Use it, Don't abuse it.

[gordon]

Re: Use it, Don\'t abuse it.

Now picture this in your mind a person can buy a 40ft diesel pusher with air brakes(R/V) and not need a C.D.L. because it's a personal vehicle. But if it were a commerial truck the same size the driver would need a C.D.L..
The average r/v owner has not a clue how the chasis systems work. All they have to have is the money to buy it same goes with tractors I guess.
Gordon

 

[Bird]

Re: Use it, Don\'t abuse it.

Gordon, in my years of RVing, I saw many hilarious incidents with RV owners who couldn't drive. Unfortunately, I'm afraid you're right; the "average" RV owner not only doesn't have a clue as to how the chassis systems work, he also doesn't know how to drive anything bigger than a car, especially if he has to use that reverse gear. I couldn't count the times I've gone into RV parks and found an apologetic owner whose "pull through" sites were all taken, and who was amazed that I didn't care whether I had a "pull through" or "back in" site.

Bird

 

[W5FL]

Re: Use it, Don\'t abuse it.

Bird,

I spent several years with a really nice 20 foot travel trailer.

No where in the instruction manual did it say what to do when in downtown Cheyenne, if a piece of tire laying in the road trips the holding tank dump lever......

 

[W5FL]

Re: Use it, Don\'t abuse it.

Bird,

Oh, I forgot that the roof of the travel trailer was one inches taller than the sign that said Columbian Ice Fields. Learned how to use fiberglass resin that summer.

Seems like the tuition sure is high for all this experience. Bet the tuition has been high for a lot of the tractor experiences, too. At least I haven't swung a cement mixer into the tractor grill but once, and I made sure my Kubota had a heavy duty grill guard. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: Use it, Don\'t abuse it.

Wen, I've never seen a manual without something important like that left out. I think the proper procedure is to speed up and hope no one was looking./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I was usually very careful about overhead clearance with my RVs, but my first one (slide-in pickup camper) did take out a florescent light fixture under the canopy of a brand new Dairy Queen once (and I had to put the refrigerator vent cover back on the camper afterwards), and I learned how to patch rubber roofs when a limb tore a little spot on my 5th wheel.

As I've read, there's no substitute for good judgment, much of which comes from experiences that were the result of bad judgment./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

 

[gordon]

Re: Use it, Don\'t abuse it.

It's scary to think about isn't it--alot of peoples driving skills!!! At work we have a pad where people spend the night before getting work done or when they first buy a unit from us as well. Its in the corner of the lot a straight back in and my garage bay is only 100 ft away. I'm sorry to say this but at times I can't even go out and help because I'm laughing so hard---The other left--stop--can't you see me are some of the yelling that goes on. But once I do get a straight face and go out you should see the relief once I say want me to back it on there for you.
Some of these people are full timers who put alot of miles on their units and have no clue on how to back up. There have been some wrecks as well backing onto the pad and some people will swear up and down that they didn't hit the other unit.
Gordon

 

[gordon]

Re: Use it, Don\'t abuse it.

As they say live and learn!!!!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Use it, Don\'t abuse it.

Gordon, don't get me started on "backing up" Muhammad will kick me off for too much bandwith!

A development in town was creating a lot of dirt piles, I asked and they offered to deliver it since I was pretty close for cheap. Good dirt

They bought 200 yards or so, found out in illegal 14 yard dumptrucks "Canadian" I think the guy said.

I specifically told the guy where to drive the truck (in the other trucks tracks) so when he backed in he'd be on good ground and could dump safely.

He proceeds to backup a different way, WAY OFF the other guys tracks. I'm yelling, he's waving, backs up right over where I had dug out a big stump and backfilled it and compacted (NOT) with my 5000 lb Ford which is NOTHING.

His right rear tire went down I swear to the hardpan 4 feet down, the left front came off the ground. The guy thought he could get out if he dumped the load. I'd seen this before with a tilted truck, you lift the bed and the truck tips over. No thanks he was 20 feet from the building.

Gave the guy a ride back to town (not saying anything) his buddy the job site manager (who was renting the equipment I found out later) drove a big rubber tired loader out. Huge thing...to pull the dumptruck out. Pulled it out and in the process in smoothing out the mess a little. Started backing up...kind of fast and not looking... The dump truck was sitting in the way, no driver in it. I suppose I could have yelled but it hadn't helped before so I just watched.

KA-WHAM!

Then he offered to bring the loader back after work and help move the dirt around!

Ah, no thanks I want to do it with my tractor 1/4 yard at a time!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[GaryK]

Re: Use it, Don\'t abuse it.

The way I figure it, if the back wheels come off the ground or the tractor stops dead, It must be at its limit........

 

[W5FL]

Re: Use it, Don\'t abuse it.

Yeah, or not properly configured (ballasted).