Mali Mish » trailer http://malimish.com/blog An Airstream Travel Blog Fri, 11 May 2012 19:36:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Don’t Follow Your Instincts. http://malimish.com/blog/2009/02/11/dont-follow-your-instincts/ http://malimish.com/blog/2009/02/11/dont-follow-your-instincts/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:13:36 +0000 dan http://malimish.com/blog/?p=439 Towing a trailer for long distances presents a lot of potential hazards. As a driver of the tow vehicle, you have to be extremely attentive with your surroundings and diligent about the maintenance of the rig. Everything from the trailer hitch to the running lights have to work flawlessly for the rig and the occupants to be safe while traveling.

After putting a few thousand miles on our trailer, I have developed a bit of a pre-travel checklist to make sure I am not forgetting anything.

Pre-flight checklist:

  1. Check hitch bolts on tow vehicle
  2. Check weight distribution system for proper balance
  3. Check all cotter pins for security
  4. Lubricate all moving joints
  5. Check running lights and electrical connection
  6. Check brake controller for proper functioning
  7. Check wear and air pressure on all tires

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The last item on that checklist is the motivation for this post after seeing this video below I found on the Web. It was produced by Michelin North America for the RV Industry Association. Don’t let the 1980′s production and grainy VHS tape dub distract you. It will actually teach you an important lesson on what you might not know to do if one of more of your RV tires failed while you are on the road.

If you don’t have the 10 minutes to watch the video, here is the gist of what you are suppose to do in an event of a blow out.

Do not slam on the brakes.

I know it is counter intuitive but it might just be the thing that saves your family’s lives if you were ever caught in this predicament. The video also states that instead of instinctively wanting to step on the brakes to immediately slow the rig down, you should actually step on the accelerator to keep yourself from drifting into the next lane or the shoulder first. Makes sense if you think about it, but it’s not what my reflexes will do when something blows up near my Airstream.

I hope none of us will ever have to experience a high speed blowout but at least if it were to happen to you, now you’ll know what you are suppose to do. Exactly NOT what your instincts are telling you.

over and out,
dan

]]> http://malimish.com/blog/2009/02/11/dont-follow-your-instincts/feed/ 4 Finally got her home! http://malimish.com/blog/2008/10/27/finally-got-her-home/ http://malimish.com/blog/2008/10/27/finally-got-her-home/#comments Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:56:12 +0000 dan http://malimish.com/?p=241 After three agonizing weeks of waiting for the trailer, we finally brought Mali Mish home from the dealership.  I will explain why it took so long in another post but for now, take a look at her beautiful shiny cheeks!

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Ava stayed home with her nona while we went to pick her up. Here she is unable to wait any longer before she can get inside.
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Say bye to your brothers and sisters! You are coming home with us!
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I need a shower badly in this picture. Look at those hairs sticking straight up!
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I’m so excited I am gonna do a cart wheel!!
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Ava likey!
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I can get used to this… Dada! Help me up! My diapers are showing!
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One day, these bad boys will be mine….
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over and out,
dan

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