Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
For the past couple of years as a work camper, I’ve seen visitors in day use parks or campgrounds either lock themselves out of their vehicle or lose their keys. I recently assisted someone who lost their keys while hiking and had to get a relative to drive 85 miles to bring a spare set. To add to their troubles, the lost key ring contained the wireless entry fob. Replacing one of those is not cheap or convenient. So leave your ignition keys hidden from view inside of the vehicle. Then get a spare door key made for your vehicle and attach it to a hidden part of your vehicle, but where you can get to it when needed. A door key will not work for starting most late model vehicles that have a computerized ignition key, but it will get you inside. Get a spare RV door key for the same reasons.
I pass along this suggestion to spare someone a lot of frustration because there are two types of motorist. Those who have done this or those who are going to. I have personally met five of you this season.
__________________
When it comes to the hereafter, I want to be in the no smoking section.
8 years age we were camping at Shaver Lake in the western Sierra-Nevada mountains of California. Some friends had left their canoe for us to use since we would be staying for a few more days after they left.
My wife and I had never been in a canoe together other than the ones at Disneyland. I explained to her, one of us needs to paddle on one side while the other paddles on the opposite side to help maintain balance. I was in the back so I would steer the canoe.
We were able to get away from shore and started heading out into the lake. We had gotten about 50 yards out when she switched paddling sides and at the same time I began a turn, well we ended up flipping the canoe over, dumping both of us into the water.
The water was cold and I began swimming as hard as I could to tow the canoe back to the shore. I wasn't making much headway, eventhough I was kicking my legs and stroking with one arm for all I was worth. I looked back and my wife was standing and laughing at me.... the water was a little more than waist deep. It hadn't occurred to me to stand up since we had gotten so far from shore.
So it was good for a laugh until I realized I had lost the keys out of my pocket.
These were the keys for our trailer and the tow vehicle. The spare set was locked inside of the trailer. In addition, the only key for the hitch lock I had put on the trailer was now in the lake.
A lock smith would have cost extra since the nearest was 50 miles away. I was able to get into the trailer through the window that doubled as an emergency exit.
I spent several hours with a hack saw cutting through the hitch lock until I could pry it off.
So now we keep a full set of spare keys for tow vehicle and 5th wheel in the RV along with a hidden door key on the outside of the RV so we can get in. In 8 years we haven't had to use it, but it's good insurance.
__________________
Larry "Small House, Big Yard " 7 years to go to FT Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe Pickup
On a recent weekend trip I packed my car keys in the camper..We spent hours looking for them..I figured I was calling Good Sam to open my car... We towed the camper home and I thought I know they are in that camper... so I started unpacking everything and found them... Had to have my daughter drive me back to the campground to get my car...My husband now keeps a set of all the keys in the big black truck...patti
We went canoeing a few years back with Daughter and son in law. Took two vehicles. Left one where we would be getting out of the river. Drove other with canoe to where we would put in.
Upon getting out of canoe, Son in law, then realized he locked his keys back in his car where we put in. Okay men, get walking!
Dh had just returned from Iraq. I lived in FL, he was stationed in VA. After his leave was over we loaded up the 5th wheel and headed to VA so he could go back to work. He was retiring in a few months, so I went with. We were staying at a campground in southern Chesapeake at a military campground for a few days until we could get into a campground closer to his work.
Dh leaves for work. This is the first time I had been left at the RV, we had only used it a few times before he deployed. I get up, the dogs need to go out, thankfully I got dressed and didn't go out in my pjs. I also grabbed my cell. I messed with the lock thing to get out, assumed it was unlocked and I didn't need the keys. Take the dogs for a walk. No problem....wrong, when dh left he locked the door handle with the key, not the deadbolt. So the door was locked. We were locked out.
I called dh, but it ws 7:30 am and he was in a meeting, first day back to work. So there the dogs and I sit in the middle of June, no food. I could get them water at the dump station and there was a bath house. This particular camp ground is very isolated, only about 10 sites in the woods, off the beaten path of the base. Only about 2-3 sites occupied and those people were gone. The base police came by, but there was nothing they could do.
Dh finally got home a little after noon.
Lesson learned................never lock the door handle with the key. We also hid a key on the rig.
