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.

[Coblue]

If towing or backing up a trailer, sharp turns can make it hit the TT's rear corners. And remind your spotter also.....

[seraphim]

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.

[jr3316]

Remember when backing into your driveway that the house roof overhang extends farther than the garage door.

[scolew325]

when trimming the trees at the corner of the driveway, just trimming them to look good makes the siding on the T.C.look bad. Lesson learned to just trim the branches completely off.

[old_guy]

sorry I haven't made any mistakes, I have learned how to, or how not to, from you guys. LOL

[1971amerigo]

Anyone that has A 2002 F250 check your rear brake lines if you have never replaced them. My second trip out last year left me 4 miles out on the beach with TC and no rear brakes .

[Billieg2]

This is for newbies.

Buying your first RV trying to save money and doing no research. Buying an older gas MH with no slides only to find out it needed $8,000 worth of work to be road ready and had no room to even dress in and no power to make it up I-75 in Tn. Selling it for a $6,000 loss.

Then, buying a 5th wheel thinking you could double tow to haul your Harley and finding out you can't double tow. Selling it for a $3,000 loss.

Then, having to buy a toy hauler with 3 slides to finally get what you should have bought in the first place. Lesson learned.....

[d3500ram]

Close windows on the TC before taking off driving.

Perhaps more tradition joulous type windows would not have been as much of an issue, but open Domenic windows while traveling have be hazardous to one's pocketbook as well as other drivers. Fortunately no one was behind me when this happened:





The temporary repair was masonite and duct tape:

[Crazy_Creek]

skipro3 wrote:
Took my fast guns off the truck mounts and left them to hang from the camper. That way they were on the correct corner of the camper for the next time I loaded up. Figured it would save time. After pulling the truck out from under, I lowered the camper. I heard the jack motors note change and stopped I saw my fast guns bowed pretty good from contacting the ground as the camper continued to lower. Lucky me, I was able to straighten them back out.

Ditto!

[2BLAZERS]

Flip the steps up. Went to back the camper up into its spot and while hopping the curb heard the wife yelling STOP STOP....bent the two steps to be unusable...at least its minor compared to some of these:)

[joerg68]

Hm. Let me think.

Always check the clearance when backing up. It is very easy to miss a small roof sticking out. Especially while you are paying close attention not to hit something with your rear bumper or jacks.

Never back into a patch of muddy grass when you have no 4WD or locking differential.

Butane doesn't evaporate in below freezing temperatures.

Always double-ckeck that all skylights are really closed before departure.

Get the right truck for the camper, or the right camper for the truck.

-J

[billtex]

Not getting a TC sooner...

[TwoMaineiacs]

Do not drive across part of the Escalante with your slide out. Had stopped for lunch, merrily got underway and to our horror, a glance in the mirror showed the dinette slide out. This was on the Host so it wasn't out as far as the Chalet would have been. No way to even pull over on the side of the road as there was nothing but drop offs. No apparent damage done except to our heart rate. We now both walk all the way around the camper after a stop.

[run100]

If you purchase a camper that comes with a brand new sewer hose, don't assume the clamp that holds the hose on the connector is fully tightened. If you make this mistake, the hose may pop off as soon as you pull the black tank valve.

Now, why would I mention such a thing??? Oh yes - the horror of horrors!

[Grodyman]

I lowered a camper I previously owned into my truck bed, and forgot that I had stake bed tie downs that had raised metal loops on them...one of them went through the wood on the wing. Yep.

Gman