Love your story, Travelcrafter! Mine is similar to yours, although I got more lucky. I recently bought my first camper, a 1998 Coachmen Class C, and replaced the 10 year old tires before I got in it to drive it home (about 70 miles). I parked it in my driveway, and a week later drove it into the center of my little town to get it's inspection sticker. It passed with flying colors, except for the puddle of brake fluid underneath ... from the brake line it blew a block from the garage. :-)
I wasn't upset or angry--I was grateful that the brake line broke while I was at the repair facility that I had planned on using anyway ... and not on the Massachusetts Turnpike!