What’s the worst bone-headed mistake you’ve made before pulling out in your RV

[IowaRVer]

I bought a new RV… and a new weight distribution hitch two weeks ago.

The VERY first time I hooked up the hitch I didn’t get the curved part of one of the arms (see right circle in bottom pick) seated well in the hitch before swinging it back to trailer frame and affixing it to the frame.

I drove about 400 yds and heard something loud fall (steel) and immediately pulled over.

The arm had come out of the hitch, but was still attached (luckily) at the frame. (see left circle in bottom pic). Of course… the bolts and retaining pins were all bent to heck… but I‘m glad I heard it and stopped quickly. I was just about to get on an interstate… thank goodness it didn’t happen while I was at 65 mph.

here‘s what the the eaz-lift looks like prior to installation

Here’s what it looks like attached (example picture…not my rig)

what bone-head mistakes have you made?

 

[Scotttkd2]

Yikes, glad you caught it. As to my bone headed mistakes, I think Neal has a limit on the size of posts on this forum. Just sayin.

 

[Rosy]

Nothing too bone headed that I can think of yet but I did learn to always close the cover on your city water connection, even if just moving from one site to another in the same campground, unless you like replacing strainers and o-rings.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Worst mistake was using the leveling jacks to raise ALL the rear wheels of the coach off the ground so I could remove the blocks from under the wheels.
Thought it would save some running back and forth from the cab to the rear and I could put the blocks away before starting up the rig.
But … I didn’t take into consideration that the rear wheels have the brakes … and with those wheels off the ground the coach shifted forward. Just enough that a front leveling jack that was still deployed was slightly bent AND the extended frame member that holds the lower part of the jack. A refurbished jack alone cost $1k just for the part, not counting labor or fixing the bent frame extended member…
Not making that mistake a 2nd time!

 

[Scooterfan]

Left the campground with the Winegard Wing TV Antenna fully extended. Pulled into a close by gas station and heard a loud thump upon entering the pump area. My wife says "...what the %$##%$ was that ?" I replied "that was the sound of learning what NOT to do again!" Discovered there's a breakaway (shear) pin just for dummies like me so it was an easy fix. I now have a laminated checklist placard that adorns my dash when I sit down to turn the ignition key.

 

[sheridany]

Dragged the toad far. Too far. Not much tread left on the right rear. Nothing like changing a tire in pouring rain on the side of the interstate. Next stop was the tire store. The lesson learned don’t play loud music driving solo.

 

[Fish]

Left the campground with the Winegard Wing TV Antenna fully extended. Pulled into a close by gas station and heard a loud thump upon entering the pump area. My wife says "...what the %$##%$ was that ?" I replied "that was the sound of learning what NOT to do again!" Discovered there's a breakaway (shear) pin just for dummies like me so it was an easy fix. I now have a laminated checklist placard that adorns my dash when I sit down to turn the ignition key.

I pulled that boner years ago with a jayco travel trailer. Wife is usually with me and we both do a walk around, I was by myself. Drove 10 miles down a 2 lane road, then maybe 25 on the interstate when a guy passing me was making hand gestures at my roof. Pulled off to the side and took care of it, luckily I hadn't hit anything. I'm happy I have a big red idiot light on this motorhome alerting me antenna is up.

 

[Fish]

The most aggravating and time consuming mistake I've made was allowing a tow truck to hook up to my Camelot (at the advice of coach net) instead of calling a mobile mechanic for a crank but no start condition. They said they'd pay for either but if mechanic first and they couldn't fix it then I'd have to pay for the tow myself. I should have called the mobile mechanic and paid for it myself first. I was already at a campground, in a campsite.

Spent night in lot of truck shop, slides in, slept on couch. $16,000 damage to coach from tow truck. Tow truck company admitting to fault, then later going dark and refusing to answer phone. What seemed like 100 phone calls to insurance company and adjustors. 90 mile trip for estimate. Leave coach at body shop in Florida for a month, extra trip home from Florida and back, 2000 miles. Now the new diamondshield on the front of coach is coming loose from the repair so I'll have to leave it at the body shop when we go back to Florida so they can remove and replace that.
Finally got a $500 fuel reimbursement from insurance yesterday to pay for my extra trip which closes out the claim.

All because of a loose connection to the lift pump.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

2 biggies.
1. Put the coach in gear to pull out with the jacks down. Thankfully, they auto-retract when that happens, but it still scared the crap out of me.
2. Thought my trailer hitch had the 2 5/16” ball on, but it was the 2”. Towed 300 miles like that.

 

[Gizmo]

Was in campgrounds in Colorado and the guy was leaving with a 5er with the slides out. I heard several people yelling and he was coming my way. So I stopped him and told him his slides were out. He said "The dealer said the only time I need to retract them is when putting it in storage" and he drove off with the slides open..

I use to laugh at stupid people that unhooked their 5er pulled away with the tailgate up and damaged their tailgate till I become one of those stupid people Opps.