Ouch! I Hit It

[romap]

Ouch, that really hurt just to see the pictures. I can only imagine the feeling in the pit of your stomach. Sorry that it happened.

[safari57]

John, what a lousy thing to happen. At least you are close enough to Airstream to get the trailer in for repairs.

I'm going through the learning curve with my wife as she has taken on the driving chores. She's learning, but I'm still providing "co-pilot awareness", the new term I'm using this week to try to justify all my gasps and grabbing of the dash. It is a learning curve for her as I've always done the driving, particularly when towing.

She is doing a good job of it, and I'll make sure she sees the pictures of your boo boo so she knows it also happens to those who have been doing this for a long time.

Good luck with the repairs. In the end, with JC doing the work, you know it will look as good if not better than before.

Barry

[breakaway]

I want to thank everyone for the words of support. I’m not beating myself up anymore, I just miss my Airstream.
It has been two weeks since I took the Excella to Jackson Center; the repair estimate is now with the insurance company. I’m not comfortable in sharing the estimate but let me just say WOW. I will tell you that there are 500 Olympic rivets and a window required to make the repair.
So now I wait to find out what the insurance company says.

[Aerowood]

Is there damage to the window that I cannot see in the picture, or am I missing something for a new window?

[dufferin]

From the images you see that if the window wasn't touch it is close enough to have the frame bended... I am not sure but it sounds like that.

[breakaway]

The window has a very deep scratch caused by the Zip-Dee support arm. You can just see the scratch in upper right corner of the window.

[safari57]

John

There's nothing much one can do for Airstream withdrawal, or Airstream homesickness, other than maybe go find one on a lot and walk around it for a bit, kick the tires gently, and maybe sneak in a hug or two when the lot person isn't looking. If none are available that way perhaps there's one in someone's driveway and if you pingpanged on the door and told them your dilemma and asked if you could just hug theirs for a moment I'm sure they would understand.

If nothing like that is around there are other alternatives - milk and gasoline tankers are typically polished aluminum or stainless - just be careful they don't run over you while you are attempting a hug - best to find one parked somewhere rather than out on the highway. Oh yeah, truckers can be as possessive of their rigs as we Airstreamers so you may want to ask for permission first.

Other potential surrogates would be a Quonset, grain or corn bins, large propane tanks could be an alternative to an Argosy, and who knows what else you might find that has a similar shape. Ummmm, perhaps you should stay away from the similarly shaped but a tad messy liquid manure spreaders that seem to be common in the farm fields, but there are many other farm oriented things that could help to fill the bill for a few days.

By the way, you may just want to carry a copy of this posting with you so when that nice state trooper comes up and asks you what the heck you are doing you can prove you are NOT a tad off the rocker, just in aluminum withdrawal mode. Perhaps that nice fellow will let you buy him a donut and coffee and listen for a half hour or three while you wax poetic about your baby being locked away out of your reach. If not, I'm sure the judge will be very sympathetic.

I hope it's fixed quickly and you can get back to a normal life. I hate waiting for insurance companies to make decisions. Why can't they just say yes or no as soon as they get the estimate? It's not like it's from some back yard repair guy who's never seen an Airstream before, this is from the mother ship.

Barry

[SteSpot]

What a bummer. But, thank you so much for sharing your mishap.....I am sure that by doing so you will prevent one of us from doing the same thing.....I am sure it was not easy posting the pictures and taking responsibility for the mishap. I just showed your post to my husband and hopefully we will avoid your mistake......at any rate we don't live anywhere near Jackson Center so that is not an option for us although C & G in Bellflower, CA may be just as good.....take care and our best that your repair is a painless as possible, paula

[mello mike]

Man, that sucks. I notice accidents like this usually happen after being on the road all day, at least my close calls have. Fatigue sets in after a long day, and....oooops.

[LLB21]

I have seen the metal work C&G does. Amazing. Better than new!

They only service Airstreams and their good reputation is well known all over the U.S.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Inland RV Center, is known through out the planet for the metal work and extreme customizing of the Airstream products.

Our latest creation was a makeover that started with a contest.

Last fall, for the CNN 34 foot Airstream trailer, we did all the structural changes, some of which were adding a rear door, moving the front to the back, adding an 8 foot extension to the galley top, adding 2 horizontal, side by side, 26 inch high by 48 inch wide pass thru doors at window height.

This unit traveled part of the country during last falls political campaigns, and will do so this fall as well.

Andy

[sd90mac]

John,
Hang n there, it's gonna be okay. If you need to hug a coach, you would be very welcome in Florida and you can hug Bertha.

Little Boo Boo's happen to all of us, and we really feel for you.

Take care and don't fret to much, you didn't do it on purpose, and we all know it.

Marie

[vswingfield]

Wow Andy,

It looks like it needs a thread of its own. My complements.

Vaugan

[breakaway]

GMAC has agreed to pay the full WOW amount. It took a while to finalize the repair costs due to the requirement to have a local appraiser to review the Airstream estimate. Our GMAC representative has been outstanding. The check is in the mail and now I just need to give Airstream my blessing to begin repairs.

I want to thank each of you who have sent me best wishes. Truly it means a lot.

[53flyingcloud]

John,
Just curious..
If you don't mind my asking..What was the total for repairs?
53FC

[safari57]

Originally Posted by breakaway

GMAC has agreed to pay the full WOW amount. It took a while to finalize the repair costs due to the requirement to have a local appraiser to review the Airstream estimate. Our GMAC representative has been outstanding. The check is in the mail and now I just need to give Airstream my blessing to begin repairs.

I want to thank each of you who have sent me best wishes. Truly it means a lot.

Congratulations. What a tremendous relief for you. It is nice when good things happen after a rotten experience.

Barry

[breakaway]

Work started today at the Airstream factory. Airstream projects the work will take two or three weeks. The final cost for repairs is just a little over $10,000 dollars. I must have hit the sweet spot!!
The price includes $295 dollars worth of Olympic Rivets!!!

[SaabLover]

Ouch!!! Good thing you know the Gecko.

2.5 times more than I paid for mine. And that is for a momentary laps in direction.

[clancy_boy]

Originally Posted by breakaway

Work started today at the Airstream factory. Airstream projects the work will take two or three weeks. The final cost for repairs is just a little over $10,000 dollars. I must have hit the sweet spot!!
The price includes $295 dollars worth of Olympic Rivets!!!

Cha Ching $$$$$$$$$ Are those Gold Rivits?????? Glad it will be repaired by pros. Post Some Pics of the completed job.

Mike

[azflycaster]

$295 for rivets. Wow!
Andy sells them at his site 100 for $20 ($19.95)
Thats 20 cents each
$295 divided by $0.20 = 1475
1475 is alot of rivets

Tell your repair folks to buy rivets from Andy.