Do a walk around at every stop!

[tinner12002]

Went to Talladega for the race and on the return trip my buddy was traveling in front with his newer TT when I had lost site of him in traffic north of Louisville. Suddenly in all the heavy northbound traffic I seen them on the side of the road. Not being able to get pulled over until some time down the road I find out he had lost his trailer lights. So off I go to the next exit, turn and head back south to the next exit and then back north to where they were stopped, keep in mind I'm towing a 5th wheel, we find that his trailer wiring had drug the road to the point it had wore into. After getting to the next exit and wiring the two ends back together he had lights and off we go with a 2 hr delay. Every time I stop for fuel, to eat or for potty break I do a walk around to check and see if things look to be in order with nothing dripping or hanging and everything still connected...I think from now on he will be doing the same thing.

[time2roll]

Walk around does not help much when equipment is improperly assembled or secured.

I take a glance but no full walk around every stop. Full walk around before departure.

[BenK]

LIKE2BUILD wrote:

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Are there drivers that don't do a walk around? Amazing.......

I would venture a guess to say most of them.

Ditto...think most just jump in n drive off...

As a kid out with my high school drafting teacher...he taught me HOW2
tow...noticed at all of the stops we made...the truckers *ALL* went
around their setup bouncing an iron bar on EACH tire

Knew instantly what they were doing and Mr Shostako confirmed that and
then it was 'my' job to check the tires on his Mercury station wagon
towing that trailer...IIRC about 20' long.

Today...IR gun all the tires and brakes (hubs if can't bet to the rotor/drum), safety chains/breakaway/etc

Stuff is designed with so much margin these days...amazing that they
make a profit...

[jake2250]

After being an over the road trucker, It has become a habit to take a walk and have a good look around. I use bright paint and put a small stripe on the lug nuts so I can see if any have moved at all. Also give the electrical connection a push and pull to make sure its good! I do a light check after hooking up, but will look at the lenses during the walk around. Only takes an extra minute or two before setting off down the road again.

[dockmasterdave]

I have the Mrs do a quick visual check before leaving on a trip.
A couple times , she has spotted something I missed.
Sometimes another set of eyes will pick them out.

[Sandia_Man]

I do a general walk-around after hitching, but not anything fanatical after each stop. Only used infrared gun to check hub temps after bearing repacking, it mostly sits idle in the toolbox.

At most stops just a quick glance to ensure nothing is seriously amiss, and there have been plenty of instances where I just got back in and drove away.

I'm not sure if the OP's friend is somewhat new to RVing, but for us what's paramount is to have a solid routine before leaving home and when hitching up.

[romore]

A walk around also helps with making sure everything is put away. We have found camp chairs, leveling blocks, table cloths, dog stakes among other things when we pulled into sites.

[tinner12002]

Yep and he has been all over the country in an RV so you would think that would be common practice. I think having a new RV let him get his guard down. Not sure why cord was so long...short now though until he gets a new one put on.

[Kennedycamper]

Do a good walk around before you leave too.

[LIKE2BUILD]

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Are there drivers that don't do a walk around? Amazing.......

I would venture a guess to say most of them.

[coolbreeze01]

Are there drivers that don't do a walk around? Amazing.......

[Grit_dog]

Yeah I don't go all NASCAR pit stop, IR guns, grease guns, tq wrench, tire gauge etc, but equipment walk arounds should be common practice.

[Dadio24]

I wish everyone would to the safety walk at each stop. Better safe than an issue a few miles down the road in a "not so safe" place.

[RoyB]

Works for me as well... Check for hot rims and tires also...

I always do this as soon as I stop looking for heated up items - then I go potty...

Roy Ken

[Old-Biscuit]

Why was his trailer umbilical cord so long that it would end up dragging?

Walk around is just a regular routine for me........DAD instilled 'equip checks'

I get out Infrared Temp Gun and check tires, hubs, rotors etc on truck and 5th wheel plus hitch pins, Emergency Brake Cable and umbilical cord

Good routine to incorporate ....just like that finally walk around prior to leaving camp site.

[LadyRVer]

Always a good idea. Might prevent a problem. I almost always do, whether driving a motor home and towing a car or towing a fifth wheel as I currently do. A walk around before leaving in the morning is a must do, too. Amazing what I can find.

Edited by Barb