Community Forums

Homeby5 · 04-28-2023, 03:07 PM

I've only been a camper owner for a little over a year and I've already done some stupid things. But my dumbest was the other day.
I was getting ready to take my first trip this year and my propane fridge wouldn't start. Electric was fine. Just wouldn't light. Soooo....I get the bright idea of loosening the main gas line before the regulator to purge the air. Problem was I forgot to turn fridge off (I think). The igniter must have sparked and WHOOF...fire in the hole. I start puckering my lips and blowing...of course to no avail and then I took my cripple a$$ (I had as stroke and have leg damage) as fast as I could and shut off propane tanks. Thankfully the fire only singed some wire insulation so I spliced some new wires in. I almost screwed up REAL bad

If only I had a video for you guys

Old-Biscuit · 04-28-2023, 03:35 PM

Just remember next time,,,,,,,,
UNLESS you have disconnected a propane line/fitting etc (downstream side of regulator) these is NO Air in the LP System

When no propane is being used the regulator goes into 'lockup' mode and a there must be a demand high enough to establish flow/pressure
Can take SEVERAL attempts to do so especially the fridge (lowest btu demand device)
Flame proving does not allow much time to establish flow/pressure

Turn on stove top burners on high to create that demand...place regulator in service and then switch fridge to propane...can still take a few attempts

As for 'stupid' ......
Backed 5th wheel into a spot. Appeared nice and level. didn't set X-chocks/wheel chocks and unhitched from truck

5vr shifted backwards, bent a landing gear which fortunately dug in and stopped 5vr from rolling away.
Wheel chocks----FIRST ON/LAST OFF!

baraff · 04-28-2023, 03:40 PM

When we had our TT I clobbered a concrete gas pump bollard pulling out of the station because I wasn't paying attention. Bent the axle, blew a tire and destroyed the rim. Expensive mistake...

Lantley · 04-28-2023, 03:41 PM

858/

twogypsies · 04-28-2023, 03:42 PM

Our RV fell into an old septic tank. We were to volunteer at a 10,000 acre working cattle ranch in Oregon. Our RV spot was at the front of the ranch just beyond the gate that we attended for letting the cowboys in/out.

We started backing into the spot which was used years ago by a mobile home. The owner was guiding us in but he forgot the layout of the site. Our left rear end of the motorhome promptly broke through the old septic and that corner sank into it.

Luckily, on a ranch there are ways to fix any disaster. The owner got some railroad ties and made a ramp under the tire. We started inching our way up with the motorhome and the ties cracked. Took that apart and built another and we succeeded in driving out on the second day. We kind of slept in the MH that night... wasn't easy and somewhat scary thinking more of the septic could break.

We escaped with just some scratches on the MH but we had a side radiator at that corner which could have been disastrous.

It turned out to be a wonderful volunteering gig! Horses, cattle, cowboys, good food and lots of good stories. We were there 6 weeks.

Homeby5 · 04-28-2023, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Our RV fell into an old septic tank. We were to volunteer at a 10,000 acre working cattle ranch in Oregon. Our RV spot was at the front of the ranch just beyond the gate that we attended for letting the cowboys in/out.

We started backing into the spot which was used years ago by a mobile home. The owner was guiding us in but he forgot the layout of the site. Our left rear end of the motorhome promptly broke through the old septic and that corner sank into it.

Luckily, on a ranch there are ways to fix any disaster. The owner got some railroad ties and made a ramp under the tire. We started inching our way up with the motorhome and the ties cracked. Took that apart and built another and we succeeded in driving out on the second day. We kind of slept in the MH that night... wasn't easy and somewhat scary thinking more of the septic could break.

We escaped with just some scratches on the MH but we had a side radiator at that corner which could have been disastrous.

It turned out to be a wonderful volunteering gig! Horses, cattle, cowboys, good food and lots of good stories. We were there 6 weeks.

Yeah....but to be fair...I wouldn't put that on a stupid mistake "You" made. IMO...that was the owners fault. Fun though

Homeby5 · 04-28-2023, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Just remember next time,,,,,,,,
UNLESS you have disconnected a propane line/fitting etc (downstream side of regulator) these is NO Air in the LP System

When no propane is being used the regulator goes into 'lockup' mode and a there must be a demand high enough to establish flow/pressure
Can take SEVERAL attempts to do so especially the fridge (lowest btu demand device)
Flame proving does not allow much time to establish flow/pressure

Turn on stove top burners on high to create that demand...place regulator in service and then switch fridge to propane...can still take a few attempts

Thank You!!!

George Schweikle · 04-28-2023, 05:08 PM

Those gas pump bollards are sneaky. Way back around 2005 a steel one jumped out and hit my motorhome

Quote:

Originally Posted by baraff

When we had our TT I clobbered a concrete gas pump bollard pulling out of the station because I wasn't paying attention. Bent the axle, blew a tire and destroyed the rim. Expensive mistake...

DR60 · 04-28-2023, 05:29 PM

I was in charge of a crew setting up a camp for construction workers. We laid out the spaces, installed the water and sewer, installed the power poles, and graveled the whole lot.
While we were doing this, the crew was living in company trailers without hookups. the first thing after hooking up the sewers I had the guys dump all the holding tanks.
One of the trailers had a second valve added right at the waste hose connection, The guy dumping that one said it was plugged up, and I said look up the pipe and you will see two other valves. He took that literally and had his eye to the pipe when he opened the upstream valve! For the rest of his time on that job his name was Stinky! DR

twogypsies · 04-28-2023, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeby5

Yeah....but to be fair...I wouldn't put that on a stupid mistake "You" made. IMO...that was the owners fault. Fun though

OK... will this work?

We towed our Jeep from Tucson to Phoenix without have it in the correct gear. Actually, we dragged it. The front tires were bare! I'm surprised it didn't catch on fire.

MakTruk · 04-28-2023, 07:01 PM

Set it on fire

*edit* oh wow i didnt read the OP didnt realize he set his on fire too lol

Duster73 · 04-28-2023, 09:15 PM

Not my personal story. My friend was on the roof of a trailer and took the a/c cover off. Turns out there was a huge wasp nest under there he didn't know about. After dozens of stings he jumped off the roof. Little sore I guess, lots of stings. But survived without much injury from a 10ft drop. He was young enough to jump lol

Ray,IN · 04-28-2023, 09:25 PM

April 5, 2022 I drove into a truck stop/card-lock, no attendant. There was a huge mudhole at the end of the concrete entrance apron. I slowly approached the mudhole and when the front wheels dropped into the mudhole full of water, it caused the air spring height adjusters to dump air when the front wheels fell into the mudhole.
The result is still not repaired today, the entire lower front half of the front cap is badly damaged.
Progressive will not pay what the estimate is for full repairs, now is court.

Homeby5 · 04-29-2023, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster73

Not my personal story. My friend was on the roof of a trailer and took the a/c cover off. Turns out there was a huge wasp nest under there he didn't know about. After dozens of stings he jumped off the roof. Little sore I guess, lots of stings. But survived without much injury from a 10ft drop. He was young enough to jump lol

I shouldn't but I just had my morning laugh.