Avoid a Costly Mistake! ~ Hooking up an RV Camper for Towing
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 25. 06. 2024
- We show you the exact sequence to connect up an RV, Camper or Trailer for towing safely. If you do this incorrectly you can accidentally break your stabilizers, or cause stress on different parts of your RV that can be damaged.
Follow this step by step guide every time and you will be sure to enjoy a stress free experience.
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Opps............ there were six links on the right stabilizer arm and 8 on the left. Another good practice is to double or triple up a thick blanket and place it on the stairs in the up position so it does not lash back and forth on the road and wear out the door frame latch lock or the frame itself. Locking the refrigerator door is another good tip. Thanks for the run through.
All excellent points
two things you probably did but did not show was the electric line but the main thing was the emergency brake line shousd have been hooked to the truck. the reason for crossing the safety chains are to make a cradle incase the hitch comes loose the lounge will not hit the ground. happy travels
Excellent point
Yes, the breakaway cable wss connected but not discussed
Also it is required by law the chains be crossed.
â@@waltfriedrich7631If your safety chains attach to your trailer at a single point like shown in this video, crossing them does absolutely nothing. The guy even admits in the video he does not know why.
If the safety chains attach to the trailer tongue with any appreciable separation between them (which is how trailers used to be made) you need to cross them. It has nothing to do with cradling. I challenge anyone to cross their chains, unhitch, pull forward just enough for the hitch to clear the ball, and then lower the trailer as far down as the tongue jack will go. What you will soon discover is the hitch will hit the ground before the chains get tight. If the chains got tight before the tongue hit the ground, they would be too short for you to make a short turn. And that is where the whole chain crossing thing comes into play. On the old trailers where the attachment points were separated, if you did not cross them, the only way to turn without one of the chains getting too tight was to have the chains long enough that the other one would drag in the turn.
It is a geometry thing. Everybody told their kids they would never need to know geometry, so kids never paid attention in class. So the few people that understood geometry beat it into everyone else's head that you have to cross your chains. But you can't fix stupid, so the trailer manufacturers changed the attachment points to a single point to eliminate the issue altogether.
Yes ... I am old enough to remember when safety chains attached to the tongue 6 to 8 inches apart -- and I was one of those nerds that everyone hated because I paid attention in class and got good grades. People still hate me to this day for it.
âOnly law in 16 states. Probably been on the books since the old days when it mattered. Some states only require a single chain.
@@davidgates1122 My camper is a 2018 and the chains are 5 inches apart on the anchor points so not all campers are on a single point
After pull out, I like to check the campsite one more time just to make sure you leave it as you found it or better.
Great point!
You need to block the wheels X-chocks are not designed to hold the trailer. They are only designed to stop the trailer from rocking back & forth.
They work great for what they do do
But yes, we have chocks on the wheels that aren't on blocks. Chucking a blocked up wheel is futile
X-chocks say not to raise and lower the tongue with the x- chocks in place... so don't. đ
Awesome video! Anyone with a camper should be watching this!
Trying to help out where I can.
Plus we rent this trailer out, so hopefully any guests with questions will see this and have higher success
Thanks for the info, your steps are great. One thing, Make a List, & follow it. Mine is Laminated with check off boxes, for dry erase markers. It is in 2 sections SETUP & RELOCATE.
I made a list when starting out towing my Toy Hauler, after I forgot to plug in the trailer one time, while the Old Lady was bitching (no trailer lights or trailer brakes), VERY DANGEROUS.
For sure, super dangerous
You need to adjust the placement of the chain brackets as the chains should hand straight not on an angle.
You are totally correct
Thank you for taking your time a lot of people they kind of rush through it a little bit too fast for me
Youâre welcome đ
Thank u for the tips đ
Glad to help
@@GearsAndTech I been building a truck camper out is scratched then put it on a trailer & soon we be taking it for the first time to go camping & is good to know all this information, u can go & check it out
The first thing I noticed when I clicked on your video, the seal on you slide is not set properly, which will allow water intrusion. It would help to lubricate it. The reason the chains must be crossed is to 'catch' the trailer hitch if the ball becomes disconnected. In some states it's the law to have them crossed. Also when hooking the chains to the truck, the opening of the hook should be in the 'up' position, not the 'down' position as shown. The purpose is to add strength of the hook to support the weight of the trailer hitch should it become disconnected. If the hook is 'up' then only the clevis portion of the hook is holding the weight. I would re-do your video to provide greater accuracy.
Tell me more about the seal on the slide. You mean the bottom seal? I see it hangs down a little
Wrapping the chains will help keep the trailer from hitting the ground and digging in which can cause it to flip if it gets unhooked. In Texas it's the law that they need to be wrapped or twisted around each other a few times. I forget the exact number of times but I believe it was three. I got chastised my Evil Knievel for not having my chains wrapped about ten years ago..
