So Then the Wrecker Arrives...

[69RoadRunner]

We got a late start to Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach due to my kids having picture day at their pre-school.

It was my first time pulling a toad 4WD. The drive down was fine. Traffic backed up a couple of times.

We arrive in the dark, and I go to unhook the toad. I need to get in the Taurus X to fix the angle to unbind the tow bar. The battery is dead. Either the Brake Buddy or the navigation radio that never turns off completely killed it. I had no jumper cables.

A kind camper called security, and they came with a jump pack. Problem 1 solved.

We reserved a site next to a friend. They didn't have adjacent concrete pad sites, so we took dirt.

I pulled in, but with the angle, I was too close to the electric post for my slide. I back up and pull forward. Below is the result.








And the next day....

[69RoadRunner]

Ocean Lakes paid for the wrecker.

My son was disappointed he didn't get to play with his Tonka trucks in the muddy ruts the next day.

[GaryKD]

To all who read this, Ocean Lakes and Lakewood CGs have had this problem for years. I do not know about the other CGs. Both Ocean Lakes and Lakewood CGs run their utilities at the back of the sites. When they do maintenance the ground remains soft for over a year. While one might be able to drive quickly through the rear of a site to get to another site. Backing deeper into the site to re-align the coach can be a disaster.

When at Ocean Lakes or Lakewood CGs, always pull forward, into the street, to realign the coach on the site. Also be very careful how far one backs into the site. Rear wheels should stay forward of the electrical post.

Lastly, there is no way to tell if the ground is too soft to hold the coach. Walking on or jumping on the ground or trying it with your toad will provide no additional information.

Site 3030 at Ocean Lakes is now on my "black list" for the next few years. Based on how they run the utilities, the entire row of sites is on my black list.

[69RoadRunner]

What you describe is right. My friend in the next site said the ground didn't feel soft at all.

They are paving sites, and when something like this happens, they said they put it on the list to be paved, FWIW.

If you have a motorhome, I'd simply only accept a paved site.

[Route 66]

What part of your MH did the wrecker attach to for the pull?

[69RoadRunner]

I'm not entirely sure, I'm ashamed to say. It was dark and the kids were running around.

[John-D]

Some days.. You should stay in bed!!!! Worst I did today was lock my keys in the car

[EngineerMike]

Unless they improve the subgrade (lime treatment would be good, along w/6" of class 2 aggregate base rock on top of the lime treated subgrade) before putting asphalt on top, the asphalt will look like that dirt when a heavy coach punches thru it. Try getting pulled out of that when your wheels are hooked well into a top coating of otherwise hard paving!

[Dav5942]

Didn't look too bad. Have been able to get out of the sand many times in Florida and Mexico by using jacks, with wood and carpet.

[michelb]

Thanks for the info and the pics - we are thinking of going to Ocean Lakes next week so I'll keep that in mind and be very careful if we do decide to go there (although our coach is shorter and we have a gasser so our drive is much more to the front than yours so we should be okay).

We got stuck in soft sand 2 summers ago (At Sandbanks in Ontario, Canada in case anyone is familiar with that park) and although it eventually made it out myself (mostly because I was concerned the tow truck wouldn't be able to get us out without causing any damage and we had 2-3 hour wait for AAA so I decided to try to do it myself to see if I could get out before they showed up) so I know how bad it can get and how useless it feels!!!

I did as Dav5942 said and used my jacks and pieces of wood. Took me about about 1 1/2 hours to move about 15 feet. I would raise the back, dig under the tires enough to put the wood down, lower the mh onto the wood and then ease forward. The problem was that although I was making some forward progress, I was mostly just pushing the pieces of wood back. Carpet probably would have helped a lot actually.

[69RoadRunner]

I tried raising my rear jacks, but couldn't. I've only once tried anything other than the auto setting. It worked before, but this time, the Atwoods did nothing.

Once I was in my concrete site, they worked fine in auto mode.

[FatDog]

informative thread and some good pics!
I know it wasn't a great situation but you seem to have tackled it and remained in a good mood,
good job !!

[69RoadRunner]

Well, my mood got worse when I noticed that the bottom of one of my storage bay doors is dented and scratched from being pulled out.

I guess I'll have some body work to have done soon.

[Doggy Daddy]

We must learn from history. In the day of the old west and pioneers, wagon trains and independent travelers always stopped during day light hours and set up camp. Early the next morning before day brake they prepared breakfast and moved out during first day light. This is for the same reason people don't hike or mountain climb at night - SAFETY.

Those who continue to travel after the sunsets risk vehicle damage and getting stuck in the mud maneuvering in RV parks and other unfamiliar locations that have unknown obstacles i.e low trees, bushes, hydrants, pipes, tables, items hiding in the shadows that are not visible with headlights, spotlights, and backup lights.

Even Roy Rogers and John Wayne did not travel in unfamiliar territory at night.
Wishing Happy Trails to you.