1. Unload the motorcycle out of the back of the camper to increase pin weight. 2. If you are hauling water in the rear tanks, dump it. 3. Reduce the air pressure in the rear truck tires. 4. If you have a piece of chain, z fold it in front of the tire. 5. Purchase some tire chains or strap on anti slip device. You were so close getting up the hill.
I think you have the best overall idea here Wayne. Get rid of some of that weight. Pictures do not do it justice, but it seems like they are going up quite a hill here.
I was thinking all the same things. Additionally, more speed and stay farther to outside of the turn to keep from dropping the trailer tires off the roadway as much/at all.
I like to take the traction control off so I have torque going to both wheels and I'm not getting the back and forth side to side torque fighting the computer. Just find when the traction control is on it prevents me from that little extra torque I need at times. Just my opinion. Seems to work for me in the snow anyways. Seems when the traction control is engaged I can't put my foot into it to keep my momentum going in slippery conditions. I think you mentioned your drivers side wasn't spinning so that kinda tells me also that your rears wern't locked up and your traction control was engaged so no torque going to that wheel at all plus what @waynehall mentioned but hey it happens. We have all been there I'm sure. Your 4 low would be good for a crawl , low end torque and feathering the throttle.
It's a small thing no worries. As an off road guy would have unloaded the bike, dumped the water to lighten the trailer as much possible while increasing the pin weight. Lowered tire pressure on the 450 to get a wider contact patch, disabled active handling and sent it. You got it done safely so it's all good. There is more than one way to get there. All's well that ends well.
All the suggestions are really good on here. Your unit will put you in that ditch every time.... my suggestion.... cary 2x6x8 with you or widen that inside curve. I say thus because the drop FORCED THE FIFTH WHEEL TO TAG YOUR TRUCK BOX......regardless of all the great suggestions .... that degree drop into the ditch forced the weight to redirect. Even with new tires. ... you could damage the unit and your truck. Widen the corner grade... has to be level. Also removing the bike from the cargo before attempting that hill a good call.
Tons of good suggestions provided by others. Ive got a long very steep gravel driveway and many hills on my property. I added a 16.5k winch on the front of my 3500 and it’s saved my bacon quite a few times… saved other folks’ bacon even more often. It’s one of things that you rarely use, but when you do need it, man, it’s so great to have.
Haven't read prior posts but you should have lowered the tire pressure to 20-30 lbs. You would have much better traction in loose gravel and climbing a hill. Best wishes always! Ken & Deb
Chances are that , since these tires are rated for around 100 psi, without bead lockers the tires would likely roll off the rims at pressures that you suggested.
Yep the heavy road bike in the back was like dragging dead weight. Would've made all the difference to unloaded it and let 30 psi out of the tires.@@kristinaschmit8009
Id try 50 and lower it from there. These are probably 80-90 psi tires and you don't want to go too too low with those. but yes this is exactly what i was thinking would be worth a try.
Your tires are fine. You have way to much weight to do that. Your not a jeep with a small trailer. Your approach is from the road surface. Perhaps just paving the real bad section to establish good traction. Just a thought.
I love that this couple is taking a bite out of life and seem to really enjoy each other and the comforts of life. Of course there's a cost in taking all those comforts with us and this anxiety and stress is part of hauling such. Their cabin is absolutely amazing in itself.
If you ever need a little more traction, you can try airing down your truck's tires a little bit. It gives you more tire/ground contact surface. We usually maintain higher PSI for towing stability but in this case letting out 15-20 lbs PSI might have worked. 4 Low was the right choice too.
Just going to reply with the same thing. I would have taken those tires down to 40 PSI. I was also thinking - What could I do to increase the pin weight? like taking the Motorcycle out, draining water if the tank is in the rear.
Chad, you’ve got the best wife. Every time I watch your videos I’m left wishing my wife was as calm and supportive as yours. We get into situations like this from time to time and she stresses and attempts to control the situation rather than just staying calm and supportive. So it’s very hard. Lastly, next time try lowering the tire pressure in all tires to get a better footprint. Locking the rearend would definitely help. Glad you guys got up the hill without screaming at each other. Great job!!
Almost everyone has a nightmare towing story. I'm glad you didn't break anything! You guys are very cautious in everything you do, so this can happen to anyone!
Y’all did great. Thank you for keeping in Chad saying he was gathering his nerves and the part about Tara worrying at us so she wasn’t distracting Chad. Those are both such amazing bits of strong mental health (for both of you) and partnership right there. I am sad this happened to y’all but glad it worked out ok. Couldn’t love this video more. ❤
Chad & Tara, So amazing that you chose to share your experience in the most vulnerable place of your RV Life. We have all been in that stress zone, some of us more than we would admit. To see Chad stressed, was so unusual, but to see him so calm as he is stressed, unbelievable. Yelling and cussing and losing our tempers would be more the norm. Total respect and admiration for your sharing of something you never had to share. Thank you for making us more calm knowing we are not alone.
Just a suggestion, go to the local road department and find and old guy that has maintained roads in the area for a lot of years. He can probably tell you just what combination of materials you need, where to get them and how to apply them. Worked for me!
Chad, where you said something like, “that’s not helpful,” I probably would have said STFU. Clearly, you’re the better man, although that bar isn’t set especially high. 😀
^^^ Love the idea of getting some local 'old guy advice'. Another possible technique is to make some 'dirtcrete'. I had a spot with too loose gravel. So I mixed cement into the gravel & sand. (no organics) Add water and you have a very solid surface, not engineered but a huge step up!
Very professionally done. Never ever did I feel as reserved as you when I have been in a tight situation like yours. This was very G rated and understandably edited perfectly. Thanks for sharing what I think a lot of people are looking for in videos from RVers like you two.
