Setting up trailer alone |
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David D
Newbie Joined: 27 Apr 2015 Location: San Jose, CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 26 |
Topic: Setting up trailer alone Posted: 20 May 2016 at 11:03am |
As was mentioned earlier, backing up might be the toughest when on your own. In cases like this, I've adopted a method which is tedious but works.... back up the trailer a few feet, get out of truck walk to back to study progress, get back in truck, and repeat process over and over until your good. I actually learned this the hard way.... backed up into a tree once... embarassing! ;-) And, if you have to unhitch and still need to move your trailer, another item which has been super helpful is the Trailer Valet. I absolutely love this product. https://www.trailervalet.com/5x
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2015 R-Pod 179
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pnwcamper
Newbie Joined: 22 Sep 2015 Location: Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 38 |
Posted: 20 May 2016 at 9:59am |
I have a back up camera which makes it much easier. With a little practice you wont have any problem, just go slow and easy when backing up. Unhooking is easy.
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2014 R-Pod 177
2009 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4.0 V6 |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 20 May 2016 at 9:32am |
It's fine to connect water and shore power while connected to the BMW. I would add only one caution. Tow vehicles are generally wired to charge the trailer battery while traveling, but electrically disconnect when the engine is off. I say generally, but stuff happens and mistakes are made. The consequences are possible discharge of the BMW battery if shore power is not used. This can really ruin your morning. It's worth checking out. There are ways to check using a voltmeter, and even a way to check without a meter if you don't mind disconnecting the trailer battery. Let me know and I can talk you through it. Have fun and enjoy your camper and dogs .
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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Jewel59
Groupie Joined: 19 May 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 70 |
Posted: 20 May 2016 at 8:14am |
I was wondering if this would be ok...leaving it hitched? Can you still hook to water and electricity safely? the type of sites at shows are very level. I'm super excited. I pick it up on Monday. I was supposed to get it yesterday but we had horrible rain in the area and I didn't want to start my first time on the road with it in horrible weather. Had a huge box from Camping World arrive and another from Amazon. I think I have all the necessities (leveling blocks, chocks, stabilizer pads and all the stuff for the inside to make it functional).
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Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 20 May 2016 at 7:44am |
+1 I do this most anytime that I don't need to use the truck to run around and the campsite is close to level. It sounds like you'll have a nice setup. I'll add, if you are not familiar with backing a trailer, you might want to find an empty parking lot to practice backing up. Again, this is something that gets easier with time/practice. |
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Rustler
Senior Member Joined: 07 May 2016 Location: S. Oregon Coast Online Status: Offline Posts: 100 |
Posted: 20 May 2016 at 5:30am |
Thanks for asking the questions about single person setup. My wife and I just bought a Rpod 171. But my first trip will be solo, going to the Golden State Star Party by myself. So the answers to your questions have been most useful. Later my wife will be with me for other camping trips this summer. I hope you and your four-legged companions enjoy the trips.
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Russ
2009 Toyota RAV4 V6 w/ tow package 2016 Rpod 171 HRE |
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fredtello1
Newbie Joined: 15 May 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9 |
Posted: 20 May 2016 at 2:28am |
to hook up.... buy a pvc pipe to fit over the crank.... glue an elbow on it and then glue another pipe at length to just touch the middle of your back window.... it will help you line up.. they sell metal ones that stay on the hitch with magnets....... google hitch alignments..... https://www.bing.com/search?q=hitch%20alinements&pc=cosp&ptag=C1AE89FD93123&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 19 May 2016 at 8:26pm |
If you don't need to drive anywhere you can leave it hitched up, which saves some aggravation. You may find you can deal with it being somewhat out-of-level, so there will be times you can just back it in and put it in park. This is often the case for us at truck stops. I might crank up the tongue jack some to level it front-to-back a bit.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Jewel59
Groupie Joined: 19 May 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 70 |
Posted: 19 May 2016 at 7:53pm |
......I'll worry about the r-dome on my second trip (great shaded space for the dogs so I had to have it)
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Jewel59
Groupie Joined: 19 May 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 70 |
Posted: 19 May 2016 at 7:49pm |
Thanks for the words of support. I consider myself capable (LOL, we'll see). I have a BMW X3, I went with the tow package from BMW although it cost a lot more than I had hoped (comes with integrated brake control, all parts, and a reprogramming of the back up and parking sensors on the vehicle). I'm told once the trailef is hitched, the back-up cam has been programmed to allow you to hitch with guidelines projected to the back-up cam screen....like docking the space station). I am sure hoping this is the case!
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