Don't be lazy

[camperforlife]

We all do it. Unhook the weight distribution bar on one side then step over the hitch to do the other side rather than walk around the truck.

I brought the trailer home after having a slide seal replaced and did exactly as I described above. I've done this more times than I can count. Well this time I stepped between the brake-away cable and the trailer frame without realizing it. I came down like I had been lassoed! I smashed my left shoulder into the truck bumper before I face planted into the gravel.

I have over 80K invested in two previous left shoulder surgeries and I certainly didn't need this. I wish I had taken the extra 15 seconds it would have taken to walk around the truck. Time will tell what my laziness cost me this time. I hope only it is only a few days of soreness. Please think about this before you step over the hitch!!!!

[Nvr2loud]

Dog Folks wrote:

rdhetrick wrote:
To the OP - glad you're doing better.

But I just don't understand all the "fear" about stepping over. If you have trouble lifting your legs, or are too short to do it comfortably - fine, walk around, but there is nothing unsafe about stepping over. There is no pinch point, nothing is moving unless your doing something else seriously wrong. How do you get the safety chains hooked up? Use a long pole?

All of that "fearmongering" is unfounded.

I respectfully disagree. This is not "fear mongering," but rather a notice of a possible problem and that is what this forum is about. The sharing of ideas.

May you never fall over your hitch.

I fasten both safety chains from one side.

+1

It is just simple advice, not fear mongering.

I will continue to carefully go over my tongue, but I still appreciate the warning from others who have been injured. I still change my summer rims to winter rims in my driveway, I install my own snow blower on the tractor, the plow on my UTV, burn wood debris in my yard, fall trees, and a variety of other potentially dangerous activities... but I always appreciate advice from others regarding my safety, there is no reason to poke fun at others (not that you did that LOL)

[Dog_Folks]

rdhetrick wrote:
To the OP - glad you're doing better.

But I just don't understand all the "fear" about stepping over. If you have trouble lifting your legs, or are too short to do it comfortably - fine, walk around, but there is nothing unsafe about stepping over. There is no pinch point, nothing is moving unless your doing something else seriously wrong. How do you get the safety chains hooked up? Use a long pole?

All of that "fearmongering" is unfounded.

I respectfully disagree. This is not "fear mongering," but rather a notice of a possible problem and that is what this forum is about. The sharing of ideas.

May you never fall over your hitch.

I fasten both safety chains from one side.

[rdhetrick]

To the OP - glad you're doing better.

But I just don't understand all the "fear" about stepping over. If you have trouble lifting your legs, or are too short to do it comfortably - fine, walk around, but there is nothing unsafe about stepping over. There is no pinch point, nothing is moving unless your doing something else seriously wrong. How do you get the safety chains hooked up? Use a long pole?

All of that "fearmongering" is unfounded.

[Yardvarkers]

Unhook the weight distribution bar on one side then step over the hitch to do the other side rather than walk around the truck.
Yep. Did that. 2 broken ribs and 1 broken toe.
:S

[colliehauler]

There is not a lot of room on my trailer to truck so I go around. Glad your on the mend.

[camperforlife]

Thank you everyone for the kind words. I fell on Friday and everyday I have felt better than the day before. Since my last shoulder surgery was only 8 months ago it gave me a pretty good scare. Today I can say I don't think I did enough damage to require a Dr visit.

To those that think they are tall enough, agile enough that it won't happen to you....wrong!! Accidents happen to everyone. I have always bragged that I was stealthy as a cat. I have always been very coordinated and only damaged my shoulder by showing off skiing doing stunts that catch up with even the best. The most recent surgery was to clean up scar tissue, spurs and calcium build up from my major rebuild after my accident 10 years ago.

I wasn't in a hurry, I thought I was paying attention and I'm stealthy as a cat:B. Never the less, I face planted and it is doubtful I'll step over the hitch again.

[Redterpos3]

Thanks for sharing your story! Hope you heal well and quickly. I truly appreciate this site for all the humility shown by everyone sharing their foibles (we all have them!). Each time it helps me to realize taking a few more minutes can save valuable body parts, and actually make the traveling more enjoyable. I hope everyone keeps these coming 'cause I know I have a thick head, and it take a lot to get me to listen to good advice like this!!!:W Thanks again!

[fallsrider]

I'm a newbie at this still, but I haven't gotten any grease on my clothes yet. Climbing over the coupler is easy for me (and hopefully for a few more years!). When releasing and removing the bars, the coupler is still latched. So there's no pinch point. Other than a trip hazard, what is the issue? I tend to not get in a hurry, so I'm not hopping over the bars, just stepping over (I'm just shy of 6'-2"). Yes, I could get tangled up and trip, but as long as I pay attention, I should be OK.

My sympathies to the OP, though. Those types of falls can at the least make you very sore, and at the worst, do damage that requires surgery, especially with injuries like that before.

[mdcamping]

camperforlife wrote:
We all do it. Unhook the weight distribution bar on one side then step over the hitch to do the other side rather than walk around the truck.

I brought the trailer home after having a slide seal replaced and did exactly as I described above. I've done this more times than I can count. Well this time I stepped between the brake-away cable and the trailer frame without realizing it. I came down like I had been lassoed! I smashed my left shoulder into the truck bumper before I face planted into the gravel.

I have over 80K invested in two previous left shoulder surgeries and I certainly didn't need this. I wish I had taken the extra 15 seconds it would have taken to walk around the truck. Time will tell what my laziness cost me this time. I hope only it is only a few days of soreness. Please think about this before you step over the hitch!!!!

yup I've cheated a few times...My legs are not as flexible as they were 30 yrs ago. I will take your advise.

Mike

[Bisker]

I never step over the hitch, always considered it bad luck. I walk around the truck.

[DutchmenSport]

old guy wrote:
I'm old, I can't get my leg up that high any more.

X2... With all the med's I'm on, I can't get anything up any more either! 😉

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

old guy wrote:
after reading this post a second time to see some of the answers, I wonder just how much grease do you guys use on the hitch and bars? In my younger days I always climbed over the hitch and I have never gotten grease on my pants or if I am wearing shorts, my legs.

I agree. I have picked up more grease camping than I do working around pull-behind trailers at work. Our TT is new - all that grease is what the dealer put on the ball and the WDH parts.

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

The biggest thing that steers me away from stepping over the hitch area is when I am concerned about getting dirty - I seem to always end up with grease from somewhere on my pants leg.

I will say I happened to look that way and caught sight of DW tripping herself up on the trailer plug / wire yesterday when we got home and started to unload. She stepped over to get something form the back of the TV and almost crashed. She is shorter and less practiced at climbing around / jumping over stuff than I. I will make a point to mention this to her.

[old_guy]

after reading this post a second time to see some of the answers, I wonder just how much grease do you guys use on the hitch and bars? In my younger days I always climbed over the hitch and I have never gotten grease on my pants or if I am wearing shorts, my legs.

[GMandJM]

G-half always does the step-over-the-hitch thing with the TT. And his pants are always a greasy
mess afterward, no matter how careful he tries to be (although I'm doubtful that he tries, really).

Maybe if he sees your post, he'll stop doing that and I'll be able to have a stain stick last for longer
than just one trip!

Please feel better soon!