Out for our first time in a brand new 2015 Grand Design and made a few newbie mistakes.1. Wrong turn in campground caused me to have to drive through a section that gave me a little pucker factor2. Once we found our spot...we got it in what we thought was a good position, leveled it, unhooked the truck and then discovered that it was not close enough to hook it to the electrical outlet. Redo3. When unhooking the second time...forgot to put the tailgate down and wound up scratching the top of my tailgate (plastic piece) before I realized that it was not down.4. Once we got all leveled up (the second time) started extending slides. Got to the last one (the bunkhouse slide) and discovered that it would not go all the way out. Would start binding half way out. Called dealer service department and they walked me through discovering that one of the cabinet doors that is not visible when the slide is in had popped open while we were driving and the slide was getting caught on it. Was able to get my arm down the side of the slide to get the door closed but the damage was done...lower hinge was ripped off the cabinet face.Luckily, the dealer is going to cover the door for us because it popped open while driving and should not have. When I discovered this, I never once thought they would fix it but they just offered to do it as a warranty item.Camping is a lot of work...and towing a large 5th wheel thru a campground that is jammed pack is VERY stressful. I am sure (I hope) I will get more comfortable with it because my family really loves to go camping.

Its all trial and error. Try to show up early to the campground, get setup and watch how others do things. You can learn alot of things watching others, good and bad. Good luck.

You will find many things in and around an RV can be damaged with casual oversight.As long as no one is hurt, it's all good ;)

Hey, the maiden voyage is out of the way, you learned a few things, and nobody got hurt. Hopefully you had some fun the rest of the time. Congratulations, and I'm glad the dealership is helping you out. Happy trails!

We all have "first time" issues. You are now part of the club, LOL

....2. Once we found our spot...we got it in what we thought was a good position, leveled it, unhooked the truck and then discovered that it was not close enough to hook it to the electrical outlet. Redo....Ah, you will get used to it. And think of it this way you just started your first chapter of CG stories to tell around the campfire! :CBTW.....get yourself an RV extension cord to keep on board at all times. It will give you an additional 30 ft. You will find yourself at many CG's that you ARE parked in the correct position and still can't reach the shore station.And...Buy a Rhino sewer hose kit with all the attachments you will eventually need at some CG's. And you will be way ahead of the game of muddling thru the newbie stage! :BBoth can be found at Walmart.Welcome to the sometimes wacky world of RV'ing!

Newbie uh-ohs | Good Sam Community

bigwheelsturnin
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014
for about 8 yrs we had been living in our camper...in the adjoining state for hubbys work...his work laptop....i crunched it...in the big slide..i thought that "loud pop"..was the slide...thank God...no...just his laptop made into an accordion...there's more incidents...but since they are hubbys...i won't tell... ;-)
bigwheelsturnin
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014
Chock Full o' Nuts wrote:
I think everyone has had at least one mistake. I know I have. Like the time I misjudged a corner and took out a restaurant awning, plus a 20-ft strip of my brand new roof. Or the time I parked the trailer in what i thought was our site--it turned out to be the middle of the road! :B The campground owner came by and set me straight. Or the time we hitched our PUP in the dark and didn't realize it wasn't seated on the ball. Pulled out next morning without checking it and--you guessed it!--dropped the hitch about 1/2 mile down the road on a 5 lane hwy at Atlanta rush hour. :S

i just hadta hijack this post to tell you how hard we laffed ...i know..wasn't funny..but so funny now.. ;-)
Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014
Over the years, I've learned to carry an extra white water hose, an extra 30A extension cord, and an extra stinky slinky in my 'C'. If you're 2 inches away from the hookups, you might as well be 2 miles away. And yes, I've used every one at least once.
Tvov
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2014
Another thing I do usually when packing up to leave - have wife or son or daughter walk around the camper and question anything they see that might seem odd. A different set of eyes can pick out things that I just miss since I've "done it a thousand times"... lol!
murphysranch
Explorer
Aug 21, 2014
DH and I have been there, done that and we're only 5 months into a trailer so far.
Ripped a cabinet door off - check
Drove away without the levelers up - check
Broke the antenna - check
Lost plastic bowls and cups to breakage when cab doors flew open - check
Spilled sewage when we forgot to close the valve - check
Had the black tank come up to the rim of toilet - check
Smashed things in storage under seats in slide - check
Tweaked the bath door when putting in bed slide - check

Solution: I walk around the rig 2 times to check for things. I also got those tiny bungie cords and wrap them around two opposing cab doors to keep them shut. We no longer store anything small in slide storage. And I make sure all doors are closed inside before I close the 2 slides.
Mvander
Explorer
Aug 21, 2014
I don't consider myself a newbie anymore but I still managed to get a front stabilizer dug into the ground while backing into a particularly un level site. Some judicious throttle got things moving but the stab jack decided to remove itself from the tt. Say la vie. Luckily an easy fix when we get home.
restlesswind
Explorer
Aug 21, 2014
And...

"Buy a Rhino sewer hose kit with all the attachments you will eventually need at some CG's. And you will be way ahead of the game of muddling thru the newbie stage!"

Good idea on the Rhino! It's also a good idea to get the extension for it.They are a little shorter that some of the other brands.It may keep you from having to move the RV again.
pauliwalnutz
Explorer
Aug 21, 2014
I have been to some campgrounds that will lend out electrical cords or charge a nominal fee. Might be easier than hooking back up and moving the trailer.
Phydeauxman
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
I have been in contact with the dealer again and they have it on my very short list of things that need to be fixed. When we bought the camper, during their pre-delivery prep they found that the awning had a hole in it (small) and they ordered a new one before we even picked it up. They are still waiting on the new awning and once it is in, we will bring the camper down and have them also fix the door.
Tvov
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2014
Please give us an update on the dealer when you go back there to have things fixed. After all the horror stories about dealers, it sounds like you may have found a good one!

Phydeauxman wrote:
...
4. Once we got all leveled up (the second time) started extending slides. Got to the last one (the bunkhouse slide) and discovered that it would not go all the way out. Would start binding half way out. Called dealer service department and they walked me through discovering that one of the cabinet doors that is not visible when the slide is in had popped open while we were driving and the slide was getting caught on it. Was able to get my arm down the side of the slide to get the door closed but the damage was done...lower hinge was ripped off the cabinet face.

Luckily, the dealer is going to cover the door for us because it popped open while driving and should not have. When I discovered this, I never once thought they would fix it but they just offered to do it as a warranty item.
...

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