Yup, I actually have 2 more videos full. :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-J7wIASJk0HE.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N9qkluwFFJA.html I pride myself that I haven't done the same ones twice and doing them less often them longer we RV. :)
You deserve an award that very few people on all of RU-vid can claim. You made a very informative video on mistakes to watch out for but most importantly you started your information within FIVE seconds of the start of your video. No thirty second intro, no awful music, no yammering about what the weather is, just straight to the point. Well done and more people should try to emulate you. Great job!
A man who can laugh at his own mistakes gets a thumbs up from me. I suspect people watch this video because many of us have made our own mistakes, and want to compare lists.
Why do you feel the need to chock your rv when you stop to eat. I’ve never owned or driven one but I am familiar with heavy equipment.Is there something different with an RV that I’m not aware of?
Thanks for the laugh Ray! Nothing is more appreciated than someone who is willing to share their mistakes with the rest of us... knowing that we would inevitably make them as well!
Life's learning experiences always come at an undisclosed cost. Thanks for helping others avoid these pitfalls. Your honesty shall be rewarded Grasshopper.
I was having a pretty crappy day until i watched this video. i especially enjoyed his dead pan, matter-of-fact manner of explaining his troubles. thanks
When we had our first travel trailer, on our first trip, we stopped at a park for the night and I took the trailer off the truck hitch without chocking the wheels. Fortunately, very fortunately, the space was almost level and, as I brought the hitch up off the ball, the trailer rolled a bit and the hitch came around about two and a half foot arc before it stopped. It did no damage at all, but I was extremely startled. Our prayers were most grateful that day.
Oh, I love you brother! You are not alone, except you've stepped up and admitted that these things can happen...if they haven't already...to any of us. This is how I raised my kids. "I did these dumb things. They didn't work for me, so show me something I didn't already do." Thanks a lot! This video falls into the "ounce of prevention" category.
Thank you for sharing the "don't s" . I'm a newbie in this RV world and taking my first voyage this weekend. Your video had been super helpful.... thanks again! !
Thanks for posting.. I do have a comment on your chocks though. If you've ever noticed a parked phone truck in days gone by they always had their orange safety cones out. This is for what Bell System called "circle of safety"... you walk around your truck, full 360 and pick up your cones (if they hadn't been stolen) looking for anything that you might hit while backing and clearing away possible skateboard kids hanging on to your bumper for a ride. A quick look around is a good thing to see if your tires are all looking good and that would be a good time to pick up your chocks. Always worked for me.
Ray, also not a bad idea to pick up some solid rubber chocks. They don't cost that much more than the plastic ones you routinely destroy :-) I find the ones with the steel eyelets are the easiest to handle.
Appreciate the honesty! Lol now I don't feel so bad bending a jack when I put too much weight on it when I bought my travel trailer new... did I mention my wife melting a plastic container in the over today trying to heat some store bought twice baked potatoes! Doh!
Really like how open and honest you are. #5 is not actually your fault at all, its a stupid manufacturing design fault. However I was howling through this video. thanks again
Suggestion, if you get winds every now and then it's a great idea to get an awning tie-down strap, sometimes called a hurricane strap. It's a belt-type material (kinda like a seat belt) and on one end it has a shock-absorbing spring. You put it over the awning and secure it to the ground on both sides with long spikes. While everyone else in our park runs out and raises their awnings every time it gets a little windy, we no longer have to touch ours because it's literally nailed to the ground. It's also saved our awning numerous times when it gets windy and we're not at the trailer.
Good tip, ours is a power awning though and is a little harder to tie down it doesn't have as much support as a manual awning, but can be retracted in 10 seconds. Because of this I'm in the habit of never leaving the awning out when not around, I've seen what a good gust of wind can do. :)
Ray, Thanks for sharing your trials and tribulations. I think we all have versions of these thinks, but don't share them due to foolish pride. So much can be learned from each other. Thank you.
You're a good sport for publicly posting your mistakes. (And I wouldn't call 'em stupid -- they could happen to anyone.) And thanks to you, we can learn from them! :-)
Love Your RV So nice of you to admit and post mistakes looking at our first RV and maybe I'll not make some of these but sure to have a full list of my own
wow glad you shared...i now know a few more things to the list of dont do's...lol...and now the mistakes i have made lets me know i am not alone....Thanks
We are going Monday to pick up our new RV. Thank you for sharing. I have been trying to learn as much as possible reading, asking in person, and watching videos on RVs. Best way in life to learn is from the mistakes that others make. I am sure I will have my "DOH" moments but these mistakes are noted and your video will help me avoid learning the HARD way.......Doing my own lessons : )
Thanks for sharing. It's nice when people admit mistakes and don't try to point the blame finger at someone/something else. As said in one of the other comments, we've all been there and are likely to visit again.
