I'm a worry wart these days I guess....

[0rion]

We just got back from a long weekend over Memorial Weekend with the 5er and have a trip to Va Beach coming up June 20th. I find myself worrying more and more about things when it comes to towing the camper. We have 3 kids (10-7-7months) and I worry we'll be involved in a wreck or something like that will happen. I find myself almost dreading the trip because of the worry. I worry about tire pressures, hitch connections, and things like that. Hopefully it passes but I can see me being a bundle of nerves during the trip and it's a pretty long tow for us.

[0rion]

We made it out there and back without incident. 12 hours out and 14 back because I swung up through PA and dropped the 5er off at my buddies property for July 4th weekend. I'm very proud of the kids.....they all did great on the trip. The older kids (7 and 10)kept pretty well entertained and then did a good job with the 8 month old when he was awake keeping him company. 8 month old didn't cry a single time going or coming. We made a couple extra stops (explaining the long travel times) just to get him out of the car seat, feed him, and let him sit in the grass for a bit. Truck and camper both did great although it was 93 degrees coming back and I was seeing tranny temps a hair over 200 when climbing hills. Not enough to really worry about but I like to see those tranny temps stay below 200 if I can help it.
Vacation was great. We did the beach a few days, relaxed around camp a couple of days, and took the kids out to eat at a couple nice places. They had a blast as usual and as usual we all didn't want to leave when it got that time. 😄

[wkrp]

Something we have done since the first 2-3 times we were on the road is to slow down and enjoy.

Nowdays there doesn't seem to be a rest area we don't like. While DW goes to the facilities I take a leisurely walk around the unit looking at the hitch, tires, doors, truck tires, etc. When she comes back she does a visual herself.

This reassures both of us on a steady basis.

Slowing down on speed is a big help. Have found that driving too fast causes me to be tensed up all the time and my DW to be on the edge also.

It's only natural to be concerned when kids are involved. Isn't that what our job is as parents?

[0rion]

Rescue16 wrote:

0rion wrote:

Rescue16 wrote:

0rion wrote:

Rescue16 wrote:
Just take your time. My wife is from Ohio so we tow that trip from Virginia Beach to the Beaver Valley exit which is 9 hours and another 15 minutes after we get off the turnpike we are home for her. I never exceed 65 and usually around 62 since that is my sweet spot towing mileage wise. Plenty of stuff to do at the beach send me a IM if you need any info about the campground you are staying at or the beach. Been here 33 years and love it!!

this will be our 3rd year in a row going out there.....we always have such a good time. Since we have the 7 month old we weren't going to go this year but as it got closer we couldn't resist. 😄 We actually stay south of va beach at north landing beach campground off princess anne rd. Probably not the greatest campground but the kids love the beach area and with the playground and water ballon slingshots they look forward to it now. We usually go to va beach for a few hours and walk around but most of our time is spent at Sandbridge or at the campground. I look forward to the vacation....it's the getting there that bothers me. 😄

We live about 20 minutes from that campground and used to go quite a bit there. They have done some major upkeep there since last summer and I was going to go there this weekend for a quick getaway but going to Indian Cove out in Sandbridge instead. Like I said earlier slow and steady gets it done. Check pressures on tires, and lug nuts. make sure antenna down and steps in and make sure the trailer hitch is latched in and so is the brakes and have a safe and enjoyable trip!!

we actually asked about maintenance stuff when we called. Last year we had electricity problems there. I got everything set up and turned on the a/c and it wouldn't start. After crawling over everything trying to figure out what was wrong with my a/c I ran a cord to the sites on either side of me and the same thing. Now I got the warranty stuff out and we're trying to find a repair place out there to look at my a/c. My buddy suggests trying his site since his a/c was running fine so we ran cord over to his site and it fired right up. They have a whole section that had electrical issues. We asked about that when we called and they said they'd replaced a ton of electrical and were still repairing some that were left. They're really nice people and we've always had a good experience there. We'll arrive on the 20th and leave the 25th. Stop in and say hello. KZ Spree 5er and a grey/blue duramax. My name is Tim.

Tim...Depending on work Schedule will try and roll out there one afternoon on the Motorcycle....If you see a White Honda Goldwing roll up to your site it will be me....Mike

Mike....I'll PM you my cell number. Just shoot me a text if you plan on stopping out. I'd hate for you to make the trip and me be at Captain George's laying a beat down on a buffet. 😄 Love that place and smell like crab legs for days after going there. 😄 Me and my son have a system. He loves to crack crab legs but he can only eat a few of them so I employ him as my designated cracker....win win situation.

