Well... first point. Don't get into a tight spot towing your trailer.
If a turn off looks "iffy" stop, put on your emergency flashers and step out to look it over. For those of you shaking your eyes back and forth... not on an Interstate Highway, entrance to a highway, in the middle of a parade... come on, common sense here. This would be a gravel road turning to an access to a camping spot, or pulled off to the side of the two lane highway on a straight away.
Second. Experience will be your best guide. If it looks like you are going to drag your bumper... you are probably right. There are two skids attached to help, but not to support the weight of an entire Airstream Trailer.
Third. I have said this before when going up a steep incline. Going up is easier than getting back down. The angles are different. You may end up backing down to prevent dragging the RB... rear bumper.
Those who know how to navigate the non Airstream Traditional Roads have plenty of ways to "clear" by using some easy to do options. I sure did not find any of these techniques on the Airstream Forum... they were self taught and at times... had to be learned at the worst times. Much like driving a Nevada county road which is 80 miles from A to B. About 50 miles into the drive a dip in the gravel road from a recent wash out... OOPS. The first instinct is to look directly at the GAS GAUGE... and calculate how big of a "pinch" do you find yourself. You have two options. Detach the trailer and find the nearest gasoline station OR improvise. That is what this thread is meant to do... help you visualize how to improvise getting out of a Tight Spot.
(1) Carry at least 10, if not 20 leveling blocks for Rockdocking. Even ONE or TWO three foot 2" x 12" are handy as well. Too much weight to carry one or two 2x12's... leave them home if you know the area and expect not to need it. It costs to haul two pieces of lumber... a Tow Truck is a much better OPTION??
(2) Carry at least one shovel. I carry an extra in case someone drives by and wants to get past me while I am navigating the obstacle(s). Or my wife insists that the driver needs to show some enthusiasm on the working end of a shovel...
(3) Most County roads and Forest Service roads are not maintained on a regular basis. Always a fund shortage, but never much of a shortage of rock and dirt that could be used to fill the wash out to build it up, or remove debris that has washed onto a tight curve in the road.
(4) Leveling blocks can be stacked like railroad rails that the Airstream's tires can track over the wash out. If not severe, of course, then you go back to checking fuel and deciding which way to go, where would you want to detach the trailer if you expect to be running on fumes... and much like a pilot in a fixed wing aircraft, unexpected head wind and have enough fuel to get "most of the way" to the rural runway. You have to be thinking this even before you go wandering off into the sunset...
(5) As you slowly progress across this problem, the leveling blocks and 2x12 board(s) can be moved into the forward direction. Your wife/husband/stranded Rainbow Family members can give hand signals to the driver. If you, the driver, is not confident that things are going right... step out and take a look. Piling flat rocks work too, but only if stacked and supported so they are stable. (That is what the shovels are for.)
(6) Blow down trees crossing a road. One year in New Mexico I took my Stihl Chainsaw to cut out fallen timber blocking the road to our favorite campsite in that area. Brush clips with the long handle are great. Even a hand operated wood saw that is not dull from sawing concrete or never sharpened since 1936. Hunters usually chainsaw only enough to get through... why, it beats me. They do not even bother to pick the logs up... just drive over them and off they go.
I was reading a Thread about getting up a steep driveway and concerned that the Airstream could not do it. I am sorry... the Airstream CAN DO IT. It is the driver who cannot. Again, leveling blocks and since it is a home's driveway, you can make a portable ramp to clear the "drag point" which is your rear bumper and also if your hitch has low clearance. Anything is possible if you want to put out the effort. Or just get a shorter trailer.
We are looking for a second home in Nevada. Having a garage that is TALL and LONG enough to fit our trailer is a really big plus. Second option is an outside along the garage sheltered area to park. BUT there are plenty of homes for sale... but we are taking our time in finding the right house... first. Sure narrows down the options, but we are in no hurry. The 2015 Airstreams are taller now... so beware all of us with PRE 2015's. That is why we bought a new 2014, rather than the taller 2015 for not much more money.
I am sure there are two or three of you that have some good tricks to add. Turning a narrow right or left turn also has it tricks... or you and the curb will be constant companions...
This is not a "Help, I cannot change a flat tire and where is the spare?" thread which will get two hundred posts to help. There ARE situations that put you into a Tight Spot. Some could become very expensive to get out of if done with no options but hit the gas and see what is left behind...
What kind of pinch or tight spot have you found a cure? If someone needs to pinch you to wake up after finishing this introduction... you obviously are the one who carries a chainsaw, a hydraulic lift to get over those low dips... and left your bumper somewhere in Idaho or Wyoming...
