TonyandDebi
Harvest, Alabama
New Member
Joined: 06/19/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
The shame has passed, so I guess it's time I tell the story.
About a month ago, my wife and I, after camping in PUPs for the last 5 years, purchased our first TT. 2008 Dutchmen 28GLS. We were so excited we convinced the dealer to let us have it over the weekend, even though they were not done with all the extras we had purchased. Such as the slide topper, tv's, ladder and such. Even though this TT is rated as a lite, my little half ton stayed at 3000 rmp down the interstate. We just took it 60 miles down the road, wanted to stay a little close to home on the first trip. I was used to backing my little 14 foot PUP, so before I left the dealership, I practiced backing this 28 footer into parking places. The swing difference was huge, of course, but after about 3 tries, I nailed it and we were off.
Pulled into the CG, found a nice spot. The camp host watched me and smirked as I tried to back in. Again, third try and nailed it. Boy was I proud! Right between 2 trees at the entrance of the site. The weekend went off without any problems. Weather was great, camper was great. Now it was time to pack up and go home. Secured the camper, no problem. Hitched up, no problem. Started to pull out, looked at the tree to the right, which was closest to camper, told the DW, no problem. Had to pull forward over the pavement a little extra to clear that tree, but by golly, cleared that tree with room to spare. got to the dump station to drop gray water, walked around the back for the sewer pipes and my heart fell into my stomach. The back left corner of the camper, looked like, well in fact it had been, scraped against a tree. Bark on the bumper, in the bumper, side panel scratched up, trim pulle up. DW had jumped out to watch me dump, when she saw me standing there almost in tears. In all my pride and being careful of the tree on the right, I never took into consideration the swing that back left was going to take. And take it did, right into the tree I had never given any consideration to because I was so worried about the tree on my right. I brougt it back to the dealership with my tail between my legs. Called my insurance company and have pouted until I got my baby back yesterday. All fixed up just like new. Yes it has taken me 2 weeks to even admit to what was such a newbie mistake. Of course the DW and the dealership were all very nice about it, saying that's what insurance is for and yada yada yada.
Anyways, that's my story , and expensive story and I guess I'll stick to it, but I feel better now that I have it back home. Lessons learned.
Oh but while the TT was in the shop, I bought a new GMC 3500 turbo diesel doolly, so now I don't have to worry about ripping the trainy out, and when I'm ready to up to a fiver, I'll have all the truck I need. My goal, as are many here, is to be a full timer one day. But first, I have to live one day at a time and learn from my mistakes.
Tony & Debi Royer
Harvest, Alabama
Dutchmen 28GLS
GMC 3500HD Diesel
Tony & Debi Royer
Harvest, Alabama
Dutchmen 28GLS
GMC 3500HD Turbo Diesel
|
kknowlton
Wisconsin Border Country, IL
Senior Member
Joined: 05/27/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Actually, for a first-timer with a full-height trailer, you did pretty well!  Sorry about the owie your TT got, but I'm assuming it's been fixed and you're ready to go (especially now with your more-than-adequate TV!) Congrats & enjoy!
|
jim87vette
Arizona
Senior Member
Joined: 07/25/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Watch those dually fenders lol.No pictures to go with this story?Glad you didnt do anything real bad..it was all fixable so chalk one up for experience.
08 GMC 3500 Dually Duramax
96 Chevy 2500 6.5
05 Yamaha Rhino
04 Gearbox 335FS 5er 14k wet
|
loveshack1
Whitewater, Wi
Senior Member
Joined: 02/08/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
 Been there, done that
And if anybody tells you they haven't banged up their RV, they're fibbin'.
Sorry to hear you gotta file a claim already, but welcome to camping with indoor plumbing!
YOU CAN'T SPELL TRAVEL WITHOUT RV
|
rustycopperballs
Four Corners,NM
Full Member
Joined: 02/12/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
We all learn from each others mistakes , on another post, guy just brought his new rig home, started mods, drilled a hole right through the outside wall. Broke my awning, brand new trailer, purchased it in the fall didn't use it till spring, tried setting up the anwing at home, (trying to remember how), broke it trying to force it closed  s@@@@ happens. Camping must go on!! Nice rig
|
|
|
2boysmom
North Alabama
Full Member
Joined: 05/17/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
DH took the turn out of the campsite too sharp and scraped the camper against a pole that was @ waist high the first time out in our TT. Just a scratch not too much to sweat.
Me,Husband,and 2 boys (4&2)
2005 Forrest River Surveyor 235RS
|
Finally Fulltiming
Summer: Finger Lakes, NY; Winter: Somewhere warm
Senior Member
Joined: 12/08/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Congratulations on having the guts to admit your mistake!
Just don't figure it'll be the last.
After 18 months with my current rig, I just spent $600 at the body shop getting various nicks & dents repaired due to wide swings & objects like tree trunks hiding in the deep grass. But that's not bad. I got an estimate in CA that was well over $1,000. And that didn't include the hole in the side from the electric meter on my daughter's house which jumped right out at me the very day I got here.
BTW, I really am a careful driver - no major accidents in 56 years of driving.
But these minor ones are killing me!
|
FamilyCamping
CA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2005
View Profile
|
Reminds me of our first trip out with our 30' travel trailer 5 years ago(still using same trailer). I was swinging wide to avoid the tree on the right side while the tail end of the trailer was trying to move a 3' diameter redwood tree.(tree was not injured) I patched up the damage to the trim myself. The rear ladder is still missing several posts that were ripped out.
Have been extremly careful ever since, and have not banged anything else up(yet).
I should have had should have had the insurance company fix it, but they seem to raise the rates every time you call them, so I didn't.
Don't let it slow you down, Happy Camping!!!
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Quad-Cab Long-bed Auto 4X4 3.55LS 285/75/16 tires.
2000 30' Layton bunkhouse TT with 15' slide out.
|
Hardtack
Gone
Senior Member
Joined: 06/20/2009
View Profile
|
Hey Tony, Sorry to hear about your 'ow-wee'
Like they say "Been there---done that"
Last year traveling south to Coos Bay, OR stopped along the way to fuel up, big wide fueling station. Headed out what I thought would be an exit and it ended in a parking area. Hey no sweat, plently of room to turn around, except for the back end of truck that was parked back there....almost completed turn when BLAM/SHAKE/RATTLE..got out, left tail light on parked truck everywhere and the end cap on right rear of 5th wheel is pealed back about 3" at bottom tapering up the side about 4'. Truck owner was pretty nice about it ($100 cash & he was happy....older truck!!) Into camper shop two days later in Coos Bay/$300 out of my pocket and I was a happy camper. GF still pokes me every once in awhile especially when I get into tight spots again.
Still beats Stick & Brick living any day. HAPPY TRAILS!!!
|
TonyandDebi
Harvest, Alabama
New Member
Joined: 06/19/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks for the atta boys and all the kind remarks. If I knew how to post pictures I would have. I thought I was skilled with computers, but everytime you think that, they prove you wrong. So any advice on uploading pics would be great. We love our TT, setup in the back yard now and plan on putting it in a local state park next week for 10 days. Live out of it and go to work too, can't beat that. Plus it will give us a chance to really set her up and full timing at the same time.
BTW, the DW wanted everyone to know how excited she was to be the first to go potty inside. WOO HOO....
Thanks guys, we love RV.net and all the great info. Look forward to posting more.
|
|
|
|
