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08-20-2009, 16:47

I want to thank all of you for your thoughts and offers of help. It is really appreciated. I have been busy during the day getting a rental ready for a new tenant so I can get to California next week for mom's birthday. Estimates, and repair work are on hold until I get back. I drive to California, so will be out of touch for a few days and I didn't want all the great Wanderlodge folks to think that I was ignoring you or do not appreciate this group. I am collecting parts, but am not doing any thing else until insurance has a look at it.

To answer one question, I did not exactly follow the Michelin procedures. Things happened fast! I hit the object in the road, heard it bang against the body a couple of times, started to think about taking the next off ramp to check for damage, then the tire exploded. We were about two feet from the barrier and as the bus started pulling that direction I started to correct and tapped the brake just enough to cancel the cruise control. I didn't want to take my hands off the wheel to turn it off. As we bounced off the barrier we were headed for an off ramp so I steered it that direction. I didn't accelerate or brake just let it coast until we were clear of the interstate and then slowed it down and parked on the shoulder. Kathy and I have discussed it and it was probably 3-4 seconds from the time we hit the object till we hit the barrier. I was concentrating on the off ramp because I really didn't want to get out on the bridge at 50 mph with a unit that I did not have completely undercontrol. I was also about 1/4 mile from the end of a 10 mile single lane and would have backed traffic up for a long distance.

I walked back to see if there were any parts to recover and found a lot of assorted parts thrown off the road. They must have a lot of "incidents" in that area.

There is a lot of cosmetic damage. but If I can get the grey water tank and drains repaired our Wanderlodge will be usable even if it is not pretty! I may have to change it's name to "ONE TOUGH RV!"

- Chuck Wheeler-

1982 FC 31SB Fort Worth TX