If a turn off looks "iffy" stop, put on your emergency flashers and step out to look it over. For those of you shaking your eyes back and forth... not on an Interstate Highway, entrance to a highway, in the middle of a parade... come on, common sense here. This would be a gravel road turning to an access to a camping spot, or pulled off to the side of the two lane highway on a straight away.
Second. Experience will be your best guide. If it looks like you are going to drag your bumper... you are probably right. There are two skids attached to help, but not to support the weight of an entire Airstream Trailer.
Third. I have said this before when going up a steep incline. Going up is easier than getting back down. The angles are different. You may end up backing down to prevent dragging the RB... rear bumper.
Those who know how to navigate the non Airstream Traditional Roads have plenty of ways to "clear" by using some easy to do options. I sure did not find any of these techniques on the Airstream Forum... they were self taught and at times... had to be learned at the worst times. Much like driving a Nevada county road which is 80 miles from A to B. About 50 miles into the drive a dip in the gravel road from a recent wash out... OOPS. The first instinct is to look directly at the GAS GAUGE... and calculate how big of a "pinch" do you find yourself. You have two options. Detach the trailer and find the nearest gasoline station OR improvise. That is what this thread is meant to do... help you visualize how to improvise getting out of a Tight Spot.
(1) Carry at least 10, if not 20 leveling blocks for Rockdocking. Even ONE or TWO three foot 2" x 12" are handy as well. Too much weight to carry one or two 2x12's... leave them home if you know the area and expect not to need it. It costs to haul two pieces of lumber... a Tow Truck is a much better OPTION??
(2) Carry at least one shovel. I carry an extra in case someone drives by and wants to get past me while I am navigating the obstacle(s). Or my wife insists that the driver needs to show some enthusiasm on the working end of a shovel...
(3) Most County roads and Forest Service roads are not maintained on a regular basis. Always a fund shortage, but never much of a shortage of rock and dirt that could be used to fill the wash out to build it up, or remove debris that has washed onto a tight curve in the road.
(4) Leveling blocks can be stacked like railroad rails that the Airstream's tires can track over the wash out. If not severe, of course, then you go back to checking fuel and deciding which way to go, where would you want to detach the trailer if you expect to be running on fumes... and much like a pilot in a fixed wing aircraft, unexpected head wind and have enough fuel to get "most of the way" to the rural runway. You have to be thinking this even before you go wandering off into the sunset...
(5) As you slowly progress across this problem, the leveling blocks and 2x12 board(s) can be moved into the forward direction. Your wife/husband/stranded Rainbow Family members can give hand signals to the driver. If you, the driver, is not confident that things are going right... step out and take a look. Piling flat rocks work too, but only if stacked and supported so they are stable. (That is what the shovels are for.)
(6) Blow down trees crossing a road. One year in New Mexico I took my Stihl Chainsaw to cut out fallen timber blocking the road to our favorite campsite in that area. Brush clips with the long handle are great. Even a hand operated wood saw that is not dull from sawing concrete or never sharpened since 1936. Hunters usually chainsaw only enough to get through... why, it beats me. They do not even bother to pick the logs up... just drive over them and off they go.
I was reading a Thread about getting up a steep driveway and concerned that the Airstream could not do it. I am sorry... the Airstream CAN DO IT. It is the driver who cannot. Again, leveling blocks and since it is a home's driveway, you can make a portable ramp to clear the "drag point" which is your rear bumper and also if your hitch has low clearance. Anything is possible if you want to put out the effort. Or just get a shorter trailer.
We are looking for a second home in Nevada. Having a garage that is TALL and LONG enough to fit our trailer is a really big plus. Second option is an outside along the garage sheltered area to park. BUT there are plenty of homes for sale... but we are taking our time in finding the right house... first. Sure narrows down the options, but we are in no hurry. The 2015 Airstreams are taller now... so beware all of us with PRE 2015's. That is why we bought a new 2014, rather than the taller 2015 for not much more money.
I am sure there are two or three of you that have some good tricks to add. Turning a narrow right or left turn also has it tricks... or you and the curb will be constant companions...
This is not a "Help, I cannot change a flat tire and where is the spare?" thread which will get two hundred posts to help. There ARE situations that put you into a Tight Spot. Some could become very expensive to get out of if done with no options but hit the gas and see what is left behind...
What kind of pinch or tight spot have you found a cure? If someone needs to pinch you to wake up after finishing this introduction... you obviously are the one who carries a chainsaw, a hydraulic lift to get over those low dips... and left your bumper somewhere in Idaho or Wyoming...
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