That went as expected-Part Deux

beelbill wrote:

Allworth wrote:
Whoever sold you that trailer should be thrown in jail.

No, I don't think so. They were very nice and showed me a lot. From what I can tell from the responses, the problems I have had are pretty common. They are just nuances that I hadn't thought about. After 40 years of towing travel trailers, I did things automatically without thinking about them. Really, the same problems I have had now are the same ones I had when I began towing. They just present a little differently.

For example, when you go to unhitch a trailer, you often have to rock the hitch a little to get the latch on the trailer to lift up before you can crank the trailer up away from the ball. That is the same thing as what I had to do to release the pressure on the 5th wheel hitch. The only reason I assumed the handle would glide easily open is because it opened easy on the sales lot. That was because when it was shown to me how to hitch, we didn't actually move the 5th wheel so it never engaged fully. Now it makes sense.

I had to learn how to back a trailer but it was so long ago, I forgot how hard it was at first. I did it without thinking. Now I just have to learn a little different technique. I got it in the second time without a problem. Also, trying to back into a mud pit during the rainy season didn't help. Once I have backed it in a few times, I will pack the drive down and it will be easier. I think from now on it won't be that much different than the trailers. I am not new to RV's, just 5er's.

I am sure it has been done many times before, but I think I might start a thread for compare and contrast 5er's to TT's out in the general section. That might help me anticipate problems better.

I agree that the dealer did a lousy job of showing you the ropes. You should have, at minimum, about 2 hours of crawling over under and around any trailer (new or used), prior to signing the paperwork. There may be any number of small things, and (hopefully not) some larger things, that need to be fixed under warranty. I know that after years of reading here, a lot of people will simply tell the salesman to make themselves scarce for a while while they to a thorough physical inspection =before= the salesman comes in to demonstrate everything. Frankly, a good dealer will have propane and generator tanks full, and at least =some= water in the fresh tank, to demonstrate that everything works properly and there are no leaks. You sure as hell don't want to find out that you have a propane leak the hard way. On top of that, the dealer should adjust your hitch and brake controller for you on a test drive. An =excellent= dealer will have provisions for you to take an overnight "test camp" on their lot. Another thing that many people are doing on the PDI (that's PRE-delivery inspection) is videoing the entire thing. I know a couple people have caught the salesmen making, call them "errors" to be nice, in their PDI.

Lyle