Community Forums

Jack R · 07-18-2009, 04:16 PM

After reading the Blue ox-How to make a bad day even worse, by the wicked whippets, I thought i would start this thread and see where it goes. Its about telling everyone something you did and no other RVer saw you do it.

About four weeks ago I pullled into the Flying J in Beach ND to dump my tanks. After getting the hoses out I knealed down to unscrew the cap to hook up the hose. Haven't moved as quick as I did in forty years. I guess I forgot to close the black tank valve after dumping before. Crap everywhere. After cleaning up my mess, I burned my tennis shoes, took a shower, ate dinner, and went to bed. Had a nighthorse about how things could have turned if I hadn't moved like the wind.

Wicked Whippets · 07-18-2009, 05:56 PM

I have been lamenting my Blue Ox misfortune and visited a fellow dog show RVer. He normally has his RV parked in the garage at his house and I noticed it wasn't there. When I asked him where it was, he sort of turned pale and said it was at the shop. Now my buddy is a complainer and if something needed to be fixed I would have heard about it.

After a lot of arm twisting he came clean... After the show in Flagstaff he decided to stop for fuel. He got off the freeway, but missed the turn into the station. He drove on down the street, but realized it was leading to a dead end in another block.

He told me he looked around and there being no traffic in front or behind him he cut the wheel hard to the left and began a u-turn. Unfortunately, the street was too narrow and he found himself in need of making it a 3-point turn. Without thinking he threw it in reverse and backed up just a few feet when he felt the thump. He had jack knifed his Honda toad into the left rear corner of the RV.

He made the turn, but the shop bill is estimated at $3,800 to fix the broken fiberglass.

I would never laugh at anyone's misfortune,

but after my recent expensive stupidity I at least felt I was in good company.

Jim Stewart · 07-18-2009, 07:03 PM

OK!

My DW and I were leaving Spokane Washington heading for Seattle. I hooked up the Toad, a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I completed my tasks and we were on our way. As we went over the mountain range, I commented to my wife that the MH seemed a little sluggish, probably the altitude.

As I got out to check into the campground we were going to be staying in, I notice that the white Jeep was now covered with a black film. I thought Oh poop, something was wrong with the MH and it blew oil all over the Jeep. I walked up to the Jeep and wiped the black substance and it smeared like graphite. Close, powdered rubber, I had locked the steering wheel, instead of unlocking it and had dragged the Jeep with the wheel turned sideways for over 200 miles.

The two front tires were scrubbed bald and we were lucky that it had not blown the tires. We unhooked and drove the Jeep into town to order new tires. It steered a little funny all the way there. Once inside, the write-up man said he had new tires in stock to match and asked how it happened. I leaned over and told him in a low voice what had happened and then went to sit down and wait while the work was completed.

I see the assigned serviceman walk over to the write-up man with my paperwork and I see them talking. By now the waiting room had become full with customers. The serviceman walks in and yells, whose the Guy that dragged the Jeep behind the Motor Home for 200 miles, I forgot to give them my name!

DandS · 07-18-2009, 08:15 PM

This one didn't do damage to the coach, but it sure did to me. We stopped in Apache Junction, Az. at a park while on our winter trip last year and after setting up, I decided to wash my windows since they were filthy from the trip down. Walking out the door with Windex in hand, I proceeded to walk smack dab into the front awning brace, knocking my self silly, chipping a tooth, and cutting my lip. After quickly ascertaining that no one had seen me, I retreated to the coach for first aid. Learned a good lesson that day !!!!

The next week, at a park in Camp Verde, I fell over the hitch set-up while unhooking the toad. Skinned my leg bad on that one. Guess it wasn't my week.

Route 66 · 07-19-2009, 05:25 AM

There are two types of RVers.

Those of us that have made mistakes.

Those that won't admit it.

hamguy · 07-19-2009, 10:21 AM

A Clydesdale Nightmare. Neat

Rick Long · 07-19-2009, 11:52 AM

I have never had anything go wrong or done anything stupid

Yah right!!

What about your first dump and you didn't know what those big rocks were for...

...and the time you didn't put the TV antenna down or the time you...

OK OK... a few things

DandS · 07-19-2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamguy

A Clydesdale Nightmare. Neat

This one went way over my head ????

Oh, there was the time DW said watch out for the construction barrels. My reply - no problem, yeah right !!

GatorDog · 07-19-2009, 02:37 PM

4th of July week end we were on our way back from visiting my brother in Central, FL. At the Flying J off exit 285 on I-75 is where we always stop/ fuel and dump. Up in front, a class C with a very impatient couple + small doggie.

He tried to fuel AND dump at the same time. Not a good plan. The distance was shy about 2 feet. He streched some concoption of a hose I never seen before. I could see metal clamps in several places. Well, it came undone as soon as he opened that valve at the valve point.

Wished I had my video camera.

powerboatr · 07-19-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Long

What about your first dump and you didn't know what those big rocks were for...

and you flipped it out of the way and SPLASH went that big ol heavy cover lid in nice clean/poop water right up in your face

and of course the mouth was open

yes sir thats a moment i will never forget

hamguy · 07-20-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DandS

This one went way over my head ????

Oh, there was the time DW said watch out for the construction barrels. My reply - no problem, yeah right !!

OP said "Had a nighthorse about how things could have turned if I hadn't moved like the wind. ". A Clydesdale is a very large horse. A female hors is a mare. Hence,...

You have to have a weird sense of humor, like me.

DandS · 07-20-2009, 10:54 AM

Hamguy - Thanks for clearing that up ! Like my kids tell me all the time - the older I get the less I know.

doc · 07-20-2009, 12:38 PM

"forgive me father cause I messed up too"
Last winter, coldest night of the year, we left Florida because of huge wind that was slapping us around at Fort Clinch. We decided to come cross country rather than on the interstate. Gave out of propane and it was getting COLD. The chassis heater up front was not keeping us warm. In a little town in S Georgia I happened to spot a propane truck fueling a tank at the police office, a very small building in a small town. I stopped and asked the guy if he could fill us with propane. That was no problem, just pull into that vacant lot across the street. This entailed unhooking the Element from the rear. I was working on this and he pulled in and was able to hook up the hose without my moving. I had put the Element in reverse to relieve some pressure on the towbar. He filled the tank, I paid him and he left. I got back in the MH and we pulled out also. About two miles down the road I recalled that I might have left the Element running, IN REVERSE!!!
Stopped very quickly and checked the towed. Engine dead and would not turn over! Fired the generator, hooked up charger and let it charge for a few minutes. Cranked up immediately and ran fine. I put it in neutral and towed for an hour or so letting the battery charge. When we stopped for the night I unhooked to see how badly I had damaged the transmission. No damage at all. ran forward and reverse fine. Replaced the battery when we got home.
They say the Lord looks after fools and drunks. I am not a drunk, although I must say I did a foolish thing and he helped me out.