[globehopper]

hey - feel your anxiety - before buying, after buying, first trips,etc. couldn't sleep worrying about all that could go wrong. it's getting a lot better! took the grand kids out mem. weekend and we had a blast - had both of them help out with setting up and hooking up. we constantly check: tire pressure, lug nuts, trans temp, triple check tow hook up and make sure we don't leave steps down, awning not all the way in, etc. we look at it as a house that needs to be taken care of. you may want to plan short trips, no more than 200 miles. stay a couple of days or one night and push on to your destination, that way you can check everything before heading out and gain confidence. i used to drive a porsche before the tt, and believe me talk, about danger out there!

[crasster]

I understand your fears. Seriously. My wife and I have 5 children. Most of them young. I do all the maint issues, but still worry A LOT. I think "What if my tow vehicle goes out on me"..... "In the middle of no where?"

See the common answer is "Good Sam ERS". Okay, that's great and all. But nobody considers that my entire family can't fit into a tow truck. We'd be divided so far from home. Plus then I'd be without transportation so far away. We'd be stuck, at the mercy of some repairman staying at some kind of funky hotel and still not really know what happened to the camper.

If it was just my DW and myself, no biggie. The children complicate it A LOT. Nerves go way up.

Sometimes still I wonder "Wouldn't it be easier to just take a mini van and some tents?" LOL

[noe-place]

I still remember how I used to quietly panic the first several times we travelled in our MH. As I grew in rving experience the confidence level grew as I learned what/how/when to do what was needed to make things safe for us to travel. Now everything is committed to memory and seems to flow automatically. Don't let the current rash of bad news do more than make you use them as reminders to take the usual care. Happy miles!!!

[Rescue16]

0rion wrote:

Rescue16 wrote:

0rion wrote:

Rescue16 wrote:
Just take your time. My wife is from Ohio so we tow that trip from Virginia Beach to the Beaver Valley exit which is 9 hours and another 15 minutes after we get off the turnpike we are home for her. I never exceed 65 and usually around 62 since that is my sweet spot towing mileage wise. Plenty of stuff to do at the beach send me a IM if you need any info about the campground you are staying at or the beach. Been here 33 years and love it!!

this will be our 3rd year in a row going out there.....we always have such a good time. Since we have the 7 month old we weren't going to go this year but as it got closer we couldn't resist. 😄 We actually stay south of va beach at north landing beach campground off princess anne rd. Probably not the greatest campground but the kids love the beach area and with the playground and water ballon slingshots they look forward to it now. We usually go to va beach for a few hours and walk around but most of our time is spent at Sandbridge or at the campground. I look forward to the vacation....it's the getting there that bothers me. 😄

We live about 20 minutes from that campground and used to go quite a bit there. They have done some major upkeep there since last summer and I was going to go there this weekend for a quick getaway but going to Indian Cove out in Sandbridge instead. Like I said earlier slow and steady gets it done. Check pressures on tires, and lug nuts. make sure antenna down and steps in and make sure the trailer hitch is latched in and so is the brakes and have a safe and enjoyable trip!!

we actually asked about maintenance stuff when we called. Last year we had electricity problems there. I got everything set up and turned on the a/c and it wouldn't start. After crawling over everything trying to figure out what was wrong with my a/c I ran a cord to the sites on either side of me and the same thing. Now I got the warranty stuff out and we're trying to find a repair place out there to look at my a/c. My buddy suggests trying his site since his a/c was running fine so we ran cord over to his site and it fired right up. They have a whole section that had electrical issues. We asked about that when we called and they said they'd replaced a ton of electrical and were still repairing some that were left. They're really nice people and we've always had a good experience there. We'll arrive on the 20th and leave the 25th. Stop in and say hello. KZ Spree 5er and a grey/blue duramax. My name is Tim.

Tim...Depending on work Schedule will try and roll out there one afternoon on the Motorcycle....If you see a White Honda Goldwing roll up to your site it will be me....Mike

[0rion]

fla-gypsy wrote:
Do what you know to do and teach yourself hazard recognition and risk management. This pastime can be done safely if you invest the time.

I generally don't get worried that easily. I've towed this thing several thousand miles the last 2 years. I believe maybe it has to do with the new baby and just the amount of bad stories I've read recently it seems. I know from a preperation standpoint there's really not much more I can do. I have a pretty good system down that I stick to. My wife always gives me flack because I ALWAYS wash and detail the truck before we go on a trip. My dad used to do it and it's a habit I picked up. I've stayed up until midnight before detailing the truck in the garage the night before we left. I just can't take a trip until everything is done and that includes having a clean truck. Used to be much nicer because it would stay clean. Now with a couple of kids in the back seat it's messed up before the first fuel stop. 😄

[BillyGo]

Keeps you alert.................