Using 4x4 Low was the right choice since it lowers your gearing and also disables the traction control and stability control temporarily to allow some wheel spin. Also, make sure your front auto-locking hubs are in fact engaging. Ford uses vacuum actuated hubs that some times develop leaks and won't allow the hubs to engage when 4x4 is selected. If this happens, you can manually lock the hubs using the selectors at the front wheels. You can test the auto hubs by jacking both front wheels of the ground, and with the engine off/ignition on, select 4x4 high to see if the hubs engaged by spinning the front wheels. Then also lock them manually to verify they are locking this way.
Yessiree, its always a good idea to lock your hubs manually just to remove any doubt the vacuum design doesn't do what its supposed to when it time of need. I'd have that vacuum engagement serviced and inspected more often just to be sure it is always going to work.
@@ChangingLanes I have a Chevy DRW, it like almost every diesel truck they make has the G80 option for auto locking differential. Since one tire has to spin to get the locker to engage I don't think it works very well when traction control is on. I live in an area with significant snow, and while Traction control is great to prevent fishtailing with no weight in the back, I've learned if the truck struggling at all in snow or soft soil turning off traction lets me drive right through
Towing a 25” Rockwood Mini Lite so I had to like and subscribe. You two are amazing. Do not know how you do it. So glad you have good help in that, seems like, remote place. God bless you both!
OMG! So glad you got thru that! Love your videos. It is good that you post the bad things that happen so that people know it isn't all sunshine and lollipops. You guys are amazing!
I feel for what you both experienced, as I'm encountered same issue on .6 mile gravel road which also has curves going uphill to our cabin. I ended up bringing in 8 dump trucks of red clay, then topped off with gravel as my base over the years became less secure. While I have the Denali 3500 Diesel, I continue to learn the importance of having the right tires and regular use of my tractor with box blade for maintenance. Thank you for sharing this experience, but most importantly supporting each other in this stressful situation.
I felt the stress coming through on the screen and reminds me of our “close calls” we have had in RV life. I think the most important decision was when you realized you needed help. Knowing your limits is so important. Been watching your channel for years. Your technical and analytical approach to problems is why I keep watching. I’m glad you overcame the problem(s).
Wow! You know it's bad when Chad stresses and calls for help. Great teamwork. I hope my husband and I can stay as calm in the mayhem as you two. Safe travels!
Watching your videos with my wife and dog is always a joy! So glad you were able to share your experience and inspire others. Keep shining your light! rhymtimesthought
Reminds me of a camp spot in Alabama. We'll be returning to the most gorgeous view of Talladega, but the signage uphill is terrifying. "Keep going & don't stop" "Don't slow down" and it's all gravel, uphill the entire way. Thanks for sharing ~
Like others have said, there are some good suggestions in the comments. That said, if I’d bought a ~$90,000 F450 I’d read the owner’s manual and know how to lock the hubs (you can’t manually lock the rear hubs, only the fronts) and whether to be in 4-low or 4-high. When you’re going slow and need the torque, use 4-low. By the way, being in 4-low or 4-high doesn’t affect how much “power” you have from the engine, just the way it’s being applied to the wheels/tires.
I was rooting for you Chad you seem to get out of difficult situations a lot. You had to call for reinforcements this time but that is ok, sometimes we all need a little help. Keep up the great videos, I love them. :)
Just a few things from an old construction guy, learned to drive 6 wheelers,semis,triaxle dumps when i was pretty young. The guys that taught me always said keep your speed up when offroad or goung up hill. I learned on sand and soft dirt roads and without enough speed its hard to keep momentum up.. Asphalt grinding are usually pretty cheap, sometimes free other than trucking if you can find it close to your area. Summer heat will help it bind together, but every time you pull through that curv the trailer will want to tear it loose. Best bet would be to pave at least the curve to allow you to keep your speed up. Lock in 4x4 every time you're pulling the hill with the camper,helps you keep up your speed,and again you're forward momentum.
That "keep the speed" advice in this case would be #1, I agree. I would use 4x4 lock low range every time just because of the added torque and control I would have with the accelerator known as "feather" the gas pedal to maintain enough speed to overcome the loss of traction. I learned all that 55 years ago and it does make a difference. Had the road been paved, none of this is needed.
@@Garth2011 Totally agree with you. When we both learned i bet most class 8 trucks were not more than 300 hp,if that. There were alot out there that were diesels with no turbo, or Detroit 238 with blowers. Now pickups trucks are at 500hp. Learning how to feather the throttle doesn't come easy unless you do it day in,day out. And not normally on pavement, but offroad in the dirt.
Nice that you guys worked as a team and kept the truck from getting damaged. Next time this happens you will have experience and skill you didn't have before. Good Job and thanks for taking the time and effort to film your situation in real time.
Here is a tip since you have a limited slip rear end. Engage the parking brake a few clicks and that will fool the LS so that both wheels will continue to turn when the LS would otherwise slip. You'll get a little more traction. Not as much as if you did it with an open diff, but it may have helped just enough.
Wow. My wife and I have been full time since 2019 and have been in two scary spots pulling our 35 foot 5th wheel. My stomach was in knots for you watching your situation and being reminded of our own. We just recently upgraded to a 40 1/2 foot 5th wheel and am just a little bit nervous about our travel season coming up. Thanks for the video. You also reminded me to make sure the truck tires have good tread!
Yep, it was a comedy. “I’m going to throw up”. 😂😂 Imagine a world where you get slightly stuck on a sunny day on dry ground in your $150k luxury truck pulling over a million dollars of toys to your million dollar private cabin surrounded by friends and family. Wild. Most of us just hope we’re going to wake up tomorrow to break our backs to pull maybe 70k to pay half that in rent. 😂😂
Good job not panicking! I crunched a bedrail on my f250 doing something very similar on a mountain drive. Those aluminum bed rails crease and wrinkle very easily! I actually moved my pin box up a couple bolt holes so that doesn't happen again.
I love travelling. We’ve towed a camper trailer for years, all over Australia in very tough terrain, many times with a high level of stress. The thought, however , of towing that impressive monster of yours across the country fills me with the opposite of relaxation.
