Montana Damaged - Montana Owners Club

awheeler · 09-19-2017, 11:17 AM

Well, here we are in beautiful Charleston, SC. However, on the way here we stopped to have breakfast. Had plenty of parking room. Apparently there was a car show in the area because we saw several restored cars on the road and a couple in the parking lot. No one was parked near us when we went into the restaurant. Toward the end of breakfast we hear a page for someone pulling a Montana 5th Wheel. Don (husband) went up to the cashier's stand and there stood a guy with bad news.

To make a long story short, this guy was pulling a trailer with a car that he had restored. As he was pulling into the parking slot (opposite) next to our 5th wheel his trailer caught the bottom back edge of our 5th wheel and pulled the back cap from the frame. I was happy that he at least came into the restaurant to find us, but when i saw the damage my heart sank.

Thankfully, this guy has good insurance and his insurance company has been great.

We duct taped the damaged area and came on to Charleston where we had reservations. After we arrived, I called Camping World (CW) because they are one of 2 authorized dealers in the area. It took CW 3 days to call be back and the caller (Chris) was NOT very nice or helpful.

So, I have now called Coastal RV and they were just the opposite - very accommodating. It is still going to take 6 weeks to get the repairs done.

The RV park where we are staying has been wonderful. We will be here for 2 weeks and then the 5th wheel will go into the shop for a few days. Then, we will come back to the RV park until all the parts come in. Then, the 5th wheel will be in repair for 2-3 weeks and we will move into a hotel that the insurance company will pay for.

That is where we are today. I will keep posting as we go along so you have a glimpse into the process - at least what we are experiencing.

There are a bunch of worse places to be - we love Charleston so being here for a while is no burden. Don graduated from the Citadel, so a couple of football games are on the schedule.

More to come.

scottanddeb · 09-19-2017, 11:23 AM

Sorry to hear of this. It was great that the guy came in and dealt with you in person. Your Monty will be good as new soon and you have a great story to tell! Thanks for your service to our country.

Lenny K · 09-19-2017, 12:11 PM

Hopefully all will be back to normal in a short period of time.

1retired06 · 09-19-2017, 01:14 PM

He could have just kept going. Best wishes for a speedy repair.

BuilderBob · 09-19-2017, 01:56 PM

That sucks but I'm sure they will do a good job on all the repairs to rig you should send some picks so we can see the before & after.

**DQDick** · 09-19-2017, 03:40 PM

Sounds like a bad deal, but since the guy stopped and had good insurance it sounds like it's coming out as well as can be expected. Hope the end product is good or better than new.

sambam · 09-19-2017, 04:04 PM

It seems you're making lemonade out of lemons. Glad for you that things seem to be falling into place. Best wishes that you'll be back on the road soon..

CORattler · 09-19-2017, 05:49 PM

As painful as it was to see your rig damaged, at least you have a light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck to you.

awheeler · 09-20-2017, 08:58 AM

Here are the pics of the damage.

MAwolcott · 09-20-2017, 12:04 PM

OUCH!!! Hope the weather stays good for you because it looks like a bunch of water could get in that large gap. The way it's torn away, it looks like his truck nose was at your camper rear end and didn't pull out far enough before making his turn. You're right though...plenty of places to be stuck worse than Charleston. Good luck!

scottanddeb · 09-20-2017, 12:50 PM

It's only a flesh wound. :-D

The Old Fogies · 09-20-2017, 02:31 PM

I was reading your post to the wife and said to the wife that I hope they don't take it to Camping World. They have the worst service shop I have had experience with. As you saw they won't like to return calls. We take ours over to the beach and use Camping Connection for service.

BB_TX · 09-20-2017, 04:33 PM

I feel your pain. Except I did my own damage by catching the rear corner on a post coming out of storage. Even worse than yours. Rear cap fiberglass pulled back and torn in three places. And like you I used white duct to hold it together. Plus a ratchet strap. Internet search found an RV repair facility with good reviews. Dropped it off on a Tuesday. They worked up the estimate, submitted to my insurance, got approval, completed the repairs, and I picked it up looking new after only 3 weeks. And that included July 4th holiday.

Good luck with yours.

awheeler · 09-21-2017, 08:21 AM

Thanks to everyone who replied. We have Progressive insurance, so if anyone has had a bad experience with them please let me know. The adjuster will be here on Monday (9/25). In the meantime, if you have never stayed at Oak Plantation Campground, I highly recommend this place. The owner and managers have been nothing short of wonderful and the park is beautiful, great location, and quiet.

jeff_banning · 09-21-2017, 02:51 PM

Man that is too bad, I agree on the water issue. I would be using some plastic and duct taped top to bottom to reduce any moisture getting in there because they likely would not get it dried out (I doubt they would even try) before fixing it.

Good luck and great move away from Camping Worst and their service department.

awheeler · 09-21-2017, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff_banning

Man that is too bad, I agree on the water issue. I would be using some plastic and duct taped top to bottom to reduce any moisture getting in there because they likely would not get it dried out (I doubt they would even try) before fixing it.

Good luck and great move away from Camping Worst and their service department.

Yes, we have since taped the entire area. I was concerned about the water getting in so we took care of that. The guy has Progressive insurance, as do we, so they can argue with themselves.

masterdrago · 09-25-2017, 03:05 PM

Don and Ann, Sorry to here this but looks like things are working out well. Duct Tape -- Palomar Glue - they used it to repair a multi million $$ camera on the 200" telescope at Palomar Observatory in California. Amazing stuff.

Beau2010 · 09-25-2017, 06:39 PM

We had good luck at the CW on Rivers in North Charleston several years ago. Don't know if there are others in the area. There is another near Savannah. Also liked Oak Plantation. Try the park at James Island and at the Air Base if you are military. Another park in the area for military types is at Goose Creek out North. Enjoy Charleston; its our favorite place in the fall.

awheeler · 09-26-2017, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masterdrago

Don and Ann, Sorry to here this but looks like things are working out well. Duct Tape -- Palomar Glue - they used it to repair a multi million $$ camera on the 200" telescope at Palomar Observatory in California. Amazing stuff.

Can't go wrong with duct tape!

I see you are in Willis. Is that Willis, Texas? If so, I lived there many moons ago. Always loved that area.

Ann

awheeler · 09-26-2017, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beau2010

We had good luck at the CW on Rivers in North Charleston several years ago. Don't know if there are others in the area. There is another near Savannah. Also liked Oak Plantation. Try the park at James Island and at the Air Base if you are military. Another park in the area for military types is at Goose Creek out North. Enjoy Charleston; its our favorite place in the fall.

Thanks Beau2010. The weather has been great - so far.

Ann

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