RV Hitch Hack Saved Our Travel Day to Hilton Head National RV Resort [What a

Greetings Concrete Campers,
Welcome back to another episode, where we are heading out for the week to Hilton Head National RV Resort in South Carolina. In this video we run into a challenge before we even get on the road. With some quick thinking and a unrecommended method, we were able to get hooked up and begin our travel.
Thanks again for your support and we look forward to seeing you in the next video as we continue to chase the Sun, Sand and Sea in our RV.
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[@carolynrivera9745]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ enjoy

[@BackriverRebel]

Reggie, you have all the luck. Good luck telling your storage people to leave the extension down. Too often they have young guys that don't think. I also sympathize with all of the extras that you have to take ;). Upon arrival or departure, its more work but our wives must stay happy, or we can't hit the road and have a good time. However, never sacrifice safety. You must maintain maximum visibility and never exceed the load rating of your camper and truck. And let's not forget, more weight = more fuel. My Setup: 1) Level left to right and go over a little bit due to the slide-out weights. 2) disconnect truck power and connect AC shore power. 3) put the slides out and double check the L/R level. 4) Chock wheels. 5) Disconnect ball but leave chains on. 6) Level Front to Rear. 7) Add scissors chocks between the tandem wheels. 8) remove chains. And last, 9) drop stabilizers to snug. We tend to stay at the federal parks since they are cheaper. With my American the Beautiful pass I get a 50% discount. What I have found with the federal parks is that you have to do your homework. They can be tough to back into. Make sure the site is big enough for the camper - length wise and add 5'. They seldom have full hook-up as well. We just take Navy showers, eat out some, and make trips to the dump station about every 3 days with our Rhino 28-gallon portable waist tank. No Biggy - It is just part of cost to enjoy the outdoors. As mentioned, before we have the BS2608 and I tow with a Ram 3500 Bighorn, crew cab, long bed (I do love this truck). One of the features that I really like about the Bighorn is the blind spot cross path detection. I can set it out to sense vehicles and warn me if there is a vehicle in a lane that I want to move too. It can sense out to the end of the camper if I like. I like that it can seat 6 too. The interior has a heavy-duty vinyl floor and matts and no leather seats.

[@oldkoot5828]

So, long story short, you do the stablization last. Yea, pack light if you can. Yep, Federal parks area bit rough. I have never seen one with level ground. Forget full hookups and if you are over 30' it can get real ugly.

[@BackriverRebel]

@@oldkoot5828 Thanks, Yea that was a pretty long reply to Reggie. They have certainly camped more with their TT than I have. With all said, I was told not to put a massive amount of weight on the stabilizers.

[@southernethoslife]

Appreciate all the feedback John. I did have the conversation with ourbstorage facility, so far we are good. I also tapped off the pin and holes so there should be no mistake of removing it again. Safe travels. We appreciate the support.

[@BackriverRebel]

@@southernethoslife That is a smart move with the tape. Ill have to remember that.

[@carolinamudneck3090]

I do appreciate how you post your videos between the resorts, camping and the other campsites, please post more and hopefully you go to other campsites, and show others future camper

[@alleningram2032]

We have a Class A and Travel trailer. I always level and stabilize before extending the slides. I don’t think you’re supposed to move the slides first (before leveling) because the chassis could be twisted slightly and may cause the slide to go out of alignment.

[@southernethoslife]

Thank you, Allen, for the comment. Sounds like you have some solid experience with RVing. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us and our community. Happy New Year and safe travels in 2023.

[@wcraig]

What a gorgeous location to camp. Another site added to my list of places to go!😂

[@southernethoslife]

Thanks William. There is more to come in our next video. Stay tuned and we appreciate the comment and support. Stay safe and enjoy your weekend.

[@sailingbvi1]

Another great Video.

[@PraiseHimOutLoud]

Wow! This is a beautiful place to glamp in your RV! My husband and I had a class A and we always leveled the RV before letting the slides out. We sold it last year and and will purchase a 5th wheel next year after my hubby has hip replacement surgery. You guys are inspiring us! I love your decor ideas for the RV. Keep ‘‘em coming! 😊

[@southernethoslife]

Thank you for the support and your kind words. Hope all goes well with your husband's surgery and you all are able to get back out on the road soon. Have wonderful rest of the week.

