What mistakes have you made that might help others...?

[d3500ram]

There is another thread going about a member who shared with us his misfortune on his camper. In it, was a very informative discussion as to how best resolve the problem. But more subtle was the message for me to take some extra time when loading/ unloading my TC. I applaud that member for sharing. There were other members who were sharing their mistakes. And it got me thinking... can we post here what things you would like to take back (regarding TC's) that will help others by learning from mistakes.

I will read posts about putting gas in their diesel trucks on other forums. Every time I read problems like this it reminds me to take the extra time in order to not be "that guy." Whenever I read of others misfortune I vicariously learn through that person's mistakes.

I learned the hard way to make sure to pull the truck WAY OUT OF THE WAY once it is free from the camper. I once pulled out "just enough" and though it was enough space for the camper to be lowered. I recall kicking myself when upon lowering the camper did I realize the front portion of the overhead part (where it just starts to turn horizontal) had caught the rear part of the truck bed above the tail light. Jeez! only another 3" and it would have cleared just fine. Uhg! It dented the metal of the camper but did not puncture the skin. But now I make sure now that I pull the truck forward MORE than enough to insure room so it does not ever happen again.

Upon inspection pre-purchase of another past camper I noticed a clear outline of the end profile of a gutter. Yea, the kind on a house. When pointing it out to the owner they said yep, the TC was too close to the house when raising it (it was a pop-up TC.) I bought the camper and treated that dent as if I did it myself... The camper was in otherwise perfect condition except for this dent and it too was not punctured.

I have been lucky in my mistakes and no one was ever injured and these are very minor. What can you share (and perhaps laugh at) about your misfortunes that may help me and other to perhaps take away a learning lesson from your mishaps.

[wintersun]

I had no idea how difficult it would be to add a second battery or run wiring for solar or find secure roof anchor points for the panels with the average camper. Worse than any boat or vehicle I have owned in this regard.

[mooring_product]

Believed a seller who claimed the camper he was selling was made for short bed or long bed.

[btggraphix]

Left a passenger-side fastgun connected on our old camper....tweaked the framing a bit but no problems from it.

Had the side awning open and flap in the wind of South Park (very very windy place) at 70MPH. No damage but learned the dual-use of the "deflappers" because you can use the velcro straps to wrap around the awning supports to insure they stay closed.

Left the Heiki unlatched a few times and pretty well hammered the built-in shade.

Forget to put rubbers plugs in the bathroom sink and shower drains....which allows the trap water to blast out on bumps and splatter the bathroom with grey water.

Driven away while plugged into shore power a few times.

Jackknifed the trailer backing into a 5+ lane road with an extra motorcycle on the tongue and nailed the jacks pretty good (but I'm excused on this one since we had just driven through the night to a vet and had to put our big dog Jasper down.....we were pretty distraught at the time)

I'm sure I've done plenty more than that but those all come to mind.

Oh yeah, pay attention to what "experts" are doing to your own rig as they often do even dumber things than you do. I let a tow truck driver try to pull me around to get out of the campsite and into town...by my winch cable. Bad idea. I also let a new guy at Lance try to raise one front jack to get blocks under it that he had forgot to put under the foot.....and I watched way too long thinking "this is a bad idea" until finally I called a halt to it while the camper was groaning under the "twist" up front. That's probably the single stupidest thing done to my camper....I didn't do it but I watched too long before stopping it.

[sooty1234]

finaddict wrote:

saltamontes wrote:
inflate your air bags *before* tightening the tie-downs.

Curious as to how this would matter? Tiedowns are attachedto the frame and not the suspension. Airbags just push the suspension down. Or maybe I am just being an airbag?

I did not understand that one either. How air bags affect the tiedowns escapes me. But then mayb I do not understand how things work. YMMV Jim

[gitpicker2009]

seraphim

Ohio

Senior Member

Joined: 02/03/2008

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"Posted: 02/18/13 07:12pm
Immediately after taking the camper off the truck, remove the license plate from the camper and put it back on the truck. No damage, but tickets for driving without a license plate are expensive. "

Adding to this: Don't forget to put the plate back on the truck when camper is off. I learned that one the hard way too:)

[DiscoChicken]

My biggest mistake was buying an Adventurer!

[stevenal]

Where do you people mount your air bags? Between the bed and frame? On my old truck they were between the frame and axle, and frame mounted tie down tension remained constant.

[Ski_Pro_3]

Never mind.

I mis-thought the way air bags work.

[bwanted]

Putting a lance 1181 on a 2011 gmc 3500 then trying to get waranty work on the truck.Overloaded!

[finaddict]

saltamontes wrote:
inflate your air bags *before* tightening the tie-downs.

Curious as to how this would matter? Tiedowns are attachedto the frame and not the suspension. Airbags just push the suspension down. Or maybe I am just being an airbag?

[dakonthemountai]

The biggest mistake I made was selling my camper and buying a travel trailer... Of course I'm back now and have learned my lesson! don't think I'll do that again! 🙂

Dak

[Super_Dave]

Cabinetry walls are hollow. Know this before trying to hang something like a TV off of them.

[NMace]

Think about things before doing.

I never though to move the licese plate.

I would level the camper without loosening the tie downs. The front jacks will not pick up a 6,000 lb truck for more than 4 times without pulling the bolts out.

I unloaded on left to right slooping ground, still don't understand why it didn't work, but the camper almost ended up in the pond.

Keep a checklist and use it.

[saltamontes]

inflate your air bags *before* tightening the tie-downs.

[dack]

Could not resist this one
Note Garages and power poles will move to be behind you!
Swing brackets on the front jacks need to be in out position when unloading the camper!
WATER INLET HOSE CAN LEAK WHEN UNDER PRESSURE WHEN FILLING AND YOU FORGET TO WATCH IT!
Side awning does not like tree branches!
Truck antenna can punch a hole in the nose cone!
Rigid tight tiedowns do not like speed bumps!
And Beer freezes when stored in the truck bed outside the camper
Hope this helps someone. I'm just waiting for the next event to happen ( out of my control)