Avoiding Rookie Mistakes

[gbaglo]

I don't have a problem backing with a sway bar, because I don't have a sway bar on my weight distribution hitch. I have no sway issues either.

[brightday]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I don't have a problem backing with a sway bar, because I don't have a sway bar on my weight distribution hitch. I have no sway issues either.

The point is that I DO have a WDH and sway bars … and have had no problems backing up thus far.

Okay. This makes sense:

As long as you aren't jackknifing your trailer when you are backing up you should be fine.… view full answer... With any weight distribution system you will want to remove the spring bars every time you encounter any tight maneuvering situation. www.etrailer.com › question-108154

[Toddybegood]

No beers until your all set up at camp or what Iowa Dave said may happen.
Dont ask how I know.🤫🙄

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Before pulling out always, ALWAYS do the eagle-eye walk-around, looking for issues that will bite you.

And after you've pulled out 40' get out of the tow vehicle and do another walk around. It's amazing what has been found that our old eyes couldn't see because the camper shielded the item.

Enjoy,

Perry

[Iowa Dave]

When I had oversight for a Boy Scout troop we would police the campsite closely before we left the site but after we had packed up. The scoutmaster previous to me and perhaps further back than that had established the practice of getting the boys in a line and walking slowly, staring at the ground. Three or four adults would walk behind them to “correct” any misses on litter etc. Early in the morning before the boys were up, one of us would walk the area where we were camped and throw out some change or hide a dollar by a piece of wood or table leg or whatever. It was interesting to say the least to watch the boys. Some got it and some didn’t but the site was clean when we left and we were always invited to return. I’m very disappointed about the changes in Scouting, the abuses, etc. Things change.
Iowa Dave

[Hollybee]

Originally Posted by Perryb67

And after you've pulled out 40' get out of the tow vehicle and do another walk around. It's amazing what has been found that our old eyes couldn't see because the camper shielded .........

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I can attest to the value of "last" walk around..last summer on my last look b4 leaving TH Stone SP I grabbed/shook the lock on my main hitch pin..and voila' the whole lock came off the pin into my hand..it had rusted and broken inside after only 8 mo of use. Maybe the pin wudda stayed in and maybe not. Possibly the chains wudda caught the tongue and maybe not. Luckily I had a spare pin and CLIP..always carry them..

Always good to make sure them little ole vents are shut..you know..the stove hood vent, outside shower cover, etc. On our old Casita the outside shower hose was attached, making it possible that the hose could flop out and be dragged under a tire..ugggh
To prevent that, we Gaffer-Taped that shower door shut for road trips.

[Hollybee]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

When I had oversight for a Boy Scout troop we would police the campsite closely before we left the site but after we had packed up. The scoutmaster previous to me and perhaps further back than that had established the practice of getting the boys in a line and walking slowly, staring at the ground. Three or four adults would walk behind them to “correct” any misses on litter etc. Early in the morning before the boys were up, one of us would walk the area where we were camped and throw out some change or hide a dollar by a piece of wood or table leg or whatever. It was interesting to say the least to watch the boys. Some got it and some didn’t but the site was clean when we left and we were always invited to return. I’m very disappointed about the changes in Scouting, the abuses, etc. Things change.
Iowa Dave

Yeah..me too. Ole Asst Scoutmaster here..we were always careful to leave an area cleaner than it was upon arrival..tho I never tried the "dollar bill trick" LOL I do miss the old Troop days. A bunch of us 'retired' SMs and Asst SMs and sometimes a few ole "Scouts' (usually sonsof the ASMs..still meet quarterly for lunch and gab at a local Nashville eatery..sharing old times helps keep us young.

[LarryB.]

Originally Posted by LarryB.

When backing up, disengage and remove your sway bar.

Originally Posted by brightday

Are you talking about backing up in general, or just when backing into a space in the campground and plan to unhitch from the tow vehicle?

It depends. If you are negotiating anything tricky or if your backing turn radius is more than 30 degrees, you should consider removing your sway bar and/or WDH trunion bars.

Since both the above are designed to dampen sway (& turn) and transfer load, why fight them?

[Hollybee]

Originally Posted by LarryB.

It depends. If you are negotiating anything tricky or if your backing turn radius is more than 30 degrees, you should consider removing your sway bar and/or WDH trunion bars.

Since both the above are designed to dampen sway (& turn) and transfer load, why fight them?

I can say, from experience w our Casita last year..you do not want to back around a corner with that friction bar attached..don't bother to ask HOW I know. I can say that I missed bending MY bar by only a small part of an inch. Eeeeks. I have backed that Casita down a longish (75yd) entrance road [I think it was &@ Lock A CG on the Cumberland River w of Nashville area] to a campsite w the bar attached, but it was nearly straight W our new E21 we will aparently also have a bar to disengage..I will not 4git ;-)

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by LarryB.

If you are negotiating anything tricky or if your backing turn radius is more than 30 degrees, you should consider removing your sway bar and/or WDH trunion bars.

Yes... or, in advance and in the comfort of a convenient parking lot, slowly turn with someone watching to determine whether or not there is a risk of jamming or pulling apart the sway control device or WD system spring bars. If not, there's no need to worry about them.

If you have an Andersen No-Sway WD hitch system there is no risk of anything happening, unless the triangular plate runs into something under the hitch. That's WD and sway control, likely with no turning angle issues.

[gbaglo]

I've only dropped a bar once and I was going forward, acute turn, uphill, onto flat. On the way home and about 200' from my house. Made the same turn many times without dropping a bar.