Could Have Been Worse

[TBOLDEN]

Hey guys, don't post much and have been busy with the Holidays and all but was going to tell you a short story about our last trip to the Fort. It was in October and we were all down at the Fort, Me, DW, DS & DD for our first ever MNSSHP. We arrived on Friday evening and the first couple of days were as usual, all the good times we could handle. On Tuesday, we had been at the parks and come in around 8 PM I believe and just stopped at the camper to drop off our packages from the day and decided to go to the Trading Post for some ice cream. We have an '07 Rockwood Freedom 2280 Pop Up that we truly love. We were gone maybe 10 mins and when we pulled up to the camper on the golf cart there was water running out of the camper everywhere. I quickly ran and cut off the water and open the door to begin drying up and to see what had happened. It took us 4 towels and bout an hour but we managed to soak up most of the water that was about 2 inches deep inside, but not before all the cabinetry that was touching the floor had soaked up enough water to begin to buck and split. When I searched for the source of the water I looked under the sink and where the water passes through the water filter there it was, the screw on housing that holds the filter had somehow broken off at the threads and flooded the camper. Fortunately the damage was not bad enough that we had to pack up and leave and I called my insurance and they took care of it when we got home the next week. So we decided to not let it get us down and pressed on. Then on Friday morning bout 4 am my wife wakes me up with a sever pain in her side so we get everyone up and off to the ER we go and wouldn't you know it, kidney stones. We got back to the camper that evening bout 7 with her some pain pills and stuff to help. The next day was our last day for a park and we had reservations for the kids to eat breakfast at the AK and my wife, bless her soul and against my judgement, was not going to let the kids miss it so we got up and she managed a whole day at the AK Park without a complaint. She's a lot stronger than I am, I would been still at the hospital on the morphine drip. But despite our two incidents we still had a great trip and we so enjoyed the MNSSHP. Just goes to show that it is truly a place of magic to overcome most anything. Can't wait to get back. Sorry post was so long maybe next time I'll condense a little more.

 

[kskone]

I'm glad it all worked out in the end for you!! A few years back when we where at the fort we where walking past a trailer in the 100 loop and water was pouring out the door!! So with out giving a thought I quickly ran over and shut off the water supply and the took down the site number and called front desk and brought them up too speed, A few hours later we walked by and knocked on the door to see if everything was o.k. the owner couldnt thank me enough for being quick to shut off the water. Any time we leave our home on wheels we always turn off the water and then turn it back on when we get back it only takes seconds to do and saves hours of work.

 

[DaveInTN]

Glad your troubles didn't ruin your trip and sour you on the Fort. You have a good attitude. I hope your wife's stones have been taken care of without much pain. Those are not fun!

Any time we leave our home on wheels we always turn off the water and then turn it back on when we get back it only takes seconds to do and saves hours of work.

I've always read to do this, and I've done it a handful of times when I have remembered...but usually I just leave without even thinking about the water. I need to come up with a system so that I get better at this, cause I've been lucky so far.

Maybe I'll invent an RV with a quick shut off feature next to the door, so when you leave and lock the door you can also shut off the water supply without walking around to the other side. It would be perfect for lazy, forgetful campers like me.

 

[dblr]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck glad thing have gotten better, I have heard alot of stories where folks got back and their camper was flooded, I have tried to get in the habit of turning the water off if we are away for awhile it can be a PIA but bettter then coming back to what you did.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

glad your troubles didn't ruin your trip and sour you on the fort. You have a good attitude. I hope your wife's stones have been taken care of without much pain. Those are not fun!



I've always read to do this, and i've done it a handful of times when i have remembered...but usually i just leave without even thinking about the water. I need to come up with a system so that i get better at this, cause i've been lucky so far.

Maybe i'll invent an rv with a quick shut off feature next to the door, so when you leave and lock the door you can also shut off the water supply without walking around to the other side. It would be perfect for lazy, forgetful campers like me.

1

 

[Tri-circle-D]

I've always read to do this, and I've done it a handful of times when I have remembered...but usually I just leave without even thinking about the water. I need to come up with a system so that I get better at this, cause I've been lucky so far.

Maybe I'll invent an RV with a quick shut off feature next to the door, so when you leave and lock the door you can also shut off the water supply without walking around to the other side. It would be perfect for lazy, forgetful campers like me.

Dave-

That quick shut off feature is a great idea!

I have had a small, slow leak, a time or two in my camper. If you ever look how the water lines are connected with those crappy little clamps, it is no wonder why. So, typically, I just turn the water on when someone wants to use it, and then I try to remember to shut it off.

TBOLDEN- Thanks for sharing your story. I'm sorry that this happened to you, but your sharing your story will help a lot of us remember to shut the water off.

TCD

 

[2goofycampers]

Yikes, sorry about your troubles. Your family really tested the "a bad day on vacation is better than a good day at work" theory. We have had trouble 3 times with small leaks from the under the sink filter. The third time we ditched it and bought a Britta Filter pitcher.

I hope your wife got rid of those stones quickly. I do agree with your statement she is stronger, I've seen men with kidney stones, it isn't pretty.

Hey, you're up to 1 post a year.

 

[AprilLizbeth]

Glad everything turned out okay! Your poor wife. Here's hoping your next trip goes a little smoother!

 

[fugarwe]

Maybe I'll invent an RV with a quick shut off feature next to the door, so when you leave and lock the door you can also shut off the water supply without walking around to the other side. It would be perfect for lazy, forgetful campers like me.

Dave, try this on for size. Get a 10 foot section of garden hose and one of those plastic valves. Put the valve on the end of your normal hose that would be attached to the RV. Then put the 10 foot section on after the valve, and attach the other end to the RV. Now loop the hose under the RV so the valve is on the ground near the door. When you lock up you just have to bend down and turn the valve.

We don't hook up the water, so I don't have these worries!

 

[TBOLDEN]

Thanks guys for all the great comments. I hope all did take something away from the story. This is our first camper and it never occured to me to turn the water off when I wasn't there but trust me I will from here on out. Just a addition to the story, went to pick up the camper earlier this week from being repaired and when the shop manager and I went to open it up for inspection, they had broken the king size bed and it would not slide out so now they are having to repair it, I hope they get it done soon we are getting the itch to go camping. As far as DaveInTN's comment about glad it didn't sour us on the Fort, I don't think that would be possible, this was our third trip to the Fort and we can't wait to get back it is an awesome place. Thanks again for all the great comments.

 

[Tigger1966]

Glad it all turned out good you have no idea how much damage I have seen from water in my years on working on RVs.
I have thought about using a electric valve between the hose and the RV with a switch by the door to kill the water when we leave for the day. Guess I will make that my next project.