Wolf Creek 850 roll over story

[anutami]

Well, Since I opened this can of worms here is the entire story.

First let me say I have been a long time truck camper owner and I am no rookie. I have gone trough several truck campers. I recently had an article published in truckcampermagazine.com about me and my family
Here is some more background on who I am and how long I have been truck camping.

http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/camper-lifestyle/four-season-truck-camping-in-southern-california

If you read the article you can see in the pictures I used the same tie down system with both the Northstar Laredo and Eagle Cap 800.

The week before Christmas I was driving home from a great camping trip in the anza borrego desert (trip report here http://www.anzaborrego.net/anzaborrego/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=694 and was traveling on BLM land road named EC085. I was traveling at approx 25 mph on a straight section of the road, when a strong gust of wind came up and caused the camper to become separated from my truck and rolled over the truck bed rail! The road was also a bit bumpy but not too bad. I had my 6 year old son Brett and 8 year old daughter Brenna in the truck with me. It is a miracle we are all okay. The crazy part of the situation is I did not really feel the truck do a huge sway or anything. It was my daughter in the backseat who said "dad the camper just fell off". Upon further inspection I noticed the cause of the camper becoming separated from the truck was my Wolf Creek was manufactured with a spliced in piece of plywood where the front passenger anchors are installed and this spliced plywood separated from the skirt. When the front tie down became separated I noticed my bumper was tweaked a bit upward and believe the rear tie down became separated by pulling up on my bumper. Before starting to travel on EC085 I called my wife to tell her we were going to stay one more night. Knowing I was about to be driving about 20 miles on a dirt road I specifically checked all my spring loaded turnbuckles to make sure they were nice and hand tight snug. I am fully aware of keeping the turnbuckles hand tight and not using a tool to tighten them down.

Here are some pics from the incident

The spot where I called my wife took a pic and checked the tie downs


The spot where the camper rolled out


My wolf creek in the middle of the desert. Notice the turnbuckle still attached


closer look at splice




My truck








The torn off jack


Underside separation


Nose cap damage


rescued by Dickerson Towing








Moderator edit: Please note, maximum photo width=640.

[Reality_Check]

grizzly8 wrote:
SAME THING IS HAPPENING ON MY 2012 WOLFCREEK 850 LB I HAVE CALLED NORTHWOOD ABOUT FIXING IT AND THEY SAID ITS UP TO MY DEALER.WELL MY DEALER DIDNT BUILD THE CAMPER,GOT THE RUN AROUND FOR THE 7TH TIME .NORTHWOOD IS JUNK TELL EVERY 1 TO BEWARE.MINE IS NOT SAFE TO HAUL.AND NOT PAID FOR YET UNREAL DONT KNOW WHAT TODO.

Please, stop the yelling...

Ok, so did you take it to the dealer yet? I dare say, when my new trucks have warranty work needed, I don't take them to Detroit.

"insert joke here"

Thought for the day: Breath in.... breath out.... repeat as needed.


Edited because I hurt someones feelings.

[grizzly8]

SAME THING IS HAPPENING ON MY 2012 WOLFCREEK 850 LB I HAVE CALLED NORTHWOOD ABOUT FIXING IT AND THEY SAID ITS UP TO MY DEALER.WELL MY DEALER DIDNT BUILD THE CAMPER,GOT THE RUN AROUND FOR THE 7TH TIME .NORTHWOOD IS JUNK TELL EVERY 1 TO BEWARE.MINE IS NOT SAFE TO HAUL.AND NOT PAID FOR YET UNREAL DONT KNOW WHAT TODO.

[bighatnohorse]

A superior method of tie down construction was developed and used in the SnowRiver campers.

A single flat steel plate tiedown approximately five feet long was attached to the length of the camper frame on each side.


Those with better memories and search skills might find the photo of the truck and SnowRiver camper that rolled over and the camper was still attached to the camper.

The tiedown construction used in Woof Creek, Lance, Arctic Fox and others is antiquated. SnowRiver was ahead of it's time.