Tough learning but everyone has those moments, Great job pointing out somethings that are real important.. I have had to stop people that left their TV Antenna up and cruising down the road. Thanks, RD
Producing and directing industrial safety films is my line of work and I would like to give you an A+ for a job well done. Congrats. from Pacific Photo Video. Bangor Michigan.
Great video. I got to my campsite, pulled the hitch pin release, decided I needed to back up a couple feet and bam! The fifth wheel was resting on the sides of my pickup box. It would have been one of those "don't tell mom" moments but she was there and saw. NO damage, just a red face..But I always, always do a walk around, even after a stop on the road for fuel or eats. Happy RVing y'all
I'll do you one better when it comes to the awning. Wife and I were staying in my inlaws' camper for a weekend. My FIL had everything set up already including the awning. Well, the first night it started to rain. Not hard but enough and my FIL called and asked my to bring in the awning. Well, from inside the camper door, I stood and started to unscrew the tightening wheel you allude to here. I didn't realize how much water had accumulated making the awning really heavy. Well, no sooner to I loosen the tightening wheel when the extending arm came down like a guillotine. I unknowingly had the tip of my finger in the groove(or more accurately, when it game down, my finger was in a position to get into the groove), and nearly had my fingertip completely sliced off. I did get cut, badly and it tore my fingernail on one side from the tip to the quick. Strange thing is that it didn't hurt. Moral of the story is that from now on, even on my own RV, I angle the awning.
Had no idea that the awning pitch could be changed until I watched your video. Went out and found a sticker that read: "pull here to change pitch" DOH! And Thanks Ray!!
I left mine open for about 6months when I lived in the RV and the sun took it's toll cracking the vinyl. Wind and the cheap plastic hardware also took their toll. So it stays rolled up now. These are not made to stay open for extended periods..
dalesnale True enough. That's one reason I like my power awning, easy to just roll it out only when I actually need to use it. It has stayed in good shape.
I chuckled watching this because I feel you brother. I Doh! the first day I brought my Class C home and I am sure the more I enjoy it and take it out, the more Dohs to come. You handled the mechanic's one better than I woulda. I didnt chuckle at that one bit.
Great public service video for those of us getting ready for the first time! :c) Not everyone would be so confident with themselves to share. Glad to have some helpful hints to start. I definitely would have been the one with the screwdriver tightening the table legs. lol
Brenda Harrower haha, thanks. Life is a lot easier if you can laugh at yourself a bit, especially RVing. ;) We have been full time RVers now for 4 years and love it. Still do a stupid thing once in a while but less and less as time goes by. Happy Trails, Ray
Very good tips. A checklist really helps. One for what to bring and one for securing everything before hitting the road. I've seen RV going down the road with the TV antenna sticking up. I'm sure they found out at the first overpass.
ADVICE from me to you......... when leaving the wheel chocks on do what I do, just write a sign that says Wheel Chocks ON (and laminate that sign with plastic so that it won't get dirty). Then when chocking, put the sign on your steering wheel and when you come back you won't forget. I always say I like to learn from my mistakes. But, learning from your mistakes........priceless. Thanks for the video.
Here are a few more for ya - www.loveyourrv.com/3-cranial-cramps-causing-damage-rig/ www.loveyourrv.com/seven-boneheaded-rving-mistakes-made/ Cheers! Ray
Glad to see I'm not the only one. Before we even left on our first camping trip, I hit a tree branch in my very own yard and it damaged the Awning. It's a power awning so when I tested it to see if it would work, it came out but I had to push it back. It was bent bad enough that we have to get it fixed before we can actually use it. DUH!
Love the videos. The dos and don'ts are really useful, even for pop-up trailer folks like us. We will revisit all your tips when we upgrade to a trailer. Great stuff! And well done videos - succinct, lots of information, not too long, and a nice dose of real life experience. Plus, who doesn't like a beagle! What a dog's life!
Thank you so much for sharing these things with us! My boyfriend and I are new to the rv world and are gathering as much information as we can. This was very helpful! Thanks again!
Makes me feel better! I have a list of these I've done, too. I'll tell one on my Dad. He unhitched his fifth wheel from the pickup. When he started to drive out from under the trailer...BANG! The trailer fell onto the pickup bed rails. He'd forgotten to lower the landing jacks first. Nice dents...er, character marks.
That is a real common one, I see lots of damaged truck beds in RV parks. I've also heard a few stories where someone got there arm crushed resting it on the truck bed rails while that happened. Ouch!
Being a retired Navy man. I always make checklist for specific operations like getting on the way or docking. I think that would be a good thing for RV users to do.
You are awesome!! Thank you for sharing your DOH! moments...you're helping out the RV community more than you know, I'm sure. Pizza stone - never would have thought about it breaking!! Mistake avoided. :-) We have a beagle as well. Yours is adorable
Great vid...informational AND funny...a live and learn attitude will keep you from going totally bonkers! I'm about to be a new full-timer so I'm soaking up all the great info online. Thank you for sharing this.
