Ok, Time to Come Clean and Admit Our Screw-Ups

[Got_Dirt_]

Admit it - we've all done some pretty dumb stuff in the name of RVing. They say a wise man learns from his mistakes. I say a wiser man learns from other peoples mistakes.

So, here's an opportunity to be an honest man or woman and share our blunders in the spirit of alleviating another from undue suffering and shame.

To start it off here's just one of my recent faux pas.

During off season, I drain my hot water heater and remove the anode (don't ask why I bother, I just do). It rained so much here in California that water got into the opening where you screw in the anode and rusted up big-time. When it was time to get out of Dodge, I couldn't screw in the anode as the opening was so rusted. What a Dumb A$$!

Long story short, went to the homeless depot and bought one of these.


Click For Full-Size Image.

Cut some grooves so the crud had somewhere to go and voila! Home made thread chaser! Now i know this has been done by many before - it was a first for me and it worked out great.

Anyone else care to share?

[CA_Traveler]

BobsYourUncle wrote:
Blindsiding the TT into a narrow driveway in the pouring rain and a stupid ignorant power pole leapt out from the side and viciously attacked the back corner of my TT, leaving a big crunch in the side.

Clear skies with 115F temps, pulled into a site with the power not working.

Brand new rig and didn't wait for DW to help, so pulled out and sure enough a sawed off tree jumped up and slapped the side of 3 rig panels. Used the toad and tow rope to pull the tree away as I couldn't move w/o more damage.

For many very hot summer days after that is was ice cold in the rig if you get my DW drift... 😞

[bobsinn]

On our first long trip towing 4 down I had a flat on one of the RV dual's. After pulling over and seeing what the problem was I decided to get off the Interstate at the next exit which was about 1/4 mile further. There was a 7-11 right there so pulled into their lot. Called Good Sams, they said it would be about an Hr. so I decided to unhook the toad for better access to the spare. I forgot to set the brake and had one heck of a time getting the last pin removed. We were on a hill so the toad starts rolling back toward a vegetable stand that was across the street. The door was locked and I tried to hold it from rolling. Well I great young man tried to help me too but we weren't enough. Thank god for a curb. The toad climbed the curb then got hung up. Nothing hurt except my ego. After that I always undo the safety chains last!

[jesseannie]

No.

[1995brave]

My first "RV" a pop up, set it up went out and turned on the gas. Nothing would light, so turn off the gas and remove the hose. Just as I'm turning on the gas valve to see if tank is full a neighboring RVer sticks his head down puffing on a cigarette. T.G. we did not go up in flames.
After we got the Class A , store it in the backyard, I'm backing out and bump into a tree in the front yard (minor dent on the corner). Came back, and fixed the dent. Next month going out to go fishing and daughter reminds me of the tree, I backed right into it again. Came back from the fishing trip and cut down the tree.

[MetalGator]

BobsYourUncle wrote:
A full pound of butter down the heat duct once earned me the nickname here of butterboy...:B That was a classic... some of you here may remember my story on that one.

I remember that story! The last trip we took in our TT, a glass of water got knocked off the dinette table and the water was running towards the heat duck. I quickly grabbed a towel to make sure water didn't get in the duct. The first thing I though of was the butter story! 🙂

[riven1950]

Don't try this at home. Was draining my hwh to winterize. Forgot to take the pressure off the system first. Glad I was standing a little to the side when the plug / anode came flying past me.

[jplante4]

rexlion wrote:
This reminds me of a joke. Someone once wrote, "We should all be humble enough to admit our faults. I'd certainly admit mine, if I had any." 🙂

I use a shorter version - "I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong."

[georgelesley]

I finished the final walk around carefully looking under the MH, checking the tires, etc. as we pulled out we were waving and smiling good bye to some friend who were doing the same. Then their faces changed and they started frantically gesturing at us. Too late We soon heard the sound of the ladder being ripped off the MH. When doing the final walk around I did a great job of looking down, but not so good looking up as I walked under the clothesline DW had tied from the ladder to a tree that was stronger than our ladder.

I soon got to know more about how ladders were mounted to RV's than I ever wanted to know. I also know exactly how much they cost.

[gbopp]

I drove away while still hooked to shore power, And that was AFTER I did a final walk around.

