21 replies to this topic

[ski3pin]

The Lady and I have a routine, chores we each do. But, we also know each others jobs. We talk to each other to double check. Two heads are better than one.

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Its a process. You have a lot to remember....Just take your time.

 

And when you get my age you forget steps ....you know.

 

Word of advice

Put a label on fan .."Don't reverse fan when blades are turning" 

Also on fan remember to close vent.

Frank

[takesiteasy]

...Like most folks, I don't follow my own advice so it didn't stop me from driving off with the front down and back up last week. ...

 

 

Funny you should mention this. We were happily on our way to an adventure last weekend, on the freeway out of town, when a biker came up along side making this funny motion with his arm- kind of like a "heil hitler" salute. I thought he was some kind of wacko until I realized I had forgotten to lock the top down after packing up. Yep, the front was up and the back was down- no latches were hooked. Luckily no harm done. Latched 'em down and off we went. I imagine I will remember to check the latches now- at least for a while until I get side-tracked again.

[Ramblinman]

oh gawd ... this is the story of my life. I treat my unit like the helicopter pilots treat their air craft. Walk around lots touching every thing to make sure it is secure. Pull my self up on the rear bumper to make sure the vents are down. Check, double check, check again. I touch everything - call me crazy. Easy to forget something , or leave something on , or leave something behind. I find if I slow down a little bit when packing up things get done right.

[MarkBC]

Latching the top down is one thing I've never forgotten.

After I drop the top I immediately exit the door and step out onto the bumper, reach up and latch the rear latches, like it's all part of the same top-dropping operation.  Then it's just a continuation of the operation to walk around and latch the other four.

 

I have made the mistake of moving the camper (like, to improve the level) after deploying the gray-water container and without removing it -- and I drove over it; crushed the hose-container connector.

 

And I always fear I'll back up over my irreplaceable steps -- but I haven't yet.

[alano]

And I always fear I'll back up over my irreplaceable steps -- but I haven't yet.

 

Aargh! Why did you even mention that possibility? 

 

Alan

[MarkBC]

Aargh! Why did you even mention that possibility? 

 

Alan

 

I always face my fears. 

[ntsqd]

Thought the linked step thread might be the one that I posted in it a pic of the one that I built, but it isn't.

 

A step that's connected to the truck -- hitch-mounted -- or the camper would be OK, too, and might be better than my current step because it doesn't depend on the ground.
But it would only be OK --for me -- if it didn't hang down at all while driving.  I don't want to have to think about, worry about, dragging something when driving over rocky/bumpy ground.

 

This reminded me of an oops that I did. This is the step:

We normally travel with it put back in the hitch upside down. The one time that I forgot to flip it was near Ophir, NV. Coming back down that canyon the road crossed the crick and the berm on the far side was a pretty good bump. Yep, I plowed a trough in it. Felt the step hit ground and was puzzled for a bit because I KNEW there wasn't a rock for the rear diff to drag on, but something had dragged.

 

I'll second getting a routine going and sticking to it. Without some semblance of one I'd have stuff, broken or not, scattered over 5 western states.....

Edited by ntsqd, 12 September 2014 - 02:30 AM.

[takesiteasy]

Latching the top down is one thing I've never forgotten.

...

 

I hadn't ever forgotten it either.

[JHa6av8r]

I pre-flight my camper like I do an airplane when the top goes up or down and before the truck moves. It's done the same way every time. If I'm interrupted, it starts over. Not infallible but greatly reduces the risk of missing something. Naval Air teaches good habits.