Glad it all worked out in the end. Thanks for sharing, I’m sure it will help many who may experience similar situations. Great help in the comments as well. ❤Daisy so so cute running through that field
OMG! Alli and I were arguing about if the bad spot was near the cabin. She was right. It was! That was our biggest fear when we bought our base for our rig. When we bought our place there was another property we considered where we did some paint damage to the rig trying to figure out if it would fit. $5K later we were glad we didn’t buy the place, and really glad we had the opportunity to figure out how to get the rig in and out. Those times are really scary. We were chewing our fingernails watching this!
@@ChangingLanesWe only have a 26’ TT with a crew cab 8’ bed 2500….we got into a similar mess up in Ohio at a remote campground…. Crazy crazy!! Tara, I was like you and freaking! Gives me chills just remembering that one. We have had 4 different rigs in our years (since ‘93) RVing. The Ohio mess was by far one of the worst!! When you stopped into Clinton you were about 10 minutes from our ‘sticks & bricks’! So my big question is… What kind of snow did you get hit with these last few days? We had 8” on our cars near the house, 11” out in the open on our land. Hope you get the brake issue fixed! We were held up 6 days in Sept, with a horrible brake issue that burned out the truck’s receiver , the wires to the camper, all because the magnet brake on one TT tire MELTED on to the shoe! Stay warm and safe you two!! As always, GO NAVY! ps… Tara I loved that green sweater ❤️
One commenter said that you are always very cautious in everything you do. Some times this can be a problem. It was very hard from the video to tell how fast your were going up the hill. Since you have been up that hill quite a few times you should already know the line you should take up the hill. It looked like you were going very slow. I think some more speed would have helped you get past the sandy part. @@ChangingLanes
As suggested by others a winch is helpful. We’ve used the old fashioned hand crank cum-along too when stuck in a ditch in the snow. If you have enough cable you probably could tie it off on one of the larger trees beside your driveway. Keeping momentum when going uphill is the key to keeping from getting stuck but that’s difficult to do with a 5th wheel & a 90 degree turn. Glad that everyone made it ok.
You said it very well. Their new tires, a little bit more forward momentum (might practice without the 5th wheel to get the feel of a faster approach), if needed lowering tire pressure and laying some log chains in the path of the rear tires. Call for assistance works also.
Good job Chad, go slow, stop before the point of no return. Never be afraid to call for help when it comes to that. Saves money and regrets in the long run 👏
Glad you guys can relax now. It's very stressful to get stuck. Everything starts running through your head and sometimes panic sets in. I've been stuck plenty of times in the desert with our rig and no, lowering your tires to 20 psi or lower will not pop them off the bead. I do it all the time. I recently had to help a situation similar to yours down the street from me. I live on a private drive over a hill so I never know what happens at the inlet. We'll my neighbor was trying to back in his triple axle toy hauler similar to yours but ended up in a jam. He got into some gravel across the road one to the front tires was just spinning. He no way to use his 4x4. I hooked up to his front winch and pulled him up the hill. Luckily I was home that day because he was blocking the whole drive and I'm at the end in a cul-de-sac. There would be no way for a wrecker to get to him. The main thing is to stay calm and remember your previous situations and solutions. I think you guys did great. Life throws you curve balls sometimes.
Kudos for not losing your patience and getting help. You avoided the most common error made by getting stressed followed by rushing forward with a bad plan and usually making it worse. I have been in your same situation but got out of it by airing down the tires on the tow vehicle. Good short term solution but did the same thing as you for the long term with better tread pattern for this scenario and improved grading and compaction. Improved grading makes it so just about any tire will work. Thanks for sharing. Cooler heads prevailed!
Letting air out of your tires in order to widen the rubber footprint will usually help in spots like this. Especially being that close to home where it'd be easy to air back up. I know this was stressful in the situation, but now you're that much more experienced. 🙂
😅Hi Chad ,I was wondering why you didn't take the bike out to lighten the load, and put more weight on the back Weels???😮and maybe a winch on fount could be a good investment to hook on a tree and pull it along. 😊In the Outback of Australia they carry an sand Anker, as well in case there's no trees. Cheers 🍻 🍻And a snatch bloch pully to double the pull ,as the town did.
Watching them overcome the adversity they encounter when hauling around an unnecessarily large hunk of shit with their obviously limited set of skills.
Hey, no one got hurt and nothing got damaged and you learnt a lot. Put it all down to experience, give each other a big hug and move on. Cheers guys, Stuart & Leanne 🇦🇺
People are eating because they bought the RV and the truck. Lots of people are employed in this business. And when the tow drivers show up....their families are eating also!
@@ChangingLanes so in short you didnt judge right on the turn and GOT STUCK baahahaha on wonder you married a blonde woman.... i mean its just as stupid when you see a foreign country semi truck drivers reaally total the top of the trailer because the "misjudge" the height of the under bridge.
Hey guys momentum and good tires is your friend. Another note not certain if you are aware when you use your dial where the 4wd is ...pull it out to engage your posi traction. Love the channel, looking forward to next week
I have been stuck way back in the Rio Grande National Forrest after a solid week of heavy rain. But we just kept our cool and unhooked a few times to change our PU wheel positions and finally pulled out. We always say "we are just making memories". Love you guys !
Well done Chad and Tera. Sheri and I had a similar situation while camping with the Boy Scouts in Sequoia National Park, our toy hauler fifth-wheel slid off the road into a ditch. It took a lot of work and several jacks to get our fifth-wheel back on the road. Thank God for good friends and creative ingenuity.
Enjoyed the video, quite an adventure. We're looking at our trailering days way back in the rear view mirror now at age 85 but seeing this makes us appreciate the 23' camper we had 🙂
I was so stressed out just watching this. You really captured all the feelings. I do however feel relieved that there is always a way out and that tow truck company was amazing.,
D all the above. Been a fan for a long time. Being stuck is definitely no fun and very stressful to say the least. Always loved your channel. Happy Trails. Michelle. From Greenville Fl. Take care. ❤😊
You guys are so great!! The stress was so tremendous, yet you somehow held it together. I hate those kinds of situations, but unfortunately, we all go through them, and you guys made it through and still have each other.😄
Had almost the same thing happen to me. I lifted the side that sunk and put down old plywood sheets under the tires. I've also had to back up about a 1/4 mile to avoid getting stuck. Thank you for showing that everything isn't always perfect again.
