Creased Bumper

Anyone besides me jacked knifed or turned too sharp when backing up and creased their bumper? I just did it a second time to my beloved Ram truck, you would think I would learn!

 

Sorry Jim, but to do it twice…..shame on me!

 

I made it to night 2 of owning our Camp Inn before doing it. We’re good for the 6 years since then. But have you ever turned into the wrong lane of traffic before? I don’t recommend it, although it does give everyone in the vehicle a thrilling ride for a moment.

 

Don’t feel bad… I took a 12.9 inch tall class A under a 12.8 inch awning. This after watching several YouTube videos cautioning against such nonsense. I Ripped off the covers of two ACs. No damage to the rig itself though.

Hen being pissed off,Then I back up the rig to get out of the way…and jack knifed the car I had on a tow dolly…scuffing Paint and braking the market lights on the rig. all this is about 30 seconds.

stuff happens. Just write it up in the camper confessional. You sadly aren’t alone.

Then there was the time 8 took my CI down a 1 lane logging trail that came to a dead end….my GPS surely knows where I am going…..right?

very sorry to hear about your experience. We’ve ALL done it….

 

I used to be a pastor in very rural Kansas. Before I moved out there, a family member purchased a GPS unit for me, fearful that I'd end up lost in the rectangle that is Kansas. This was about a dozen years ago, well before data driven smartphones had taken over the GPS navigation sector.

The GPS was nice - mostly. It saved me a lot of typically frustrated rural directions*, and it was nice to tell people "No, I don't need directions to come out for coffee at your place, I have a GPS."

I did learn a hard lesson though. Apparently the GPS always tries to find the most efficient route - but the GPS doesn't know the differences in road quality. I waved off directions from a kind couple I was headed to visit "No, no, I'll be fine, I have a GPS. See you at 10 tomorrow." I knew I was in trouble as the roads deteriorated rapidly and then I was forced to turn down one with the ominous sign posted "Minimum Maintenance Farm Trail Enter at Risk."

Me and my front wheel drive subcompact sedan had a wild ride splashing along the giant puddles on that dirt road. I made it, barely. And I promptly asked for directions home. Lesson learned, young foolish pastor: All unpaved roads are not created equal - there's a big difference between a county maintained gravel road and a dirt road. I'll take "Things that were not covered in seminary for 1000, Alex."

* - My favorite during that time was "turn left at the Old Swedish Church" -- I thought that I'd see some old ruins or an abandoned building or something. Nope. The Old Swedish Church had been leveled to the ground 30 years prior, it was just a field

 

I’ve a few GPS stories as well but for the directionally impaired like myself, I consider it one of the greatest inventions of my lifetime!

I have a great body guy, little two man independent shop. After he replaced my bumper for the second time he wished me well and said “see ya next time” as I was pulling away. I hope not!

 

Hey Randy,

I did they same thing creased bumper on my Ram this week. Bumper had more damage than camper. Did you notice any damage or leaks afterward? The way the bumper luned up it did a small nick on the trim on the rounded cargo area.

Thanks

 

@Randy @Vince G ...did you guys think of a hitch extensions? Might put the trailer back another 16"-18" and prevent this.

 

It may. I have resolved to try and pay attention more. Did someone say squirrel?

 

Fact is, if you have a trailer behind your car is it innatiral and at some point, you will do something dumb. I don’t care who you are.

just be prepared to hold your head high…say Yup, I did that and hopefully allow some one to learn from your mistake…..


Now, hold my beer….I need to park our rig….

 

Some of us do not need a trailer behind us to do something dumb. It's just a natural born talent. The rest of ya have to work at it.

 

see the campers confessional. Ripped off Ac units, awnings still extended….there are lots and lots of ways to do damage!

 

Thanks for the idea, interesting.

 

Earlier this summer I poked a hole in the TV bumper cover with the TD tongue jack handle that I had used a bungee to keep from hanging down "in harms way". While trying to get turned around on a long road with no apparent roads to back into I apparently jack knifed enough to cause the damage. Besides the hole in the bumper the jack handle was bent enough that it couldn't be turned without hitting the body of the jack. In trying to straighten the handle enough to turn it, it broke off at the entry point into the jack. Cary told me that I wasn't alone in thinking that using a bungee to hold the handle up was a good idea, but he told me it was totally unnecessary, and he hadn't seen a case of a handle allowed to hang down result in a damaged handle.

I initially thought I would have to replace the jack, but decided to see if replacement handles were available. I did find that they are, and found the best price was at Home Depot : https://www.homedepot.com/p/CUgRT-Replacement-Swivel-Jack-Side-Wind-Handle-for-Side-Wind-Jacks-28923/205631685
The description said it fits CURT jacks, but mine was a Haul Master dual wheel, and it was identical. It was a pretty easy replacement. There is a roll pin that holds the handle to a gear inside the top of the jack, and it turned out the replacement roll pin was a little small, but I was able to use the old roll pin from the original handle which worked fine. No problem since, but I no longer use a bungee to hold up the handle.

 

now if Home Depot only sold bumpers...you'd be all set

 

Yes, and especially at anything close to that price!
It's a 2015 TV, with about 75-80K miles, and at some point fixing all the little dings that mysteriously (or not so mysteriously ) show up on your daily driver reaches a point of diminishing return.
The first is the worst, but after a few more, it becomes less tragic, and more "oh well" so it may be something I will be willing to just live with as the TV and I age a more & more, and develop that patina everyone likes to talk about.

 

I'm doing that with my 550, but not that long, I believe my extension only gives me an extra foot.

Still, I'll take what I can get. The shorter the trailer, the more difficult it is to back up.

Good tip.