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TexasVine · 06-03-2021, 09:45 AM

Does anyone pull in a camp site for a night and not disconnect from the TV (hitch) ? Seems like if the trailer was balanced it would be okay. Or....would the weight on the tongue be bad for the truck suspension for 12-24 hours. I have a 27ft (2 axle) International and using a Blue Ox Sway Pro.

Thanks.

Mike

RivetED · 06-03-2021, 09:51 AM

I do it all the time, on single overnight stops, as long as I can get the trailer level or at least leaning forward a little. Rear N/S beds, heads at the back. If necessary I'll use the jack to raise the nose being careful to not raise the TV too much. Rarely I've had to uncouple the ball but will not move anything, off in the AM with minimal time hooking up.

**azflycaster** · 06-03-2021, 09:57 AM

We do it all the time when just spending a single night at a location. I will use the jack to level the trailer and provide a extra level of stability. If the front is too high to begin with, I sometimes loosen the WD bars.

JohnandDonna · 06-03-2021, 10:51 AM

For a single night it does not make sense to unhitch. I first level the trailer side to side (I have the Anderson's). Then put the front jack down so that the weight is taken off the truck. Unplug the 7 pin and put down the stabilizers. If I have hookups I attach them. Quick and simple.

Cyclist · 06-03-2021, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnandDonna

For a single night it does not make sense to unhitch. I first level the trailer side to side (I have the Anderson's). Then put the front jack down so that the weight is taken off the truck. Unplug the 7 pin and put down the stabilizers. If I have hookups I attach them. Quick and simple.

Same here although we may not put the stabilizers down for a quick overnight stop.

thewarden · 06-03-2021, 12:35 PM

I do this all the time as well. That extra 300 or so extra pounds on the front of the trailer is not going to hurt a thing. If you are worried about it just put down your tongue jack.

mikeinca · 06-03-2021, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnandDonna

For a single night it does not make sense to unhitch. I first level the trailer side to side (I have the Anderson's). Then put the front jack down so that the weight is taken off the truck. Unplug the 7 pin and put down the stabilizers. If I have hookups I attach them. Quick and simple.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclist

Same here although we may not put the stabilizers down for a quick overnight stop.

Ditto.

LNBright · 06-03-2021, 01:20 PM

Our next trip, leaving next week, first four nights will be at different locations, the first two nights and the fourth night, I doubt we'll disconnect. (Third night, we should arrive early, want to explore there that afternoon, then might even hook back up so that we can depart early.) At least for mine, when my trailer is level, it's about at level w/ the ball: I can safely level the trailer with the TV connected, not doing anything weird to the pickup's suspension, etc.

Goin camping · 06-03-2021, 04:07 PM

Only disconnect when I have too. Very rarely.

Mollysdad · 06-03-2021, 04:48 PM

I never disconnect for an overnight. I will place my block under the jack foot and usually it needs raising. That helps stabilize the trailer too.
Now, I also pull the seven way, but I'm not convinced it does anything.

Dan and Liz · 06-03-2021, 05:20 PM

Depends: if we need to go somewhere in the TV, I unhitch. If not — not.

**Hans627** · 06-03-2021, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan and Liz

Depends: if we need to go somewhere in the TV, I unhitch. If not — not.

Ditto!

**jcanavera** · 06-03-2021, 05:29 PM

Yep I never unhitch on an overnight. I will adjust the hitch jack to level the trailer even if it has to do some lifting (within reason) of the TV. One of the reason's I appreciate the 5,000 lb capacity of my Husky Super Brute jack.

One habit which goes all the way back to my beginnings is the pulling of the trailer's power connection with the tow vehicle. It stems back to the old tow vehicles I owned where that connection with the tow vehicle was live, even with the ignition turned off. There was fear of having your electrical hookup from campground power feeding back into the tow vehicle, or if you didn't have campground power, exhausting your tow vehicle battery overnight. Still do it today even though I know better.

Jack

pteck · 06-03-2021, 05:31 PM

I do it all the time too. Really helps that my TV has hydraulic suspension allowing it to lower 2" or raise 3" from normal ride height. I can just about always get the trailer level without unhitching.

uncle_bob · 06-03-2021, 07:01 PM

Hi

If we can, we don't unhitch anything. The truck kills the power to the 7 wire so we even leave that plugged in. I don't drop the jack, I don't play with leveling. We park and go to bed.

Next day, walking the dogs takes longer than the rest of the "pack and go". It saves a *lot* of time that could better be spent elsewhere ....

Bob

Bubba L · 06-03-2021, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcanavera

Yep I never unhitch on an overnight. I will adjust the hitch jack to level the trailer even if it has to do some lifting (within reason) of the TV. One of the reason's I appreciate the 5,000 lb capacity of my Husky Super Brute jack.

One habit which goes all the way back to my beginnings is the pulling of the trailer's power connection with the tow vehicle. It stems back to the old tow vehicles I owned where that connection with the tow vehicle was live, even with the ignition turned off. There was fear of having your electrical hookup from campground power feeding back into the tow vehicle, or if you didn't have campground power, exhausting your tow vehicle battery overnight. Still do it today even though I know better.

Jack

That’s exactly what we do. Don’t want to wake up with a dead TV battery.

21Airstream · 06-03-2021, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubba L

That’s exactly what we do. Don’t want to wake up with a dead TV battery.

Anything made by man can fail so I unplug at night for this reason. It takes more time to talk about it than it takes to do it so it’s hardly an inconvenience.

WhereStream · 06-03-2021, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 21Airstream

Anything made by man can fail so I unplug at night for this reason. It takes more time to talk about it than it takes to do it so it’s hardly an inconvenience.

I once left the 7-pin plugged in and it killed my 2004 Suburban’s battery.

My new Expedition may know better, or may not ... so I unplug, out of habit and caution.

LNBright · 06-03-2021, 08:02 PM

When my AS is plugged into my Sierra, every so often my taillights blink, as part of the security system that lets you know if it’s been unplugged. So, if I am parked overnight for camping, I’d go ahead and unplug.

JonDNC · 06-03-2021, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

If we can, we don't unhitch anything. The truck kills the power to the 7 wire so we even leave that plugged in. I don't drop the jack, I don't play with leveling. We park and go to bed.

Next day, walking the dogs takes longer than the rest of the "pack and go". It saves a *lot* of time that could better be spent elsewhere ....

Bob

This