Any issue leaving your truck hooked up at a campground?

[MtnGuy]

To use the slide, the trailer should be level with jacks down. If that can be accomplished with the truck hooked up, then should be OK, but unhook the electrical umbilical.

The post about having the tow vehicle ready for an unexpected emergency is right on, though.

 

[Wileykid]

If it is only an overnight stay, I leave mine hooked up. I will put down the front jacks to stabilize the trailer, and take some weight off the truck. Keeping the weight on the truck is not bad, it will not hurt your truck or its suspension. The trailer static load on the truck is nothing compared to what it gets going down the road, and it would take several years of a constant load to flatten the truck springs (unlike trailer springs). I also unhook the trailer electrical plug into the truck. Most trucks are supposed to not allow the trailer to drain the battery, but there are enough reports that I don't like taking a chance.

 

[Rovers]

As others have said, for anything longer than an overnight stay unhooking from the truck is a good idea in case of an emergency - especially with kids.

We’ve had to run to the emergency room cuz yours truly sliced open a finger trying to cut a bagel (Ugh), we forgot to bring some groceries and had to run to the local store, the truck had a problem and I had to get parts, there was a problem with the trailer and I had to get parts… You get the idea. The unforeseen is what you have to plan for and the truck is your only transportation option.

For what it’s worth, I vote for unhitching for anything longer than a single overnight stay.

Bob

 

[Muddy Tires]

Only thing I have to add is that I drove away one morning without rebooking the electrical umbilical. Not sure how that happened since is usually do a walk around with lights check and test the brakes as I’m pulling away. Now I have a bright lanyard that I wrap around the steering wheel to remind myself that I’m not ready to go.

 

[IBEW Sparky]

Only thing I have to add is that I drove away one morning without rebooking the electrical umbilical. Not sure how that happened since is usually do a walk around with lights check and test the brakes as I’m pulling away. Now I have a bright lanyard that I wrap around the steering wheel to remind myself that I’m not ready to go.

As many others have stated, for 1 night it's ok to stay hooked up with the cord unplugged from the truck. On a travel trailer do not use the tongue jack to raise the trailer & truck together and then leave it like that for a few days. More than 1 night disconnect from the truck, level the RV, deploy the stabilizers, and put the slides out!

 

[Ellen and Jerry]

I gotcha. Probably poor wording on my part. The not so short answer is I have young kids and our last trip was chaotic trying to do the hookup and cleanup and 50 other things for prep and put away. We're new at this and don't want to make a costly mistake and I almost did. To release the W/D bars tension I have to jack the truck/tongue up to then unhook the bars prior to lowering to release the hitch ball. I started jacking the hitch up before stopping realizing my stabilizers were still down and if I lifted the tongue up 6+" I might be crushing the rear stabilizers. So while I avoided that problem it was close and a good reminder absolutely everything has a correct order it needs to be done in.

Add in that my hookup/packup time was every bit of 50 minutes while my kids were getting anxious in front of a long drive and it made me think, why bother unhooking at all when I don't need to go anywhere. Eliminate a portion of the trouble. That's what led me here to find out if staying hooked causes other issues I'm too new to realize.

Many of us make a check list of these things to do and follow the sequence so as to not make that costly mistake or leave something out completely. (steps down, utility hooked up, stabilizer down, etc.)

 

[New England Weekender]

Many of us make a check list of these things to do and follow the sequence so as to not make that costly mistake or leave something out completely. (steps down, utility hooked up, stabilizer down, etc.)

I have checklists as well. This last trip we just returned from, the one that was the purpose of my OP, I did not use the checklist and instead took my time to unhook, as many said for the practice as I'm new at this. 0 issues unhooking, 0 issues re-hooking back up.

Big difference was my wife took the kids to the playground during both times. I had a solid hour each time which was much more than I needed and removed that stressor momentarily. As they get older, I will teach them what to do and how to do it so they can help, like my Dad did with me.