Park Casita on incline?

[JaneM.]

A good thought! I feel comfortable renting storage for a month rather than trying to get something put together by Thursday (and I'm dealing with a wretched cold so really don't think I can do anything by then). I found a place that doesn't have a minimum number of months and is less than 2 miles away. It's a temporary solution given the cost ($60/mo) but buys some time to make sure I do it right.

And yes, excited - that's the understatement of the year!! And being British, I am told I have a knack for the understatement! I've been wanting a Casita for several years, but my spouse had to come around and see the light ;-). It's not something I want to do without her and the dogs.

Two days and counting!

Jane

[JaneM.]

Originally Posted by Greg H

How about a new house with a better driveway?

Definitely NOT an option! We have a view of the ocean and won't give that up! :-)

[Mike Magee]

George, those rubber chocks look great. I have a Harbor Freight store in town and you're tempting me.

Jane, with all the great ideas we've heard I think it's safe to say that you can park wherever you're so inclined...

[JaneM.]

where ever I'm inclined!

[Tom U]

Originally Posted by JaneM.

where ever I'm inclined!

Most of what you read in this forum is on the level...

[JaneM.]

Originally Posted by Tom U

Most of what you read in this forum is on the level...

Groan! you are flat out too funny!

[Brian Tin]

What about putting a small retaining wall at the bottom of the yard so you can park it level and parallel with the street? At $60 a month storage it would pay for itself pretty quick

[JaneM.]

Originally Posted by Tom U

Most of what you read in this forum is on the level...

Originally Posted by Brian Tin

What about putting a small retaining wall at the bottom of the yard so you can park it level and parallel with the street? At $60 a month storage it would pay for itself pretty quick

Unfortunately the street is also on a quite a slope, but we're looking at putting a "second driveway" on the south side of the house. it could be unpaved and quite level, but would require a retaining wall. I agree - at $60 per month it might pay for itself quite quickly.

[Tom U]

Originally Posted by JaneM.

Groan! you are flat out too funny!

Jane, that one puts us on the slippery slope...
Some might get tired of this punishment.

[Darnelle]

Originally Posted by Tom U

Also, in that vein, trying to drive forward into the driveway to drop the trailer presents problems. One would really have to do some fancy wheel work to get the tow vehicle in and out for hitching and unhitching. Personally, I would not want to try and back down a steep grade to try and hitch up - recipe for disaster. That is why a car going downhill on a one lane road yields to the car going up - much more control ability backing up than down. JMHO

Hi Tom, Could you provide more instruction on this? We have a curve and a steep hill in the same place on our driveway. I am experienced at backing and have not had any more or less problems whether going up or down. About the only thing that gives me a problem is not being able to see everything like I can with my flatbed trailer. Thanks!

[JaneM.]

Originally Posted by Tom U

Jane, that one puts us on the slippery slope...
Some might get tired of this punishment.

Indeed! It's all down hill from here!

[Tom U]

Originally Posted by Darnelle

Hi Tom, Could you provide more instruction on this? We have a curve and a steep hill in the same place on our driveway. I am experienced at backing and have not had any more or less problems whether going up or down. About the only thing that gives me a problem is not being able to see everything like I can with my flatbed trailer. Thanks!

Darnell, once you are hitched up no problem. We all have to back the trailer up and down, around curves, etc. And, you are right, visibility with an egg can be an issue.

It is hitching up that has me worried. What happens if you slip you clutch, lose power or your brakes slip while trying to line up to hitch up? Or, your parking brake slips while you are out of the T.V.?

Hitching while facing uphill - gravity pulls the T.V into the trailer or you.

Hitching while facing downhill - gravity pulls the tow vehicle away from you and the trailer.

It is much easier to control the small adjustments needed to line up the hitch and ball when backing up rather than down. In short, one is under positive control rather than trying to hold the tow vehicle back.

Just MHO.

[SherryNPaul]

Another vote for the Harbor Freight heavy wheel chocks. I have them, and I like them a lot.
Sherry

[Tom U]

Originally Posted by JaneM.

Indeed! It's all down hill from here!

Jane,

We really do need someone to shout "STOP" and prevent us from bottoming out. We have pretty much exhausted this angle.

[JaneM.]

Originally Posted by Tom U

Jane,

We really do need someone to shout "STOP" and prevent us from bottoming out. We have pretty much exhausted this angle.

I would "grade" us an A for effort and the number of "degrees" we've hit!

[Tom U]

Originally Posted by JaneM.

I would "grade" us an A for effort and the number of "degrees" we've hit!

You won't get a rise from me.

Jane, did I tell you (no, of course I didn't) that a friend and I (much to the chagrin of our wives in the back seat) swapped fish puns for 150 miles on a trip? Oh well, that may challenge us to yet another summit....

[JaneM.]

Originally Posted by Tom U

You won't get a rise from me.

Jane, did I tell you (no, of course I didn't) that a friend and I (much to the chagrin of our wives in the back seat) swapped fish puns for 150 miles on a trip? Oh well, that may challenge us to yet another summit....

A couple of my friends call me "the punster". I love wordplay, but today has felt like an uphill battle. Either that or I'm simply over the hill.

[Darnelle]

That makes perfect sense Tom, and thank you! I will definitely keep that in mind, especially since I usually have to hitch up and back up by myself. (Keeps us out of divorce court.)

And on the puns.... GROAN!!!!

[Donna D.]

I'm a wuss. I couldn't sleep at night because of the worry my wonderful trailer may launch itself down the hill because of a stiff wind or... goan... earthquake. But then again, I'm not sure I'd want to live across the street from a trailer parked on a step hill. Might find the trailer making "camp" in my livingroom some day/some night. Then only way I could handle the street, is a long stout chain affixed to something anchored in the ground.

[Darnelle]

We camped once on a really steep site -- I, too, could not sleep, especially because we were inside it! Kept envisioning us rolling backwards on a wild and uncontrolled ride, finally crashing into the concrete shower room below. I went outside and slipped the safety chains onto TV. Next morning the camper hadn't budged a bit, but I had slept!