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Old 10-01-2015, 11:45 AM   #21
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The Woodlands , Texas
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The first time out in the Airstream, we camped in a Texas state park. We had purchased the camper two months prior and due to work commitments had not been able to use it until that weekend. There was only a slight chance of rain over the weekend, and as we really wanted to try out the new trailer, we were not put off by the forecast. Of course it rained like a monsoon that evening. The skylight, other parts of the roof, and back window leaked like they had never been subjected to any type of sealant.

On drying the floor back at home the next day, we saw that the floor by the back window had peeled up. Upon further inspection we noticed that the subfloor 1/3rd of the length of the trailer was soaked, rotted, and had been injected with epoxy to hide the damage and keep the floor solid. This experience led me to almost giving on the Airstream after one night. I was ready to put it on EBay with all issues disclosed and take a big loss.

Several thousand dollars in repairs later, we have a sealed roof, new sub floor, and new flooring, and have enjoyed many outings. From reading these forums I was aware of water issues but did not fully understand what to look for. And did we learn what an issue water can be! Lesson learned here, never trust the PO when they insist a camper does not leak, never has leaked, etc, and hire a third party to help with the inspection!

At least the first time out was the worst time out, and I hope it stays that way!
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Old 10-01-2015, 01:35 PM   #22
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Old 10-01-2015, 02:42 PM   #23
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Old 10-01-2015, 02:55 PM   #24
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While crossing the Confederation Bridge from Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick in 2013, my freshwater tank, pan and 50 gallons of water fell to the pavement between the axles of my 2007 Classic Limited. The tank and water was being pulled along by the pipes. The timing was inconvenient since the bridge is eight miles of one lane each way with no shoulders and no stopping -- 2500 miles from home.

With the help of a very kind bridge patrol officer, we unhooked or cut all the pipes and hoses, drained the tank into the ocean and threw it on the bed of our truck.

That afternoon in Halifax, I bought a PEX crimper and a handful fittings and patched together the pipes under the trailer to allow use of campground water.

I carried the tank to the nearest dealership -- in Lebanon, Maine -- where the service department took a full day to repair the plumbing and remount the tank.

We've had many other 'disasters' but that one sticks in my mind.
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Old 10-01-2015, 03:36 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wanderer2604 View Post
While crossing the Confederation Bridge from Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick in 2013, my freshwater tank, pan and 50 gallons of water fell to the pavement between the axles of my 2007 Classic Limited. The tank and water was being pulled along by the pipes. The timing was inconvenient since the bridge is eight miles of one lane each way with no shoulders and no stopping -- 2500 miles from home.

With the help of a very kind bridge patrol officer, we unhooked or cut all the pipes and hoses, drained the tank into the ocean and threw it on the bed of our truck.

That afternoon in Halifax, I bought a PEX crimper and a handful fittings and patched together the pipes under the trailer to allow use of campground water.

I carried the tank to the nearest dealership -- in Lebanon, Maine -- where the service department took a full day to repair the plumbing and remount the tank.

We've had many other 'disasters' but that one sticks in my mind.

Wow, that one is a dandy! For some reason I am always overly concerned about causing inconvenience for others (For example, I can't understand why so many people in cashier lineups wait until presented with a figure of the amount that they owe before they start looking for their wallet or credit card - something I would never consider doing!)

For that reason, the thought of having an equipment breakdown on a causeway is something I dread! More for the problems I would cause to others than for my own misfortune!

My wife cannot understand my concern about these things - she is probably right!

Presume you had all the traffic substantially backed up while trying to get the tank out from under the trailer?


I haven't really had any disasters (touch wood) yet with our towing. The nearest I came was when backing into a site at Watkins Glen State Park a few years ago.

I had the trailer almost backed onto the site when I noticed a Park Ranger approaching our truck. I thought maybe I was on the wrong site so I stopped and got out to meet and talk to him as he approached.

Somehow I neglected to put the truck in park and managed to put in neutral instead - don't recall ever doing that before!

