the ups and downs of our first 3 trips.

[campn4walleye]

This is our 2nd season with our TC. We didn't get it out of storage until mid May due to weather, spring chores and DH's sudden cardiac issue.

We took it to our property up north for a test run. Everything worked fine...hooray! We only stayed 1 night as storms were moving in, Duncan was covered in ticks, and I had no wish to spend another night with him AND them in the bed. During break down, that's when the horrible grinding noise appeared in 1 of the newly repaired HJ jacks. The motor was stripped. When they had tested the motors, they didn't do it under load. Hmm.

Not to be daunted, we went camping again while waiting for the new motor head to arrive. Before we left, DH caught his head on the edge of the slide and came in gushing blood. No stitches needed (barely) and we're on our way. Turned a corner (9 miles gone so far) and DH notices the cap on the boat tire is missing. Apparently, this is important as it keeps the grease in and water out. He stops and buys new ones, but we must go back and get the grease gun/tools to apply it. Found the matching Lund logo one that he lost on our Rd. We get it back on and we're back on the road. Great trip there. We get to the CG and get it unloaded. It took a LOT longer as he had to hand crank the broken jack. I went in to switch the fridge to AC and it wouldn't work!

Remember our issue from last yr? Same issue again. So smart DH had kept the by pass wires he used last yr and it works. Not optimum, but it works and Dometic doesn't know why it has the issue.

We met nice people next door, the fishing was terrible and the cottonwood fell like snow. No ticks this time!

Our 3rd trip was wonderful! A nice level, shaded site. The weather was gorgeous. Everything worked, (fridge still jury rigged, but the new motor is on the jack and purrs like a kitten), fishing was great.

I guess 3 time's a charm. Can't wait for the next trip.

[realter]

But the up arrows mean down and the down mean up and half the time my battery is about dead because there is no power at my storage place. I finally figured out I was standing at the wrong end of the camper because everything was backwards too.Maybe it helps to be a Chilihead, everyone around here is a Cornhead. (Cornhuskers)

[chilihead]

realter wrote:
I can't seem to figure out that Happy Jack remote, so usually turn those cranks by hand. Not too hard. I think I may have wasted my money on electric jacks.

Have you tried phoning the vendor? I've got the eletric jacks and love them and its not that hard to use. You need to press two buttons simultanously to energize it...can't remember which buttons without the device in my hand. But once its on, its a piece of cake.

[Super_Dave]

realter wrote:
I think I may have wasted my money on electric jacks.

Or from your desription of it, they may have been wasted on you. LOL!

[realter]

I can't seem to figure out that Happy Jack remote, so usually turn those cranks by hand. Not too hard. I think I may have wasted my money on electric jacks.

[motorsports]

Trish!

Sorry to hear about the Dometic/HappiJack issues, & most sorry to hear about DH's head!

DW & I have anticipated the issue of "Our 1st slide camper head injury", and purchased some lightweight yellow hiway markers to put on the ground to define the Slide/Head-Bonking Zone. Found them online, not very expensive IIRC.

As I don't have a Photobucket account, I'll PM you a photo of our setup, maybe you can post it on this thread if you think it may help someone else on the Forum.

Glad to hear you're camping gear's running on all 8 cylinders now!

[Super_Dave]

Trish, there is a saying about posts without pictures being worthless. You need to post some fish porn with your reports!

[campn4walleye]

I told DH about the drill, but he thinks that the swing out bracket is in the way. Will look into it though.

[Butch50]

Just as a suggestion on the jack. I carry my 18V Ryobi drill with me. I have a bolt that fits the jacks that I put into the chuck and then I release the lever the same way as if you are going to use the jack handle and then use my drill to lower the jacks. It is a 2 speed and if I want to lift the camper I switch to 1st and it well lift the camper. It does really torque the drill when you are lifting the camper so make sure you have a very good grip on the drill.

This would work if you have anymore problems with the jack motors.