Thanks for sharing
Didn't look like you attached the emergency brake cable. Nice video. I have an aluminum wall rig as well and I inspect the gaps to make sure there are no splits or pop outs.
The break-away cable shall be attached to the tow vehicle via its own connecting device. It CANNOT be secured to the safety chain.
The breakaway cable is clipped onto my safety chain clip.
@@gornomanCorrect. The break-away cable for the trailer brakes should be attached to the tow vehicle separately from either of the two chains or their hooks.
The safety chains are crossed to create a cradle for the tongue to drop into in the event, the trailer brakes away from your truck. That prevents the tongue from dropping clear to the pavement and digging in.
Thanks for clearing that up
You might want to pick up some replacement switches for the stabilizers and at least one stabilizer motor. I was glad I did because a switch failed on a trip. Some rvs have a remote for them. That saved us on another trip when the foot wouldnât move because of a failed switch.
I have a manual crank for them if they do fail. But that's a great idea as well.
They have to cross to catch the hitch should it become disconnected, or at least that's what I was told. I also noticed your emergency brake cable separately from the safety chain.
Makes total sense
My tension locks, where the tension bar chains go, has security pins.
Some of them add those pins to keep it from popping off. But most do not. If yours has it, then use them.
Check the tv antenna is in travel mode and stowage compartments are secured.
Excellent points. I'll keep these in mind for part 2
careful ... your sequence works for heavy two axle trailers. I have learned to NOT do a final check on the trailers readiness to travel without the stabilizers down or it is hooked to the tow vehicle. My small single axle trailer will buck tongue up as the door is in the back. They are like teeter totters. Very dangerous. If you have a small single axle trailer always make sure it is supported and secure before you get in.
So what the crossing of the chains does that it catches the trailer and just case it unhitches from the ball or the ball shears off from the bumper it will catch the trailer from landing on the ground making more difficult to hitch back up to the ball.
Great explanation. Thanks
Chains cross to catch trailer if accidental disconnect happens. You forgot to mention to check under for tab to be below ball and not on top of ball? Thatâs happened to me a couple of times and once it came disconnected but it was still latched
Excellent points
Your chains are cross connected: in case the trailer come off the ball the tongue will fall into the chain cradle. I liked your video.
Thanks for the info! Glad you liked the video
At least you were honest about the chain crossing. On yours it doesn't matter. When the chains are mounted on the RV, boat, or other trailer on opposite side (as opposed to a central point); crossing them creates a cradle. In the event your hitch comes loose from the ball, it won't go all the way to the ground, but instead be cradled in the middle and won't run up under your truck while your trying to stop it. Also, the sway bars you use are attached before connecting the ball. On other models they are attached after and the hitch & lift are used to tension the sway bars before installing the chains. This video is more specific to your model/style trailer.
Thanks
Your tow vehicle was not level when you were moving the trailer. The front fender lip should be no more than +/- 1/2 inch from the ground compared to unloaded. You have to connect the tongue to the ball, latch it, raise the rear of the tow vehicle with the trailer jack about 2 inches and then attach the torsion bars. That pre-loads your bars to level the truck. That is why it is called weight distribution, almost equal weight between the steering and drive axles. By the way, I am a commercial driver with over 40 years experience towing pretty much everything. Good luck and safe travels.
Is the trailer jack rated for lifting the vehicle by the tongue? That seems like a recipe for disaster
what about unhooking the utilities and turning the LP tanks off
Great idea. You always end up taking some things for granted
Would add - be sure to hook up the emergency brake pull line.
Yes, missed talking about that one
The emergency brake cable wasn't included with your video as noted below but it's also very important to NOT hook it to the trailer hitch in case you somehow rip the TH from the vehicle it would not deploy.
I clip mine onto the tow hook spot
You cross your chains so if the hitch comes off the chains can cradle the trailer instead of hitting the ground and cause it to flip
Thanks for sharing
You cross your chains to support the trailer tongue, in case it disconnects from the truck.
Excellent point. That sounds right
â@@GearsAndTechIt is not right. It is a holdover from a half century ago when the safety chains attached to the tongue further away from the ball. The crossing of the chains allowed a chain length that was not too short for one chain and too long for the other when you went into a turn. Back your truck up to the point where the ball is just clear of the coupler, hook up your crossed chains, and run your tongue jack all the way down. You will discover crossing chains does nothing on your trailer. Modern trailers have the chains attached at a single point so that all of the people who don't understand geometry can't mess it up.
These scissor type chocks between the tires they said that I had a sticker on them that said they are not totally to be used as chocks. You should at least have one set of old fashion chocks sitting on the ground. Also, if you tighten them too much, you can damage your steel belt tire
True on both accounts. I chock the wheels that aren't on blocks as well.
7:44 Print a Checklist for both Establishing Camp and Breaking Camp and then Laminate them to protect them during use.