I had taken a couple of steps away from the truck towards the Ranger when he shouted and pointed at our rig.

Turning, I saw truck and trailer rolling backwards further into the site - my good lady wife who was at the back of the trailer was also shouting at me in a panic!

Luckily I had left the truck door open when I exited, and spurred by a burst of adrenalin leapt back into the drivers seat and jammed my foot on the brake.

My wife summoned me to the back of our trailer - it had stopped no more than two inches from a very substantial tree!

The Ranger just wanted to welcome us to the park! The rest of our stay went fine!


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Old 10-01-2015, 04:10 PM   #26
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On a recent trip to Red Rocks in Colorado to see a concert I was long boarding around the campground, hit some sand on the paved road in a corner and took a tumble. This was a few hours before the concert. My wife, Nance, took me to the closest urgent care and found out I had a displaced 5th metatarsal in my right foot.

The doctor told me to follow up with an orthopedic doctor when I got home to determine if I needed surgery. I asked the doctor if I could go to the concert and he said it wasn't going to get more broken. So we got a pair of crutches and went to a great concert, Diana Krall and Pink Martini.

The next day Nance had to hook up the trailer, dump the tanks, etc. and drive 5 hours back to Taos, NM. She had never driven while towing the trailer and she did it like a pro!

Turns out I needed surgery to put two screws in. This was 7weeks ago and I just graduated from crutches to a cane but I will be in a walking boot for another 3 weeks.
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Old 10-01-2015, 04:35 PM   #27
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I can't understand why so many people in cashier lineups wait until presented with a figure of the amount that they owe before they start looking for their wallet or credit card - something I would never consider doing!)

Some people stand there with checkbook and pen- could've written the date, store name, and signature, but wait for the total to begin writing anything. Sometimes they look around for the name of the store or ask the cashier where they are/how to "make it out"- they don't even wonder or question until the total is given.
My wife says it is so they can watch every item scanned and verify that it rings up at the right price. That's all well and good, but... Quit using paper checks and get a debit card!


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Old 10-01-2015, 04:59 PM   #28
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Mhoney, is that the worst thing that's happened to you while camping/towing (thread topic), or did you just need to get that off your mind.

;o) ;o)
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Old 10-01-2015, 05:59 PM   #29
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Very first night camping in an Airstream, fall of '06, we'd travelled to southern Missouri (alright, we spent the first night in my mother-in laws driveway near St Louis - that doesn't count). Campground manager comes around to warn us that they are turning the water off, as there is a serious freeze expected that night. That's okay, we think, we have water, heat, & wine. The temp drops outside, and the temp drops inside as well. Furnace not coming on, we resort to lighting the oven to warm it up a bit (I know, I know). In the morning, I get to warm up with a hot shower. DW goes next, and instantly runs out of hot water - I'd used it all, and it's not making any more. She says that she has never been colder in her life. At this point, nothing is working in the trailer - refrig, lights, nothing. I call the dealer near Chicago, and he says to head to Airstream of AR in Searcy for a diagnosis. We roll in, unexpectedly, to the AR dealer, tell our tale of woe, and they quickly ascertain that the power converter has failed, so the batteries had gone flat. No 12v - no comfort. They offer to fix us up with a battery charger to plug in each night to get us by. This was the beginning of our trip, a new trailer, newbies - we were pitiful (and Becky's hair didn't look so good). So, they went into a new trailer and pulled out the converter, swapping it for ours. What nice guys, and what a memorable trip.
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Old 10-01-2015, 07:11 PM   #30
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Chocked wheels, set up on the aluminum tongue jack stand (one of the old cast ones)..as it collapsed, then the AS started rolling back... Tongue slammed down digging into gravel then stopped... Just as I grabbed the "breakaway" wire ...