I agree with Simmerinn, get yourself a good winch. It looked like you had plenty of trees to anchor off of. Plus that winch will probably be a lot cheaper than a wrecker bill. Have fun folks.
Full time RVers for 12 years here and we also have a RUclips channel! Found you guys a couple days ago and have been loving going through all your videos! Super fun, relatable content. Keep it up guys! Also if you ever come through UT, we run a beautiful big rig friendly RV park, called Aspen Grove! We'd love to host you guys!
Holy Moly - that was a great video and definitely a learning experience. I know that when I'm towing our trailer I have to remember to go slow and plan out where I'm gonna put it. My wife is great at giving me directions when I'm backing it up. You folks have a petty big trailer so I'm sure that that complicates it a bit. Travel safe and hope you enjoyed that well earned beer.
I know on my ford, yours is newer and can be different, but i pull out the 4x4 knob to lock the rear diff in and then I manually have to lock my front hubs in. Stressful no doubt, and great job in giving it a try and knowing when to bow out.
We have the same setup as you guys have and know the struggle. Any time it would rain when going to our property, we would have to put the truck in 4wd and get a run at it. We end up putting asphalt millings down and it packed down like black top. Been the best thing we did for our property and getting up the hill. Keep the good videos coming
If I am understanding correctly the main issue was the frame rails of the RV dragging the ground. If that is so you might consider airbags on the back axle of the pickup in order to add some lift to the front of the trailer and keep the rails from dragging.
I cannot imagine the stress you both went through that day. Glad you found a way out of that. I deal with gravel/grass a lot and because of it use way more aggressive tires then many even with the louder road noise. Good deal moving to something with a little more grip.
I have a similar setup, and I am glad you were able to recover ok. I will say that as far as "worst nightmares" go, this wasn't too bad. You weren't in traffic, not blocking a highway, and best of all- not at a Campground with dozens of people watching and lending their "help". Glad things turned out well!
I know sometimes in my RV I gets stressed. But I think watching your video I was just as stressed as you were. sometimes the best memories are the most stressful. Now you can sit and laugh about it after you put more gravel down. A couple years ago I met you at the Tampa RV show. Keep up the good work. Die with memories not dreams :-) your friend Ron.
I didn't go through all the comments but as a Platinum Ford owner, if you Pull the 4L-4H selector knob "OUT" as in towards you, it will Lock the rear end (POSI Traction) so you have all rear tires turning.
Hats off to you for wanting to tow something that long and still call it relaxing.
1. Unload the motorcycle out of the back of the camper to increase pin weight. 2. If you are hauling water in the rear tanks, dump it. 3. Reduce the air pressure in the rear truck tires. 4. If you have a piece of chain, z fold it in front of the tire. 5. Purchase some tire chains or strap on anti slip device. You were so close getting up the hill.
I think you have the best overall idea here Wayne. Get rid of some of that weight. Pictures do not do it justice, but it seems like they are going up quite a hill here.
I was thinking all the same things. Additionally, more speed and stay farther to outside of the turn to keep from dropping the trailer tires off the roadway as much/at all.
@@D2O2 Do not want to disparage Chad, but honestly, he should not be on this road with his rig.
Posted same…seems like the solution
I like to take the traction control off so I have torque going to both wheels and I'm not getting the back and forth side to side torque fighting the computer. Just find when the traction control is on it prevents me from that little extra torque I need at times. Just my opinion. Seems to work for me in the snow anyways. Seems when the traction control is engaged I can't put my foot into it to keep my momentum going in slippery conditions. I think you mentioned your drivers side wasn't spinning so that kinda tells me also that your rears wern't locked up and your traction control was engaged so no torque going to that wheel at all plus what @waynehall mentioned but hey it happens. We have all been there I'm sure. Your 4 low would be good for a crawl , low end torque and feathering the throttle.
It's a small thing no worries. As an off road guy would have unloaded the bike, dumped the water to lighten the trailer as much possible while increasing the pin weight. Lowered tire pressure on the 450 to get a wider contact patch, disabled active handling and sent it. You got it done safely so it's all good. There is more than one way to get there. All's well that ends well.
great suggestions
All the suggestions are really good on here. Your unit will put you in that ditch every time.... my suggestion.... cary 2x6x8 with you or widen that inside curve. I say thus because the drop FORCED THE FIFTH WHEEL TO TAG YOUR TRUCK BOX......regardless of all the great suggestions .... that degree drop into the ditch forced the weight to redirect. Even with new tires. ... you could damage the unit and your truck. Widen the corner grade... has to be level. Also removing the bike from the cargo before attempting that hill a good call.
Block trailer, unhook, reorient truck. Proceed with caution.
Tons of good suggestions provided by others. Ive got a long very steep gravel driveway and many hills on my property. I added a 16.5k winch on the front of my 3500 and it’s saved my bacon quite a few times… saved other folks’ bacon even more often. It’s one of things that you rarely use, but when you do need it, man, it’s so great to have.
Agreed
Good idea
Wish we could have one and a power air compressor too, but these would make our load even heavier and we don’t have any extra to work with.
Haven't read prior posts but you should have lowered the tire pressure to 20-30 lbs. You would have much better traction in loose gravel and climbing a hill. Best wishes always! Ken & Deb
Chances are that , since these tires are rated for around 100 psi, without bead lockers the tires would likely roll off the rims at pressures that you suggested.
Ok, maybe not 20-30 but SOMETHING to get traction. I think this video was posted for drama & clicks anyway.
