Rough Day Today
Hello! I don’t know how else to explain it. One moment we are carrying on a conversation as we travel across Texas on I-10 and the next moment there are shredded tire scraps all over the highway, half the fender trim is gone on the right side of our camper, and the panel right next to the lower part of the door is crunched beyond recognition. Yes, welcome to the world of an RV trailer tire blow out and it has no mercy on anything in it’s way.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the flat tire that is the big deal, who cares, change it and you are good to go (which is exactly what we did), it’s the damage it does to the camper you just want to cover your eyes and peek between two fingers.
Well, we pulled over to the side of the highway (not even an exit in sight), and out came the jacks and power tools. We used two jacks to lift the Montana to make it more secure as trucks and cars whizzed by us in an 80 mile per hour zone. Sure was glad to see a member of the Texas Highway Patrol pull in behind us. He hopped out of his car and peeked at the damage, and the first words out of his mouth was, “I promise I won’t laugh because I got a fifth wheel just like this at home”. He was nice to check on us and told us to flag him down if we needed anything as he drove away.
On with the spare and immediately to the local tire shop to replace the damaged tire. Campers World was out of our size tire (that tells you a lot about the highway here, doesn’t it?). So they sent us 10 miles down the street to a “Discount Tire” store only to be told by Discount Tire, “Yeah, we got your size tire right here, but it will be a two hour wait for us to get around to installing it for you.” Choice less, we walked right next door to a Denny’s restaurant. Nice outside today, right around 58 degrees.
Sooooo, we obviously didn’t pack on the miles today and we are sleeping at a Flying J in Baytown, Texas. Pretty decent place with pretty decent food. We are next to two other fifth wheels here and it’s not too loud around us at all.
Ohhhh, I know what you are thinking…..You Betcha’ I got pictures of the flat tire and the damage to the RV. I went crazy with the camera on the side of the highway and I’ll be posting those pictures as soon as I catch an internet signal. Have a good night and I’ll be back tomorrow, hopefully at a cozy RV park with a casino next door! 
Nite Nite!
Manchester, NH
Donna
I am so sorry to hear about the tires accident and the damage to the Montana. It happnes, and it is really a pain to see a even a scratch on your rig. I know the feeling believe me. But I learned to accept it, and try to be happy even when S__T happens…
Flying J are not too bad at all. I love their buffet. Many Rvers are using them, and they actualy have a special membership for FTers.
Camping World are selling their own brand of tires, which are smaller than the std, and way more expensive. They usualy do not stock other brands as they are very ‘proud’ of their tires. So it was a good thing you got to another place, and stopped to race and were forced to take a break.
Too bad you are heading back home. You don’t have to retire to be a FTer (referring to a ceomment on FB – I have many years to retire too)
Tomorrow is another day, and it will be better! Got to be!