Stupid, Stupid, Stupid...and I ought to know better!!

[butterflyfish]

The key to our Durango also has the fob for the keyless entry. I still had a "spare" key made at Walmart for it anyway that I carry in my wallet. It will still work to unlock the vehicle (manually) but it won't start it and it WILL set off the alarm system. But hey, that's still better than having the fire dept. show up.

LOL.  Anything is better than having the fire dept. show up!  I went to a local hardware store and she said she couldn't do it because of the chip.. blah blah blah.  I'll check out Wal-Mart and see if they will do it.  Thanks!

[aw738]

My Dakota has the key/fob combo and it doesn't have the security system so I can use my spare key. Before I found this out I had the dealer make me a non-chip key. Just tell them you will only use it for the doors. You could try telling the hardware store this also. The doors don't care if the cip is in there or not.

[bmbkamp]

About two years ago, I arranged a weekend trip with my kids at a local state park.  I figure I can hustle over there and set up everything, then run back and pick up the kids from school.  I back into the site on the first try and figured I'm doing good.  I unhitch, and just like austinado16, my camper starts rolling away.  But unlike austinado16, I had already taken the chains off.  I grab the toungue in a total panic, and had just enough strength to stop the PUP.  The park is empty and nobody is around.  I guide the PUP downhill about 10-15 feet and let it rest against some logs that marked the end of tha pad.  Beyond that was a steep hill.  I was able to then hitch up again, pull the camper back up the pad, CHOCK THE TIRES, and THEN unhitch.  The lesson, as always:  I'm an idiot.

Bob

[austinado16]

Bob, you just put a smile on my face as I pictured you being dragged down hill, .....sorry; guiding your pup......with that oh  :yikes: look on your face.

Man, the funny stuff we get ourselves into!

[robpoe]

Worked as a security guard in the mid 90's.  

Pulled into a lot, was sitting there, in gear with the E-Brake on.  Thought to myself, why not get out the armour all and clean up the security car a bit while I'm just sitting here.

Pop the trunk, open the door, close the door, grab armourall out of trunk.  Back to door, and ... it's locked.  Running.  In gear.  E-Brake on.  100degrees outside.  A/C running full blast.

Took the company 45 mins to get another set of keys out there.  By then the temp guage was FAR into the red.  Turned on the heater full blast, opened the windows and jumped on the highway.  Cooled right off, no problem after.

Oops!

----

Sliding glass patio door on my house.  Found out how easy they are to lift up off the track (try it sometime with yours, when it's locked.  Might scare you!).  Used it as a back up way into the house.  Until some burglar showed me that other people know about it too..

Secured side door with screws in the upper track (to keep it from being liftable) and with a big dowel rod to keep it from sliding open.  

Pulled front door shut .. Classic "dazed and confused" look on my face, when I realized I'd just secured my house from ... me.

(I lock my keys inside ALL the time .. Now I have a thick walled outdoor combination keybox attached to the framing of my garage.  Problem solved!)

--

Last summer:  Get all packed, friend of mine - her two boys and my son.  All drive to CG - it's 100+ outside (no A/C in truck either).  PUP is at the storage lot by the CG.  No keys.  

Bolt cutters popped the lock off the front nose storage area.  Raised top an inch or so, reached in, flipped door latch open.  Grabbed "real" top crank handle.  Taped Zip Ties to the door handle, taped rock to the zip ties.  Voila!  Moved the inside handle to the outside

Trip saved!!

-

[tyrrionn]

A few years back I went on a vacation with my folks in their 40' RV (I still prefer my PU) and somewhere in Arizona the AC quit working (from the dash).  Let me tell you, it got HOT very quickly.  We had somewhere to be so had no time to stop for repairs.  We decided to kick on the generator and run the roof air so we wouldn't have to stop.  (sounds like a good plan up this point, eh?)

The more we drove, the more miserable it became in the RV.  We could feel SOME cool air from the roof AC but we were all sweating and the heat just got worse.  We thought maybe running some fans would circulate the AC better.  Nope.  Dad checked and re-checked the AC unit to make sure it was working properly. Yep.
 
We were frantically searching for the nearest motel by this point because it felt like an oven in there and we wanted OUT.  It was about this time that one of my daughters asked, "what does this button mean?"  She had noticed that the REAR HEAT button was turned ON and was running full blast!!  
 
Needless to say, the heat WAY outran the AC out in the desert.  Now we know to check EVERYTHING if the AC isn't working quite right...

[naganthunter]

...same dang thing happened to me again.  Turns out this was not due to dehydration, but rather to a heart condition I've had since birth that is just now started to rear it's ugly head.  While not life threatening, it is cause to sell the tent trailer and move on to something that's much easier to set up.  SO, if anyone wants to buy a cool PUP with mods out the wazoo:

MY CAMPER FOR SALE  

[austinado16]

What the....?  I know you're not kidding, but......you gotta be kiddin' me!!!

There's no work around for this?  There's no, "Let the wife and kids do more?"

Really sorry to hear this news.

[naganthunter]

Yep, it pretty much...well...sucks.  I'm not one to give up lightly, heck I fight everything to the end, but this is one where I'm not really able to do much about it.

[butterflyfish]

Yep, it pretty much...well...sucks.  I'm not one to give up lightly, heck I fight everything to the end, but this is one where I'm not really able to do much about it.

I am sorry to hear you found out you have a heart defect.  My six year old was born with a serious heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.  By the time he was three years old, he had had 3 open heart surgeries, 3 heat catheterizations and a stent placed in his left pulmonary artery.  

Anyway, Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs)are the number 1 birth defect yet very few people know this.  A really great website for you to check out is www.TCHIN.org   - The Congenital Heart Defect Information Network there is a wealth of info on there and also a support group for adults with CHDs.  We have been a member for about 7 years now and have met the nicest people who have the best info and advice etc.  I am sure you are in shock to find this out, but if you do go onto their adult CHDer support group, I am sure you will find others in a similar situation as you.

To look at my son you'd never know he has been through so much.  Many people see the scar on his chest and ask why he has it and are suprised when they find out.  Granted, he's only 6 so contributes very little to the set up of the camper, but he is active in that he rides his bike (with training wheels), swims and runs.  He might get tired a little easier or faster than a heart healthy child and it is important to keep him cool and well hydrated, but other than that he is a "normal" six year old boy.  He is currently on one baby aspirin daily, but we go to see his pediatric cardiologist on Friday... hopefully nothing has changed from last year!    

I hope you decide to check out that website and wish you the best.

[naganthunter]

Anyway, Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs)are the number 1 birth defect yet very few people know this.  A really great website for you to check out is www.TCHIN.org   - The Congenital Heart Defect Information Network there is a wealth of info on there and also a support group for adults with CHDs.  

I will check it out.  Thanks for the info.  My fingers are crossed for a good check-up for your son!