fivecodys wrote: We picked up our first fifth wheel on Friday.
I hooked up, double checked everything and away we went. When I approached the first stop light (45 mph zone) I got a little surprise. All four of the wheels locked up on the fiver. It scarred the******out if me.
It was a pretty major jerk. I thought maybe I had been rear ended or had come unhitched.
I had the Prodigy brake controller dialed in for my old trailer. That trailer required quite a bit more input that my new one.
Check your brake controller when you leave. You may need to make a few adjustments.
Travel Safe.
Bill
Just wondering how can a four letter word have six *'s in it? Hummmmmm!
SPENDING LESS TIME ON THE COMPUTER AND MORE TIME RVING IS GOOD......YES!
2008 Jayco Eagle291 RLTS 35.4'
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9 CTD Quad Cab Short Bed 4x4
Pullrite 16K Super Glide Slider Hitch
Tekonsha P3 Brake Control
Wonderful Wife - Susan
Ditto-Min Pin Dog
1. Find, create, steal or morph yourself up a good checklist and use it every time. There are many stories of dropped fivers from folks getting in a hurry and not following their own checklist *raises hand here*
2. Tires - Check your tire pressures...each morning before you travel and whenever you stop for something more than a potty break. You don't want to have a blowout while on the highway. We had one blowout but fortunately we had just turned off onto surface streets and was half a block away from the dealer's lot!
"There's no such thing as too much tow vehicle!"
Wes, Linda, & kids
"Tow Twuck" - 2008 Ford F350 DRW CC LB 6.4 Powerstroke
"Cougar" - 2006 Keystone Cougar 289EFS Fifth Wheel Our Website
When we first went back to camping in a trailer, we decided to take a quick weekend trip for a "shakedown" cruise. We loaded things up and headed out. When we got there, we parked and went to set up the trailer - we had forgotten all of our bedding - no sheets, no blankets, nothing. We slept under the bedspread that night. Our running joke is now - "where's the Walmart?"
The second one happened Fourth of July weekend a couple of years ago. Our fiver was 2 months old and we were feeling pretty smug since we had just come off a 1800 mile trip with no problems. We got to one of our favorite campgrounds and ended up with a back in site. A few problems getting situated but finally, after a few bad words, I was backing into the spot with no problem. My wife was on the walkie-talkie and watching the rear of the trailer so we didn't back into a fence. That's when we heard a big crack - she had directed me into a tree branch. I thought I had put a hole in the roof but it was only a ding in the gel coat at the top of the rear cap. Off to Walmart for some body putty. We did meet our next door camping neighbors and they have turned out to be really good friends and camping buddies.
Carriage Cameo 33CKQ | 08 GMC 3500HD CC LB Duramax Dually | Sam the Cat and the Labs | Best wife going
only one to share even though there are so many.
We were on a major hwy (I10 East bound on the way to Phoenix).
I was in the left lane going passed a big rig in the right lane (BR1).
The big rig in front of the one I was passing (BR2)suddenly changed into my lane... no big deal he had plenty of room. The problem was that he changed into my lane to get around a third big rig (BR3) that was stalled in the right hand lane.
BR1 now has to move into my lane to avoid a 60MPH collision with BR3. Unfortunately I am occupying my lane right next to him. In this case I am going to lose. I see this all unfold (in less than 3 or 4 seconds) and just move left as far as I dare (my left hand tires and wheels were just off the edge of the pavement and throwing gravel). Big rig 1 moves over and we all miss each other (two BRs and a 5th wheel side by side in two lanes of hwy do not leave much room for error).
After I started breathing again and confirmed that my shorts did not need changing, I was able to sort of laugh about it because the guy in the pickup truck behind me while all of this was happening passed me a 1/2 mile later and gave me a thumbs up high sign like he really enjoyed the show or something.
Moral... pay attention ALL THE TIME and know where your rig is. A foot more to the left and I would have been in the ditch at 65 MPH. A foot more to the right and BR1 would have pushed me into the ditch at 65.
sorry for the long post, not an easy story to relate.
Dave
When on the road, pay attention to where your going and what you are turning into!! On our first big trip when we purchased our 5er Kimi and I where whizzing through a small Georgia town ( what we call a blink and miss it ) when she who reads the maps says, "we should turn right here" as we are going past the road. I thought no problem, we are in town, will go to the next street, make a right, go a block make another right, a whalaaaa back on track.
Well, next right was a residential and after going what seemed about four blocks, discovered it had no side streets to turn on, and it dead ended with no way to turn our rig around. Had to back up 4 blocks, and then back out onto the main road! Thankfully we were so far off the beaten path that the main road was almost deserted! We still laugh about it to this day!!
before your first real trip go out driving when their will be very little traffic and get use to how the truck handles and most importantly how wide you will need swing when turning. it still amazes me how wide i have to make my turns so i dont plaster my trailer on light poles on the corner.
also when i am driving my wife understands at times i get real nervous in heavy traffic so she doesnt ask me many questions at that time.
Both happened in the same campground in a Blackhill's horse camp. Was back flushing with my new Flush King. Time got away from me and the whole system filled up with water. Finally with all that pressure, the Flush King blew off the 5th wheel and all the black tank residue came pooring out. Luckily it all quickly soaked into the ground.
2 days later I was leaving. Lots of little trees in the way. Was pulling out and had to make a slow sharp turn. Pulled the break away cable loose and locked up all the trailer brakes. But my Silverado continued to pull the new 5th wheel forward....albeit slowly. Pulled and pulled, made a turn and pulled into an empty field to go across. Soon got the truck and locked up Jayco 5th wheel mired in the big open field which was the campground's septic tank flush field. The owner was none to pleased but got his front loader to pull both truck and trailer out. Told him I'd see him next year and left.
Dick
We've locked up 5ver brakes while backing (stupid short breakaway cable), cut into power cable backing, ripped into 5ver overhang with truck bed pocket hooks - backing (see a trend), broken lcd mount (forward for a change train tracks and huge speed bumps at customs, luckily lcd survived), had the hitch draw bar sieze part way closed..probably others I've blocked out. Welcome to RVing - cost of doing business and the part the dealer doesnt mention. This stuff will happen take your $$ lumps and carry on. Focus your efforts on safety, tire pressures and lug nuts, correct hookup to hitch, alert while driving (gps nav with voice guidence is a god send) and stay safe.
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