Making it easy

Thanks for all that information. We appreciate your goodwill. To respond -

Yes, it's the chain that goes between the trailer and truck. Because of where it attaches to the truck, it's necessary to get under the bumper. That's the main issue. Ours have carabiner-type closures. We thread the brake wire into the chain before attaching it.

We use kneelers when we need them, like fiddling with tank connectors and so on, but for this, he has to get under the bumper on his back, so the kneeler isn't much use.

Our WD apparatus is in the form of bars with a curve at one end and a heavy chain at the other. They have to be lifted so the curved end fits into a receiver, then swung around and chained at the other end. Sorry if I mislabeled them as hitches.

These are all good ideas. Thanks for sharing them.

As for the post being removed, I was unaware that things can't be sold here. Seems silly, but OK. But my post was primarily to thank everyone for their help. After someone reported it without contacting me first, I edited it, but it was still removed, again without any notification to me. That's just rude and counter-productive. Unless the PTBs here assume that their members are deliberately trying to circumvent the rules, they could have either assumed that it was an innocent error or confirmed it by asking me. Neither of those things happened, which creates the impression that they don't trust their own members. How hard would it have been to let me know that I'd violated the rules?

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions! As I said in my original post, people here have been very helpful to us.

TomG2 wrote:
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.

The truck has a camera on it. And even with the jack light on and a piece of silver tape on the socket, it's never that easy! Once we got it perfect on the first try, but it usually takes a lot longer and several tries to get the ball and socket aligned. Then another ten to 15 minutes fiddling with the rest of the hitching stuff.

But we're still married, which is a miracle in itself.

TomG2 wrote:

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.

It's a joy to me, but a total schreck to my husband.

We have an F-150 and an UltraLite trailer, not a Casita. The sway bar is a piece of cake - I can have it installed in about 15 seconds. It's the WD bars that are a problem; the nature of my husband's injury is such that he can't handle heavy weights any more, and having to lift them while ensuring, blind, that they are inserted correctly is becoming very hard for him. There is no chance that he'll risk not using them.

So as much as all these suggestions are appreciated, the die is cast - the trailer goes. For the kind of travel we do, he's convinced that we can do it more easily in the car.

MargaretB wrote:


...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.

MargaretB, Don't remember who mentioned reporting your post.. Sadly, I think if you had rewritten it a bit differently leaving out some of the selling details it would not have been removed.

You had stated some very good reasons as to why you were moving on and that to me said all that was needed to be said. The other stuff looked a lot like a sales ad which is not allowed per the TOS of the forum..

I would have hoped that the Mods would have at least sent you a PM to explain but I understand they are busy keeping the forum tidy, sometimes they may not be able to send PMs to all that have bent the rules.. They get no pay and it is a thankless job..

Sad to see a fellow RVr call it quits, but everyone here some day must face the harsh reality that camping is not physically or mentally easy anymore.

While one chapter of your life has come to a close, another chapter is ready to be written.. Go and find another adventure that you and your better half can enjoy together!

MargaretB wrote:
Thanks for all that information. We appreciate your goodwill. To respond -

Yes, it's the chain that goes between the trailer and truck. Because of where it attaches to the truck, it's necessary to get under the bumper. That's the main issue. Ours have carabiner-type closures. We thread the brake wire into the chain before attaching it.

.

There are workarounds for just about everything. The end of the chain could be fitted with a large open ended hook to facilitate that part of the process, for instance.

Gdetrailer wrote:

MargaretB wrote:


...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.

MargaretB, Don't remember who mentioned reporting your post.. Sadly, I think if you had rewritten it a bit differently leaving out some of the selling details it would not have been removed.

You had stated some very good reasons as to why you were moving on and that to me said all that was needed to be said. The other stuff looked a lot like a sales ad which is not allowed per the TOS of the forum..