Yep the heavy road bike in the back was like dragging dead weight. Would've made all the difference to unloaded it and let 30 psi out of the tires.@@kristinaschmit8009
Id try 50 and lower it from there. These are probably 80-90 psi tires and you don't want to go too too low with those. but yes this is exactly what i was thinking would be worth a try.
Your tires are fine. You have way to much weight to do that. Your not a jeep with a small trailer. Your approach is from the road surface. Perhaps just paving the real bad section to establish good traction. Just a thought.
I love that this couple is taking a bite out of life and seem to really enjoy each other and the comforts of life. Of course there's a cost in taking all those comforts with us and this anxiety and stress is part of hauling such. Their cabin is absolutely amazing in itself.
If you ever need a little more traction, you can try airing down your truck's tires a little bit. It gives you more tire/ground contact surface. We usually maintain higher PSI for towing stability but in this case letting out 15-20 lbs PSI might have worked. 4 Low was the right choice too.
Exactly my thoughts!
Yep, and 4H with a faster approach would have given the needed momentum...even with the worn tires.
a smaller rig would have worked much better; people try to drag these monsterous RV up backroads and it is hillarious to see what you know is coming.
Just going to reply with the same thing. I would have taken those tires down to 40 PSI. I was also thinking - What could I do to increase the pin weight? like taking the Motorcycle out, draining water if the tank is in the rear.
When in doubt, let the air out!
Your struggles make me appreciate our little Grand Design 22 foot Imagine.
100% No need to camp in something that big. Just adds stress.
Chad, you’ve got the best wife. Every time I watch your videos I’m left wishing my wife was as calm and supportive as yours. We get into situations like this from time to time and she stresses and attempts to control the situation rather than just staying calm and supportive. So it’s very hard. Lastly, next time try lowering the tire pressure in all tires to get a better footprint. Locking the rearend would definitely help.
Glad you guys got up the hill without screaming at each other. Great job!!
I love the way the two of you work as a team when under pressure 👍🏻
Almost everyone has a nightmare towing story. I'm glad you didn't break anything! You guys are very cautious in everything you do, so this can happen to anyone!
OMG .., Now I am stressed ! 😰. Does mac and cheese really help?? 😮.
@@jolenecreech7648 that and chocolate! ;-)
@@jolenecreech7648AND 🍷 wine! 😂
@jolenecreech7648 my go-to in stressful situations is a latte with whipped cream n cinnamon powder lol! 😋
Would you categorise this as a “worst fear”? Anyone who has kids would not!
Y’all did great. Thank you for keeping in Chad saying he was gathering his nerves and the part about Tara worrying at us so she wasn’t distracting Chad. Those are both such amazing bits of strong mental health (for both of you) and partnership right there.
I am sad this happened to y’all but glad it worked out ok. Couldn’t love this video more. ❤
Chad & Tara, So amazing that you chose to share your experience in the most vulnerable place of your RV Life. We have all been in that stress zone, some of us more than we would admit. To see Chad stressed, was so unusual, but to see him so calm as he is stressed, unbelievable. Yelling and cussing and losing our tempers would be more the norm. Total respect and admiration for your sharing of something you never had to share. Thank you for making us more calm knowing we are not alone.
The calm you displayed during a period of HIGH stress is impressive. Nice work!
Just a suggestion, go to the local road department and find and old guy that has maintained roads in the area for a lot of years. He can probably tell you just what combination of materials you need, where to get them and how to apply them. Worked for me!
Smart, very smart. That roadbed needs drainage itself, in addition to the roadside drainage.
Chad, where you said something like, “that’s not helpful,” I probably would have said STFU. Clearly, you’re the better man, although that bar isn’t set especially high. 😀
^^^ Love the idea of getting some local 'old guy advice'.
Another possible technique is to make some 'dirtcrete'. I had a spot with too loose gravel. So I mixed cement into the gravel & sand. (no organics) Add water and you have a very solid surface, not engineered but a huge step up!
Very professionally done.
Never ever did I feel as reserved as you when I have been in a tight situation like yours. This was very G rated and understandably edited perfectly.
Thanks for sharing what I think a lot of people are looking for in videos from RVers like you two.
I didn’t feel any stress until I saw the RV touching the truck bed.
Thank you for keeping it real. These stories are apart of RVing no matter how carefully and well planned your journey.
Thank you for this video. I really liked how you worked together to think through the problem to solve it. Safe travels in the future.
Using 4x4 Low was the right choice since it lowers your gearing and also disables the traction control and stability control temporarily to allow some wheel spin. Also, make sure your front auto-locking hubs are in fact engaging. Ford uses vacuum actuated hubs that some times develop leaks and won't allow the hubs to engage when 4x4 is selected. If this happens, you can manually lock the hubs using the selectors at the front wheels. You can test the auto hubs by jacking both front wheels of the ground, and with the engine off/ignition on, select 4x4 high to see if the hubs engaged by spinning the front wheels. Then also lock them manually to verify they are locking this way.
I did notice he did not pull the 4x4 knob out to lock the rear diff. That would have been immensely helpful.
@jeffconley819 No locking diff on the DRW models.. Seems to be the same in Ram.. Not sure about chevy.
Yessiree, its always a good idea to lock your hubs manually just to remove any doubt the vacuum design doesn't do what its supposed to when it time of need. I'd have that vacuum engagement serviced and inspected more often just to be sure it is always going to work.
@@ChangingLanes I have a Chevy DRW, it like almost every diesel truck they make has the G80 option for auto locking differential. Since one tire has to spin to get the locker to engage I don't think it works very well when traction control is on. I live in an area with significant snow, and while Traction control is great to prevent fishtailing with no weight in the back, I've learned if the truck struggling at all in snow or soft soil turning off traction lets me drive right through
Nice Def Leppard Pyromania top. 9:53 in the video. I saw them twice, here in Halifax N.S Canada. I enjoyed your video. Thanks for posting.
Good job staying relatively calm and working your way through the process.
Thanks!
