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.

[Bedlam]

I think the above labels depend on whether you are lecturing someone about their setup or criticizing your own.

[mkirsch]

This will sound cynical, but it is clear that on this forum nobody wants to learn form other's mistakes. When you try to share your experiences you are called "weight police" or "safety nazi" of some other derogatory term.

[ppine]

I do not buy gold when it was $40 an ounce.

[jimh406]

Not quite one but close. We live about a mile from tire place. Since I was busy, had wife drop by to check the air in the drw for the weekend trip.

One drw tire was flat. It's been sitting for a few weeks so don't know how long. Could have been bad if we had hauled a load. Tire looked perfect, btw. Their explanation was a Alcoa stem failure, so that was replaced.

[LSXGMC]

Coblue wrote:
Make sure the fridge door is latched securely...
So pickle juice doesn't run all over the floor and out the door.

Or in my case a 4 liter jug of milk. On a +25 degree celcius day. Right at the start of a 5 hour drive. I must have cleaned it up 10 times, took the better part of two weeks for the sour smell to dissipate.

Actually, I could have sworn I did latch the fridge. Now I have added a secondary latch just in case.

[d3500ram]

Dometic Windows: Perhaps some of you might have read my critique of these awful windows in this thread. I have not realle and y changed my opinion. But in reference to the first item in that thread about how not to leave open (even slightly) any of the windows in which I had to replace the large side one, well..

I do a fair amount of off-roading. When I replace that large side window I left on that thin plastic wrap-cover that is places on the window while it is shipped. I figured it would protect the window from scratches when in close quarters to trees and branches that brush up against the side of the camper.

I should have removed it when it was new and pliable because now it has dried and aged on the surface and it is now quite difficult to remove. I am using hot soapy water and a plastic spatula to gently scrape the film that is sorta' fused to the window. I can do it, but it will take a lot of patient time.

[SidecarFlip]

I forget to turn on the propane valves on the bottles regularly. Things like the fridge and water heater work better with the gas on...

[larryr11]

Our newbie mistake was not making sure the electrical cable from truck to camper was out of the bed. Lowered the camper onto the cable and couldn't figure out why the lights weren't working correctly.

[SidecarFlip]

d3500ram wrote:
Folks, if you have not paid attention to camper jack maintenance please heed the advice of the many here who say to not neglect it. I have been meaning to get to mine for at least a couple of years and now this weekend I have to get to it out of necessity.

Fantastic write up by member KKELLER14K in THIS LINK. I do not know what I am up against as one of my jacks is really bound up... hoping it will be an easy fix.

I has Atwood's on my Lance but now I have Reico-Titan jacks and unlike the Atwood jacks, the RT jacks have an oil port in the top under the bevel gears for lubrication.

I give them a shot of 90 weight every spring and grease the gears.

[SidecarFlip]

I Have to say I've never pulled any shots with either of my units, other than forgetting to securely close the door and driving down the road with the back door open... I lock it now.

[Grit_dog]

Mistakes? Not buying 2 6V batteries when I replaced the old batteries last year (but I didn't want to mess with it if I had to shorten/lengthen wiring to get them in series as it was in the middle of a trip.
Not cleaning out the burner on the fridge. Last year wouldn't stay lit at 70mph or more or if there were big head winds or x winds, without blocking off the lower vent temporarily (only while driving). Found a huge pile of rust dust under the burner. Not sure how this caused it not to stay lit, but will see if it's fixed soon!

[Grit_dog]

^ FWIW that tutorial by kkeller is spot on....and you'll figure out what you need the little coat hanger tool for as soon as you need it! Lol. Works perfectly.
d3500ram, I just finished going through one of my jacks, bound up rusty inside, not quite sure how the other 3 are working so well, lol.
They are pretty simple once you get into them. IMO, as long as the motor works and the gears aren't struipped out, there's not much else that can go wrong. After a complete disassembly, clean up and lube it works smooth as butter again, so far.

[d3500ram]

Folks, if you have not paid attention to camper jack maintenance please heed the advice of the many here who say to not neglect it. I have been meaning to get to mine for at least a couple of years and now this weekend I have to get to it out of necessity.

Fantastic write up by member KKELLER14K in THIS LINK. I do not know what I am up against as one of my jacks is really bound up... hoping it will be an easy fix.

[Ski_Pro_3]

Bedlam wrote:
Tizi - Your truck is just lacking wheels, suspension and tags to make it a 3500. You have plenty of truck even if you wanted a slide. 2500's are just papered low due to the cap on the GVWR. PM me if you want to discuss your options.

What he said;

Rickson 19.5" wheels and appropriate tires, Hellwig 4 leaf overload pack or air bags, (I have both, but would take the springs over the bags if I was only to get one). I would also recommend the Hellwig BigWig sway bar. Makes the truck with a camper rail the twisty roads like a sports car. Well, not QUITE like a sports car, but the feeling is a mucho stable platform. If you are on stock shocks, and they need replacing, you may want to upgrade those while you are at it.

[Bedlam]

Tizi - Your truck is just lacking wheels, suspension and tags to make it a 3500. You have plenty of truck even if you wanted a slide. 2500's are just papered low due to the cap on the GVWR. PM me if you want to discuss your options.