Hitch/unhitch; need help fast! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hitch/unhitch; need help fast!

blijil · RV-Dreams Family Member

Your best solution is to find someone in the community to help you out in person. If we knew when and where someone might be available. Hitch and unhitch proceedures are pretty standard with slight variations for the rig. That is why the personal touch would be helpful. A checklist is essential for the first few times and helpful to keep us on track especially when we get interrupted in the process. We don't have a HH II and the specific hitch brands vary slightly so locations of pieces is hard to generalize. Howard and Linda had a generic checklist on line that is pretty exhaustive. Best to get some on-site help.

Larry and Jacki

thebearII · RV-Dreams Family Member

Gypsy,

If there is a campground close by where you're picking up the 5th wheel, you might drive through and try borrowing one of the RV'ers with a 5th wheel. Offer to buy lunch for their help.

Other option would be to post on Escapees forum, RVnet and other rv forums requesting help.

Most RV'ers are very helpful, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone in the area to help.

One caution, never stand between the truck and the 5th wheel while hitching or unhitching. Under certain circumstances, the truck or the trailer can roll and pin you.

-- Edited by thebearII at 10:51, 2008-11-18

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

blijil wrote:

... A checklist is essential for the first few times and helpful to keep us on track especially when we get interrupted in the process. We don't have a HH II and the specific hitch brands vary slightly so locations of pieces is hard to generalize. Howard and Linda had a generic checklist on line that is pretty exhaustive. Best to get some on-site help.

Larry and Jacki

I know I've seen checklists and I think I even printed some out when I was in my house in NC, but I don't have them with me unfortunately. Can anyone direct me to such a list on RV-Dreams? Thanks.

gypsy

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We picked up the rig on Sat., and Porter Ad**** from one of the Hitchhiker owners groups in NJ came to help me hitch it up. I made notes but also relied on my two sons who were there, one of whom has driven something similar. When it was time to drive away I just couldn't do it in front of an audience, so I asked Steve to drive. When we got close to home we turned into a big parking lot, half of which was unused, so I got behind the wheel and practiced making turns, etc. When it came to backing into a space though, I just couldn't get it. I liken it to when I first learned to drive and had to parallel park. I spent much time practicing on the street in front of our house, with mop buckets, mops & brooms marking the space. All of the sudden it clicked and I've been able to parallel park ever since. I just hope this backing up clicks soon.

I don't think I will have much trouble as long as I'm on an interstate, but making turns on a 2 lane road with traffic in the other lane wakes me up at night worrying about it.

I will probably leave here tomorrow since it looks like I will have decent weather over to eastern PA and south. I am scared silly!

By the way, I have already had to buy 2 new batteries for the 5ver. From sitting too long they were dead, so we took them to an auto parts store to have them tested. (Thank God the store was open at 9 am on Sunday morning). Rather than having them on a triple charge for 4 hrs, and then worrying all along that they might go dead on me, I bought 2 new ones. The problem now is that we couldn't get the generator to start, so I will have it looked at soon.

gypsy

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

The very best thing you can do is to buy some small orange "soccer cones" at a sporting goods store. 6 or so should do. Then find an empty parking lot in an industrial area on a weekend and practice making your turns onto a 2-lane road. Use the cones to represent cars. Once you learn to swing wide you will not have issues. You just have to learn the turning radius of your combination. The only way to learn that safely is to practice.

Then tackle the backing. Same as with the car....put out some cones and practice. First straight line. Then straight line into an angled spot on your good side. Then a tighter angle on your good side.

Also, S's in a straight line (snakes around cones, using the mirror on your off side). Once you do all this pretty well you can tackle off-side back ins.

It is worth the aggravation of packing up and going out to practice. I recommend a coach that knows what they are doing if you can find one...but you can do it alone. Keep it to half hour sessions if you can. I know it is a pain to go out and do, but the alternative might be an accident and/or rig damage.