THANK YOU! 😊
While you were all stressed you held it together well!
Towing a 25” Rockwood Mini Lite so I had to like and subscribe. You two are amazing. Do not know how you do it. So glad you have good help in that, seems like, remote place. God bless you both!
I can totally feel his tension. Glad you all made it out the other side.
OMG! So glad you got thru that! Love your videos. It is good that you post the bad things that happen so that people know it isn't all sunshine and lollipops. You guys are amazing!
I feel for what you both experienced, as I'm encountered same issue on .6 mile gravel road which also has curves going uphill to our cabin. I ended up bringing in 8 dump trucks of red clay, then topped off with gravel as my base over the years became less secure. While I have the Denali 3500 Diesel, I continue to learn the importance of having the right tires and regular use of my tractor with box blade for maintenance. Thank you for sharing this experience, but most importantly supporting each other in this stressful situation.
Sorry this happened to you all. As a 450 and 44ft TH owner thanks for showing this and giving us the little tips to try if we get in that situation.
I felt the stress coming through on the screen and reminds me of our “close calls” we have had in RV life. I think the most important decision was when you realized you needed help. Knowing your limits is so important. Been watching your channel for years. Your technical and analytical approach to problems is why I keep watching. I’m glad you overcame the problem(s).
Thank you for sharing this unfortunate event in your driveway. I felt the "pressure" watching from my living room ! Glad all worked out! Peter
Wow! You know it's bad when Chad stresses and calls for help. Great teamwork. I hope my husband and I can stay as calm in the mayhem as you two. Safe travels!
Gotta know when to fold-em. 🤠
Watching your videos with my wife and dog is always a joy! So glad you were able to share your experience and inspire others. Keep shining your light! rhymtimesthought
Awesome ending and well deserved to watch. Thank you for posting your experience
Reminds me of a camp spot in Alabama. We'll be returning to the most gorgeous view of Talladega, but the signage uphill is terrifying. "Keep going & don't stop" "Don't slow down" and it's all gravel, uphill the entire way. Thanks for sharing ~
Like others have said, there are some good suggestions in the comments. That said, if I’d bought a ~$90,000 F450 I’d read the owner’s manual and know how to lock the hubs (you can’t manually lock the rear hubs, only the fronts) and whether to be in 4-low or 4-high. When you’re going slow and need the torque, use 4-low. By the way, being in 4-low or 4-high doesn’t affect how much “power” you have from the engine, just the way it’s being applied to the wheels/tires.
I was rooting for you Chad you seem to get out of difficult situations a lot. You had to call for reinforcements this time but that is ok, sometimes we all need a little help. Keep up the great videos, I love them. :)
Yall are great and make common folk feel good about our own mistakes!!! Thank you!!
Just a few things from an old construction guy, learned to drive 6 wheelers,semis,triaxle dumps when i was pretty young. The guys that taught me always said keep your speed up when offroad or goung up hill. I learned on sand and soft dirt roads and without enough speed its hard to keep momentum up.. Asphalt grinding are usually pretty cheap, sometimes free other than trucking if you can find it close to your area. Summer heat will help it bind together, but every time you pull through that curv the trailer will want to tear it loose. Best bet would be to pave at least the curve to allow you to keep your speed up. Lock in 4x4 every time you're pulling the hill with the camper,helps you keep up your speed,and again you're forward momentum.
That "keep the speed" advice in this case would be #1, I agree. I would use 4x4 lock low range every time just because of the added torque and control I would have with the accelerator known as "feather" the gas pedal to maintain enough speed to overcome the loss of traction. I learned all that 55 years ago and it does make a difference. Had the road been paved, none of this is needed.
@@Garth2011 Totally agree with you. When we both learned i bet most class 8 trucks were not more than 300 hp,if that. There were alot out there that were diesels with no turbo, or Detroit 238 with blowers. Now pickups trucks are at 500hp. Learning how to feather the throttle doesn't come easy unless you do it day in,day out. And not normally on pavement, but offroad in the dirt.
Take the Harley out that would reduce the weight to pull up the hill and also shift trailer weight to the rear axle of your truck.
Nice that you guys worked as a team and kept the truck from getting damaged. Next time this happens you will have experience and skill you didn't have before. Good Job and thanks for taking the time and effort to film your situation in real time.
Here is a tip since you have a limited slip rear end. Engage the parking brake a few clicks and that will fool the LS so that both wheels will continue to turn when the LS would otherwise slip. You'll get a little more traction. Not as much as if you did it with an open diff, but it may have helped just enough.
Parking bakes in trucks now are electric. Just an On-Off button. No clicks, no way to just apply a little bit. It's all or none.
@@robertfoster8500 well that's a stupid feature on a 4 wheel drive
Wow. My wife and I have been full time since 2019 and have been in two scary spots pulling our 35 foot 5th wheel. My stomach was in knots for you watching your situation and being reminded of our own. We just recently upgraded to a 40 1/2 foot 5th wheel and am just a little bit nervous about our travel season coming up. Thanks for the video. You also reminded me to make sure the truck tires have good tread!
i understand this wasnt a great situation, but there was too much theatrics in this video.
Yep, it was a comedy.
“I’m going to throw up”.
😂😂 Imagine a world where you get slightly stuck on a sunny day on dry ground in your $150k luxury truck pulling over a million dollars of toys to your million dollar private cabin surrounded by friends and family.
Wild.
Most of us just hope we’re going to wake up tomorrow to break our backs to pull maybe 70k to pay half that in rent. 😂😂
Good job not panicking! I crunched a bedrail on my f250 doing something very similar on a mountain drive. Those aluminum bed rails crease and wrinkle very easily!
I actually moved my pin box up a couple bolt holes so that doesn't happen again.
You have a lot of courage taking that big rig up a gravel road that small. No way in hell I would attempt that.
It’s there driveway to the house I believe
@@badasstrucker79 it makes this even more dumb; buy a huge 5th wheel that you cannot even get in your own driveway.
