sundance97
Colorado
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Joined: 06/06/2004
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Here's a new sob story related to an old subject, for hashing around the campfire. I have a 99 Itasca Suncruiser. Two weeks ago (5/26/04)I was driving north in the panhandle of Nebraska, about 30 miles south of Chadron NB, in a strong westerly crosswind, winds about 25 kts with gusts to 40 kts. I was doing about 55 mph on Route 385, looking for a place to turn off and put the nose to the west for a while.
Along came a tractor-trailer seemingly moving mighty quick, with two others hot on his tail. The bow wave built up in front of truck #1 hit me realy hard when we met. I heard the same noise as hail hitting the roof. It was a sunny day - no hail. Truck #2 had the same effect but the noise on the roof was louder. Truck#3, I found out soon after he passed, completed the trios work by taking off about a 18" wide section (including the curve that attached the roof drivers side edge)from a point over the drivers station back for about 12'. The blast of air (I've calculated at a closing speed of aprox 120 MPH)raised the entire side section of the roof out of the J-Channel all the way back to the end of the 35' MH. The 12' fiberglass section went flying off into the field. From about a hundred feet away, I could see the eyes of the guy in the car behind me were as big as hubcaps. He musta thought the fiberglass was metal and it was headed his way. Thank goodness it was only fiberglass.
I finally found a place to stop on the edge of the highway to inspect for damage.
To make a long story short, I called Winnebago in Forest City to hear, "use duct tape to hold it down", and, "Its not a defect, its a matter for your insurance company". Thanks Craig.
I hobbled to Hart Ranch in SD at about 40 mph for the last 100 miles of the trip.
I have the best looking duct tape job on the planet. It held all the way back to Denver, doing 60 mph or so and oncoming trucks too. I looked over the fiberglass edge in question during the taping job and found that the edge was only inserted 1/8" in the J Channel, which can handle what appears to be about 3/8" of fiberglass insertion. Is the J Channel hung to low down the side of the RV? Is the fiberglass roof to narrow? Should I not drive on windy days? Or, maybe I should establish my own web site with instruction ($2.00 a copy to all Winnie/Itasca owners)on how to do a masterful duct tape job on a torn roof. At least it will cover my new insurance rates and the $500.00 deductable. -- The only real loss is no RVing for 8 to 12 weeks. It's like breaking a femor bone. -- No one was physically injured. That's the important thing. Well, the driver in the car behind me may never close his eyes again. The truckers are still truckin. My dog is a little more skiddish than before. And, Winnebago is still making fiberglass roofs. But not for me anymore. An engineering defect covered up by sealant is nothing more than a screwup. What's 10 or 15 potential RV owners a year among friends.
Your Truely,
A structural engineer.
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GHOST1750
THE GOLDEN STATE My taxes help keep it that way!!
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Joined: 11/23/2002
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And I thought I had troubles. A tree jumped out at me yesterday and poked a quarter inch hole in my roof. Ductape is wonderful stuff. Did you know they make it see through now ?
Just Don and a Chiuahua called Dulce
2003 39' Tradewinds LE
2002 Cavalier tow
Korean Veteran, USAF
FMCA F357981
CC4C
GOOD SAM
Life is a journey, not a destination !
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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Truly sorry to hear of our bad experience. I would have liked to hear the truckers' CB comments about the flying fiberglass.
I have heard other stories of Winnabego roofs coming off like that. One victim said he taped it down with Eternabond after getting it repaired.
Too bad Winnabego won't own up to having a design defect with that roof attachment.
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3D
Tennessee - but have itchy feet
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Joined: 03/20/2004
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Thanks for infomation... sure changes my mind about that manufacturer for replacing my older MH with one of those; better off keeping what I have or going with the other MH the wife and I are considering. Wonder how much business they are willing to loose before correcting the error? Trucks blowing the roofs off of motorhomes...must be the poorest design in the business. You can tell the brand by how far the MH moves over to let trucks pass in the OPPOSITE lane. HAR HAR HAR  . Just washed my 8 year old MH yesterday and cleaned the roof....looks almost new...rubber roof too! Lets see: aluminum roofs corrode causing leaks and dent in hail .... fiberglass roofs blow off and develop leakage cracks from hail and rubber roofs chalk and get dirty...guess rubber wins again.
* This post was
edited 06/07/04 04:59am by an administrator/moderator *
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rvhank
North America
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Joined: 07/21/2002
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Sundance; that's horrible. We are seriously considering a new Adventurer. Looking at the brochure it states under warranties:
"(h) 10-year limited parts & and labor warranty on roof skin."
"h - See your dealer for complete warranty information."
If there is any reason they are not standing behind their warranty - sue 'em!
We have an appointment to test drive an Adventurer tomorrow; this topic will definitely come up.
'03 Adventurer 33V
'03 Saturn ION w/Ready Brake
Darcy & Hank
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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I suggest that you file a complaint/ report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on this incident. A 12 foot sheet of fiberglass flying off in traffic is a safety hazard if I ever saw one.
In 1995 NHTSA forced Winnebago to issue a safety recall on some models because of awnings that were unfurling and ripping off while driving. If they get enough complaints on the roofs they might do the same thing.
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Bruce Brown
Northern NY
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Joined: 06/01/2001
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Quote:Looking at the brochure it states under warranties:
"(h) 10-year limited parts & and labor warranty on roof skin."
"h - See your dealer for complete warranty information."
If there is any reason they are not standing behind their warranty - sue 'em!
As you can see, the warranty is on the roof skin, not the installation. This topic has come up in the past and Winnebago's answer/out has been lack of maintenance. Their book requires inspection and resealing every 6 months. If you can't prove you've done this, you have no leg to stand on.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910
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XFYRCH
Glendora, CA
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Joined: 03/20/2003
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I know what you are talking about I lost about the same section of my roof in a heavy crosswind a year ago. The noise is something that you will never forget. My experence with Winnebago Customer Service (joke) was "you have an "older" motorhome and it is out of warranty". As for my insurance company they said this was my fault for not maintaining the roof according to the directions so they would not cover the damage. Bottom line: $2500 out of my pocket, learned a valuable lesson about maintainance and Customer Relations.
If you are interested you can check past posting on this subject, there must be several hundred.
Good luck.
Butch & Mary
03 Holiday Rambler Endeavor
02 ZR2 Tracker
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3D
Tennessee - but have itchy feet
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Joined: 03/20/2004
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Interesting information. Wonder how many folks who have resealed their roofs have also had them ripped off due to high wind from passing trucks. Needing them resealed in 6 months sounds like a copout response applicable to leaks but not structural integrity. I agree with previous post...I would question their being roadworthy.
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Horsedoc
Dixie --- N. Georgia
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Joined: 09/30/2002
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Winnebago does have a poor design. Is the roof on the new coaches still attached in the same manner? I re-caulked the roof on our 2000 Horizon and found there to be about 1/4 inch or less of roof turned down into the channel. It appears that is what holds the roof to the MH with the exception of the end caps and roof vents. After re-caulking I decided I wanted a bit more security from just such an occurance as sundance describes. Covered all the roof edge joints with Eternabond so I no longer have to worry.
Your coach is a 99, have you ever redone the roof edges? If not, that may have been the reason it turned loose. Winnebago should step up and do the right thing on all these coaches that have water and wind damage due to Winnie's poor design.
doc
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