Pot hole damage

[harpman0824]

Just got back (Ohio) from Florida ...I estimated about $500 of pot hole damage on my camper..it happens every time I make to trip down I 71 and I 75...It's to the point that I made my last trip..probably will sell the camper...they are just not made to travel on these roads...snapped a blind..microwave broke loose and created a short in the cord..plumbing to faucet broke loose..drawers came loose and broke away from tracks...shower door broke...paneling on side of fridge came loose..staples are not strong enough with the roads the was they are...and btw I'm hearing many people are having these issues..I've been towing for about 25 years and am just now having these issues..I think part of the problem are the roads and the other is these campers are junk..I'd be interested to hear other members thoughts on this issue

[spock123]

I just went to Disney at Fort Wilderness driving down I-95, the road was bad but I have seen worse. I ran 70 and 75 going down and 68 coming back. I didn’t have any damage to truck or Cedar Creek. I run with the blinds up. I have been on I-75 right much, most of the interstates are in bad shape, mostly because of all the heavy commercial trucks

[5picker]

What kind of speeds are you running?

I realize we all want to go 65-70 MPH on interstate highways but with the roads the way they are and the construction seemingly everywhere, (but nothing ever gets fixed?) I find I have to rethink running the speed limit and go slower if I want to have anything left on arrival.

With the increased size and weight of these R/Vs and ever decaying road systems in the US, it isn't going to get better.

[dustman_stx]

You might explore putting a shock kit on it.


https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Lea.../LC281281.html

[harpman0824]

I set my cruise for 65 ...didn't go over that the whole trip

[Blackrock]

That's worse than anything that happened to me going to Alaska.

[harpman0824]

Good idea..the way the roads are all travel trailers should have them..

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by harpman0824

I set my cruise for 65 ...didn't go over that the whole trip

This may be part of the problem. You said you didn’t go over 65, but you didn’t say if you ever went under 65. Obviously, I am not being completely serious — I’m sure you adjusted your speed down at times, but using cruise control (I use it) can cause you to be less reactive to things like pot holes, especially on those long trips on the highways when you get into a “zone”.

If you don’t already use WAZE as a navigation tool, you should try it out, because you will be alerted to upcoming pot holes (and many other hazards), as long as another WAZE user has reported it. More and more people are using WAZE which is making it more useful and accurate every day.

Bruce

[lswartz]

Originally Posted by nomad297

This may be part of the problem. You said you didn’t go over 65, but you didn’t say if you ever went under 65. Obviously, I am not being completely serious — I’m sure you adjusted your speed down at times, but using cruise control (I use it) can cause you to be less reactive to things like pot holes, especially on those long trips on the highways when you get into a “zone”.

If you don’t already use WAZE as a navigation tool, you should try it out, because you will be alerted to upcoming pot holes (and many other hazards), as long as another WAZE user has reported it. More and more people are using WAZE which is making it more useful and accurate every day.

Bruce

Great advice. It alerts us to wrecks, debris on the road even to a dead deer in the middle of the lane. We use Ware almost every time we drive.

[TheWolfPaq82]

My 1987 popup took a beating when we used it and no damage ever. Packed things moved around, but that was it. Same with our 2007 Jayco 26 foot TT. Our 2018 Cherokee, we've had blinds pull out, trim fall off, part of ceiling popped loose traveling down the road. Certainly not built to the old standards that they used to be built to.

[Anderson15]

I recently traveled to Florida and back and can concur with the terrible road conditions on I95, especially in SC & GA.

I told my wife the potholes were probably the reason so many have tire problems. I was constantly trying to avoid HOLES in the road. We did not sustain any damage, but I did do A LOT of evasive driving, lol.

[harpman0824]

Originally Posted by lswartz

Great advice. It alerts us to wrecks, debris on the road even to a dead deer in the middle of the lane. We use Ware almost every time we drive.

Actually went as slow as 40 when I needed to

[harpman0824]

I have tried Waze but the app kept crashing at critical times..Google has been a lot better..it has traffic delays that are accurate to the minute and will give you an alternative route

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by harpman0824

I have tried Waze but the app kept crashing at critical times..Google has been a lot better..it has traffic delays that are accurate to the minute and will give you an alternative route

You should try it again. Not knowing how long ago you tried it, I can’t opine on why you were having trouble with it crashing. I have been using it regularly for two years and have had almost no problems with it, and all of those problems were related only to my cellular service being out of range. WAZE had some problems a few years ago, but I think they have worked all of that out.

WAZE updates immediately — there is no one-minute lag from the time a hazard is reported and you are alerted. If the guy 1/4 mile ahead of you, traveling at 65mph reports a pothole, you will be alerted before you get to it — it’s that efficient.

Give it another shot.

Bruce

[larry2c]

We haven't had quite as bad of issues as the OP listed but our latest TT does shed things more than our previous one (a 2010). I think that part of the reason for this is that they are continually making the TT's lighter so that you can technically pull a big trailer with a small TV (1/2 ton towables). At the same time, TT's seem to be getting less expensive in some cases which means less attention to quality when they are manufactured.

Just my 2 cents...

[Retired JSO]

I’ll give my 2 cents since we go to Charleston several times a year. I-95 in Georgia is a pretty good road except when northbound north of exit 109, Augusta Road, just south of the South Carolina state line. The southern 25 miles of I-95 in South Carolina was milled last year so it’s fairly smooth. North of SC exit 33 is a catastrophe. I’ll be heading to Charleston Saturday and will again preview what’s being done.

[MR.M]

Left Florida march 31st . up 75 to I 10 then through Alabama to Mississippi, then 55 to Missouri on 70 now , stopped to visit Family and Hunt . speed 65 to 70 not one problem not one thing out of place , in fact i left a full narrow bottom coffee cup full on the counter by the sink after 50 miles i remembered it and pulled into a rest area and it was still full and in the same spot but cold so i dumped it out . Some TT they build like junk and others a bit better guess i got a better one . Hyper lite XLR 29 HSF

[upflying]

I wonder if hard tires from high inflation pressures has anything to do with the damage.

[Capt. Mike]

We had a slow leak in the LF tire of our tow vehicle. When we went to have it repaired, discovered three cracks in the aluminum wheel itself. Tire dealer said it was most likely pothole damage. We were able to have it professionally welded and it has been fine on a trip from STL to Orange Beach and back.