oopsie

woody · 06-29-2018, 12:48 AM

Well, I knew something had to happen. Our cross country trip since leaving MA on Jun 3 was going too smoothly. We were getting ready to leave the KOA in La Junta, CO. I went in the office and asked the office girl to recommend a rv friendly gas station. She mentioned Love's right on RTE 50 in La Junta. I checked it out on google satellite and street view and it seemed very doable. Pulled in and gassed up no problem. When we got ready to leave I noticed the side street we would have to exit off had a bit of dip from the gas station lot. l figured I'd go nice and slow and fully expected the trailer to drag a little bit but never expected to get as stuck as an Alabama tick on a hound dog. With help from a CO State Trooper,a La Junta police officer and a tow truck we were finally freed and on our way.

Shawn62 · 06-29-2018, 01:29 AM

Woody,

Thanks for sharing. That is a fine teaching moment.

Shawn

P.S. Did some NASTI training at the New Braintree Academy in 2004.

The Gritz Carlton · 06-29-2018, 10:57 AM

Something I always try look for when pulling into a station...also look on Google Maps Aerial View each morning when selecting the fuel station for the day. This dip is real common in flat areas like much of Florida (and any coastal areas) where storm water drainage is an issue.

SuperD · 06-29-2018, 11:48 AM

Sucks to have that happen! I done a lot of scraping over the years but never got stuck, fortunately. I installed these wheels on the hitch a couple of years ago because we had a steep driveway, they have saved a lot of metal on concrete mishaps. The wheels were easy to install, I bought the swiveling wheels so there is less stress if making a turn and hitting a bump at the same time. I HIGHLY recommend these wheels if you have a coach with a long rear overhang or you pull a trailer.

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Bob Denman · 06-29-2018, 12:01 PM

Sorry to see that you "Knocked the dirt off of her belly"!

I assume that there was no permanent damage?

Muggs · 06-29-2018, 01:32 PM

I run into this with racecar trailer on occasion. A few pieces of 1/2" pipe, some sheet metal and a 2.5 ton trolley jack can help in tight situations.

Pipe can be used as rollers, sheet metal can be used to slide on and jack on wheels can also help.

woody · 06-29-2018, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperD

Sucks to have that happen! I done a lot of scraping over the years but never got stuck, fortunately. I installed these wheels on the hitch a couple of years ago because we had a steep driveway, they have saved a lot of metal on concrete mishaps. The wheels were easy to install, I bought the swiveling wheels so there is less stress if making a turn and hitting a bump at the same time. I HIGHLY recommend these wheels if you have a coach with a long rear overhang or you pull a trailer.

Attachment 11072

Dave, what a great idea. I will definitely try that. Where did you purchase the swivel wheels.

brucev · 06-29-2018, 02:17 PM

Yes, SuperD. Please post the purchase info if you have it. The wheels I looked at all had mixed reviews. Seems the wheels are made of pot metal or so they say.

woody · 06-29-2018, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Sorry to see that you "Knocked the dirt off of her belly"!

I assume that there was no permanent damage?

The trailer support shaft got pretty mangled but it can be easily replaced.

Bob Denman · 06-29-2018, 02:56 PM

Glad to hear that's all that got torn up!

Cason61 · 07-01-2018, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperD

Sucks to have that happen! I done a lot of scraping over the years but never got stuck, fortunately. I installed these wheels on the hitch a couple of years ago because we had a steep driveway, they have saved a lot of metal on concrete mishaps. The wheels were easy to install, I bought the swiveling wheels so there is less stress if making a turn and hitting a bump at the same time. I HIGHLY recommend these wheels if you have a coach with a long rear overhang or you pull a trailer.

Attachment 11072

A very good idea!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Thor RV Forum mobile app

SuperD · 07-01-2018, 10:00 PM

There are a lot of sources for the wheels. Google “trailer hitch skid wheels” and you’ll get lots of results. Amazon and eTrailer are two of the easiest sources but there are many more.

If you have the skid wheels and think they’ll contact the pavement go slow. Hitting the wheels at speed will definitely cause a jolt but they can also save a lot of damage.

P.S. There is a metal skid wheel that attaches to the hitch using the the 5/8” hitch ball pin, DO NOT buy this one!!! The metal roller doesn’t hang down low enough in most cases plus it is centered on the hitch and can still allow contact with the MH frame. This is what they look like:

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Metalman · 07-14-2018, 07:50 PM

I occasionally go into a nearby gas station/convenience store that has steeply sloped entrances. Fortunately the two are quite wide and I can enter and exit at an angle. This reduces the pitch of the entrance, and though the road in front of the entrances is scared from bottomed trailers and RVs, I have yet to bottom out.

PaulH · 07-14-2018, 08:06 PM

I've been on and off many ferries over the years, we're in Ireland and we go to mainland Europe, and I always go up or down the ramp at an angle, never a problem.

Mr Sunshine · 07-14-2018, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metalman

I occasionally go into a nearby gas station/convenience store that has steeply sloped entrances. Fortunately the two are quite wide and I can enter and exit at an angle. This reduces the pitch of the entrance, and though the road in front of the entrances is scared from bottomed trailers and RVs, I have yet to bottom out.

Well said, if you see those scars on the pavement, find another entrance or take it at an angle. Or if it is a gas station, try to find another station even if you have to pay a few cents more.

CaptnJohn · 07-14-2018, 08:49 PM

One of many reasons why nothing but diesel for me. Just pull in with the semis~~ always easy in/out.

Cooch · 06-25-2020, 04:18 PM

Super D you can disregard my last message. I since saw another one of your posts and found the Ultra-Fab skid wheels you mentioned. Thx

ducksface · 06-25-2020, 05:16 PM

Those wheels LIFT your vehicle over the bump.
Big bump and your drive wheels(rv rear wheels) lift off the ground. At the very least it lessens your traction considerably. I don't know the droop on rv rear suspensions. Maybe it's not as little as I think it might be.
Just a note, nothing else.
Don't get too cocky with those.

Probably not a worry, but certainly a consideration when you're thinking you can take that bat ditch....

BandG · 06-25-2020, 06:27 PM

Glad you got up & moving again.

We stopped for Gas at a Bucees in Texas last fall...mostly just to check them out. They have 80-100 gas pumps (place is huge). Heard a lot of folks talking about them & we wanted to see for ourselves.

It was a pretty busy time when we pulled in & since I was towing our Jeep, I was looking for a clear lane. Found one & pulled in. Got out & started gassing up, then I realized why the lane was empty. If I continued forward, I was heading down a fairly steep concrete slope that went straight back up (basically a V shape).

We decided the safe course of action was to un-hook the Jeep & then back out out of the pump & re-hook.

Cost me a little time, but I'm pretty sure something was gonna scrape or come off if I tried to go forward.

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