Just when you think it is going so well, reality sets in

[txgals5561]

So, it happened like this... Second trip with the new, fully loaded camper and was feeling pretty good about the first one. Oops, that is when it gets you! Prepared the night before and pulled out within 15 minutes of the planned departure time and in last 30 minutes of 274 mile drive - bam! Big bump on road/bridge transition. Still, we arrive safely, get set and level, and I start putting out one of the slides and it sounds different. Didn't notice (kinda hard to see the spot with both slides in) the plastic bin of different cables that had bounded out of the cabinet and was wedged between the side of the slide frame and couch. Was wishing I had taken the other slide out first.

Spent a little time deconstructing the frame trim and will replace it tomorrow. Nothing we can't fix but dang, I feel bad. Chris had done tons of research on securing things inside - bins for the refrigerator, tension rods for pantry and cabinets, etc. She didn't plan on getting sick and me doing most of the packing, unpacking, and storing of items in the camper at the end. Some days are a bit like a scavenger hunt, just saying...

The bin of cables, extension cords, HDMI cords, charging cords, etc. was reduced and is now stored in a labeled bin in the pass through storage area. Finding spaces now with a few new bins is fun!

Like the old saying - (Wo)Man plans and God laughs.

 

[AZMike]

I feel your pain. I think all of us are always learning!

 

[Second Chance]

It happens to all of us sooner or later. With us it was sooner. We lost a cabinet door on the overheads above the sleeper sofa area in our Reflection after it bounced open (helped by stuff inside the cabinet) and caught on the slide trim when the slide went out. I now put a slide out just far enough to squeeze by and check everthing around both large slides before putting them out. The door incident was in our first year of full-timing and we haven't had a similar incident in the past seven years (the MORryde independent suspension probably helps, too).

Rob

 

[Wileykid]

One of my trips several years ago, a bottle of dish wash soap that was stored in the pantry, fell to the floor after a good bump and slid under the pantry door. It ended up under the kitchen slide, and as I was opening it, it stopped uneven. Looking under the slide, I figured what had happened, and luckily the bottle didn't break, and had to repair some trim on the slide. Now before I open the slide, I always look underneath, just in case.

 

[ajg617]

Happened on our first trip - corner overhead cabinet door opened over rear sofa in transit. When I started putting the slides out (and thankfully I was doing that with the interior switches), I heard a cracking sound as something shattered behind the trim in front of the sofa as the main slide went out. Since the cabinet door had shut on its own, I was wondering what it was - bug whacker crushed and an extra blanket wedged in. Would have had trim damage at a minimum if I had been putting the slides out remotely.

 

[Soundsailor]

Glad the learning wasn't too painful. Thanks for sharing, someone else may benefit from your experience.

 

[trailrydr]

We put everything that cant be secured, on the floor near the entry door of our trailer between the hutch/island/Fridge/stairs. Luggage, coolers, clothes, water, etc. Never had any issues with that stuff being thrown around while traveling, and its also makes for good weight distribution over the axles when towing.

All of our stuff stored in cabinets, drawers, and pantries are bungied or child-proof locked shut so that they cant come open while traveling. Prior to this we did have a cabinet door from our hutch get jammed by the kitchen slide due to some slide movement. We were lucky that the door did not get broke off the hinges. Thats when we decided to button up every possible door with bungies or child proof stops to keep any doors from openning while trailering.

One other tip.... we BOTH visually verify no "obstacles" either in the trailer or out are possibly in the way prior to opening our slides. We have each caught something the other has missed which may have caused an issue when towing. The visual bungy placement inspection really helps see those issues prior to slide deployment, retraction or trailer towing.

 

[Dick Noble]

Ah, the plans of mice and men oft duth go astray

 

[traveldawg]

So, it happened like this... Second trip with the new, fully loaded camper and was feeling pretty good about the first one. Oops, that is when it gets you! Prepared the night before and pulled out within 15 minutes of the planned departure time and in last 30 minutes of 274 mile drive - bam! Big bump on road/bridge transition. Still, we arrive safely, get set and level, and I start putting out one of the slides and it sounds different. Didn't notice (kinda hard to see the spot with both slides in) the plastic bin of different cables that had bounded out of the cabinet and was wedged between the side of the slide frame and couch. Was wishing I had taken the other slide out first.

Spent a little time deconstructing the frame trim and will replace it tomorrow. Nothing we can't fix but dang, I feel bad. Chris had done tons of research on securing things inside - bins for the refrigerator, tension rods for pantry and cabinets, etc. She didn't plan on getting sick and me doing most of the packing, unpacking, and storing of items in the camper at the end. Some days are a bit like a scavenger hunt, just saying...

The bin of cables, extension cords, HDMI cords, charging cords, etc. was reduced and is now stored in a labeled bin in the pass through storage area. Finding spaces now with a few new bins is fun!

Like the old saying - (Wo)Man plans and God laughs.

It looks like you have a pretty good attitude toward this. That helps. If you can't laugh a bit at yourself it makes things a lot worse. Roll with the 'punches' and enjoy your travels and the learning experiences.

 

[txgals5561]

Thanks everyone, good to know I'm in good company and for all the helpful tips passed along. We can think a lot of things, but we can't think of everything!

 

[MyRVRadio]

...and was wedged between the side of the slide frame and couch.

We had a similar thing happen. Something had fallen out of the edge of our "attic" area (bunk area in 399TH) and fallen down between the slide and the outer wall.

Now, I always go in the garage door, grab the flashlight and check that area (and the opposite, with the kitchen slide) then give the wife the go-ahead to hit the slide out button. Fortunately, no real damage other than the slide's wide frame on that lower side being a bit out of sorts now (carpet kinda prevents it from going back where it belongs).

 

[LanerC]

Dont put your grandmas tv tray in that nifty little space between the end of the couch and the side of the camper. It will wiggle forward and get all bent up when you put the slide out!

 

[lorend]

We got lucky with our only time of having something in the way of a slide. we had a throw pillow that did not get secured and the slide ripped the stuffings out of it. Feathers everywhere. Picking them up for weeks.

 

[Laurie 1799]

Had similar experience pillow behind slide pulled trim off. We now put the slides out a little bit and check things before fully extending the slides.