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

[IowaRVer]

I should probably laminate a checklist and keep it in my car and go over it and say ‘check’ line by line before I pull away… like pilots do (maybe they don’t say check… but maybe they do!)

 

[Lab00Rat]

Can't say I've done a bonehead action leaving, but mine was parking.
Learned the lesson to always have a spotter when leveling on blocks.

The long version: https://rvforums.com/threads/windshield-replacement-quest-the-long-version.11409/&tag=14394

Basically, I smashed my brand new Class A windshield and it cost me $3k and a long story to fix.

 

[Texan]

Ok, newbie here, years ago I was hitching up my 2006 Kountry Aire 5R to my 2008 F-450 at the dealership after extended service. I usually had my 12 yr old son, who was at school but was and is a “can do anything” guy hitch up the 5R. So I did it and forgot to lock the hitch…..yup, BOOM landed on the truck rails!

 

["EZ"]

At a campground just after we bought our Class A we were hooked up to the sewer at the campsite and I drained the black tank. I wanted to "rinse" the black tank out real good so I hooked the water hose up to it and began filling the black tank with fresh water. It takes a while to fill a 50 gallon tank so I was going to do a couple other things while I waited. Well...............I got distracted and forgot I was "rinsing" the black tank. When I remembered it I ran inside to look into the toilet and see how full the tank was. There was SO MUCH PRESSURE that it exploded straight up in the air. When I opened my eyes again I was covered in stinky water and it was dripping off the ceiling!!! I'll never make that mistake again!!!

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

At a campground just after we bought our Class A we were hooked up to the sewer at the campsite and I drained the black tank. I wanted to "rinse" the black tank out real good so I hooked the water hose up to it and began filling the black tank with fresh water. It takes a while to fill a 50 gallon tank so I was going to do a couple other things while I waited. Well...............I got distracted and forgot I was "rinsing" the black tank. When I remembered it I ran inside to look into the toilet and see how full the tank was. There was SO MUCH PRESSURE that it exploded straight up in the air. When I opened my eyes again I was covered in stinky water and it was dripping off the ceiling!!! I'll never make that mistake again!!!

You win!

 

[ArmandV]

The first time using the electric awning, I pulled out of the campsite without retracting it. Luckily, I only went a few yards when neighboring campers started yelling at me to stop and retract it. Whew!

 

[FloridaSon]

Bought two new sewer hose plugs but failed to get the type with lugs. I happily placed them in both ends.

Then forgot about them. After hooking up when I pulled the black dump valve, it started great then suddenly stopped. I could not figure out why until I checked the other end clear elbow and thought, hmmm what is that black thing?

So I had about a foot of sewage between the dump valve and the plugged hose. Found a kindly maintenance guy who said hell I did the same thing but filled the entire hose once. Anyway he found a flat plastic container and we caught the stuff, only spilled a bit. I cleaned that up. But if you think about it, that first surge is the nastiest. Lots of clean up with gloves, another lesson learned! (He got a good tip as well) (If anyone wants a picture I have one hahah)

 

[sparkydave]

A long time ago when the first wife and I were towing the popup, we had a friction sway control. Had it out and sitting on the picnic table as I was hitching it up. Somehow remembered everything but that. Got out of the campground and realized something didn't sound quite right. Usually we can hear a groan from the sway control going around corners. Stopped and looked, and whoops, forgot something! Went back to the campground, and fortunately it was still on the picnic table.

 

[MrsG]

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.

I don't own one with slides, BUT even I know you don't run with the slides out. Wonder who's paying all the repair bills...

 

[A-Texan]

I drove from Corpus Christi, Texas to Dallas, Texas ( 7 hours or so ) with the roof vents open on my Travel Trailer before I realized they were open, needless to say they were missing when I got to Dallas, and I had to go by Camper World to buy some new ones before continuing my trip North. I am thankful it didn't rain that day. This happened about 10 years ago, I always make sure they are shut before hitching the trailer now.