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06-10-2018, 09:26 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Melbourne Beach, FL
Posts: 4
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OK to stay hitched-up overnight?
This summer, we're planning to go cross country (FL to WY) in our 25 foot travel trailer (Bullet Premier 22RBPR) pulled by a Nissan Armada with equalizer hitch.
To save time, I'd like to be able to leave the car and camper hitched-up overnight at stops. Planning to stay in pull-thru RV slots that should be fairly level. Is doing this OK overnight? Would it be OK to push out the small dinette slider?
I'm grateful for any tips and advice.
Thanks!
Carol
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06-10-2018, 09:58 AM
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#2
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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Yes, you can stay hooked up for the overnight. Won't hurt anything. If you're in a campground, put your slides ou, put your awning out, put your grill out. It's all ok.
However, keep in mind if you stay hooked up then you have to take the trailer with you to Walmart, etc. And trailers don't fit up to the drive through window.
How many miles and hours are you planning on traveling each day?
__________________
Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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06-10-2018, 11:40 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Melbourne Beach, FL
Posts: 4
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Thanks for the info! That's so good to know. We've never taken a lengthy trip in this trailer, and it seems just so much more convenient not to have to unhitch/re-hitch especially with the equalizer bars.
My guess is that it's a good thing to put down the front jack and stabilizers just so they touch ground?
The "plan" is to do around 400 miles a day. That's the plan, anyway.
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06-10-2018, 11:52 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
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Eight hours a day with the short wheelbase Nissan may be a stretch. But it's a good plan. Have a good enjoyable trip!
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
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06-10-2018, 12:06 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Valliant
Posts: 6
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My husband and I took our first long trip with our Passport 2520RL in May. On the first leg of our trip back from Florida we stopped at Poverty Point Reservoir State Park in Louisiana. Since we would be leaving early the next day, it seemed like a lot of trouble to unhook all the sway control, etc. So we lowered the jacks, and put out the slide. After having a nice supper, we decided to walk down and look at the lake. My husband went down the steps first. When he stepped off the last step he immediately said, I've been snake bit! A copperhead was beneath the bottom step where it could not be seen. Luckily, there was a camp host that I asked to drive us to the hospital in town. From now on, we will make the extra effort to unhook the truck!
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06-10-2018, 12:10 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,979
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If you plan to tow 400 miles a day, you're going to miss seeing much of the reason for the trip.... When you tow with the "attitude" of the destination as your focus, you tend to bypass all of the interesting things you see on the side of the road. We've planned trips for 50 years and almost always are behind schedule after the first day. Some days we may only tow 25 or 30 miles, see something that we really REALLY think would be interesting, so we stop, find a campground and go "sightseeing".... We've found everything from dinosaur bones to the world's biggest buffalo that way, not to mention all of the other stuff along the route.
It's good to plan your destination, but don't make the trip about "getting there before you start having fun".... If you see something, want to stop, then stop, take it in and then get back on the road.... I can't tell you how many things we wanted to see when we first started, but never had time to stop.... Now, we seldom say, "I wish I knew what that was"..... We just "go find out"...
We usually plan our trips with 300 miles per day, then add another day for each two. So if we're planning a 600 mile trip, that's 2 days (plus our extra day) or 3 days. If we're planning an 1800 mile trip, that's 6 days (plus our extra 3 days) or a total of 9 days of driving... Some days, we'll wake up, have breakfast, say to each other, "Nah, let's just rest today" and we'll walk to the campground office and pay for another night. After all, it's in the schedule, why not enjoy the trip rather than push on even though we're tired and wish we could rest.... YMMV.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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06-10-2018, 12:35 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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When 1st retired & started fulltiming an older fellow gave us this advice, you travel 2x2x2, drive 200 miles, stop by 2pm, & stay 2 days, which wasn't a bad way to travel. We did 2/3s of it, never traveled much over 200 miles, nearly always were stopped by 2pm, but moving every other day didn't give enough time to sight see the area, so usually stayed a week. We also vowed to never plan too far ahead as more often than not it didn't work out as planned anyway. Go enjoy the experience, without the pressure to hurry & get there, unless your still employed & on vacation, if you're retired what's the rush.
It doesn't hurt a thing to stay hooked up! We nearly always unhook either to sight see for the evening or to not have to fuel up at the high priced stations on the highway, can usually save 20-30 cents per gallon going into town.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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06-10-2018, 01:43 PM
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#8
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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Would also add. If you don't have an electric jack, get one. Makes all the difference in the world and makes putting the equalizer (do you have the 4 point model) bars on the brackets a cinch. You could disconnect, leave your bars on, bungee them parallel to the bumper and then you could go get cheaper gas, a burger, or sight see. Gas is easy to find with the Gas Buddy app.
__________________
Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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06-10-2018, 04:20 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Melbourne Beach, FL
Posts: 4
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Yes, thanks, we do have the four point and electric jack. That's an excellent suggestion!