Great idea. I made this video so people can follow along
With both safety chains coming from the same point there won't be much of a "net" Additionally, if the loop that holds both chains snaps, then you loose both chains. The chains used to be further back on the trailer tongue to make a true X. This trailer has more of a V. We used to try the load by checking to assure that the pull vehicle and the trailer made a straight beam. If not, then the load had to be taken off and the chains set to the next link, and tested again. This was usually only done at the first pull. After that we set it to the same link everytime. I always locked the ball before placing the stabilizer bars.
For sure, different order is totally ok.
Im baffled by the chain coming off the same point. At this point crossing them over doesn't do much
Respectfully, I disagree with a number of steps shown in this video and would not recommend it to a newbie.
Curious, which step would you remove?
Your Video was very informative for first timers. The first thing I would do, is go to the DMV, and ask the "What the F*** is with the Red Plates" , change them. You seem very paranoid, you lock the entry door, your lock the receiver pin, Dude, your in Canada, not in NYC. Chill Out. Anyway, nice Video.
Lol, the plate I actually paid money to get. It's a hockey sports team plate, but I covered up the team logo and put my gears and tech logo on it.
The locks are a minor deterent. Anyone that wants to steal the trailer can get that off in a few seconds. But they make me feel better
I also have a gps tracker on it as well.
Put down your roof mounted antenna if you have one.
Great point
You hooked the safety chains, but you forgot to hook the breakaway cable.
Breakaway cable is attached to the safety chain hook
You chains the drop to the bars should be straight up and down, yours are pulled to the front way to hard. You need to got longer bars. They come in different lengths to fit your needsđ
The mounting point just wasn't locked down well, it was adjusted afyer to be straight up and down
Why are there 6 links on the right side, and 8 links on the left side?
You cannot count!
You're right. I actually went back and adjusted the other side when I couldn't get the same number of links.
I was hoping you would pay attention to what I was saying, not what I was doing.
Inside the "HOLE" it is called a HITCH.
Yeah, hole works too though no?
You like most newbies forgot the TV batwing to be lowered and as below comments the breakaway cable.
Breakaway cable is attached to my safety hook.
â@@GearsAndTechneeds to attach to the truck not the chain
Sure are ALOTof xperts in the comments...glad I only have a 6x10 trailer....why you need something so big is beyond me...
For sure
You forgot to show disconnecting the power cable.
You're right. My wife unplugged that one so I never even thought of it
Thatâs way to much trailer for a half ton truck
Truck is rated at 11,000 lbs towing
The trailer is big, but not heavy
@@GearsAndTech curious whatâs the trailer Weight
All of you so-called experts don't know squat. Let each RVer learn for themselves. I have made mistakes but learned to do different things than what you put into your videos. I also use something very few people use anymore: common sense. Please be sure to know before you go. I did all my hookups at home. I did it several times to ensure I knew the procedures I would follow every time. No guessing. 2018 Keystone Outback 266RB with a 2018 RAM 2500 with a 6.4 gas motor. Eaz-Lift ReCurve R3 Weight Distribution Hitch, 1200-lb. Kit with 2 5/16" Hitch Ball. The Travel trailer had auto-leveling, but I used my manual method. The auto stabilizers worked great. Then we are assuming everyone has auto stabilizers like your trailer. Not all trailers have slides. Not all trailers have 50amp service. May older trailers only had 30amp service. Know what you are talking about, and do not assume everyone is like you.
Totally get where you're coming from.
Learning from others mistakes is a skill not everyone has
What would someone with a 50 amp service do differently with a 30a? Trailer in this video is a 30A plug btw.
â @@GearsAndTech Common sense is âeveryone is differentâ
Donât pay any attention to the rude, obnoxious people. Yes, Some of what he is saying is correct. He seems very upset that everyone is not learning his way(on their own)
How you presented yourself was excellent. I do agree with him though on not enough info. Just a little rephrasing âthis is how I doâŠâŠâŠâŠâ âeven with a similar set up always follow the proper manualsâ âproperly load your trailerâ etc.
Everyone has different learning techniques. (And teaching)
I always looked at several videos to get more opinions and info on the same subject. Some will look at one and complain it doesnât fit their situation.
For how long the video was; You did a good job.
I actually stopped by to comment that in my training I was also told to cross the chains to provide a âcradleâ in case the tongue came off the hitch. Saw the above comment. (People guilty of doing the same thing they accuse others of)
One thing to never go is have the camper plugged into your truck while the camper is put into the pedestal once you plug the power into the camper the 7 prong plug going to the tow vehicle has power going to it.
Excellent point.
Being a âhow toâ video maybe you shouldnât put your leveling bars greased end in the dirt.
Never mind that, I may need to think about greasing them!
They are dry as a whistle
Don't tell people that you HAVE to do something when you don't know why. And I'm still waiting for the costly mistake to avoid. Your costly mistake is not hooking up the emergency cable.
Don't tell me what to don't say!
LOL