Learning Curve

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longhorn1

Ouch, that stings!
Joined
Nov 25, 2013
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Location
Carmel, Indiana
I made a check list of the different things to do when loading, unloading the camper, raising the roof, lower the roof etc. We got to our camping site late and wanted to eat so we never got around to leveling the camper. We were good front to back but not side to side. I figured I would put my Anderson levelers behind both left side tires. and back up. Only thing I forgot the awning was out and the legs staked. Moved about 8" and was lucky that the ground was so hard I could drive the stacks all the way in. No damage.

Second mistake, while we stopped at home to unload everything before taking the camper to the storage place, we forgot to empty the water tank. Off loaded the camper and set on the plywood crosses, when the thought came across my mind that we forgot to do it at home. Had about 13 gallons in the tank. I emptied the tank there, and I think I escaped again.

So much to learn and so much to do.

Even though the turn buckles were tight when we left, I found the right side ones loose when we check this morning. For some reason the camper shifted to the right side of the bed. The left side was tight when I check. Not sure why this happened.

I'm sure the more we use the camper things will become second nature.

If you have a different way to preventing a stupid mistake, let me know.
 
longhorn1 said:
I made a check list of the different things to do when loading, unloading the camper, raising the roof, lower the roof etc. We got to our camping site late and wanted to eat so we never got around to leveling the camper. We were good front to back but not side to side. I figured I would put my Anderson levelers behind both left side tires. and back up. Only thing I forgot the awning was out and the legs staked. Moved about 8" and was lucky that the ground was so hard I could drive the stacks all the way in. No damage.

Second mistake, while we stopped at home to unload everything before taking the camper to the storage place, we forgot to empty the water tank. Off loaded the camper and set on the plywood crosses, when the thought came across my mind that we forgot to do it at home. Had about 13 gallons in the tank. I emptied the tank there, and I think I escaped again.

So much to learn and so much to do.

Even though the turn buckles were tight when we left, I found the right side ones loose when we check this morning. For some reason the camper shifted to the right side of the bed. The left side was tight when I check. Not sure why this happened.

I'm sure the more we use the camper things will become second nature.

If you have a different way to preventing a stupid mistake, let me know.r
Click to expand...
Buy two tire chocks( walmart the small yellow ones) whenever you stop and make changes to your set up put one front and back. Cardinial Rule... never remove chocks untill you 've made all your checks no matter how sure you are. This way driving down the road you'll remember pulling the chocks and feel confident you made all your checks. Works for me. ( so far) Never break the Cardinal Rule!
 
We prefer to park at home with a dry tank so that 'stuff' doesn't grow in the water.
 
Its a process. You have a lot to remember....Just take your time.

And when you get my age you forget steps ....you know. :D

Word of advice
Put a label on fan .."Don't reverse fan when blades are turning"
 
Problems always seem to happen when you break the routine. Leveling after setting up for example. My best advice is to develop a routine and stick with it. When you do have to deviate, and you'll have to sometimes, walk around the rig and check top and bottom for consequences. Like most folks, I don't follow my own advice so it didn't stop me from driving off with the front down and back up last week. Nice looking wedge shape. Didn't get too far as we stopped on the way out of the campground to get water. Head slap.

Alan
 
First item on my list is "check the list".
But until I check the list I am likely to miss it.
 
The Lady and I have a routine, chores we each do. But, we also know each others jobs. We talk to each other to double check. Two heads are better than one.
 
RC Pilot Jim said:
Its a process. You have a lot to remember....Just take your time.

And when you get my age you forget steps ....you know. :D

Word of advice
Put a label on fan .."Don't reverse fan when blades are turning"
Click to expand...
Also on fan remember to close vent.
Frank
 
alano said:
...Like most folks, I don't follow my own advice so it didn't stop me from driving off with the front down and back up last week. ...
Click to expand...
Funny you should mention this. We were happily on our way to an adventure last weekend, on the freeway out of town, when a biker came up along side making this funny motion with his arm- kind of like a "heil hitler" salute. I thought he was some kind of wacko until I realized I had forgotten to lock the top down after packing up. Yep, the front was up and the back was down- no latches were hooked. Luckily no harm done. Latched 'em down and off we went. I imagine I will remember to check the latches now- at least for a while until I get side-tracked again. :oops:
 
oh gawd ... this is the story of my life. I treat my unit like the helicopter pilots treat their air craft. Walk around lots touching every thing to make sure it is secure. Pull my self up on the rear bumper to make sure the vents are down. Check, double check, check again. I touch everything - call me crazy. Easy to forget something , or leave something on , or leave something behind. I find if I slow down a little bit when packing up things get done right.
 
Latching the top down is one thing I've never forgotten.
After I drop the top I immediately exit the door and step out onto the bumper, reach up and latch the rear latches, like it's all part of the same top-dropping operation. Then it's just a continuation of the operation to walk around and latch the other four.

I have made the mistake of moving the camper (like, to improve the level) after deploying the gray-water container and without removing it -- and I drove over it; crushed the hose-container connector.

And I always fear I'll back up over my irreplaceable steps -- but I haven't yet.
 
Thought the linked step thread might be the one that I posted in it a pic of the one that I built, but it isn't.
MarkBC said:
A step that's connected to the truck -- hitch-mounted -- or the camper would be OK, too, and might be better than my current step because it doesn't depend on the ground.
But it would only be OK --for me -- if it didn't hang down at all while driving. I don't want to have to think about, worry about, dragging something when driving over rocky/bumpy ground.
Click to expand...
This reminded me of an oops that I did. This is the step:
i-j2Df9hC-M.jpg

We normally travel with it put back in the hitch upside down. The one time that I forgot to flip it was near Ophir, NV. Coming back down that canyon the road crossed the crick and the berm on the far side was a pretty good bump. Yep, I plowed a trough in it. Felt the step hit ground and was puzzled for a bit because I KNEW there wasn't a rock for the rear diff to drag on, but something had dragged.

I'll second getting a routine going and sticking to it. Without some semblance of one I'd have stuff, broken or not, scattered over 5 western states.....
 
I pre-flight my camper like I do an airplane when the top goes up or down and before the truck moves. It's done the same way every time. If I'm interrupted, it starts over. Not infallible but greatly reduces the risk of missing something. Naval Air teaches good habits.
 
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