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Old 06-29-2017, 12:33 PM   #21
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3 Big'uns

5er owner for 15 months now. Have had three insurance claims already. I would tell you about'em, but my insurance company has me under a no-tell clause.
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Old 06-29-2017, 01:15 PM   #22
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Lots of oppses when a newbie, and a few even with experience. With our new fiver and a Reese 18K Elite hitch, the dealer instructed us on hitching & unhitching. We also read the documentation from Reese several times and paid particular attention to the warnings. On our first cross-country trip (New Jersey to the left coast) we occasionally had difficulty getting the trailer hitched, but the safety pin was always in place, or so I thought. But it seemed to me that sometimes it seemed different somehow. The pin was in but the handle's position didn't look the same all the time. So we had left Mt. St. Helen's heading north on the interstate toward Seattle, and on that particular day I began to worry about the hitch. We spotted a big RV dealership at an exit, and decided to pull in to ask for advice. The service manager took one look and turned as white as a ghost. He asked us how long we'd been towing this way and when we told him it was several thousand miles he said we were extremely lucky. It seems that the safety pin has two holes to go through and I had been putting it through just one. The bottom hole is the one through the part that's attached to the jaw. So we had been towing with the jaw not completely closed around the kingpin. He showed us how to make sure the pin went through both holes, and although he probably saved our lives, he didn't charge us and wouldn't accept a tip. From reading the documentation it seemed like the pin couldn't be inserted at all if the two holes weren't aligned. I guess that was an incorrect impression.

RVing is a constant learning experience
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Old 06-29-2017, 01:16 PM   #23
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This probably qualifies as the dumbest and most dangerous error in the thread but we have to own our mistakes.

I got interrupted while hitching and forgot to put the hitch pin in the receiver. I am the luckiest man alive in that I was just moving the trailer within the lot so I did not put the WDH bars on and the tounge weight jammed it pretty good which was enough to keep it from sliding out. After parking in the new spot I realized what I had done and immediately formulated a safety plan. I bought a locking hitch pin and put the key on my ignition key ring.

I now have a rule that the pin is NEVER open without the key inserted and never closed unless through the hitch, either on the truck or in the toolbox. I also refuse to engage in conversation while hitching.

Lady Luck was shining on me that day, this could have been a very tragic event had it gone differently.
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Old 06-29-2017, 01:27 PM   #24
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Stretched the water hose.
Stretched the electrical cord.
Left the antenna up.
Backed into house eaves trough (twice)(two different rvs.
Left the steps down.
Left side-doors open.
Drove into the eaves trough to the tune of a new $5000.00 windshield.
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Old 06-29-2017, 02:22 PM   #25
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Leaving Jalama Beach in the Central Coast of Cali, we thought we had engine problems. Drove the RV to Solvang, where there is a large Ford dealership that does RV work and is next to a large RV resort. As my husband pulled in the driveway and drove towards the service bay we heard a horrible, loud grinding noise coming from the roof. He immediately stopped, jumped out of the coach and climbed the ladder to inspect. The service bay ceiling was about 6 inches too low for our coach and we were wedged in between our two A/Cs, unable to go forward or backward without doing more damage. We deflated the tires until we had clearance and were finally able to get out. Our insurance paid the Ford dealership $5,000 for the damage to their beam (pissed me off because it was clearly full of dry rot and would have collapsed soon without our help!) and then raised our rates the following year. And, as it turned out, there was nothing wrong with our engine - probably just some bad fuel. I felt bad for my husband and didn't even yell at him - he was focused on pulling into the service bay and in the back of his mind, assumed (I know, I know) their bay accommodated big rigs. Oh, and absolutely no damage to our coach except for a little blue paint transfer off their rotten beam.
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Old 06-29-2017, 03:26 PM   #26
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Tell me your "oops" stories