We now have chocks and X-chocks that are placed first... Before anything else moves.
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Old 10-01-2015, 07:19 PM   #31
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Hitched up, pulled forward, heard a terrible scraping noise. Tongue jack (with no caster) was still down! Jack now has 45 degree angle. Doesn't go up or down so well like that, PLUS, new AS was only a week old.
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Old 10-01-2015, 07:26 PM   #32
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Several years ago, just after we had P&S in Helena OH strip, shine and refinish our 29' 1990 AS, we took it to a favorite RV site in Madeira Beach FL and this time a young man who had by his age probably never towed anything bigger than his wagon insisted on taking us to our site in his speedy golf cart. The old guy our age who had always done it before wasn't in sight, so we agreed, but the young man took us a different way through the trees and campsites.

He had us turn a sharp 90 to the right and I did so leaving an adequate distance between us and some trees, but then he wanted us to do a sharp 90 to the left, and being concerned about jackknifing the truck and AS I began to turn cautiously, watching the clearance between vehicles on my side, until I head a terrible thump from the rear. Such a sharp turn caused the trailer to pivot on the axles and swing the rear hard into the very trees I had carefully avoided, and before I could stop absolutely, we managed to not only put a huge dent in our newly redone AS, but also bend and pull off the rear awning brackets. Then the old guy shows up, the young man disappears, and the old guy and I got the AS untangled from the tree, the entire TV and AS out of that lane, turned around and slipped into the spot coming from the correct direction. We filed a complaint/accident report with the RV park for what it was worth.

In retrospect, it was nothing that good insurance, $8500 worth, time and trouble and a good AS dealer couldn't fix, but the next time we went to the RV park the young man was gone, the old guy took us to our spot, and the tree had been cut down to the ground. Now, if I don't like the way they are taking us in I just stop and tell them no deal, try again.
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Old 10-01-2015, 07:42 PM   #33
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The general theme here seems to be the kind of stories we can look back on and laugh which is great as we all know some stories where that's just not possible.

Keeping in the more lesson learned theme - here's one from the "lets go up THAT road" thread:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f382...ml#post1579386

😳
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Old 10-01-2015, 07:46 PM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl View Post
Mhoney, is that the worst thing that's happened to you while camping/towing (thread topic), or did you just need to get that off your mind.

;o) ;o)

Was responding to another post-
The first paragraph was a quote from another post-
I relayed my worst experience earlier-
Just sayin'- just expounding on a thought someone else began-



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Old 10-01-2015, 07:49 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robert claus View Post
Very first night camping in an Airstream, fall of '06, we'd travelled to southern Missouri (alright, we spent the first night in my mother-in laws driveway near St Louis - that doesn't count). Campground manager comes around to warn us that they are turning the water off, as there is a serious freeze expected that night. That's okay, we think, we have water, heat, & wine. The temp drops outside, and the temp drops inside as well. Furnace not coming on, we resort to lighting the oven to warm it up a bit (I know, I know). In the morning, I get to warm up with a hot shower. DW goes next, and instantly runs out of hot water - I'd used it all, and it's not making any more. She says that she has never been colder in her life. At this point, nothing is working in the trailer - refrig, lights, nothing. I call the dealer near Chicago, and he says to head to Airstream of AR in Searcy for a diagnosis. We roll in, unexpectedly, to the AR dealer, tell our tale of woe, and they quickly ascertain that the power converter has failed, so the batteries had gone flat. No 12v - no comfort. They offer to fix us up with a battery charger to plug in each night to get us by. This was the beginning of our trip, a new trailer, newbies - we were pitiful (and Becky's hair didn't look so good). So, they went into a new trailer and pulled out the converter, swapping it for ours. What nice guys, and what a memorable trip.

Too bad that dealership is no more-


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Old 10-01-2015, 07:49 PM   #36
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First time camping for a week at the beach. Didn't know the importance of leaving the dump valve closed while using the toilet for a week. Valve wouldn't close and the debris blocking it became a dam holding the black water and it's solid chunks of mess back. Trailer was already hooked up to TV so couldn't let the tongue down. Wound up digging a hole (thank goodness it was sandy) to drain the mess into. 27 years later we have a better method.
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Old 10-01-2015, 07:56 PM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcasr View Post
Several years ago, just after we had P&S in Helena OH strip, shine and refinish our 29' 1990 AS, we took it to a favorite RV site in Madeira Beach FL and this time a young man who had by his age probably never towed anything bigger than his wagon insisted on taking us to our site in his speedy golf cart. The old guy our age who had always done it before wasn't in sight, so we agreed, but the young man took us a different way through the trees and campsites.

