forum rules.

Bill

Trackrig wrote:
.....snip....... If what you were referring to was the WD bars, then there's not much you can do about that.
Bill

There is something you can do about it. The Andersen No Sway hitch does not have the heavy bars for example, and many tow vehicle/trailer combinations do not require WD hitches at all. A F=150 and a Casita? A 2500HD and about any trailer up to 10,000 pounds. My point? Look at a smaller lighter trailer or a more capable tow vehicle before giving up the joy of travel trailering.

Another real labor saver is a backup camera on the tow vehicle. Out of the vehicle once to drop the hitch onto the ball and you are ready to tow.