Forum Discussion

mike_brez's avatar
mike_brez
Explorer
Aug 19, 2020

RV Crash

Copied from another forum I visit.

In the afternoon of 08/17/20, while traveling on US-395 near the Secret Valley Rest Area, the driver of a motorhome, for unknown reasons, allowed his vehicle to drift to the left off the roadway. The vehicle struck the hillside bordering US-395. The impact caused the entire body of the motorhome to separate from the chassis. The body of the motorhome, including the driver who was still seatbelted in the driver's seat, tipped over on its side onto US-395. Both the body and chassis continuted sliding on the roadway before finally coming to a stop in the lanes of US-395.
Amazingly, no injuries were sustained to the driver! The motorhome, however, made need a little attention....



  • I'd say if the driver fell asleep they woke up, quickly.
  • That'll buff out. There appears to be an engineering issue or manufacturing mistake with the way the body was attached to the chassis.
  • Somebody neglected to install the bolts that hold the body to the chassis. My bet is on a BIG lawsuit.
  • I noticed that this unit doesn't have a tag on it which tells me this was a new unit in transit to a dealer or the buyer? The biggest problem is the lack of Quality Control by the manufacturer...
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    naturist wrote:
    Somebody neglected to install the bolts that hold the body to the chassis. My bet is on a BIG lawsuit.


    Yup Workhorse Club posted that same photo with the bit about the lack of bolts. Or I added they may have put the bolts in but forgot to tighten them

    I have had some work done on my RV and after one motor mount bolt went off by itself and one other bolt and the other motor mount bolt. Well I removed the nut with my fingers (no wrench) I put it back on with a wrench an and some special BLUE oil.. I don't think it will come off by itself again.... (Made by locktite).
  • Looks like a bad case of separation anxiety...

    Thankful the driver was not hurt. That's all that really matters.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    I did not notice the lack of License plate. Good catch
    And good one on separation anxiety.

    True story. A caravan of customized vans was en-route from the customization shop in Detroit. Mi back south via I-75.

    Well it often happens that oh I-75 in Detroit there is a traffic back up long about Porter Street or just south of Michigan Ave. there is a very bad reason for this backup and .. well. he just died, but that's another story,

    The lead van, and most of the ones behind it. all slowed down and basically stopped almost bumper to bumper.

    The last driver in the caravan did NOT slow down.
    Only one van escaped unharmed (the lead van) the rest needed to return to the body shop. (no physical injuries but I suspect one driver needed new employment) .
  • wa8yxm wrote:
    naturist wrote:
    Somebody neglected to install the bolts that hold the body to the chassis. My bet is on a BIG lawsuit.


    Yup Workhorse Club posted that same photo with the bit about the lack of bolts. Or I added they may have put the bolts in but forgot to tighten them

    I have had some work done on my RV and after one motor mount bolt went off by itself and one other bolt and the other motor mount bolt. Well I removed the nut with my fingers (no wrench) I put it back on with a wrench an and some special BLUE oil.. I don't think it will come off by itself again.... (Made by locktite).
    Unless they have changed the build of the "Raised Platform", it is welded to the F53 chassis, not bolted. Or, someone really found a production time improvement, but may not be very longed lived.:S