I hitched up and took off one of my first times out with my Clipper. Looked down at the brake controller and there was no light. I pulled over to check and the 7 pin had become unplugged and was dragging [emoji22]. It was a little worn but still usable so I plugged it back in, thinking I just hadn't seated it well enough. A little while later I noticed the light was off again. Pulled over to check and it was dragging again. Turns out the clip/hook thing on the *truck* outlet cover had broken so wouldn't hold on to the plug. And now the plug was worn from dragging. Still haven't gotten around to fixing it so I have to zip-tie the plug in when I tow [emoji849]
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Old 06-29-2017, 03:41 PM   #27
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2 years ago in September, we were at a campground in the Snowy Range in Wyoming. It was a cold day with heavy rain coming through about every 45 minutes. I had the awning out to have a dry entry way. I was outside when the rain turned to thick heavy snow in the blink of an eye. The awning immediately started to collapse and I caught one of the arms, probably a mistake. The retract switch was about 5 feet away and I couldn't get to it without letting go of the side arm. Problem was solved when the awning fabric ripped about 30 inches at the cord in the roller tube. Damage done! Let go and retracted the awning. Luckily I had a roll of Gorilla tape to hold the seam somewhat together so we could retract fully against the side for travel. So far, I haven't replaced the fabric and the tape is still doing the job.
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Old 06-29-2017, 04:17 PM   #28
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Originally Posted by Dano1955 View Post
I never put my landing gear on the ground for just this reason (had tp use 10 ton bottle jack to get 5ver up enough to hook up). I have 4 6X6X18 pressure treated blocks, use 2 on each side for a 12" lift (+), then put the gear down. Gives me plenty more lift ability if needed.
Yep only make that mistake once..
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Old 06-29-2017, 04:47 PM   #29
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Pulled the trailer out of the yard with the tongue jack down caught the sidewalk and destroyed it.

Backing the trailer in our site at a state campground DW was at the back of the campsite spotting me.....only problem I didn't see the 6''x6'' about 18'' high sticking out of the ground.....crunched the fender of my new then Tundra then when i opened the door it caught the edge of the door and ruined the door. Did I just hear someone say "it was just a Tundra" LOL.
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Old 06-29-2017, 05:49 PM   #30
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Just minutes ago here in Montana on way to Alaska
I broke our rule and we didn't operate sides together. My wife
Left open the closet door on our RW 2608 and it got crushed.
The slide was cock-eyed and stuck but we managed miraculously
to get it operational w/o any damage. I will never break our rule again.
Praise the Lord!!
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Old 06-29-2017, 06:33 PM   #31
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Brand new TT, bringing it home from the dealer. Backing into the driveway, watching DW in rear view mirror. Neither of us looked up at the eaves of the front porch. No damage to the TT, but had to splice in a new downspout, gutter and soffit. Wasn't even home for 5 minutes!
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Old 06-29-2017, 06:39 PM   #32
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New Flow Jet Black water unit works great unless you hook up battery clips backwards, never make that mistake again and yes it will run backwards and when it does the pressure builds up fast.
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Old 06-29-2017, 06:47 PM   #33
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Bought a brand new Forester MBS in Dec 2015. I live in Oregon, a dealer in VA offered me a price $12,000 lower than local, so I flew to VA to drive it back. Winter storms were looming so I headed south to catch I-10 in FL.

On my 2nd night of ownership, I pulled into a crowded and small gas station in a downpour in SC. I heard a big scrape and found myself stuck on one of those steel posts that protect the gas pumps (from brand new RV owners no doubt...). I had to ease back and forth several times to work my way off of it. $6,000 in damage with a $1,000 deductible. But the worst part was hearing the crunch of my brand new MH and feeling my stomach drop......

Also forgot to retract the awning when my DW was crying hysterically with a literal nervous breakdown.That was another $2,000 in damage. I just ate that one instead of adding another insurance claim. I have since noted in the Battery Control Center, which is custom made for FR, a spot for Awning Ignition Lockout just like the slide lockout wired to the ignition. But they had not wired it at the factory. I've also destroyed both running boards, one on a short concrete wall, and one by slightly missing a driveway and slightly entering a ditch when turning around at night. I bet damaged running boards are not uncommon on the Forester MBS.

But at least I'm using the thing! Sixteen months old and 27,000 miles worth of trips. Headed to Alaska next week, that ought to be another 10k (miles, not damage). I'll try not to hit a moose....
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Old 06-29-2017, 07:02 PM   #34
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My oops came at the hands of a little 10" disc! Went to a local lake for a week or so.Had a great time. When I went to hook up after getting the slides in jacks up and set to rehook.Back under the pin and couldn't get the pin to lock.Pulled up and hit it just a little harder,no joy. A little harder same results. I pulled out all the while saying my Sunday school lesson backwards.
Couldn't see a dang thing wrong. Tried it again.NOTHING. Pulled back out and my hitch disc fell on the ground. I had pushed it into the pin and it was keeping the jaws from closing. Threw that thing and couldn't find it after I finally got hooked up and ready to go.My BIL got a good laugh at that one.
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Old 06-29-2017, 07:05 PM   #35
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A while back before I got the carport I parked the trailer in the back yard, which means I have to cut the grass around the unit. Using a Kubota with a 10K three point hitch I forgot about how far the hitch bars protrude behind the tires. Actually got off and raised the bottom step to give enough room to cut alongside. Watched real close and cleared the steps by a couple of inches. Problem was when I made a sharp right turn after the tire cleared the steps the three-point bar decided to demolish the steps.