[0rion]

Rescue16 wrote:

0rion wrote:

Rescue16 wrote:
Just take your time. My wife is from Ohio so we tow that trip from Virginia Beach to the Beaver Valley exit which is 9 hours and another 15 minutes after we get off the turnpike we are home for her. I never exceed 65 and usually around 62 since that is my sweet spot towing mileage wise. Plenty of stuff to do at the beach send me a IM if you need any info about the campground you are staying at or the beach. Been here 33 years and love it!!

this will be our 3rd year in a row going out there.....we always have such a good time. Since we have the 7 month old we weren't going to go this year but as it got closer we couldn't resist. 😄 We actually stay south of va beach at north landing beach campground off princess anne rd. Probably not the greatest campground but the kids love the beach area and with the playground and water ballon slingshots they look forward to it now. We usually go to va beach for a few hours and walk around but most of our time is spent at Sandbridge or at the campground. I look forward to the vacation....it's the getting there that bothers me. 😄

We live about 20 minutes from that campground and used to go quite a bit there. They have done some major upkeep there since last summer and I was going to go there this weekend for a quick getaway but going to Indian Cove out in Sandbridge instead. Like I said earlier slow and steady gets it done. Check pressures on tires, and lug nuts. make sure antenna down and steps in and make sure the trailer hitch is latched in and so is the brakes and have a safe and enjoyable trip!!

we actually asked about maintenance stuff when we called. Last year we had electricity problems there. I got everything set up and turned on the a/c and it wouldn't start. After crawling over everything trying to figure out what was wrong with my a/c I ran a cord to the sites on either side of me and the same thing. Now I got the warranty stuff out and we're trying to find a repair place out there to look at my a/c. My buddy suggests trying his site since his a/c was running fine so we ran cord over to his site and it fired right up. They have a whole section that had electrical issues. We asked about that when we called and they said they'd replaced a ton of electrical and were still repairing some that were left. They're really nice people and we've always had a good experience there. We'll arrive on the 20th and leave the 25th. Stop in and say hello. KZ Spree 5er and a grey/blue duramax. My name is Tim.

[fla-gypsy]

Do what you know to do and teach yourself hazard recognition and risk management. This pastime can be done safely if you invest the time.

[Rescue16]

0rion wrote:

Rescue16 wrote:
Just take your time. My wife is from Ohio so we tow that trip from Virginia Beach to the Beaver Valley exit which is 9 hours and another 15 minutes after we get off the turnpike we are home for her. I never exceed 65 and usually around 62 since that is my sweet spot towing mileage wise. Plenty of stuff to do at the beach send me a IM if you need any info about the campground you are staying at or the beach. Been here 33 years and love it!!

this will be our 3rd year in a row going out there.....we always have such a good time. Since we have the 7 month old we weren't going to go this year but as it got closer we couldn't resist. 😄 We actually stay south of va beach at north landing beach campground off princess anne rd. Probably not the greatest campground but the kids love the beach area and with the playground and water ballon slingshots they look forward to it now. We usually go to va beach for a few hours and walk around but most of our time is spent at Sandbridge or at the campground. I look forward to the vacation....it's the getting there that bothers me. 😄

We live about 20 minutes from that campground and used to go quite a bit there. They have done some major upkeep there since last summer and I was going to go there this weekend for a quick getaway but going to Indian Cove out in Sandbridge instead. Like I said earlier slow and steady gets it done. Check pressures on tires, and lug nuts. make sure antenna down and steps in and make sure the trailer hitch is latched in and so is the brakes and have a safe and enjoyable trip!!

[Campfire_Time]

Ditto what everyone says about checklists and maintenance. See the quote in my signature. While you can't plan for and prevent every potential problem, I'm a firm believer in being prepared.

[I_am_still_wayn]

Worry to a point is healthy. Complacency gets people in trouble. Check and double check everything from a checklist you compile. Once you have satisfied yourself that all points of concern are OK, then move on.

Worrying about you might get in a wreck is pointless. The odds of that happening close to home in everyday routine is far greater than it happening on a trip. It can happen of course. So can you dying of a stroke, the kids being eaten by a shark while swimming in the ocean, etc.

Enjoy life but be prudent.