Hello Ray! Thank you for sharing your VERY valuable tips with the rest of the rv family to save alot if costly mistakes & aggravation. Keep em coming! Looking at your 5th wheel rv closely I believe I have the same kind so the things you see in & outside of yours I can personally relate. Not sure what year your Keystone Cougar is but mine is a 2007. As my 1st rv purchase ever a few months ago I am extremely proud of it & looking forward to enjoying my new life of rving. Be safe out there & happy trails everyone! 😀😎🌄🌆
let me tell you how bad it can be I worked as a propane truck driver and one of my co workers failed to chock his 26,000 pound delivery truck while filling a customers tank at their house he was in the back and heard a very disturbing noise he said he was sure he set the air brakes but anyway the propane truck ended up in the customers living room still pumping and going strong. No one was hurt, except property damage and ego. Oh one more thing never get close to any propane tank that has pressure and has been touching the ground for a good long while. Its a terrible thing when it separates and all the propane comes out. Any gas vapor escaping through a plastic pipe creates a static spark. Hey your a good guy thanks for the video, heck at least your honest.
About the dully tire thing, I'd not seen that happen before .. but I have had rigs come in that the people clock the tires on wrong and you can't get to the air valves ... so keep an eye on that...
Great video. Very entertaining. Id recommend sealing the underside of where those screws are. And running over your stoppers i wouldnt call that a stupid mistake, its just forgetfulness and that kind of thing happens to alot of people. Take care guy.
Ray, Been following you for a year now, going back and looking at your older posts. Screwing your table down and tearing the carpet as a result, made me laugh my a** off. not because of your misfortune, but that is so somthing I would do. Love following you and Anne. Be safe. Brad
The chicks cracked me up. I've done that when I borrowed my neighbor's camper. I also drove off with a jack still installed. Thinking about buying a motor home. Good stuff here in this video.
After not having enough landing gear left to level trailer front to back a few times; I now always extend the landing gear before "pulling the pin" on the gear and now always seem to have enough landing gear play to level the trailer front to back before I unhitch.
How would you know better than, if no one else let you know....or you have to go through what you have had to. Thank you so much for sharing these errors with us!!! Tom Jackson, another very nice person. Watch out for the critical people, their dangerous because apparently they haven't (or won't admit) made their mistakes yet! Their gonna!!!!!
You're just breaking it in, everything's fine :) Now that mechanic would piss me off as well though. I once picked up a vehicle that had a tire rotation and drove home. When I got home the shop called me and said they "weren't sure if they tightened the lug nuts or not" and that I better check. Guess what? Some of them were loose enough to hand turn! It was nice that they called me though. From then on I always check......
EVERYONE, "DOH'S" sooner than later. But the guy -or woman- who sacrifices their self-respect (but only to the morons ) in an altruistic effort to help others is ACES in my book. To those who criticize this fella, may the lug nuts find their way into a few of your tires!
You are flippin adorable. No, I mean it! I love watching your videos, you're a very humble and helpful fellow. Thanks for putting all this great information out there to save our newbie necks!
Added a rope between the chocks with a loop in the middle. Clip a cheap aluminum carabiner to the loop. When I use the chocks I remove the clip and attach the carabiner to the steering wheel. Instant reminder! Plus the rope makes it easy to pull the chocks up both at once, re-clip the 'beener' and toss in the RV. One guy I met put a bright yellow flag on the rope and laid it out beyond the wheels. Made it easy to see the chock where still in place, even using just the mirrors.
I feel that I am learning a LOT at your expense. Thank you so much for sharing your "lessons"...so that we all do not have to learn the more expensive way! ;-)
Every one has a list of bone head things they have done with thier RV .You just happened to put yours on the you tubes. Thanks for making this. You have saved someone somewhere from doing this them selves. I'll be sure to remove my stone from the oven Except for my brother in law. He does everything right. He will tell you himself.
I can imagine how you must have felt when those things happened. I did the awning slam back the first week I got my rig. I just watched a video telling not to let that happen and as I was slowly letting it rise I realized my awning rod was on the ground and I couldn't reach it because I'd let the awning go up to far already. No one around so had no choice but let it slam the rest of the way up or hold it up there til someone came around. 😄
Thanks for sharing Ray. Don't mean to giggle at your expense but I got more than a few laughs at your descriptions and I'll not be making those mistakes after your video. TeeHee.
Very quick drop off at boat launch. I was prepping to launch my Larson. I got talking with another fellow and lost concentration. I backed boat down ramp to water. Let wife back it the rest with me in boat. She backed me out but I noticed the trailer was not sinking away. I finally got her to pull back ashore and I released the straps on the back of the boat. Luckily the boat was buoyant enough to hold the trailer up and not the other way around.
I like these video because I just bought my first travel trailer and I would rather learn from some else's mistakes. I am fully aware I will eventually do something stupid as well.
Awesome vid, thank you, so helpful, so easy to make these mistakes, I wonder how many thousands of people this vid has helped.. really good and as usual really entertaining :)