[@davidhaggard6812]

I always put the tire chocks, then stabilizers down to assure the trailer is level and will not move. Once the trailer is set, the slide goes out. I have had the front hitch issue too. I used the stabilizers in the front to hold the tongue up while I adjusted the tongue jack. It worked but I was a bit apprehensive with the stabilizers holding the front.

[@southernethoslife]

Thanks David. We appreciate your comment and sharing the experience. That was my fear and didn't think it would raise the camper high enough. I guess it can go either way with when you put the stablizers down. Have a safe and wonderful weekend.

[@caryt103]

We always do stabilizers last since they are prone to damage if too much stress is put on them.

[@southernethoslife]

Got it. Thanks Cary, we appreciate your comment and feedback. Have an outstanding rest of the week.

[@BackriverRebel]

Yes, that is what I understand and do as well.

[@erickproctor1516]

Beautiful campground & site ! 👍🏿

[@southernethoslife]

Thanks Erick for the comment. We look forward to bringing you more of our experience in the next episode. Have a great.

[@dougblalock5175]

Excellent!

[@southernethoslife]

Many thanks Doug!!

[@mappingourjourney3063]

Hey Reggie, you can buy a hitch pin lock that can use your truck key to lock and unlock.

[@southernethoslife]

Thank you for the suggestion. We will look into the hitch pin. Have an awesome week and safe travels.

[@BillSferrazza]

Hey guys, I don't know if Reggie keeps a bottle jack in the trailer but that might have helped him out. I always keep a couple of blocks of 6x6 lumber and a 12 ton bottle jack in the trailer. This way if I ever need to jack something up I always have what I need with me. I always level then put the slides out then stabilize. Not sure if that's right or wrong but that just seems to work for me. That resort reminds me a lot of Carolina pines. Beautiful sites, great amenities, you almost don't need to leave. We are thinking about heading down to Hilton Head next spring. It's a long haul from New York but in April we are craving warm weather! This looks like a perfect place to spend a week! If you had a choice would you go to Hilton Head or St Augustine in April? Or maybe split the week and do a few days in each? ~Bill

[@southernethoslife]

Thanks for the bottle jack idea, we will look into potentially adding that to our gear. We still have not done Carolina Pines to compare, but it is on the list for next year. As far as St. Augustine vs HH, why not split it if you can. That way you get the best of both worlds. Safe travels and have an awesome week.

[@carolinamudneck3090]

You’re our adorable couple. I love watching y’all. We plan on getting the camper later as we watch y’all have fun please keep posting the videos and hopefully one day we’ll see you do have fun and happy Cameron love watching your videos very helpful.

[@southernethoslife]

Thank you, Carolina. We truly appreciate the support and kind words. Wishing you a Happy New Year and much ❤️.

[@mikebimages9268]

As a purely unconscious habit, I always let the slides out right after I finish hook ups (well, I slap the side of the rig 3 times as a signal to my wife to let them out🤣). I take a complete walk around outside and then I go inside to let the jacks down. There is no “rhyme or reason” for this, it’s just how it goes down (no pun intended…). That being said, I really don’t think it matters which way it’s done. It’s like debating over which way (direction) the toilet paper goes on the roller (kidding of course!). Oh, by the way, I just cannot wait to get to that resort!!! Lots of golf to play! Lots of golf!

[@southernethoslife]

Mike B!!! Thanks for weighing in on the discussion. I like your process and tend to agree there is no right or wrong, it's what works for you. Safe travels and enjoy the rest of the week.

[@anthonyk8716]

Glad it worked out! Hope y’all had a wonderful time in HHI!

[@southernethoslife]

Thanks Anthony. We will be sharing more of our experiences in thr next episode. Have a great rest of the week and be well.

[@roadtripwarriors7458]

"We have the village in our backseat" LOL! I do think the décor is top notch. Don't know why your storage facility is touching your rig?! The only ones touching our rig while it is in storage is us (although our storage facility is very well maintained and safe, we keep our hitch lock on it anyway)!!

[@southernethoslife]

👍🏾Smart move.

[@roadtripwarriors7458]

@@southernethoslife Not only that, we camp in some far out places and would hate to return to our campsite and find our rig gone! I always say, better safe than sorry.

[@byronwilliams9030]

Hello Ethos, Glad the hitch problem worked out. Thank you for sharing your trip to Hilton Head Beautiful ! We'll have to place that on our RV trip calendar. Btw love your Rockwood...... what model is that? GOD bless you two & safe travels.

[@byronwilliams9030]

Saw your other video with your Rockwood Model # 2608bs. Thanx again.

