How hard is it to open and close?

Flaps

We did that one time also. But only once, we learned our lesson as well, if the beds won't slide in no force necessary, there is a reason...just got to find it!
 
I was feeling good today. Everything went smooth closing up the trailer. The tops clicked shut then.......the steps.....and they don't fold in with the camper closed.:new_cussi:new_cussi


It did seem to tickle SWMBO.

Oh well, live and learn.
 
Oh, Drews!! LOL!! We have all done it once or even twice!! But, the more you do it, the more you get into the habit of a mental checklist and soon it is just routine!

But, yes, know the frustration of forgetting something. DH closed down just last week and forgot the steps!!! LOL!! Lucky for him, we weren't breaking camp. Just closing the TM down while it sits in the driveway!!

Karen
 
Don't ask how I know all of these:
- Remove and store the hanging cabinet before closing the rear shell.
- Lower the TV antenna before closing the front shell.
- Lift the flaps and secure with velcro before pushing the front slide in.
- Unlatch the cabinet slide bolts before pushing the front slide in.
- Unlatch the cabinet slide bolt before attempting to fold the rear bathroom wall.
- Remove all of the over the wall/door clips before folding the bath wall and sliding the rear bed in.
- Fold the lower door into the travel position before lowering the rear shell.
- Make sure the lower door is latched in the travel position before lowering the rear shell. The dinette light in the 3326 will land on the door.
- Fold the steps into the travel position before lowering the top shells.
- Close and latch the exterior water heater door before closing the rear shell.
- Remove the right angle strain relief from the city water connection before closing the rear shell.
- Open all 4 latches before attempting to rise the front shell.
- & the only one the dealer warned me about that I have not done. Don't leave a coke can on the counter top when closing the TM.
 
One more. Make sure the 4 corner hold down latches have both pieces close together and all the way in the open position before closing. If left in the half open position ( hard to describe),, they will catch between the TM body and the upper shell support arm and scratch the body.
 
one more

I'll chip in the 90 degree elbow on the city water inlet...stops the rear shell very nicely. The elbow now stays on the hose when we have hook ups so I don't make that mistake again.
 
CAmark said:
I'll chip in the 90 degree elbow on the city water inlet...stops the rear shell very nicely. The elbow now stays on the hose when we have hook ups so I don't make that mistake again.
Click to expand...

I read about this happening to someone in a previous thread and it actually ripped up the inside wall of the upper shell. I was so afraid of doing this that I used a couple of wrenches to tighten up the hose to the elbow so it can no longer be separated by hand.
 
I find that pushing the support arms in a little helps.

I also find that pulling them out during setup helps.
 
CAmark said:
I'll chip in the 90 degree elbow on the city water inlet...stops the rear shell very nicely. The elbow now stays on the hose when we have hook ups so I don't make that mistake again.
Click to expand...

Tuscany Bandit said:
90 Degree elbow....been there done that!
Click to expand...
My solution was to abandon the elbow completely. I route the hose behind both center shell supports, through the rear shell foot saddle and then connect it to the city water inlet. No hose kinking and no strain on the city water inlet fitting.
 
For the corner latches, they should all be positioned with the handles towards the center of the camper before closing. I've not broken one yet, but I have a spare for when I do try bending them back and they break...not that I would ever do that...

I've shut down a couple of times with the roof vents open. I like to think I'm giving the camping neighbors some enjoyable entertainment as they watch me repeatedly store and expand the camper. :)
 
When we bought our TM we were not really looking at the cost of the camper as much as the cost of the good times. We got a bargain
 
mjlaupp said:
My solution was to abandon the elbow completely. I route the hose behind both center shell supports, through the rear shell foot saddle and then connect it to the city water inlet. No hose kinking and no strain on the city water inlet fitting.
Click to expand...

Very cool idea! We may try this.
 
countrygirl said:
Very cool idea! We may try this.
Click to expand...

Agree with mjlaupp, best way to do it! -- have been using this method since we got the TM. I've always felt the water connection is too flimsy to support the water hose by itself. Bothered me on our previous trailer as we had the same connection on it but did not have the handy stirrup to route the hose through.

Tim
 
We just got back from another Texas trip. We have made 3 trips with our TM to date for about 1700 miles.

This is the best towing trailer I've ever owned. It doesn't pull, rattle, sway or cause any problems. Plus it's very easy to back up compared to my other RVs.

We will be going to Florida in a few more weeks. I'm looking forward to another comfortable trip.

There is a small learning curve but yes, it s a breeze to set up and take down.
 
I was just reviewing this thread and remembered a minor point.

Several people have mentioned that when you are closing, you just step in the loop and the shell comes down and latches. Well, maybe. On my 2002 TM, the loop was too narrow to get my fat foot into. I could just barely get my toe in, and sometimes it would slip out. We talked about this problem on the forum, and voila, TM started using a wider loop! By the time I got my 2006 TM, the change had been made. Yes, TM reads this forum.

This is just a minor point, but if your TM has a too-narrow foot loop, and it annoys you, it is easy to remove the loops, get wider ones at a hardware store, drill one new hole at each loop, and install the bigger one.

Just a random memory. I do that more and more as I get older.

Bill
 
Someone has mentioned that they use a ratchet mechanism of some sort. They have a minor disability and closing is a bit of a problem.

It could probably be found with a search of the archives. It was posted some time after 2005.
 
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