Cut the branches!

[klassic]

First major trip with ‘25 3532SP
First campground.
First scratch.
Why don’t they understand branches can hang into the roadway under 13 feet.
Especially on curves.

It WAS a perfect paint job.

 

[BB_TX]

Yep. Had to Eternabond two small holes in my roof due to low limbs. Gotta watch out for yourself. Can’t depend on anyone else.

 

[klassic]

I had no choice but to keep going forward hoping for the best.
Then a small complaint at the front office, and the maintenance guys were out trimming everything along the road up to 13’
I guess I suffered for the rest.

 

[DutchmenSport]

The first scratch on a new camper always hurts the most. When the second one happens, it's not as traumatic. By the 4th or 5th, you just begin to ignore it.

I attempted to find ways to creatively cover my first scratch on my current fifth wheel when it was just a few weeks old. I was sick to my stomach. I never did get it fixed. I just polished over it. In time, the scratch faded in my memory and now, I don't even see it any more (although it's still there).

Then someone clipped me at the rear corner of the camper when getting fuel for the truck and then ran leaving me with a broken running light and a crumpled in corner. I fixed it myself, but it wasn't "perfect." Eventually, that corner seemed to be a non-issue any more, until the day when I looked at the other corner and realized I'd clipped something, probably due to a wide swing tail. It was just enough to make a dent, but didn't break anything.

Another time a low hanging branch ripped off one of the pipe vents on the roof of the camper. I had to put on another cover, but it was a white one, not a black one. But, no one can see it. It must have worked, it's been there for 5 years now.

Well, there were more little bumps and bruised my poor baby got as the miles rolled on.

But, here's the thing.... you can keep your camper parked stationary, perhaps safely tucked away in an enclosed garage, but you'll never experience anything if you are too concerned about damages happening.

On the other hand, you can take your camper out, and in a few years, it (could) look like it went through a battle field. But, your experiences will be memories that you will hold dear the rest of your life. If you use your camper, you can expect things to happen to it.

Fix what you can, and don't sweat over the rest. Nothing stays "new" forever!

 

[Kfinnert]

We have the same issues, and the best that you can do is watch the overhead as you travel. I try to Google earth locations, so I have an idea what the overhead looks like when I arrive at a campground. In addition, I do carry a saw and a pick/shovel for clearing brush, when needed. So far, I have only used the saw once.

When I am on the road, I watch for low overhanging branches on the roadway. I will either go through the branch slowly or move over to manage the obstacle.

Cheers

 

[ep4me]

'Amen brother cant tell you how many camprounds we've been too with low hanging branches. most full size fifth wheel are atleast 13 feet tall with montanas being 13'4"

 

[Theunz]

If there was only one thing I could change on mine it would be the ridiculous height!

 

[Todd & Mary]

Been there, done that. I agree the first one is a disaster, by the 4th time or so its almost to be expected. We've picked up a few on roads and the other 2 at a campground! Don't worry about them any longer. But that being said I am more conscious of of low hanging branches now.

 

[klassic]

I carry a 12’ tree pruner now.
Snip!

 

[twindman]

My very first outing - about 60 miles from home with an experienced camper friend. I wheel in to the campsite at about 10 mph - no big deal. Got parked and notice a tree branch that had been cut off but still pointing over the campsite. Scraped a small scratch about 2 feet long along the side of rig near the top. I go in much slower and more carefully now! I was lucky too. Got home and on a ladder I was able to just wash/scrub the scratch off with a little elbow grease!