[@twoblah1]

hi, we have the exact same camper and we stabilize, level then slides out. take care susan and chuck.

[@southernethoslife]

Thanks Susan and Chuck for weighing in on the discussion. Have a great week and safe travels.

[@Kae317]

Hey! Hope you guys are well! Just had a quick question (not really related to this video but to the camper) and I'm hoping you could help! We are getting ready to take ours out for the first time (2023 but same model as yours!), in our last camper we used the long velcro straps that have the plastic buckles to loop through the cupboard handles for extra security in travel. I was able to do that in the top and bottom kitchen cupboards in the 2608bs, and the cupboards above the couch and the pantry, but the one cupboard in the kitchen next to the microwave and the bathroom cupboards and medicine cabinet I can't do that since they're by themselves and there's nothing to loop them through. Have you guys had any issues with any of those "lone cupboards" 😂 coming open during travel? Our first trip with it is in Novemeber and will be to our favorite place in the lowcountry in South Carolina and we'll be coming from Ohio so I'm hoping to avoid a big mess ....and I decorate very much like you 😂 (my husband and I were cracking up with your decor video about pillows and rugs because I also say more... and he says they're too much...but we still have a bunch sooooo.... 🤣🤣🙄)so I've secured everything I possibly can with velcro command strips, put things in bins in the cupboards and am just worried about those ones I can't secure. If you have had any issues with them opening, how do you secure them? Thanks so much!!!

[@southernethoslife]

Greetings Kae. Thanks for your comment and question. Yes Decor = More is More 😊. We have not had any issue during transit with any of our cabinets coming open. We have had her for a year now and no issues...knock on wood. Enjoy your up and coming trip and Safe Travels.

[@erickproctor1516]

Oh by the way, I bring the slide out first. Then the Stabilizers . I only have one slide out on my travel trailer, but if you have multiple slide outs you may not be able to reach them. If they are manually put down.

[@michelgariepy2521]

Bonjour! first, I would be very p*** off if someone played with the adjustements on my rig, you just do not do that. Second, I do stabilize before puting the slide out because if not the slide can play with the level of the rig. Anyway that's what I think... third, VERY nice place, never seen pad like those. thank you et bonne journée!

[@williebridges8286]

Stabilize the trailer first then pull your slides out. The reason to stabilizing first sometimes not often your trailer may move while you are pulling out your slides. Sometimes you may have to re-stabilize your trailer after doing this.

[@southernethoslife]

Well said. We appreciate your insight and comment 👍🏾. Thank you for weighing in on the discussion ❤️.

[@upwings]

You could have used the front stabilizer jacks to hold the rig up while you repositioned the jack higher

[@southernethoslife]

Thanks Upwings. Appreciate the comment and suggestion. Just worried about my stabilizers and causing damage but in a pinch that might be another move to make. Have a safe and wonderful weekend.

[@oldkoot5828]

I would not suggest that. They are kind of punny. That hitch should have around 800 lbs on it. Stablization is for stablization.

[@fuzion430journey3]

Why didn’t you just put the front stabilizers out let the jack up and drop the thing a couple of pin holes

[@southernethoslife]

I keep hearing this advice from you all. I was worried about causing more harm than good. But it seems to be the favored suggestion. Thanks for the comment and have a wonderful and safe weekend.

[@BackriverRebel]

Bad idea as per MFG.

[@fuzion430journey3]

@@BackriverRebel it’s fine for the 30 secs it take u to move the pin

[@fuzion430journey3]

You’re not using it to raise the RV just take the weight for a second

[@BackriverRebel]

@@fuzion430journey3 it could be as much as 1,000 lbs. Personally, I would not recommend it. The stabilization jacks are electric and therefore expensive. An investment in a bottle jack and 4x4 timber might be wiser.

[@andrewhughes1920]

Maybe you tried this but didn’t show it. When I find myself in a situation like that, I just get on the tailgate to drop the truck an inch or two. I’ve been known to bounce it and have my lady back it while bouncing. Just food for thought

[@southernethoslife]

Wow..that's a gutsy move there Andrew 😊. Appreciate the thought and no we didn't try that one. Hope you have a great rest of the week and safe travels.

[@sheldondurant3627]

Stabilize then let out the slide last.

[@southernethoslife]

Agreed 👍🏾. Thanks for weighing in Sheldon.

[@philaustin7303]

Hey brother I’m married too

[@southernethoslife]

🤣👍🏾😁