I love travelling. We’ve towed a camper trailer for years, all over Australia in very tough terrain, many times with a high level of stress. The thought, however , of towing that impressive monster of yours across the country fills me with the opposite of relaxation.
Proud of you two for sticking together.... This is my top 3 biggest fears as we're planning FT in 2 years...
Awesome Job!!!
Glad it all worked out in the end. Thanks for sharing, I’m sure it will help many who may experience similar situations. Great help in the comments as well. ❤Daisy so so cute running through that field
OMG! Alli and I were arguing about if the bad spot was near the cabin. She was right. It was! That was our biggest fear when we bought our base for our rig. When we bought our place there was another property we considered where we did some paint damage to the rig trying to figure out if it would fit. $5K later we were glad we didn’t buy the place, and really glad we had the opportunity to figure out how to get the rig in and out. Those times are really scary. We were chewing our fingernails watching this!
We feel pretty good about the new tires and my recently acquired grading skills.. LOL. But, next time up will be scary for sure!
@@ChangingLanesWe only have a 26’ TT with a crew cab 8’ bed 2500….we got into a similar mess up in Ohio at a remote campground…. Crazy crazy!!
Tara, I was like you and freaking! Gives me chills just remembering that one.
We have had 4 different rigs in our years (since ‘93) RVing. The Ohio mess was by far one of the worst!!
When you stopped into Clinton you were about 10 minutes from our ‘sticks & bricks’!
So my big question is…
What kind of snow did you get hit with these last few days?
We had 8” on our cars near the house, 11” out in the open on our land.
Hope you get the brake issue fixed! We were held up 6 days in Sept, with a horrible brake issue that burned out the truck’s receiver , the wires to the camper, all because the magnet brake on one TT tire MELTED on to the shoe!
Stay warm and safe you two!!
As always, GO NAVY!
ps… Tara I loved that green sweater ❤️
One commenter said that you are always very cautious in everything you do. Some times this can be a problem. It was very hard from the video to tell how fast your were going up the hill. Since you have been up that hill quite a few times you should already know the line you should take up the hill. It looked like you were going very slow. I think some more speed would have helped you get past the sandy part. @@ChangingLanes
I havening New; the tire loosing the traction, steps in brake light and the other tire taken over😂🛟🏁🇵🇷
Both of you make a great couple and are so compatible and polite with each other!
As suggested by others a winch is helpful. We’ve used the old fashioned hand crank cum-along too when stuck in a ditch in the snow. If you have enough cable you probably could tie it off on one of the larger trees beside your driveway. Keeping momentum when going uphill is the key to keeping from getting stuck but that’s difficult to do with a 5th wheel & a 90 degree turn. Glad that everyone made it ok.
You said it very well. Their new tires, a little bit more forward momentum (might practice without the 5th wheel to get the feel of a faster approach), if needed lowering tire pressure and laying some log chains in the path of the rear tires. Call for assistance works also.
You two are so great. Thanks for sharing so much, even the difficult parts of the journey.
Good job Chad, go slow, stop before the point of no return. Never be afraid to call for help when it comes to that. Saves money and regrets in the long run 👏
Glad you guys can relax now. It's very stressful to get stuck. Everything starts running through your head and sometimes panic sets in. I've been stuck plenty of times in the desert with our rig and no, lowering your tires to 20 psi or lower will not pop them off the bead. I do it all the time. I recently had to help a situation similar to yours down the street from me. I live on a private drive over a hill so I never know what happens at the inlet. We'll my neighbor was trying to back in his triple axle toy hauler similar to yours but ended up in a jam. He got into some gravel across the road one to the front tires was just spinning. He no way to use his 4x4. I hooked up to his front winch and pulled him up the hill. Luckily I was home that day because he was blocking the whole drive and I'm at the end in a cul-de-sac. There would be no way for a wrecker to get to him. The main thing is to stay calm and remember your previous situations and solutions. I think you guys did great. Life throws you curve balls sometimes.
I love how real you guys are, in this day of nauseating commercial RV channels.
Kudos for not losing your patience and getting help. You avoided the most common error made by getting stressed followed by rushing forward with a bad plan and usually making it worse. I have been in your same situation but got out of it by airing down the tires on the tow vehicle. Good short term solution but did the same thing as you for the long term with better tread pattern for this scenario and improved grading and compaction. Improved grading makes it so just about any tire will work. Thanks for sharing. Cooler heads prevailed!
Letting air out of your tires in order to widen the rubber footprint will usually help in spots like this. Especially being that close to home where it'd be easy to air back up. I know this was stressful in the situation, but now you're that much more experienced. 🙂
😅Hi Chad ,I was wondering why you didn't take the bike out to lighten the load, and put more weight on the back Weels???😮and maybe a winch on fount could be a good investment to hook on a tree and pull it along. 😊In the Outback of Australia they carry an sand Anker, as well in case there's no trees. Cheers 🍻 🍻And a snatch bloch pully to double the pull ,as the town did.
What a couple of clowns 🤡. Reminded me of ice road truckers coming out of the parking lot. Pure drama.
Sooooo anxious during the last 1/3 of this video. So happy you got clear and safely at your cabin!!
Dang drama queen is not watchable
Watching them overcome the adversity they encounter when hauling around an unnecessarily large hunk of shit with their obviously limited set of skills.
Great team work between you two! Wonderful to see!
Why is is necessary to record every aspect of your life?
Money
Because they HAVE NO LIFE.
Total losers.
So why are you both watching if you have nothing good to say. Sthu
@@joecox1009 Hey JOE COXSUCKER. LEARN TO DRIVE.
Hey, no one got hurt and nothing got damaged and you learnt a lot. Put it all down to experience, give each other a big hug and move on. Cheers guys, Stuart & Leanne 🇦🇺
People can’t eat, and you’re crying over getting your RV stuck…
People are eating because they bought the RV and the truck. Lots of people are employed in this business. And when the tow drivers show up....their families are eating also!