I would have hoped that the Mods would have at least sent you a PM to explain but I understand they are busy keeping the forum tidy, sometimes they may not be able to send PMs to all that have bent the rules.. They get no pay and it is a thankless job..

Sad to see a fellow RVr call it quits, but everyone here some day must face the harsh reality that camping is not physically or mentally easy anymore.

While one chapter of your life has come to a close, another chapter is ready to be written.. Go and find another adventure that you and your better half can enjoy together!

I reported it.
Seven years a member and never read the rules there is no excuse for that.

When I had my trailer, the one thing that really made it easier for me (camping solo) was the mirror on the magnetic stick - I was able to stick it right behind the hitch on the trailer and could back up quickly and easily by viewing the hitch and ball in the mirror as I backed up.

On my clipper, the black tank valve was way under the chassis - I had to practically lay down on the ground to reach it. So I had it moved forward to the edge (like the grey already was). Now, I barely have to bend to reach it.

How I store my plastic leveling blocks has changed as well. I used to keep them in the outside storage compartments. That meant when I arrived somewhere, I had to get out of the vehicle, open the compartment, bend over to get out the blocks fighting with other supplies usually, close the compartment, lay out the blocks, get back in the vehicle... Now, I keep them under the cab seats - I get out of the vehicle, grab the blocks, lay them out, get back in the vehicle. Much easier with less bending (only have to bend to lay them out and pick them up).

There are some things that can be done to minimize physical limitations. But if the mental limitations are there (as in "I don't like doing it anymore"), then there really isn't anything that's going to change it. And there is always a compromise going from one type of RV to another so that doesn't always solve the problem either (I got the clipper because I got tired of hitching - but now I have another engine to deal with).

For some in Margaret's situation, going to a class B might be a solution - no hitching, no toad necessary, and a vehicle that is really no different than your daily driver in regards to getting repair work (rather than a large class A that needs a special tow truck and not every shop can fix). But, if the person is a worrier by nature (as it appears Margaret's husband is), then the best thing may be to leave RVing behind and find another way of travel that better suits - again, physical limitations can often be worked around; mental limitations are much more difficult.

TomG2 wrote:

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.

Sorry, I didn't realize the humor police were working today :)
I felt that everyone knew that djgarcia wanted to say 'convenience' but his auto correct made the change.

Have a nice Labor Day.

darsben1 wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

MargaretB wrote:


...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.

MargaretB, Don't remember who mentioned reporting your post.. Sadly, I think if you had rewritten it a bit differently leaving out some of the selling details it would not have been removed.

You had stated some very good reasons as to why you were moving on and that to me said all that was needed to be said. The other stuff looked a lot like a sales ad which is not allowed per the TOS of the forum..

I would have hoped that the Mods would have at least sent you a PM to explain but I understand they are busy keeping the forum tidy, sometimes they may not be able to send PMs to all that have bent the rules.. They get no pay and it is a thankless job..

Sad to see a fellow RVr call it quits, but everyone here some day must face the harsh reality that camping is not physically or mentally easy anymore.

While one chapter of your life has come to a close, another chapter is ready to be written.. Go and find another adventure that you and your better half can enjoy together!

I reported it.
Seven years a member and never read the rules there is no excuse for that.

Sometimes when one is in a position of "distress" one might not fully "remember" all the rules..

A PM to the OP suggesting to edit and remove a few things, explaining the rules might have been a nice gesture :)

TomG2 wrote:

MargaretB wrote:
Thanks for all that information. We appreciate your goodwill. To respond -

Yes, it's the chain that goes between the trailer and truck. Because of where it attaches to the truck, it's necessary to get under the bumper. That's the main issue. Ours have carabiner-type closures. We thread the brake wire into the chain before attaching it.

.

There are workarounds for just about everything. The end of the chain could be fitted with a large open ended hook to facilitate that part of the process, for instance.

Yes, it could be. But it's still necessary to get down under the bumper to attach it. The issue is partly with his arms, so reaching without lying under it is not possible.