Roll your awning in!!!

[cfowler55]

Sitting in the RV today and all was well , til we heard an awful racket. One of our fellow campers was pulling out with his awning extended. Raked completely across our front cap. No major damage , but I’ll have some buffing to do when we get home. One tiny chip on the side where it first hit. I guess we’re lucky it wasn’t worse.
Charlie

 

[Ynot4me2]

Oopsy, glad it's only minor on your side. I'm guessing that it's worse for his awning.

 

[cfowler55]

Oopsy, glad it's only minor on your side. I'm guessing that it's worse for his awning.

To add insult to injury , his awning survived fine.
Charlie

 

[traveldawg]

bummer.... We had a similar experience some years ago. A completely distracted camper drove out of his site with his awning extended and the piece of 2x4 holding up his TV antenna still in place. It scrapped the back of our motorhome, same thing on next camper, and when he got stopped by folks in the campground poked a nice round hole in the side of someone's class A. His awning didn't fare so well and he had to strap it in place. Not sure if the TV antenna and the ingenious way to hold it up was still in place or not as he left the par.

It caused quite a commotion in the park. Everyone had his insurance companies name before he left.

It never hurts to watch your neighbor pull in or pull out.

Maybe we should have escorts out of the campground as well as in....

 

[FT4NOW]

It's things like this why you should always do a full walk around of the truck/camper prior to pulling out. Glad you didnt have any major damage for someone else's negligence.

 

[cfowler55]

It's things like this why you should always do a full walk around of the truck/camper prior to pulling out. Glad you didnt have any major damage for someone else's negligence.

Yes sir. Last things we do after pull test is check lights. Then we both walk all the way around to make sure everything is good to go before I move the truck another foot.
Charlie

 

[Ynot4me2]

It's things like this why you should always do a full walk around of the truck/camper prior to pulling out. Glad you didnt have any major damage for someone else's negligence.

Yep, we each do our own walk around before pulling out.

 

[Casa_Woody]

Yep, we each do our own walk around before pulling out.

We do the same thing. The "Real" boss has noted things I've missed on several occasions. The biggest one was leaving the tailgate down. That would have done some damage.

I also walk around the truck and trailer at every stop.

 

[Riverbug]

Now that takes some real lack of concentration. We have left the hand rail out until I noticed the first time looking out the mirror. But an awning? I know anything can happen to anyone but boy I hope I never miss that one on my final walk around.

 

[DennisLoriGD]

Noticed on our 2014 grand design reflection that the screws or bolts that hold the awning To the trailer/RV have become loose on one end. Not sure what it takes to tighten everything up but something to check! For your information! Dennis

 

[Soundsailor]

Sitting in the RV today and all was well , til we heard an awful racket. One of our fellow campers was pulling out with his awning extended. Raked completely across our front cap. No major damage , but I’ll have some buffing to do when we get home. One tiny chip on the side where it first hit. I guess we’re lucky it wasn’t worse.
Charlie

Ouch! Guess they must have missed the pre-roll inspection. Both the DW and I each do a walk around before we leave a campsite.

 

[Dakota]

On our last two trips we watched people backing their trailers and 5th wheels into the space without even getting out of their vehicles to look for any obstructions or hazards. The spouse sat in the passenger seat while the driver backed in. I really couldn’t believe it. These people are lazy or just ignorant. My DW and I get out before we back in. I will sometimes get out half way in to reassess and we always are in sight of each other when in motion. Common sense is not always common today.

 

[Gronk1]

We have our favorite sites that we try to stay in year after year. I will scan the site for new obstructions (planted trees, where the table is) as we pull past it. We don't get out backing in, till we want to make small adjustments-left/right, forward/back.
Unfamiliar/new sites we both get out & scan. DW stays out & in a mirror with a phone/walkie as I back.
Haven't bumped into anything in 20+ years...now where's that wood to knock on.

 

[WhittleBurner]

Noticed on our 2014 grand design reflection that the screws or bolts that hold the awning To the trailer/RV have become loose on one end. Not sure what it takes to tighten everything up but something to check! For your information! Dennis

This was a common problem back then. Our awning also pulled away. Grand Design fixed it with Molly rivets at one of the rallies. Dealer tried fatter screws and it just pulled away again so don't suggest you re screw it. Do a search and you'll find older threads on the awning pulling away from the trailer.

 

[DennisLoriGD]

Thanks very much. Will do it correctly. Appreciate your reply. Dennis

 

[Jwalthall]

I once was acquainted with a "new owner" who drove off with the electrical power cable still connected. THAT caused real problems!

 

[AlannLori]

I call it the Golden Circle, because it’s gonna cost me if I miss something ?

 

[treichelt]

powercord

I once was acquainted with a "new owner" who drove off with the electrical power cable still connected. THAT caused real problems!

Did that just recently as we were leaving a camp ground in branson at 4 am
trying to be real quite and getting everything ready outside while the wife was doing everything inside , the power cord was the last thing i had to remove.
when she was done with the inside I forgot about the cord and pulled the trailer off the pavers, good thing was that i just rolled off the pavers and the cord was long enough not to pull out.

she always does that final check and good thing she did. then in OK we got in such a hurry because of a severe thunder storm rolling in, i forgot to remove the wheel choke between the wheels when i pulled the trailer off the pavers. nothing happened.

never be in a hurry is what we preached to ourselves and still do stupid stuff like this.

I agree final walk-around is critical and listen to your wives when she says don't talk to them while they're setting up or breaking down ....

 

[Second Chance]

You sound a lot calmer about it than I would be, Charlie - my hat is off to you.

Rob

 

[PeterAtt]

Use a check list

It's things like this why you should always do a full walk around of the truck/camper prior to pulling out. Glad you didnt have any major damage for someone else's negligence.

I keep a check list also. You should also try not to be in a hurry. This is usually when mistakes are made.