Overnighting Hooked Up

[F350guy]

To the truck, that is. We are leaving from Colorado next Tuesday and the weather forecast is looking cold and rainy. We need to leave pretty early to get to our overnight stop at a reasonable time. There is nothing I hate more than hooking up in a cold rain, which could be frozen if the temps drop a couple of degrees more.

I'm thinking about hooking up to the truck late afternoon Monday but am concerned about the slides. I will close them to do the hook up but for us to stay in it I need to at least open the kitchen slide. Jayco says to only open and close the slides when the trailer is leveled. I'm not sure I could get it leveled when hooked to the truck but I could lower the front jacks to put the pressure on them and then lower the back jacks to stabilize it. No way do I see using auto level. Just curious if anyone else has done something like this. I can honestly say in all of our years of rv'ing we've never overnighted with our fifth wheel staying hooked to the truck.

[Learjet]

yes, I have operated my slides slightly out of level...no issues on any trailer I have owned in 20+ years of RV'n

I would ovoid WAY out of level.

[Markb5900]

We stay hooked up all the time for an overnight.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Markb5900

We stay hooked up all the time for an overnight.

X-2.

[Camper_bob]

What type of slide system is it?

If it's a Schwintek, and it's your heavy kitchen slide, I'd be careful with it. I've read of A LOT of problems with that slide system in heavy slides. We have that system in our MH, and even though it's a small slide and isn't heavy, I still hold my breath every time we move it.

Not saying I wouldn't do it, I would just be a little more hesitant. And I'd make a bit more effort to get as level as possible.

We overnighted plenty of times hooked up to the truck, but luckily we could do that without extending any slides (this was intentional when we purchased). I just tried to get it level enough so that none of us were sleeping with our heads low.

[Jagiven]

Do you carry a few boards? In the past, I have just leveled using boards and stay connected to the TV. I do disconnect my 7 pin just to ensure the TT does not drain down my TV overnight.

[RipinSC]

We do this every year on on way to Florida. I stay hooked up and put the slides out before extending any jacks. I don’t want to put any twist on the camper. Once slides are out, I extend the front and rear jacks just enough to take the bounce out of the trailer. When leaving I retract all jacks first and then close all slides.

[F350guy]

I guess I've been missing out on the convenience of staying hooked up for overnighters. The site we are in is pretty level so I think I'll be okay. Like I said the only slide I really need out is the kitchen. The slide mechanism for it is Slim Rack. Since we have auto level I don't carry any leveling blocks for the wheels.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

I do disconnect my 7 pin just to ensure the TT does not drain down my TV overnight.

That shouldn't happen unless you're boon docking, the converter is supplying power to the 7 pin hot lead.

[RogerR]

If you drop the tongue jack to level the RV it takes weight off the tow vehicle and provides more trailer stability.

And that is exactly the same as taking it off the ball.
We camp at Cabelas, restaurants and casinos when allowed. Much faster, no check in or out when traveling. Never had a problem.

[Rodney27405]

Originally Posted by F350guy

To the truck, that is. We are leaving from Colorado next Tuesday and the weather forecast is looking cold and rainy. We need to leave pretty early to get to our overnight stop at a reasonable time. There is nothing I hate more than hooking up in a cold rain, which could be frozen if the temps drop a couple of degrees more.

I'm thinking about hooking up to the truck late afternoon Monday but am concerned about the slides. I will close them to do the hook up but for us to stay in it I need to at least open the kitchen slide. Jayco says to only open and close the slides when the trailer is leveled. I'm not sure I could get it leveled when hooked to the truck but I could lower the front jacks to put the pressure on them and then lower the back jacks to stabilize it. No way do I see using auto level. Just curious if anyone else has done something like this. I can honestly say in all of our years of rv'ing we've never overnighted with our fifth wheel staying hooked to the truck.

We usually stay hooked up for overnights but do almost the opposite of what you are suggesting. Drop the rear jacks and level the trailer as much as possible then drop the front to stabilize and just take a bit of the weight off of the truck. Ours rides a little nose high though so this might make a difference but we are usually able to get pretty level this way and have no issue with using the slides

[F350guy]

Originally Posted by Rodney27405

We usually stay hooked up for overnights but do almost the opposite of what you are suggesting. Drop the rear jacks and level the trailer as much as possible then drop the front to stabilize and just take a bit of the weight off of the truck. Ours rides a little nose high though so this might make a difference but we are usually able to get pretty level this way and have no issue with using the slides

I think that is a better idea than mine as we also sit just barely nose high. I have a level gauge in the wet bat where the jacks controller is so I will know how it it is sitting.

[Randyman69357]

One question I have is the bedroom slide able to be used in the in position? I’ve read on some forums where you’re not to use the bed If the slide is not extended. Does anybody know if the Pinnacle bedroom slide can be used while retracted?

[Lowmiler]

Just don’t set your tow vehicle alarm. Any shaking from your coach will set it off. Guess how I found that out.

If this coach is a rock’n, don’t come a knock’n… even if my alarm is blaring.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Randyman69357

One question I have is the bedroom slide able to be used in the in position? I’ve read on some forums where you’re not to use the bed If the slide is not extended. Does anybody know if the Pinnacle bedroom slide can be used while retracted?

Don't know about your specific camper, but that's likely recommended because there's no support under the foot end of the bed platform when the slide is in.

Ours is like that, so we're just careful to avoid putting all our weight on the end of the bed when the slide is in. It takes some mindfulness because I have to crawl over to my side of the bed in that situation, but we've never had a problem with it.

For OP, is it strictly necessary to bring out the kitchen slide on an overnight stopover? Are you cooking? Do you need access to the fridge?

I only ask because when we stop to overnight, we're usually just there to sleep for a few hours before moving on. We have access to everything with slides in, so we've been known to brew some coffee or whip up a quick breakfast. But if we couldn't do that, we'd just patronize a nearby establishment for coffee/breakfast.

[F350guy]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

Don't know about your specific camper, but that's likely recommended because there's no support under the foot end of the bed platform when the slide is in.

Ours is like that, so we're just careful to avoid putting all our weight on the end of the bed when the slide is in. It takes some mindfulness because I have to crawl over to my side of the bed in that situation, but we've never had a problem with it.

For OP, is it strictly necessary to bring out the kitchen slide on an overnight stopover? Are you cooking? Do you need access to the fridge?

I only ask because when we stop to overnight, we're usually just there to sleep for a few hours before moving on. We have access to everything with slides in, so we've been known to brew some coffee or whip up a quick breakfast. But if we couldn't do that, we'd just patronize a nearby establishment for coffee/breakfast.

We can access the bed, the bathroom and the fridge. We will eat breakfast and make coffee so will have some cleanup to do. We can't access the kitchen sink. I guess we could use the bathroom sink. Something to think about. I hadn't thought about the bed not being supported on the foot end. Something to remember as we'll be hooked up for 2 nights before we get home.

[Learjet]

pretty sure the pinnacle beds have rollers at the foot, but are they mounted to the floor or bed? hmmmm

[mlumia]

I would be super careful about opening slides if not level. For front to back leveling I simply unhitch from the ball BUT not move the truck if we only have to raise the front. If we have to lower the front I move just enough forward so that we clear the ball. I disconnect the 7-pin and that's it. In the morning it is super easy to reconnect.

[Randyman69357]

I’ve emailed the mothership about this sleeping in the bed in and of course have heard nothing, just about like when you have a warranty claim. I will let everyone know if they do get back to me.

[ceschwartz]

I never had any problem opening slide’s when hooked to truck. Definitely not doing just to spend nite to leave early in the morning.