[4x4ord]

I was visiting with my sister while hooking up our old Terry tag trailer and didn't pay attention to what I was doing. After getting all hooked up we took off through the mountains of BC. About 10 miles into our travels the highway crossed a railway track that I didn't slow down for. After the truck hit it I realized how rough the crossing was and watched in the rearview mirror to see how the trailer would bounce over it. Not so well. I kept right on going as I anounced to my wife that we just lost our trailer back there. With no safety chains and no emergency brake away the trailer was having no problem keeping up with us. At first my wife refused to believe what I had told her but the four kids in the back seat turned to watch out the rear window and they assured their mother that it was so.....the trailer was no longer hooked up. So I'm watching the trailer thinking if it happens to cross the center line I will slam on my brakes and let it plow into the back of my truck rather than have it run head on into an oncoming vehicle. My wife starts going nuts hitting me and reminding me of my stupidity. Any way we crossed a bridge with a concrete curb on the right. The front corner of the trailer bounced off the curb deflecting the trailer toward the centre of the road. Fortunately the crown of the highway was just enough to prevent the trailer from crossing the center line. It bounced off the curb again and eventually after crossing the bridge it rolled off the road into the ditch. I had a tow strap which I used to tow it back onto the highway and with the help of some guys who stopped to lend a hand we had it set back on my hitch, properly latched this time, and we were on our way. About the only damage done was slight damage to the front corner of the trailer and the jack was bent and worn out. As well I had slight bruising to my right shoulder from my wife's somewhat violent attack.

[malexander]

My first 5er was in 1996. Went to Branson, backed into the site, pulled the latch on the hitch, 5er started rolling backward. The tailgate of the pickup caught it before it rolled off the 6' drop-off at the rear of the site. Yeah, forgot to chock the wheels.

Next major screw-up 20 years later.....turned too soon pulling the motorhome out from under the carport. Literally ripped the entire rear cap off when just the corner caught the last post of the carport.

Haven't had the Bounder long enough to anything stupid yet.:D

[Got_Dirt_]

Oh, I have another doozy!

When you run out of beer, it's time to go home. My brother was driving the truck and the primitive road we were on was wash-board city! I told him just to go faster and that my toyhauler could take it. We're well on our way home when nature called and we stopped for a few. As I walked toward the toyhauler I froze, not sure what I was looking at. Under the toyhauler was a mess of wires, hoses and pipes. I just stood there with wtf all over my face. Underneath was a void; a black hole - where my water tank once was and was no more. I lost it God only knows where. I assume it was on that bumpy bump dirt they called a primitive road. Funny, i can laugh now but at the time I felt like cryin'! Haha!

[Grit_dog]

Pretty much cleaned the AC off the top of the camper last summer day before we needed to use it......for the first time ever. (The AC, not the camper)
Car wash bay looked taller to my spotter then it really was!

Best part was when my 7th grader then took his headphones off and said"Why didn't you use that outside bay dad?"

[sam22]

Lol I like this thread! 2016 was my fist year with a travel trailer so I've got a few screw ups...first one that comes to mind is forgetting to plug in the power cord from the trailer to the tow vehicle. I realized the mistake after about thirty minutes of driving and pulled over to find the the plug was dragging on the highway the entire time and was almost completely worn through. I plugged it in and Luckily it still worked somehow! Won't do that again!

At one spot I parked to close to the fuel pumps and scratched the side of my trailer trying to get out, nothing to serious but now I always pick my gas stations carefully and give lots of room

Ummm...I think that's about it, though I'm sure there will be things to ad in the future!

[Old-Biscuit]

Have DUAL 50A receptacles on 5vr. Majority of time use the front one.
One CG used the back one-------yep started to drive away with it still connected.
Fortunately only damage was to male plug end....blades bent/cable stretched
Didn't like that plug anyway
Since then..dual walk-around. Each of us going opposite directions :B

Jammed a tree limb into/under roof backing into a tight spot (No worries I can get it in there)------thank you EternaBond Tape.
Since then.......listen to her better :B

First year we had a Garmin I failed to 'check/verify' unknown route and when Miss Garmin said 'Turn Left 500 yards' I turned left onto a nice tree lined narrow street and remarked that this CG really had a nice entrance.
About 1/4 mile of travel Miss Garmin states 'Destination reached' at which time I notice these two large Iron Work Gates that lead into a CEMETERY. And old one with huge pine trees.
After much jocking I finally get truck & 5th wheel headed back out to main road.
CG was another 1 1/2 miles further and on right side!!
Miss Garmin went into a box muffled nr' to be heard from again. Figured if I had to check/verify routes what do I need Miss Garmin for??
Besides I hated when we would verve off course "RECALCULATING-RECALCULATING" :B