To unhook or not on one night stays

[dlenloe]

Any opinions about remaining hitched to TV when staying one night at a campsite during a longer trip to main destination.

[AlinCal]

Originally Posted by dlenloe

Any opinions about remaining hitched to TV when staying one night at a campsite during a longer trip to main destination.

Why not? If you can get level while hooked up and you don't need to go get groceries or bait why bother unhitching? You can unplug the umbilical if your worried about drawing down the TV battery.

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by dlenloe

Any opinions about remaining hitched to TV when staying one night at a campsite during a longer trip to main destination.

What is your concern? I do it all the time, especially since if I'm just crashing for the night, I use free places like truck or rest stops, Walmart, Cracker Barrel, etc.

Some people like to lower stabilizers or at least the front hitch jack to firm things up a bit but I never even bother with that. One more thing to remember to check before leaving in the am that can really cause some damage if forgotten.

[dlenloe]

That is my opinion as well, but since we are new at this just wanted to be sure I wasn't off in left field. 🤔

[Lily&Me]

It's your trailer, so as long as you're not hurting anyone else you can do whatever works best for you.


Maggie

[xrvr]

Since we usually travel with mostly empty waste tanks and half fresh water tank, I most of the time just hook up electric, unplug the truck and relax.

[kfrere]

When we picked up our trailer we were newbies and too unsure of our skills to hitch and unhitch on the way home. So, we took three nights to get back to East Tennessee from Denver, CO and stayed hitched the entire time. Worked out fine.

[m.hony]

I leave the truck 'n' trailer coupled together for 1 night stays.
I also leave them coupled together at home in storage waiting for the next weekend or rally.
I might even leave them coupled together for several nights in a campground if I don't need to go anywhere.

[John Geisen]

I unhook as little as possible. Sometimes, I put down the stabilizers just to keep us from swaying but that and unhooking the umbilical cord is the most I do.

[Amsterdamer]

If you want to be level, you'll need a site that is lower at the trailer tongue and not by much, as your jack is not rated to lift the weight of your tow vehicle.

When I go for a quick trip, I try to get a spot that is a little higher in the back. I'll release the ball if I can't level without lifting the truck, but leave the truck in place to I can just drop it down on the ball again when it's time to leave.

[McMillers]

We often stay one night at places on the road also, our concern with our FB, 2016, FC/Twin is the tounge weight when we're sleeping.

[pappy19]

Not enough to worry with or just run your Jack up and take the weight off your TV. That will probably level it up anyway. On one-nighters, I never unhook and just plug in electricity only unless I am dumping.

[VT Wanderer]

I think it depends on the length available of where you're parking for the night. Some campgrounds may have shorter sites so that tells you about that. On the road we stay in many WalMarts, Cracker Barrels, etc., and have never detached. You don't want to appear that you're actually camping.

[Sisu]

We typically don't unhook for 1-2 night stays unless we have a specific need or the site is not long enough.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by McMillers

We often stay one night at places on the road also, our concern with our FB, 2016, FC/Twin is the tounge weight when we're sleeping.

Doubt if the added weight of you sleeping near the hitch will cause any damage to the hitch! Tow vehicle tongue weight limits have mostly to do with dynamic loads while the rig is in motion IMO, not with static loads. When your rig is in motion the actual loads on the hitch ball, in severe up and down road action, probably exceed one ton IMO.

[BScott]

This helps us also. We are heading to Seattle from Tucson on 5 May. We want to take our time but have to be there by 15 May. We ant to leave our Airstream at Fort Lewis and fly to Alaska for a 7 day land tour then 7 day cruise down to Vancouver. We will spend a few days in Vancouver then take the train down to Seattle. This will be our first trip since my cancer treatments ended last year...

[m.hony]

As long as weight distribution is hooked up I don't imagine it's hurting the tow vehicle.
Mine's been hooked up for 6 years and doesn't seem to matter.
I unhook occasionally at home if I need the truck.
I unhook at campgrounds if I need to go somewhere.

[Ted S.]

My rule is never unhitch or hookup unless you have too.

[banderabob]

If I have shore power to hook to, I stay connected totally. If no shore power, I stay hitched but disconnect the electrical from the TV.

[m.hony]

On my Toyota the trailer plug is dead when I turn the ignition switch off.
I never even unplug the umbilical unless I unhook.