Grounded!

[whjco]

We bought a new 2019 Forest River Cherokee 274vfk and only got to use it five nights last year before we had to put it away for the winter. Several weeks ago, a tree fell on our 2015 Ram CTD. The estimate for repairs is $9800 and it will have a new center roof section installed and it will be at least three more weeks before it's repaired.

In the meantime, I can at least look at the new travel trailer sitting in the driveway even if I don't have a tow vehicle to pull it anywhere.

I miss my truck! 🙂

Bill J., Lexington, KY

[LIKE2BUILD]

whjco wrote:
....a tree fell on our 2015 Ram CTD. The estimate for repairs is $9800 and it will have a new center roof section installed and it will be at least three more weeks before it's repaired.

Bummer. I've worried about massive damage and/or getting my truck totaled. I'm sure I'd get a decent amount for it from the insurance company but probably not enough to replace it without having to borrow money on top of the pay out. So, I drive gingerly and watch out for every idiot.

[whjco]

naturist wrote:
From time to time I have the chance to point out that there are no guarantees of anything in the future. At any moment a bus (or meteorite or tree) can fall out of the sky on any of us. I’m glad the tree landed on your truck rather than on you, although it would have been nice if it had missed the truck, too. Go forth, young man, and seize this extra day you’ve been granted.

Thanks so much for the "young man" complement and carpe diem is the theme of the day! I grew up in the town of Brandenburg, Ky which then had a population of about 1500 people. On April 3, 1974 we were hit by the only F5 tornado to ever touch down in Kentucky. It took half of our town and killed 31 of our neighbors. After dealing with the aftermath of that, our recent damage is quite insignificant. As bad as it was in Brandenburg, the goodness that I saw it bring out in people during the time following the disaster has helped me maintain my faith in God and in humanity.

Odd that you'd mention a bus. Our little antique 1971 Dodge/Thomas "Mighty Mite" bus was parked next to the Ram and it actually took the brunt of the hit. It has a dent in the top of the body, the right front corner of the body is bashed and and the red flasher light assembly knocked off and the hood was crushed. Thankfully, a friend located a really nice hood that was stored in a barn in Jamestown, TN. The hood was going to be the hardest part to find so we're off to a good start in getting the little bus fixed. In mid-April we'll be taking the bus back to Lexington, NC to the shop where it was restored. They do custom work for Thomas-Built Bus and will be able to get it fixed up.

And I always tell folks that we need to take each day the good Lord give us and makes the best of it! Thanks for sharing your faith.

Bill J., Lexington, KY

[whjco]

ksss wrote:
Perhaps it was divine intervention. Perhaps He wants you to correct your past mistake and visit your GM dealer while your Ram is in the hospital. I think He wants you in a Duramax! The Lord works in mysterious ways.

I actually like all of the offerings of the HD pickups from the big three. I had two Ford diesels with the 7.3 but when I saw that the later models had to have the cab removed to do even moderate work to the engine, it was a deal breaker. Also in doing comparison shopping, my comparably equipped Ram was about $11,000 less than a similarly equipped Ford or GM pickup.

I grew up a Chevy guy and still have the '65 Chevy BelAir that mom bought new and in which I got my driver's license. I also have owned 5 Suburbans over the years and moved to a used 7.3 diesel Ford Excursion when they started downsizing the Suburbans. I must confess that I never really liked Dodge trucks, but my best friend who has two law enforcement retirements keeps busy escorting pharmaceutical shipments and their escort vehicles are pickup trucks. He told me that the Ram is the toughest one to get because everyone grabs them first. I expressed my surprise that anyone would have picked the Ram first, but he said that they, by far, had the nicest cab interior and drove the best. Then my brother bought a Ram 1500 for his daily driver and loves it. I then started looking seriously at the Ram and doing some research on the Cummins engine and really liked what I saw. And our local dealer, Freedom Dodge, Jeep, Ram has really taken great care of me the past 4 years I have owned the vehicle.

While I certainly don't have anything against the Chevy/GMC pickups, I'm thoroughly happy with my Ram. I just wish that it had the ability to jump out of the way when a tree starts falling toward it. 🙂

[whjco]

azrving wrote:
Oh no that's not good since they are often times not the same after repair.

It should be okay. The tree hit the center section of the roof just at the windshield. It broke out the windshield and bent the top of the windshield frame and put several dents in the center section of the roof. They're going to remove the center section of the roof at the gutters and replace it which means that the door pillars won't be touched. There was a small dent in the hood and branches scratched up the paint. Thankfully, there was no mechanical damage of any kind.

[whjco]

ACZL wrote:
Well I hope at least you cut up the tree for fire/camp wood. Sorry to hear about your trucks mishap.

I let them haul the wood away. If I use my fireplace insert, it adds a substantial amount to my homeowner's insurance.

[whjco]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Sounds like a great opportunity for some 'driveway camping'

Unfortunately, it's parked next to the fence and I can't get the slide out. Otherwise, it's a great idea. 🙂

[naturist]

From time to time I have the chance to point out that there are no guarantees of anything in the future. At any moment a bus (or meteorite or tree) can fall out of the sky on any of us. I’m glad the tree landed on your truck rather than on you, although it would have been nice if it had missed the truck, too. Go forth, young man, and seize this extra day you’ve been granted.

[ksss]

Perhaps it was divine intervention. Perhaps He wants you to correct your past mistake and visit your GM dealer while your Ram is in the hospital. I think He wants you in a Duramax! The Lord works in mysterious ways.

[ACZL]

Well I hope at least you cut up the tree for fire/camp wood. Sorry to hear about your trucks mishap.

[Old-Biscuit]

Sounds like a great opportunity for some 'driveway camping'

[azrving]

Oh no that's not good since they are often times not the same after repair.

[Lwiddis]

That’s terrible. Good fortune in the future!

[whjco]

arkie_camper wrote:
WOW, hate to hear that. Hope no one was hurt.

Thanks. No injuries, just a busted up pickup, a busted up antique '71 Dodge/Thomas bus and holes in the garage roof.

[arkie_camper]

WOW, hate to hear that. Hope no one was hurt.