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.

[17oaks]

On the front lower of my TC are 2 2x4" rubber bumpers. They stick out about 1.5" or so. If you got a full insert when you loaded your TC and it now time to lift out at the camp spot, and set it down the be SURE to watch as you lift your TC as the rubber bumpers may or may not clear the top edge of the truck bed. If it does not clear, as it raises you can rip the rubber bumpers off and also do damage to the TC where they are mounted.

Lift, if it looks like they will not clear pull forward slightly to allow the TC to go straight up...

[Butch50]

James' wrote:
The "clicky" was for
Boyle's Law
Like I said... To each his own.

Boyles law is in an enclosed container the does not flex. If you read further along in the link you gave me then you well see that some of the other people agree that the pressure does not change. I guess you aren't going to beleive the Bridgestone tire site I gave you so there is no sense trying to guide you. How do you argue with a tire manufacturer, don't you think that maybe they might have an idea about what they are saying????

Go do the little experment that I suggested. Measure your tire pressure with your camper on the truck. Now jack up the truck and see if the pressure changes with no weight on it. Then come back and tell us what you find out.

How do you think the people on here that leave their tire pressure at 80 PSI whether they have their campers on or off. If what you are saying is true then when they have the camper on the pressure must really be high and when they take it off it comes back down th the 80 PSI. Just doesn't happen.

[James_]

The "clicky" was for
Boyle's Law
Like I said... To each his own.

[Butch50]

James' wrote:

Butch50 wrote:

James' wrote:

Bring up your tire pressure AFTER you load your camper.

This is kind of the same as making sure you put air in your air bags before putting on your tiedowns.

The air pressire is the same before and after you load your camper. The pressure doesn't change. If it is 80 PSI before the camper it well be 80 PSI after the camper is loaded.

I begg to differ. But to each his own. 😉

The pressure will be higher when the tire is supporting the TC. If you want to imagine a free body diagram, simplify things and consider a TC resting on one big tire. If you take the TC and the truck off, it's supporting no weight - it does not have to exert any force on the axel to keep the TC in static equilibrium. Air is a compressible fluid - pressure will increase when the tire bears a load because it's the "pushing back" of the air that keeps the TC from falling.

clicky

Well you beleive Bridgestone tire site that the PSI doesn't change when loaded instead of some bike site.

Look at bottom of the first page with the pictures of the tires

If you don't beleive this check the pressure of your tire then jack it up and see if the pressure is not the same. Very easy experiment for you to try. The pressure well be the same on the ground or in the air. Just as your spare tire if set properly you don't have to add more when you use it.

With that I'll turn the thread back to the orginal OP question.

[Coblue]

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

[wnjj]

James' wrote:
I begg to differ. But to each his own. 😉

The pressure will be higher when the tire is supporting the TC. If you want to imagine a free body diagram, simplify things and consider a TC resting on one big tire. If you take the TC and the truck off, it's supporting no weight - it does not have to exert any force on the axel to keep the TC in static equilibrium. Air is a compressible fluid - pressure will increase when the tire bears a load because it's the "pushing back" of the air that keeps the TC from falling.

clicky

The pressure doesn't increase to support the load, the contact area to the ground does. force = PSI * area. The tire simply changes shape to accommodate and create this larger area. The tire can only increase in pressure if it loses volume. The loaded tire ends up very slightly out of round and the change in volume (if any) is so miniscule that you won't be able to measure a change in pressure.

Sorry for furthering the off-topic discussion.

[James_]

Butch50 wrote:

James' wrote:

Bring up your tire pressure AFTER you load your camper.

This is kind of the same as making sure you put air in your air bags before putting on your tiedowns.

The air pressire is the same before and after you load your camper. The pressure doesn't change. If it is 80 PSI before the camper it well be 80 PSI after the camper is loaded.

