This afternoon I stopped along I-70 in Utah to help out a fellow camper. She had a shredded tire on her new to her Rockwood A-frame. She had just installed new tires on the unit about 50 miles before heading out for a 2 week trip.
According to her, the tire exploded and that started the trailer swaying and she said that she was lucky to not end up in the ditch. The damage to the trailer was extensive. The plastic wheel well was destroyed, the floor of the camper had a hole about a foot wide and three feet long toward the rear of the camper, the welded on frame extension that goes to the side of the camper was bent 90 degrees from its normal position, the inside of the cabinet above the wheel well was torn apart, the gas line to the outdoor stove connection was smashed, most of the wiring for the entire trailer goes through that cabinet and the wires were wrapped around the wheel.
Since the wires were shredded anyway, I cut them away from carnage to get things cleaned up. I had to unwrap the copper gas line from around the wheel. I used a ratcheting tie down strap to straighten the bent frame member because it would have hit the new time.
I could not believe that her stop/turn signals still worked and so did her electric brakes.
After only 90 minutes, I had things cleaned up enough that she could limp back home or wherever she decided to go.
I informed her that I would take it back to the RV sales place that installed her new tires and try to get some of her repairs covered.
As a result of spending 90 minutes along the road helping her, I got into Moab at 6:30 pm and found most campsites full. I stopped at Moab Rim Campground and they had an overflow site available without any hookups. I was telling him about the afternoon and he let me stay the first night for free and I was able to get an electric only site for tomorrow night. I guess karma liked me today.
Bob & Dawn Married 34 years
2017 Viking 17RD
2011 Ford F150 3.5L Ecoboost 420 lb/ft
Retired
