A camping adventure

[nosticks]

Just returned from a long weekend at one of Florida’s great State Parks. It was our first time at this park. Picking a camp site off of the Reserve America maps is an interesting crap shoot. Maps are anything but proportional.

The fun begins with the turn from the access road into the site. I was solo on arrival. Looked tight but doable. So I’m in and out of the truck countless times watching trees to the left of me, trees to the right, trees overhead, and brush all around, all the while the fasten seatbelt alarm is ever increasing in its aggressiveness to remind me to buckle up between leaps.

It’s a perfect site, no problem with privacy here. It takes me several forward and back up attempts to get in and clear all the trees, and this was a pull through site.

Ok, its 94 degrees, I am drenched and looking forward to the coldie when I’m finally settled. I’m in, still have to move around some to be able to level up the curb side and get all four slides and the awning out. Yes, this will work. Chocks in, landing gear down, tailgate open, unhitch. Level up, stabilizers out, slides out carefully to be sure I clear everything. Hook up? Duh, the power cord is exactly 3 feet too short.

I coined several multiple syllable hyphenated words to the English language that would please any student of a sailors vocabulary, as I reversed the entire procedure to move forward about 4 feet. I learned a lot from this. Note to Dave, disconnect the seatbelt alarm, you never leave the driveway without being buckled up anyway, consider buying a chain saw, some pull through sites are not. Oh, about that extension cord…..

[Ozz]

Ha! Great story. Having fun is a lot of work!

[bncinwv]

What was the park??
Bingo

[helmick]

We have all did that, don`t feel alone.

[nosticks]

Bingo- Park was Oscar Scherer SP and the site to avoid is #103 should you ever go there.

[Delaine and Lindy]

Been there done that, the fix is I now carry a 15' 50amp extension cord... Happy Trails...

[Art-n-Marge]

Before I "park" my RV for setup I check the hookups and width these days. A few times with the days you had, made me do this. It's #1 on my setup checklist. "1. Park the RV after measuring the hookup locations AND my 16 ft width, side to side requirement and overhead to ensure I can get in there". THEN start with the leveling and setup. If #1 can't be satisfied, look for or ask for another site.

I sure could identify with that story, 'nosticks'. I've been there until I finally figured out my new procedure. The electrical cord is the common culprit. The second one is not allowing for the slideouts. Where I've been trees haven't been an issue. But now I know to check all of this before using the site.

I'll have a coldie later today in your honor.

[NCFischers]

We were 6 inches too short on the power cord one time. Now I check before I set up.

[BB_TX]

quote:Originally posted by nosticks

..............
Chocks in, landing gear down, tailgate open, unhitch. Level up, stabilizers out, slides out carefully to be sure I clear everything. Hook up? Duh, the power cord is exactly 3 feet too short.
.............

I can certainly relate. Did the exact same thing 2 trips ago.
(and I am embarrassed to say that was the 2nd time I had done that in the last 2 years. Slow learner.)

[drknapp]

I'm a member of that club also. Found out after setting up that I was a foot short on the cord earlier this year. I need to go shopping for an extension. :-)

[Mel]

After doing this before I bought a 15' 50 amp extension. Have used it three times. A couple of times it made a good site great.

I have found many State parks were not designed for 5th wheels as long as my Montana 3400. It is to bad because we love staying in State parks.

[patbarton]

I've learned (and re-learned) to not unhitch before measuring for slideouts, checking tree clearances, looking for tree roots near the bottom of the steps, and inspecting the power cord and water hose runs.

But sometimes I still forget... gives me an excuse for a second coldie!

[Parts Ed]

One of these days I will learn to check if it is level inside the trailer before un-hooking......

It seems to me every side is pretty much level, but not according to my wife.

[kylec2]

quote:Originally posted by Delaine and Lindy

Been there done that, the fix is I now carry a 15' 50amp extension cord... Happy Trails...

I bought the T-shirt and then bought an extension!

[Lee F.]

I had a similar experience at a state park in Virginia Beach. Arrived at dusk in 90 degree plus temps.. (My first mistake) After doing the same as Nosticks getting to and finally into the site I began hooking everything up and discovered the electricity was not working. Checked with the office where they told me they couldn't get it fixed until morning and all other sites were full. Here I am dripping wet with sand all over me and no AC. I took a quick shower with a hose, made a few calls, and found a KOA a few miles away with room. By the time we got there and set up it was almost 1:00am. Not a fun experience. I now check the electric with a meter before I pull in.

[Bill-N-Donna]

Hey I think maybe we went to the same school;
“The school of Hard Knocks!”

[pbahlin]

The real root of the problem is the #$%#^$# rear end electrical hookup.

My closest shave was once the cord would not stay plugged in until I put the the thing on top of the tires to take the sag out.

I have an extension but don't like to use it these days. With all my cord out I figure I've got $300 of copper out laying on the ground and thieves are getting killed taking power lines down for scrap.

[washley1]

We've got both a 25ft 50 amp extension and a 30ft 30amp extension, with an adapter. Since 99% of Florida state parks are 30 amp anyway, we have it covered.