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10-21-2020, 03:54 PM #1
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Oops, trees don't move for campers!
Hi all,
Just thought I'd share a little mishap we had 2 trips ago. We were visiting relatives and staying in a KOA that looked to have been a former pine tree plantation. The sites were skinny with lots and lots of trees and one way roads. When we went to leave we weren't even close to being able to make the turn out of the site. Thankfully the people across from us had left, so back and forth I go pulling foreword and backing up, trying to maneuver the camper in very tight quarters. After a number of times back and forth I thought I had cleared everything. I was turning to my left and couldn't see the back right of the camper and I misjudged my clearance. I ended up brushing heavily against a tree. Thankfully the tree was leaning away and I only caught the bottom of the camper. $2600 later we will have a new outside kitchen door and a new long piece of 14" material between the back end and the slide.
It could be much worse and we still have been able to use it. My real frustration is that the trees had no limbs or foliage until quite a ways up, so they offered no privacy. I think they could stand to lose a few of them.Last edited by Timmer; 10-21-2020 at 04:05 PM.
Timmer
2020 Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS
2015 Ford F350, 6.2L Gas, Crew Cab
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10-21-2020, 04:04 PM #2
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- Columbia MD
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Ouch! Hate when that happens. Glad to see you're on track for repairs.
Just curious, is that something insurance would cover, or is it not worth the bother.
Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD
2017 308BHTS
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10-21-2020, 04:07 PM #3
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10-21-2020, 04:15 PM #4
FYI - if you're a handy DIYer, you can get the material and repair easily for far less. The J-wrap is cheap, it's the freight that hurts. Same with the door. Outside of that, R&R is pretty easy to do. Just needs time and patience.
Glad you only received cosmetic damage. When I was recently at the GD Factory Service Center, there was a brand new Solitude in for a complete wall and roof replacement after a tree would not get out of the owner's way on the inaugural camping trip... That is a huge bill on the insurance, and the folks were super nice and so upset.Last edited by geotex1; 10-21-2020 at 04:17 PM.
Rob & Nikki + Cloverfield
2020 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 3350RL
2015 RAM 3500 Longhorn Laramie Crew Cab, Long Bed, 4x4 Dually Cummins/AISIN
Mountains of Pennsylvania
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10-21-2020, 04:38 PM #5
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I'm moderately to fairly handy. The wife is the CFO/COO of the household. She did look into getting the parts but there was some sort of issue with the decals. I don't know if it was that she couldn't get them or if the dealer said they were hard to put on or what. All I know was that it was decided we were bringing it in!
Here in MN we have a bridge heading into Wisconsin just north of the Twin Cities that we have heard has been the doom of many a camper. An acquaintance took his AC units off his new camper on his inaugural camper trip just this last spring. On this very trip where we hit the tree, we went under the bridge for the first time with this camper. We checked on the way out of town and we could get through, but it seemed close. I held my breath a bit going under it. Thankfully, we were watching signs on the way back and realized it was a much shorter clearance on the inside lane heading back. We had to take the alternative route around the bridge. That would have been serious insult to injury if we had assumed we could go under it on they way back because we were able to on the way out. We would have added at least AC damage, if not roof damage, to match the new damage to our side!Last edited by Timmer; 10-21-2020 at 04:43 PM.
Timmer
2020 Grand Design Reflection 312BHTS
2015 Ford F350, 6.2L Gas, Crew Cab
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10-21-2020, 10:25 PM #6
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I feel everyone's pain. I attempted to use my 3 week old 2020 Solitude 372WB as a cleaver on my garage overhang after our inaugural trip two weeks ago when parking. I fixed the garage but the new toy is heading to the dealership for repairs. $500 deductible and Lord knows what the insurance will pay. I'm mortified this happened, for almost 5 years I have been backing my Alpenlite 34RL and then a Heartland Big Country into this same spot without mishap. It just really stinks.
2020 Solitude 372WB
2017 F350 Superduty 4x4, Heavy Duty Tow Package
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Belle, Golden Retriever (rescue)
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10-22-2020, 08:02 AM #7
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So easy to do. My first 5th wheel back in 1999 we were driving around a campground loop looking for a spot when I suddenly was forced to a stop. We weren’t going fast at all. 1-2 mph as I recall. Since it didn’t seem that I hit anything, like a moron I pushed on the gas and moved forward a few feet then stopped again. Finally got out and found a lone branch hanging over the rig, buried deep into the rubber roof. 6 feet tear and the rig still had temp tags on it. Live and learn.
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2016 Ram 2500 Cummins
Andersen ultimate
2020 GD 31MB
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2016 Ram 2500 Cummins
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10-22-2020, 09:43 AM #8
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11-04-2020, 05:16 PM #9
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11-04-2020, 06:46 PM #10
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@Timmer I feel your pain, not that I ever hit a tree, but they were in my way...
https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/show...the-Tail-Swing!
Doo doo often occurs, get'r fixed and enjoy!
John2018 Silverado LTZ 3500HD CC LB 4X4 DRW Duramax/Allison
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MSgt, USAF (Ret)
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25G fresh water capacity?
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