[GWolfe]

Well he did mention in his post that there were some exterior scratches.

[anutami]

Looks like my Wolf Creek has been restored and listed for sale on craigslist. I was curious to see what would happen to it. I wonder if the guy selling this will disclose it was purchased at auction and deemed a total loss. My restored Wolf Creek

[Reddog1]

bka0721 wrote:

Jfet is making his own camper. He has the long Flatbed build going.

It is good when one recognizes a weak area and makes the needed corrections. To bad the National Manufacturers cannot build something better.

b

You are assuming mounting the TC solid to the truck bed is better. There are many things to consider, with the overall framing at the top of the list.

It was very common for people to bolt the TCs through the floor to the bed in the 60's and 70's. I do not remember the last time I have seen it done. My TC is a 1988, and has seen many miles. I see no benefit in bolting it to the bed of my truck. I think if I were to consider doing that, I would go to a Class C and have more room.

[bka0721]

Reddog1 wrote:

Jfet wrote:

Reddog1 wrote:
I am kinda amused by some of the posts. Have you ever really looked at how your tie-down brackets are installed on your TC.

Yep, I have looked.

Our manufacturer used 1/4" welded steel angle tiedowns wrapped and welded directly to the steel frame.

And who was the manufacture?

Wayne

Jfet is making his own camper. He has the long Flatbed build going.

It is good when one recognizes a weak area and makes the needed corrections. To bad the National Manufacturers cannot build something better.

b

[anutami]

Looks like somebody bought My Wolfcreek 850 at auction because I just saw it headed north on the 15 freeway into temecula ca!!

[Reddog1]

Jfet wrote:

Reddog1 wrote:
I am kinda amused by some of the posts. Have you ever really looked at how your tie-down brackets are installed on your TC.

Yep, I have looked.

Our manufacturer used 1/4" welded steel angle tiedowns wrapped and welded directly to the steel frame.

And who was the manufacture?

Wayne

[Jfet]

Reddog1 wrote:
I am kinda amused by some of the posts. Have you ever really looked at how your tie-down brackets are installed on your TC.

Yep, I have looked.

Our manufacturer used 1/4" welded steel angle tiedowns wrapped and welded directly to the steel frame.

[anutami]

Grodyman wrote:
Hey anutami,
Let's see some pics when you get your camper! Did you get the rollover sofa or the dinette? I was seriously considering this model before I landed on the Lance 830 with rear tent. It has larger holding tanks and two propane tanks I believe.

Gman

Thats funny because I almost bought a 1040d in orange county, but the outside was hammered with rust because of the ocean air. I like the dinette better because it seems to have more room for the family to sit around, it has a storage cabinet that fits a case of bottled water/beer nicely, and I use the cushions for a blockade for the bunk so my son doesn't roll off during the night.

I had started to put the small dinette cushion against the small hinged rail I made up (I don't have a pic where they were installed)

[deltabravo]

Truck looks nice with the new bed on it - I had no idea that the body lines were the same on the older and new Super Duty trucks.

Apache Camping center is a great dealership to work with. I bought my AF811 from their Tacoma store.

[Grodyman]

Hey anutami,
Let's see some pics when you get your camper! Did you get the rollover sofa or the dinette? I was seriously considering this model before I landed on the Lance 830 with rear tent. It has larger holding tanks and two propane tanks I believe.

Gman

[Rbertalotto]

Good for you! Sounds like they are taking care of you. Good Luck with it!

[abslayer]

BradW wrote:

Mello Mike wrote:
So in this case a frame-mounted tie down on the rear probably would have saved this camper from going airborne.

Maybe. Or maybe the rear camper tie-down eyelet may have failed.

Regardless, I wasn’t there and I ain’t go no video evidence, but I don’t find it credible that a violent camper ejection like this was all cause by a crosswind while driving at only 25 mph. JMO.

Brad

Took the words right out of my mouth:h