He had us turn a sharp 90 to the right and I did so leaving an adequate distance between us and some trees, but then he wanted us to do a sharp 90 to the left, and being concerned about jackknifing the truck and AS I began to turn cautiously, watching the clearance between vehicles on my side, until I head a terrible thump from the rear. Such a sharp turn caused the trailer to pivot on the axles and swing the rear hard into the very trees I had carefully avoided, and before I could stop absolutely, we managed to not only put a huge dent in our newly redone AS, but also bend and pull off the rear awning brackets. Then the old guy shows up, the young man disappears, and the old guy and I got the AS untangled from the tree, the entire TV and AS out of that lane, turned around and slipped into the spot coming from the correct direction. We filed a complaint/accident report with the RV park for what it was worth.

In retrospect, it was nothing that good insurance, $8500 worth, time and trouble and a good AS dealer couldn't fix, but the next time we went to the RV park the young man was gone, the old guy took us to our spot, and the tree had been cut down to the ground. Now, if I don't like the way they are taking us in I just stop and tell them no deal, try again.

"Bumper swing" is a principle that needs to be broadcasted. Everyone needs to be educated on bumper swing.
I have attempted several times to explain it to my wife, but I'm not sure I'm communicating.
I hit a parked car turning sharp in a Lowe's parking lot. I didn't even know until someone flagged me down and said, "You hit that car back there."
I didn't see anything or feel anything.
Damage to the trailer was very minimal- a light lens- but we had to pay the owner of a Honda Accord $600 to touch up paint on his bumper cover.


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Old 10-01-2015, 08:42 PM   #38
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Wow. Some of these are good to note so I don't do them as well.

Our worst, when we finished our 1979 renovation, we decided to rent a yearly spot at a campground my parents have a camper permanently parked at. We didn't like the site we picked so the next weekend, I went down a day earlier than my wife, planning to move to the other side of the campground to a better site. Got the camper backed in, up on boards, leveled and put in wheel chocks. These are homemade car jacks with plates on each side that go between the wheels which my father gave me and they work great. After a bit more setup, I realized the sewer wasn't quite downhill the way I wanted. I decided to add another board under each side. I removed everything... I thought. I got in the truck and pulled the camper forward. It moved about a foot than I felt resistance. I mashed the pedal farther. Nothing moved. I then got out and noticed both chocks were still in but now they had twisted quite a ways, had pressed into the tires about 2" on each tire and were hitting the wheel wells. It really looked bad. I tried to release the chocks but they were so wedged in, they wouldn't release. I got in the truck, tried to reverse. It didn't want to move. after some back and forth, I finally got them back where they were supposed to be and got the chocks out. Surprisingly, the old tires were fine and we took a couple more trips on them before I got all new. Just glad the campground was empty and DW wasn't there.
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Old 10-01-2015, 09:23 PM   #39
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Besides 3 flats on ST tires, all 3 in different locations, now have 16" LT Michelins. But the scariest event was the day I brought our 30' Classic home. I was parking it down by our barn. I was just getting familiar with the Equilizer hitch and lifted the hitch off the ball, when down the hill my Silver streak went. Fortunately the hitch dug in and stopped. Otherwise it would have gone over the cliff. Now, even if the ground looks level, I put a block under the trailer tires.
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Old 10-01-2015, 09:42 PM   #40
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Pulling out of a narrow driveway in a bit of a hurry. Dropped one side of the AS into a depression and heard the skid go clunk.

Now I have a nice horizontal ripple above the back bumper on that side. No leaks, but it looks bad. It's a reminder to not hurry....


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