Camping Unhitched ?

[CarolMarie]

I notice on some of the photos that the tow vehicles are still attached to the camper while parked (awnings extended, tables set up, etc.). Is that okay to do? It would be much easier than unhitching and rehitching, which I find the most tension-filled aspect of camping. Does it matter if the weight is on the car instead of the jack ?

CarolMarie

[Davie B]

For me, it has to do with the tilt and trim. I like sleeping in a level trailer.

[Donna D.]

You can unhitch, but stay over the ball. I do that most times if I know I won't need my tug for touring/shopping. When it's time to get ready to leave, just lower the tongue jack and properly hookup and go. At least you've eliminated the stressful backing up hookup process, but can have a level trailer too for camping. Works for me!

[Byron Kinnaman]

Most of the time I unhitch and level. The refrigerator likes things to be level. There are times when I don't unhitch such as when spending the night in a rest area, staying in a WalMart parking lot, or staying the night at a truck stop.

Unhitching and hitching can be made easier with one of the available helps, I use a couple of fiberglass poles with magnets on the ends. Mirrors are available to see the ball and hitch.

Like many other things it become easier with practice.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

You can unhitch, but stay over the ball. I do that most times if I know I won't need my tug for touring/shopping. When it's time to get ready to leave, just lower the tongue jack and properly hookup and go. At least you've eliminated the stressful backing up hookup process, but can have a level trailer too for camping. Works for me!

That would only work if you're towing nose down and even then in many campgrounds the pads aren't level enough.

[Jon Vermilye]

If the site is level enough & I don't plan to go anywhere after stopping, I don't unhitch. Unfortunately, that rarely happens. I travel solo, and have a back up camera added to my RAV4 (also have one on the Escape 17). It makes hitching up a snap.

[Donna D.]

Yeah Bryon you're right. My trailer is about 1/2" nose down. When I unhitch, the spoon comes up about 1/2 on the ball.

[Cyndi B.]

Our horse likes to get unhitched.

[Andrew GPSMapNut]

(Me) Except for a rest stop, always unhitched. For one, levelling. My TV has (rear) air suspension so, after few hours of parking, the rear does not seats lower.
Also, I'd hate to jump into the car to somewhere forgetting that I'm hitched, with jacks extended and who knows what else attached to the trailer...

[Alf S.]

Hi: All...We took a fast gettaway overnighter last night and went to Pt. Burwell Prov. Pk. After backing in my wife said the trailers level side to side and front to back. I still haven't figured out what I did wrong...but stayed hitched anyhoo!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Darnelle]

Andrew makes a great point! We also have a rule to never, never, never tie the dog (or anything else) to the TV for any reason whatsoever. One instance of forgetfulness could mean tragedy.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Yeah Bryon you're right. My trailer is about 1/2" nose down. When I unhitch, the spoon comes up about 1/2 on the ball.

I believe you also have Wayne stabilizers which allows for stabilization after leveling instead of leveling and stabilization at the same time with the rear stabilizers and the tongue jack.

[Donna D.]

That's true Byron. At the Fall NOG, I unhitched and stayed over the ball but deployed the stabilizers since I was in the park for a week. Made leaving quick in the rain! I really detested the rear bolted-to-the-bumper stabilizers... greasy, road rash, rusty, nasty things. They worked as engineered, but took Lava soap to clean my hands after getting them down. ICK.

[Alf S.]

Hi: Donna D... Another reason to love the Escape 5.0. Independent electric front landing gear, and crank down rear stabilizers. Puts a new spin on "Getting the old crank out".
I always stabilize even if we have a pull thru site and don't unhook. RV rockin' doesn't always escape the neighbours view!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Bud Kennedy]

If your trailer tows nose down, you can leave it hitched up and raise the tongue AND the TV with the nose jack. Works for me.

[LurkerDan]

Originally Posted by Darnelle

Andrew makes a great point! We also have a rule to never, never, never tie the dog (or anything else) to the TV for any reason whatsoever. One instance of forgetfulness could mean tragedy.

Is it wrong that I immediately thought of "Vacation" and Chevy Chase and laughed?

[Roger C H]

I base the hitching/unhitching question on two factors:

1. Will I need the car (for shopping, touring, restaurant visit) during my stay?

2. Do I need to unhitch to get Homelet level (front to back)?

If the answer to either question is "Yes", then I unhitch.

But always remember to unplug the trailer from the car or you may find yourself unable to start the car because you have run both batteries down.

BEFORE I unhitch, I check side to side level because I need the car to pull Homelet up on the required blocking.

ALWAYS remember when you are not unhitched. It would be ugly to jump into the car to run someplace and then find out you are still attached.

Donna, thanks for giving me another reason to love my Trillium. I just use the removable crank to turn my stabilizers down and up.

[Herb Sutton]

I only unhitch if we need the tug to go someplace.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Bud Kennedy

If your trailer tows nose down, you can leave it hitched up and raise the tongue AND the TV with the nose jack. Works for me.

I used to do that a lot, until I discovered that the hitch receiver had broken just behind the 1st pair of bolts; what started out as a 6 bolt connection to the frame became a 4 bolt connection, with a noticeable sag toward the rear. I have replaced the receiver and unhitch every time now.

[Robin G]

Hmmmm, But by not unhitching for a extended stay are you not putting unwanted weight/tension on the vehicles suspension?

There have been nights when on the road, I didn't unhitch all the way, got the weight of the trailer off the tow vehicle, but I was always told to not leave it hooked up for long periods.