Ooops and Ouch!!!

[Festus2]

Camping friends of ours are feeling very down after having suffered a major ooops and ouch on their brand new 5th wheel.

They had noticed that the 5th wheel was sitting a bit high so they lowered the hitch in the truck - also brand new. Both are sitting in their driveway which has a slight tilt towards the road at the front of their house.

After the hitch was lowered, they decided to pull the 5th wheel onto the street, which BTW, is quite level, to get a better look at the two units to see how they are now sitting.

Driver hops into the truck and starts moving forward out of the driveway onto the street when suddenly everything comes to grinding halt. At the same time, a very loud "thunk" is heard.

No, the truck and 5th wheel did not separate. It was hitched properly. What happened? They pulled ahead but forgot to put the large slide in on the passenger side and it smashed into a metal light standard at the edge of their property and the road.

Apparently, the slide is a write-off - almost totally destroyed and will have to be rebuilt from almost from scratch. They were told that they are probably looking at something over $10000. And they haven't been told yet how much $$$$ will be involved with the bent light standard.

Needless to say, they are sick. A brand new unit which has been out once for a short shakedown trip. Hopefully, their insurance will cover the costs but it just leaves a bad feeling in your stomach.

[x96mnn]

That is awful, I cannot even begin to think how I would feel. I mean my first day with my camper I snapped a key off in the outdoor kitchen lock and was beside myself. This really puts it into perspective. Hope it all works out.

[GaryWT]

I feel so bad. I think we all have at least a close call. Insurance should cover both the trailer and the pole.

[theeyres]

I once left a park with the lr slide out. I was clear out onto the highway when a passing truck started waving frantically at me! I looked in the mirror and saw what he was waving at. I pulled over with no damage done. I'm so sorry for your friends. It is so easy to do...

[Ron]

What a terrible thing to happen, hurts just to read about it. We have some camp host friends that seen a motorhome pulling out of the campground with all the slides out, yes all of them, they got him stopped a short ways down the road..........I guess he never looks into his mirrors.......

[byrdr1]

Ouch!! that hurts me and it was not mine..

[fla-gypsy]

That would be very depressing. I hope it doesn't dampen their enthusiasm.

[cmssorrell]

That's just terrible. I feel bad for them.

Mark

[mguay]

The hair is standing up on the back of my neck just thinking about it

[schwalbach]

I walk around at least 3 times in the course of getting ready to move, spread out over 5 minutes with activities between, checking door's latched awning secured, jacks up cord in etc. , and once more just before I get in to go, I walk around from drivers door, around front down passengers side, and back around the back and up the drivers side, looking everything over. My wife gives me he.. every time I do it, but I hope I never feel the pain they are feeling, how depressing.

I am so paranoid of something not secured it is an obsession!


My sympathies to the owner, I just can not imagine the feeling of having that happen!

[Dhuhn]

I made a list and laminated it. I go thru it every time I hook up to make sure everything is disconnected and raised and slides are in. It gets me to double check things before I take off, this way I'm ready to go with no worries.
So sorry to hear about all the damage

[KanTC]

Wow - a sad, sinking feeling indeed! I also hope, once repairs are done, they can enjoy their FW.

Terri, the Chevy co-pilot

[floatflyer]

As a pilot for many years with a couple of my own pre-flight minor missteps, I have a firm rule of using a checklist and and doing a complete walk around before moving anything. It really sucks to have something like that happen.

[billb800si]

Ever notice when your driving something brand new that everyone seems too close to you?? Of course it wears off but still that feeling of new. I can't imagine the feeling he had when he got out and saw what happened.
Just hope he can laugh about it- say in 10 years or so..
Happy trails,

[alien_scones]

Checklist, and walk around two or three times. If I don't find anything on the first walkaround, I look even harder...

[larrya]

Check list, check list, check list. Use them religiously and you won't go wrong. check them off as you do your walk around. Up date them as needed.