$150 bucks to E-trailer and I installed the new steps two days later. Didn't even attempt to straighten the bent ones. Recycle yard gave me $3 for them as scrap.
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Old 06-29-2017, 07:39 PM   #36
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About three weeks ago backed the fiver into our campsite, first try by the way, and proceeded to disconnect from the truck. As usual climbed up on the dually to release the king pin. When I stepped back down I apparently stepped on the edge of the pad. As I was laying on the ground thinking man my ankle hurts I noticed I can see the bottom of my foot facing me. My foot was now nearly touching the side of my leg. What really hurt was when it snapped back into place when I moved my leg.

Needless to say six hours later leaving the ER with crutches and a blown out ankle I had to talk my wife through setting up the fiver. I spent a lovely week watching boats launching from the ramp next to our site while sitting with my leg propped up.

Props to my wife, who set up and tore down the site 8 days later and drove us home for the first time in five years.
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Old 06-29-2017, 08:01 PM   #37
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Leaving Compass RV Park in St Augustine, FL sometime between Christmas and New Years. Heard some trees rubbing and realized that I didn't retract the awning. Came to an immediate stop and jumped up to operate the retract switch. Forgot to put the transmission in PARK. The MH rolled into a tree taking out the windshield. No body damage, just the windshield. The park was booked solid because of the holidays and we could not go home with a broken windshield. We were really in a spot. To make a long story short, the park owner moved his motorhome out of his spot and told us we could stay there for as long as we needed. It took until after the new year to get the window replaced and fortunately, insurance covered it 100%. I want to put in a plug for Compass RV Park in St Augustine. The owners and the staff are the nicest bunch of people you could ever meet. Even before our problem we were impressed with the park and the people and the way they took care of us after the accident was so much more.
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Old 06-29-2017, 08:51 PM   #38
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Originally Posted by DSurette View Post
Leaving Compass RV Park in St Augustine, FL sometime between Christmas and New Years. Heard some trees rubbing and realized that I didn't retract the awning. Came to an immediate stop and jumped up to operate the retract switch. Forgot to put the transmission in PARK. The MH rolled into a tree taking out the windshield. No body damage, just the windshield. The park was booked solid because of the holidays and we could not go home with a broken windshield. We were really in a spot. To make a long story short, the park owner moved his motorhome out of his spot and told us we could stay there for as long as we needed. It took until after the new year to get the window replaced and fortunately, insurance covered it 100%. I want to put in a plug for Compass RV Park in St Augustine. The owners and the staff are the nicest bunch of people you could ever meet. Even before our problem we were impressed with the park and the people and the way they took care of us after the accident was so much more.


X2... been there once and will definitely go back. Nice people and if you're doing the tourist thing the trolley people will come to the CG to get you... had a great time there...
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Old 06-29-2017, 11:29 PM   #39
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Just picked up a new 2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW diesel in 1st week of May. And last week I was backing into my driveway at night and backed up a bit too far, and hit the pin box of my 5er. Nice dent in my new truck tailgate. Haven't had an estimated yet. But I'm thinking at least $1200.00. Crying.
When our 2012 Ford F-150 was brand new, I was checking out the back up camera when something similar happened to me, but instead of the tailgate, I broke the taillight on the pin box.
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Old 06-30-2017, 12:59 AM   #40
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Where to begin....
Bought 5er and truck on same day, practicing backing in back lot at the dealership and promptly dented the driver's side of cab (didn't break the rear glass).

Removed awning with a tree branch

Backed into driveway during a horrendous thunderstorm after a month long trip, in a rush to get out of the weather and dropped the landing Jack's, released the hitch and quickly pulled out without dropping the tailgate leaving a good​ sized outward bow in it.

That's it, so far.
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