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.

 

[Ventana]

Paying money for it

 

[Fish]

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.

View attachment 17091

Another good argument for vent covers. I put them on every rv I get. Mainly so I can open them when it's raining.
Also I had one shatter one time, if I had have had a vent cover on it I wouldn't have had to make a mad dash for a replacement with rain coming.

 

[LasLow]

Yesterday I picked up my trailer and brought it home to get it ready for our next trip. I noticed the back up camera was not working. I got home and pulled out the manual, and came to the conclusion that the screen and the camera were not paired. By the way, it was 100 degrees here in Tucson, and very humid. So I tried to “pair” the screen and camera. This involves touching the screen and then running to the camera and climbing a ladder and pushing a button on the camera. This has to be done within 20 seconds. While I am in the middle of this, my wife is coming out and asking me questions, like,” Honey, did you put garbage in the recycle bin? “ etc. After about 10 unsuccessful attempts, and profuse sweating and cussing, I decided to call the dealer who installed the system. I was put on hold for service about 15 minutes, and then when I reached them, the lady said I had to put in a request for some help on line in order to get a call back. This was on a Friday.
She said it would take 3 business days to get a reply, and because of the weekend and Monday being holiday, they would not be able to reply by Thursday. I slammed the phone down and was ready to go buy a new unit. But then I searched the computer, and lo and behold. one other person had the same problem. He said you have to turn on your lights. Bingo! The manual did not mention turning on your lights.

Sounds sooo familiar. Bought mind during a rainstorm so the lights where on when I pulled away. The minute the clouds parted and the auto lights went out so did the camera. Thought I got screwed. Did research on line and finally found the simple solution. Still felt like a fool though. Glad I am in good company!