😂🎉😅🤡🌎
People that can’t eat is completely their choice to not eat.
Ok this is the first time I have watched you, all the excitement had me holding my breath the whole time. Bless you both and great job!!!!
Thanks for watching!! 🤠
@@ChangingLanes so in short you didnt judge right on the turn and GOT STUCK baahahaha on wonder you married a blonde woman.... i mean its just as stupid when you see a foreign country semi truck drivers reaally total the top of the trailer because the "misjudge" the height of the under bridge.
I have the Michellen Road tread tires on my 4x4 tow rig..so I worry about this as well! You all did very well in the face of alot of stress! Kudos!
I love how Tara’s accent comes back at about 26:30. “Oh ohkey”. You guys are great!
Thank You for sharing this video. I consider both of you professionals and to see the same stress on you that we feel is comforting.
Hey guys momentum and good tires is your friend. Another note not certain if you are aware when you use your dial where the 4wd is ...pull it out to engage your posi traction. Love the channel, looking forward to next week
So glad to see you guys got out!
I have been stuck way back in the Rio Grande National Forrest after a solid week of heavy rain. But we just kept our cool and unhooked a few times to change our PU wheel positions and finally pulled out. We always say "we are just making memories". Love you guys !
Oh my! I was so stressed out with this episode. I'm glad you were both ok.
Sometimes these RV events get to you however, I have to remain calm on outside as my wife will panic! Nicely Done !
Well done Chad and Tera. Sheri and I had a similar situation while camping with the Boy Scouts in Sequoia National Park, our toy hauler fifth-wheel slid off the road into a ditch. It took a lot of work and several jacks to get our fifth-wheel back on the road. Thank God for good friends and creative ingenuity.
The answer is quite literally written on the back of your trailer. MOMENTUM!!! Four high and get some speed! Glad you made it though. Good work.
Enjoyed the video, quite an adventure. We're looking at our trailering days way back in the rear view mirror now at age 85 but seeing this makes us appreciate the 23' camper we had 🙂
Wow... my nightmare as well. It was a blessing that (a) no one was injured and (b) you were so close to home. Glad as is well and will be well.
Thanks for sharing your stressful experience. You guys handled it as well as could be expected. I hope my wife and I would do as well.
I understand and empathize with your stress. I’ve had more than one similar situation that puts you to the test.
I was so stressed out just watching this. You really captured all the feelings. I do however feel relieved that there is always a way out and that tow truck company was amazing.,
So glad to see a new video so glad to see a new video. You guys are always fun to watch.
Sorry that you had to go through that. It is stressful for sure! Glad to see that you came through all of it. Happy trails!!!
D all the above. Been a fan for a long time. Being stuck is definitely no fun and very stressful to say the least. Always loved your channel. Happy Trails. Michelle. From Greenville Fl. Take care. ❤😊
You guys are so great!! The stress was so tremendous, yet you somehow held it together. I hate those kinds of situations, but unfortunately, we all go through them, and you guys made it through and still have each other.😄
Had almost the same thing happen to me. I lifted the side that sunk and put down old plywood sheets under the tires. I've also had to back up about a 1/4 mile to avoid getting stuck. Thank you for showing that everything isn't always perfect again.
Good job staying safe! Looks like yall got some road work to do before you leave again...
I agree with Simmerinn, get yourself a good winch. It looked like you had plenty of trees to anchor off of.
Plus that winch will probably be a lot cheaper than a wrecker bill. Have fun folks.
Full time RVers for 12 years here and we also have a RUclips channel! Found you guys a couple days ago and have been loving going through all your videos! Super fun, relatable content. Keep it up guys! Also if you ever come through UT, we run a beautiful big rig friendly RV park, called Aspen Grove! We'd love to host you guys!
Holy Moly - that was a great video and definitely a learning experience. I know that when I'm towing our trailer I have to remember to go slow and plan out where I'm gonna put it. My wife is great at giving me directions when I'm backing it up. You folks have a petty big trailer so I'm sure that that complicates it a bit. Travel safe and hope you enjoyed that well earned beer.
What a mess! I would have been stressed too! Glad you guys made it up safely!
I know on my ford, yours is newer and can be different, but i pull out the 4x4 knob to lock the rear diff in and then I manually have to lock my front hubs in. Stressful no doubt, and great job in giving it a try and knowing when to bow out.
I cried through this one! So happy you made it!!!
We have the same setup as you guys have and know the struggle. Any time it would rain when going to our property, we would have to put the truck in 4wd and get a run at it. We end up putting asphalt millings down and it packed down like black top. Been the best thing we did for our property and getting up the hill. Keep the good videos coming
If I am understanding correctly the main issue was the frame rails of the RV dragging the ground.
If that is so you might consider airbags on the back axle of the pickup in order to add some lift to the front of the trailer and keep the rails from dragging.
man, so sorry you guys had to go through this, and when you're basically home!
I cannot imagine the stress you both went through that day. Glad you found a way out of that. I deal with gravel/grass a lot and because of it use way more aggressive tires then many even with the louder road noise. Good deal moving to something with a little more grip.
I have a similar setup, and I am glad you were able to recover ok. I will say that as far as "worst nightmares" go, this wasn't too bad. You weren't in traffic, not blocking a highway, and best of all- not at a Campground with dozens of people watching and lending their "help". Glad things turned out well!
All I kept saying to myself was "thank God it wasn't snowing, thank God there was no ice"
I'm so glad your all safe n sound
I know sometimes in my RV I gets stressed. But I think watching your video I was just as stressed as you were. sometimes the best memories are the most stressful. Now you can sit and laugh about it after you put more gravel down. A couple years ago I met you at the Tampa RV show. Keep up the good work. Die with memories not dreams :-) your friend Ron.
I didn't go through all the comments but as a Platinum Ford owner, if you Pull the 4L-4H selector knob "OUT" as in towards you, it will Lock the rear end (POSI Traction) so you have all rear tires turning.