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Class A in pieces after accident, Ellensburg

wcjeep
Explorer
Explorer
This popped up on my local news feed. Class A dissambled from motor vehicle accident. Horrible for those involved. No cause noted.

Ellensburg, Wa accident


36 REPLIES 36

Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Moderator
Everyone be safe out there, may the family somehow find peace.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910

rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Explorer III
For all I know it may have been the large jarring that happened when the left front suddenly dropped to the ground. Since I never touched the brakes, it was not them that shut it off. In fact since there was enough drag from the flat tire, no braking was needed to pull off of the highway and come to a stop.
Like you said, maybe others will learn and be ready for something that may happen, or may not ever happen.

Cloud_Dancer
Explorer II
Explorer II
rgatijnet1 wrote:
If you get a front wheel blow out, like I have had, you may find that your cruise control shuts off. I don't know if it is because of one of the electronic sensors or what but my cruise control shut off with a blow out.
Of course everyone drives with their cruise control but they also have the steering wheel in their hands and their feet near the brake and throttle.
Hitting the throttle for me is not intuition, it is training and experience, which all of us that drive RV's gain with every mile that we drive. Obviously you cannot train for every emergency that might come up, but like I did with my airplanes, I watched examples and read information about what to do in certain situations. Much like watching a tire blow out video is not like the real thing, but it should condition you to make the right decision if it ever does happen to you.


OK, somebody please explain exactly what kind of sensor would trigger my cruise control to shut off IN THE FIRST 4 SECONDS of a blowout event. My Allegro didn't have one, my Vectra didn't have one, my GMC doesn't have one, my previous Cadillac didn't have one, and I will call Spartan to ask them about my Dutch Star.
Further more, you and I are not concerned about us. Speaking for myself, I not in the least worried about a blowout tire event in our vehicles (except for the high cost of repairs to the damage that it does on the vehicle).
What we need to do is keep on trying to help those RV drivers who believe that somehow an outside source comes in an takes the steering wheel out of your control.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat

rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Explorer III
If you get a front wheel blow out, like I have had, you may find that your cruise control shuts off. I don't know if it is because of one of the electronic sensors or what but my cruise control shut off with a blow out.
Of course everyone drives with their cruise control but they also have the steering wheel in their hands and their feet near the brake and throttle.
Hitting the throttle for me is not intuition, it is training and experience, which all of us that drive RV's gain with every mile that we drive. Obviously you cannot train for every emergency that might come up, but like I did with my airplanes, I watched examples and read information about what to do in certain situations. Much like watching a tire blow out video is not like the real thing, but it should condition you to make the right decision if it ever does happen to you.

Cloud_Dancer
Explorer II
Explorer II
rgatijnet1 wrote:
Anyone that was driving back in the 50's and 60's had to deal with tire blow outs on a fairly regular basis. Brand new tires were only warranted for 12 months or 12,000 miles. Poor people like me had to buy recaps and blow outs and tread separation were a common occurrence.
I was always taught that momentarily accelerating when a tire blows is the best course of action. I guess I am still here, having never wrecked a vehicle because of that lesson. Even when I raced motorcycles, accelerating when in trouble is usually the best way to regain some control.
This does not mean that you accelerate an additional 50 MPH. It means that you use the throttle to maintain speed, in spite of the increased drag caused by a flat tire, until you can slowly decelerate and steer to a safe stop.
The main thing to do is not panic and have a knee jerk reaction when you hear the big bang. Anticipating bad things is the best way to be ready to deal with it when/if it occurs. Sometimes stuff just happens.


Are you aware that on the open road most of us use our cruise control? Heck, there's no intuition to jump on the throttle when a tire blows out. It makes a lot more sense to me to simply leave it on cruise control and attend to the most important thing, THE STEERING WHEEL. It sure works for me and my rig. I've got an engine that puts out 1,050 lbs/ft of torque. And, the cruise control does an excellent job of maintaining my cruise speed, while I give it hell with the steering wheel. Works for me.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat

rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Explorer III
Anyone that was driving back in the 50's and 60's had to deal with tire blow outs on a fairly regular basis. Brand new tires were only warranted for 12 months or 12,000 miles. Poor people like me had to buy recaps and blow outs and tread separation were a common occurrence.
I was always taught that momentarily accelerating when a tire blows is the best course of action. I guess I am still here, having never wrecked a vehicle because of that lesson. Even when I raced motorcycles, accelerating when in trouble is usually the best way to regain some control.
This does not mean that you accelerate an additional 50 MPH. It means that you use the throttle to maintain speed, in spite of the increased drag caused by a flat tire, until you can slowly decelerate and steer to a safe stop.
The main thing to do is not panic and have a knee jerk reaction when you hear the big bang. Anticipating bad things is the best way to be ready to deal with it when/if it occurs. Sometimes stuff just happens.

Cloud_Dancer
Explorer II
Explorer II
Yellowboat. wrote:
Perhaps a steering damper (Safe-T-Steer, or other brand) might ha e made a difference.


Non of the present devices have artificial intelligence.
Whenever a front tire fails, in order save lives, THE STEERING WHEEL HAS to be correctly TURNED, immediately. THEN, the steering wheel has to be commanded such that the motorhome will remain in its proper lane.
Then, the motorhome has to be commanded to slow down AND safely steered to the side of the road.
We are developing driverless cars. Why isn't anybody asking what they do whenever a front tire suddenly fails?
Why doesn't anyone produce a new version of the Michelin/Anderson video (updated version). Why don't we have adequate simulators which are programmed to simulate a front tire blowout? We already have intelligent humans who are capable of learning. Right now, the problem is us.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat

Ivylog
Explorer III
Explorer III
1320Fastback wrote:
Edelbrock as in the aftermarket high performance car parts Edelbrock?

No, had a excavation company. The trailer appears to be a cargo trailer converted to a bunkhouse. Hard to believe the entire house separated from the chassis of a Beaver.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
Sold 04 Dynasty to our son after 14 great years.
Upgraded with a 08 HR Navigator 45’...

Yellowboat_
Explorer
Explorer
Perhaps a steering damper (Safe-T-Steer, or other brand) might ha e made a difference.
2016 Winnebago Sightseer 33C on a 2016 Ford F53 Chassis
2009 Saturn VUE
Buddy our Bichon Frise
JD & Kathy

mike_brez
Explorer
Explorer
1320Fastback wrote:
On the left side of the picture, the gelteman in the red suspenders, is he standing on the chassis floor?


Yep
1998 36 foot Country Coach Magna #5499 Single slide
Gillig chassis with a series 40
02 Ford F250 7.3 with a few mods
2015 Wrangler JKU

1320Fastback
Explorer
Explorer
On the left side of the picture, the gelteman in the red suspenders, is he standing on the chassis floor?
1992 D250 Cummins 5psd
2005 Forest River T26 Toy Hauler

1320Fastback
Explorer
Explorer
Edelbrock as in the aftermarket high performance car parts Edelbrock?
1992 D250 Cummins 5psd
2005 Forest River T26 Toy Hauler

JaxDad
Explorer III
Explorer III
Maybe it’s just me, but one line from that story caught my eye.

“The 40-foot 2007 Beaver motorhome, which was pulling a trailer, was occupied by nine members of the Edelbrock family of Snohomish County.”

I can’t say I’ve ever seen a motorhome with seatbelts for NINE people. I wonder if some of those that didn’t fare too well weren’t buckled in when this happened.

DiskDoctr
Explorer
Explorer
Hold solid, small adjustments, avoid what you can, put the 'meat' (strongest points of the frame) where you need it. Pray.

No guarantees. Prayers for the family and all affected.