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06-11-2018, 05:35 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Sammamish
Posts: 256
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As it turned out, I disconnected and glad I did, because I ended up having to run to town for a few things. It also makes it a lot easier to get to the other side without having to climb over the hitch or walk all the way around the truck.
__________________
2017 Springdale 202QBWE, 2017 F150 XLT 5.0
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06-11-2018, 06:16 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Richmond
Posts: 113
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As I read all the advice from everyone it certainly makes a lot of sense about seeing vs trying to travel so much each day. Soon my wife and I will headed out on a long trip from Virginia to Seattle down to CA and back to Virginia. Thanks for all the input.
__________________
Doug & Diane * Richmond,VA
2014 Keystone Cougar
M-315 High Country 5th Wheel
2014 RAM 2500 Laramie 392 Hemi
AirLifts
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06-11-2018, 06:28 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Bragg Creek
Posts: 636
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.
If you do stay hooked up, place a tag on your steering wheel to do a walk around before you "take off" so you are not collapsing a stabilizer jack.
I know, I know, you should always do a pre-trip safety anyway.
.
__________________
2016 Bullet 1800RB, UVW 3260, led by a 2005 Chev Silverado Z-71 1500, Crew Cab, 5.3L, 4WD, Tow & Off Road Package with 4.10 Rear Axle, GVR 7000 lbs, Front GWAR 3925 lbs & Rear GWAR 4000 lbs., Payload 1600 lbs., Hellwig 6012 Air Bags. 97' Honda Goldwing GL1500.
Home Base is the Alberta Foothills at 4300 ' ASL.
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06-12-2018, 07:59 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Grenfell
Posts: 187
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One campground we stayed in, Ft. Nelson, BC, I think it was, I'm pretty sure you had to unhook. Never thought to ask why, but some good reasons posted above.
Electric jacks are great!
__________________
2020 F150 ECO SC & 2019 Cougar 22RBS HT
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06-24-2018, 07:38 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Hillsborough
Posts: 6
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Slides out
My husband wants the camper level before any slides come out. Otherwise, you can leave it hooked up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarolS
This summer, we're planning to go cross country (FL to WY) in our 25 foot travel trailer (Bullet Premier 22RBPR) pulled by a Nissan Armada with equalizer hitch.
To save time, I'd like to be able to leave the car and camper hitched-up overnight at stops. Planning to stay in pull-thru RV slots that should be fairly level. Is doing this OK overnight? Would it be OK to push out the small dinette slider?
I'm grateful for any tips and advice.
Thanks!
Carol
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06-24-2018, 01:25 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Young America MN
Posts: 372
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We are the opposite. Now up to a 37 foot 16000 Pound 5th wheel towed by 1 ton GMC and same winter spot for years. Both drive so we go as far as possible. Some days have been as far as 700 miles. One nighters until the 2nd or 3rd night, then an extra resting day. Takes 4 to 5 days from MN to AZ by way oF TX to see a brother. Rarely unhook except for the rest day which also becomes restocking day. Should also mention we started doing this when we stayed home longer in fall due to grand kids and holidays.
Previously we did more stay a few days and less daily travel time until we found our permapark. Now you ask why we don't just buy a place there? Its the people in the park as much as the place. Many same every year people for many years.
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06-24-2018, 04:38 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Tooele
Posts: 21
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We stop at truck stops, Walmart, or motel parking lots all the time to spend the night for free. Usually leave after work and drive until I'm tired of driving. Spend the night and get to our destination early the next day. We don't disconnect, just drop the landing gear to minimize the bouncing. Make sure it's level for the plumbing and fridge.
Flying J's are friendly to rv's and they'll usually suggest a place to park that's quiet.
__________________
2017 Keystone Cougar 336 BHS
2011 Ford F-350 6.7SD Crew cab 8' box factory 5th Wheel hitch package
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06-24-2018, 06:45 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Boaz
Posts: 13
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The cable and pull system I have on our Keystone Sprinter 296FWRLS doesn't seem to care if it is live or not. Each slide has rollers for the slide to travel over. I like to stay hitched as well. Walmarts are good unless they are in a town that has codes to prevent overnight parking. I usually ask before I shop. If I can't stay I shop somewhere else. Not going to give tax money to an RV unfriendly town.
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06-24-2018, 07:34 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: vancouver
Posts: 114
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Good question, i was wondering the same thing. Were headed to la from WA and we plan on taking 3 days to get there.
good to know the information you received
randy
Sprinter 296fwrls
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06-26-2018, 09:12 AM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Melbourne Beach, FL
Posts: 4
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Many thanks to everyone for the good info!
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06-26-2018, 12:09 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Randallf
Good question, i was wondering the same thing. Were headed to la from WA and we plan on taking 3 days to get there.
good to know the information you received
randy
Sprinter 296fwrls
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Hope that's Washington to Los Angeles not Louisiana? If Louisiana that will be 3 VEERRY long days, you wouldn't have time to stop let alone unhook!
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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