It's like I never camped before

[racerjoe]

went out for the weekend,first outing this year. Everything went well UNTIL it was time to leave. Had power cord stretched out all the way from left rear to right side where box was. Did my normal pack up,retract slides,jacks,do a tug on the hitch,etc. Went to back off board and suddenly heard CRACK!! First second,thought oh,just broke the board,then at same time said OH NO!! forgot to unplug !! :-( ripped the receptacle out of the trailer,that was plastic I heard. Fortunately, it did not crack the rear cap. So, that was a $75.00 mistake. Felt like a newbie. First time out,a little rusty.

[Dam Worker]

Glad to hear that you only had to replace the receptacle. It takes a while to get your prep work and final walk around all worked out. Unfortunately for me if someone interrupts me I can forget something . Then I have to make a couple of walk a rounds to make sure. I probably should make a list from A to Z and follow it. Glad you are back in the camping mode.

Tom Marty

[Starmaster]

Ever since we got our first fifth wheel, we have used a list for hooking up and unhooking. The wife handles the inside stuff and I do the outside. When we think we're ready to go, we then go down the printed list to make sure all the doors and windows are shut, water pump turned off, etc.

I also have a list for actually hooking up that starts out with "lower the tailgate" ! It also includes things like "latch jaws, install latch pin". I have friends that made fun us using a list until they had an "oops", guess who now also uses a list!

I keep our list in a plastic protector page and store it in the console between the seats. The 5er doesn't move til we've checked off all the steps.

I just don't remember as much as I used to, with the list I stand a much better chance of avoiding those "oops" and the much more dreaded "aw sh17!" YMMV

[Tfthorp]

We too use a list. Then do 2 360's of the entire rig looking up and down. Amazing how often we find something and it's usually because something interupted the process.

[1retired06]

Pulled out one day without putting the antenna down. Hit a tree limb, put a gash in the rubber roof and destroyed the antenna. Another time, going around a tight turn in a campground, hooked a boulder with the steps (which were closed) and bent them so badly I had to replace.

[timandsusan]

Learned years ago as an engineer--if you want something done the same way every time it is done--you need a check list. I still have mine I made about 8 years ago--a little dirty but it works. As for getting out the first time each year--GO SLOOOOW! Don't ask me how I learned this!

[DarMar]

We all seem to have those moments and the first thing I do is look around to see if anybody was watching. If not, BONUS, then quickly cover the mistake up the best one can and move on in life. After that all I really have to do is explain my behaviour to my understanding wife, just another brain fart that's all.

[DQDick]

List of no list most of us have done something like that. A lot of times it involves getting interrupted in some way.

[kdeiss]

Did the same thing no damage the wooden pedestal was bowing my copilot seen it as she was walking around making sure I was clearing the trees. Then their was the time I forgot to fold in the steps caught that in the side view mirror. OH yes the time raising the front jacks to hitch at our seasonal site. I have built wooden entry steps I left the door half way open and did not move the steps back. On a 2955 the door is at the back. So when I raised the front legs the door hit the steps luckily I stopped before I twisted the door off it's hinges. That was just two years ago I have been pulling trailers for over 40 years

[steelpony5555]

Yeah but them dang receptacles aren't cheap....we done it too, took off with the steps still out...didn't see them in the mirror till I was on the interstate.....

[Tom S.]

There are two kinds of campers who never make mistakes: Those who lie, and those who never go camping. All the rest of us all get dumb at some point. The trick is not to stay that way!

[richfaa]

We pull out of the S&B Driveway like we have done scores times before. Half way up the street our next door neighbor on his MC is along side us telling us to stop. We do and the 50 amp cord that we pulled out of the S&B is dragging behind the Montana. Pulled the box right off the side of the S&B.

[racerjoe]

UPDATE: picked up new receptacle at Camping World, "only" $70.00!! not 75 like I thought. Must be my lucky day!! :-) Oh well,lesson learned