I begg to differ. But to each his own. 😉

The pressure will be higher when the tire is supporting the TC. If you want to imagine a free body diagram, simplify things and consider a TC resting on one big tire. If you take the TC and the truck off, it's supporting no weight - it does not have to exert any force on the axel to keep the TC in static equilibrium. Air is a compressible fluid - pressure will increase when the tire bears a load because it's the "pushing back" of the air that keeps the TC from falling.

clicky

[Butch50]

James' wrote:

Bring up your tire pressure AFTER you load your camper.

This is kind of the same as making sure you put air in your air bags before putting on your tiedowns.

The air pressire is the same before and after you load your camper. The pressure doesn't change. If it is 80 PSI before the camper it well be 80 PSI after the camper is loaded.

[acudr]

Go slow, take your time, look, look, look. Whenever I have felt pressure to load my camper I have done something stupid. Didn't hook up the electricity, bumped the camper with the truck bed, put the camper on off kilter.

When leaving the campsite, take your time, look, look, look. Whenever I rush I do something stupid. Left our trash can, left a cool ladder, dragged a lowered jack, left the skylight open and it busted while driving on the highway, left the drain cap off and wondered what that banging sound was.

When I first got the camper, I was driving it like I used to drive my small toyota pickup with a cap. fast. On that first trip I busted a several hundred dollar running board on a rock and smacked a rear jack going against a tree going around a corner on a trail. I was driving this bigger truck and camper like I used to drive the smaller truck. fast. Big trucks and camper do better driven slow off road.

I am sure I have done other things I refuse to remember!

[James_]

When pulling into parks with guard stations watch out for their roof over hangs! Fortunately, I didn't hit it but it was REAL close.

Bring up your tire pressure AFTER you load your camper.

Make sure you close any outside door that covers any heat source, ouch.

Have an extra set of keys for both your truck and camper… Somewhere you can get to them!

If you have a pop out that won’t allow you to gain access to your camper and you need that bathroom REALLY BAD, remember to turn on the remote activation switch (floor level at door). Your remote will not work and that pop out won't pop out! LOL

[My_Blue_Heaven]

When an RV newbie many years ago, I wired up a plug-in post incorrectly for 220, not realizing that the 30 amp plug was 120 volt. Oops, an expensive mistake. Burned out most everything on that TT.

Not securing TC fold up steps at the top with a clamp, rather than just having it sit in the hanger. ( I have a nasty scar for that mistake).

Not replacing TT tires that were 6 years old, but showed little signs of wear.

Those were some of the more costly RV mistakes I've made.

[g0tr00t]

When flushing your tanks, don't be afraid to triple check the sewer connection. If they tanks are VERY full, feel free to slowly drain the tank rather than yanking it WIDE open and letting the "gunk" come flying out at 100 MPH!

Luckily, it was the gray tank that gave me a bath...still yucky!

Without a doubt, watch the movie RV. I recommend it to first time campers 😛

[AnEv942]

Not double checking the fridge was in manual gas mode verse 'auto mode' before taking off for the day. Returned late in the evening to dead batteries when refer switched to 12v after using up the propane.

[Atchafalaya_man]

Speaking of water heaters: When you remove the bull-plug on the outside of the heater to drain it, or check the anode, be sure to turn off the water pump and OPEN THE HOT WATER FAUCET to drain pressure from the water heater.

Otherwise, when the last thread holding the plug turns loose, it will blow out in your face and cover you with water like a fire-hose. And, the water will probably contain sediment and other gunk, making your bath even more gritty. And hopefully you are doing this with cold water in the tank.

[wintersun]

Remembered another oversight with regard to the fresh water tanks. With my camper with its hot water tank I drained and flushed the fresh water tank and shocked it and refilled it but expected this to take care of the hot water tank as well. It did not. The result was the sulpher smell with the hot water coming out of the taps.

Not living where I need to winterize the water system the tanks were not getting an annual drain and shock treatment. Now I drain the hot water tank completely after every trip and add 1/2 ounce of bleach (5% solution) to the fresh water tank.