Floridariz · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Gypsy,

We just got back from a trip after being parked for 8 months.
Getting ready, hitched up and driving off, we had the "heebie jeebies" and were nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs! I agree with Jack that practicing is an wonderful thing, but then, you just gotta get out there and do it! The nerves will calm with experience. Until you are comfy with backing, just choose the pull thru's if possible.

I just want to assure you that it gets easier as you go and before you know it, you won't even think about these things anymore.

Have a great time!

Paula in Fl

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

After many tries on Tues (Dec 2), I thought I had it hitched properly so I took off, and drove to the PA/MD border, over 300 miles. I don't have trouble driving it, but of course I still hate the sharp turns, especially right turns. I got pull thru site at Keystone CG and too it over to their RV svc the next morning. I was shocked to find out that I hadn't hitched it properly. They de-winterized the 5ver, and I asked several of them "Now this means I will have water? Will I be able to have hot water?, etc" I sort of thought/hoped they would put sine water in my fresh water tank, but I found out later that they didn't. While there I visited the store and bought a hose for fresh water plus a pressure valve (or whatever it is called), but can't get it connected. Evidently I need something on the 5th wheel end of the hose. I am about to dig into the box of user guides because I also can't get my microwave to work. Other than breakfast yesterday at IHOP I hven't had anything to eat except chips & jalapeno cheese dip!

Today I drove about 150 miles to Staunton VA, and will do the 350 to Asheville tomorrow. It is not easy to find a CG open this time of year, and I would have liked to go another 75-100 miles today. I'll be in Asheville for a week so I will unhitch, and have to hitch up again when I leave. Hopefully I'll get it right this time.

This morning I pulled over to the left lane to allow a trucker to enter the highway, and he drew up close and began to honk his horn. He finally pulled up next to me and pointed toward the side of the rig. I pulled over at the next opportunity and found I had left the storage bay door open! The day before I think it was a handle at the entryway that I didn't pull back.

Another comment that probably should be posted elsewhere but I'm going to add it here. I LOVE MY GARMIN GPS! Why did iI fight getting and using one? So I will eat crow, and say it is probably my favorite tool as of now. Of course, she hasn't gotten me lost or given me bad directions yet.

gypsy

debken · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just have to say, I'm pretty impressed by what you've accomplished!

Debbie

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Very good so far.

Why are you not noticing these things that you are forgetting on your walkaround before leaving and at EVERY stop? You DO perform a walkaround, right? And use a checklist?

How did you not hook up propperly, yet pull that far without a problem?? Just take your time, check your lists, and you will be fine :)

Judy the Other · RV-Dreams Family Member

I admire your spunk, girl!

I would agree with Jack, get a checklist and a departure procedure just like an airline pilot. We've been camping for years and without some sort of final walkaround to check our "jobs" we would have had major problems.

Slow down, take a deep breath and eat-your brain doesn't work properly without fuel : )

Judy

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

gypsy97,

From what I am reading, you are doing fine. It is a learning process and a beginning is the checklist that everyone is speaking about.

Last August, Jo and I were getting to go to Colorado for the first time in a few years. Leaving the house, I was so anxious to get on the road that it took me about five minutes just to get out of the driveway.

As we started out, I realized that I hadn't checked the camper lights to make sure all were working. So I had to stop while still in the driveway and make sure brake, turning and clearance lights were operational. Then, I hurriedly jumped back into the pickup and started out again. As I pulled into the street, I glanced back in the mirror and saw that the steps were still out.

Needless to say, Jo had a very good laugh at my expense.

Create and use the checklist, and be prepared to add to the list as you listen to the experiences of others.

More importantly, have fun.

Terry

gypsy97 · RV-Dreams Family Member

My oldest son has already done the preachin' about checklists, and I will make one this evening. The last 2 nights enroute have been so cold that I just wanted to get into the warm truck in the morning, which is no excuse for neglecting to notice everything. I'll get there.....

gypsy

Judy the Other · RV-Dreams Family Member

you go, girl!