Someone Backed into our GeoPro 19FD

Elizabeth Lynn · 06-27-2020, 07:26 PM

We bought this little beauty last fall and only dry camped a few times before storing it for a long Michigan winter.

With national forest camp grounds opening last week, we finally got to take it out and enjoy cooking, and water use. We've only ever had very old, very used campers before and this is the first time we've had a trailer with working things. It's so wonderful! We had such a great time and made plans to go again this week.

My husband and I stopped by this morning to get the water heater ready (the only thing we haven't used yet) to leave tomorrow. Sadly, we discovered that in the past few days since we dropped it off in storage, the window above the sink had been shattered and a 6 inch diameter puncture into the siding below that appeared. My husband figures someone backed into it.

We got a police report, left a message with the storage unit, made an appointment for service, filed an insurance claim, cleaned up the glass and covered the window.

I guess I just needed to share my frustration with some people who understand. This makes me so sad and a little bit angry. I have figured out everything for this camper - did the research, budgeted money, watched a million youtube videos to know how to operate everything, and just feel deflated. Depending on how backed up the service department is, we might still be able to go on our big U.P. trip planned for mid July. I sure hope so, anyway. This camper is nicer than our house and I hope we can spend a lot of time in it this summer.

Thanks for letting me vent! I just have a feeling most of you understand my frustration.

Skip12 · 06-27-2020, 07:40 PM

Big time bummer. Sorry to hear that. When you talk to the repair department, if they cant fix it all asap, ask what they can do immediately to get you back on the road, and then permanently after camping season is over in the midwest. No reason for that to cost you camping in July, based on my understanding of the damage.

Good luck.

CHICKDOE · 06-27-2020, 07:43 PM

might want to take a look at the campers that have the space the they would have backed into you from. hopefully the storage manager will help. there will be damage on the other unit that will match yours. if you find anything get it to the cops!

wildcatter · 06-27-2020, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHICKDOE

might want to take a look at the campers that have the space the they would have backed into you from. hopefully the storage manager will help. there will be damage on the other unit that will match yours. if you find anything get it to the cops!

Hopefully their will be damage to the other camper, several years ago I backed into another camper with my toy hauler, it did no damage to my camper. yes, I called the storage facility manager right away, about three weeks before that someone ran into my camper and didn't report it, the storage facility had it on camera, I caught ot the day after it happened. People suck.

TitanMike · 06-27-2020, 08:17 PM

Sorry to hear about the damage.

My neighbor brought home a brand new Rockwood "Couples Camper" (2608BS) a week ago last Friday. Made it 10 miles before someone rear ended the car behind him and pushed it into the back of his TT.

This year has been bad enough. Nobody needs things like this on top.

dbledan · 06-27-2020, 10:56 PM

Sorry for your damage and frustration. My advice is don't let it ruin your time. If you store outside you will need to tape it up to seal it anyway or insurance will not cover the additional water damage.

My advice is do what my buddy did when he backed into his house loading up...get out the gorilla tape and patch it up and go anyway. His patch held through several weeks of camping and a month of storage before they got him in to fix it.

Hope things get better for you!

Elizabeth Lynn · 06-28-2020, 06:04 AM

Thanks, everyone!

We patched it up and plan on camping tonight since we're only going 20 miles away. We're parked on the corner of the asphalt, so there are no trailers on the side that was hit. There is construction going on at this storage unit, so we're guessing it was hit by someone working on the new units being built.

Truth is, it will all be fine and there certainly are A LOT bigger issues going on for so many these days. But I had a feeling you'd understand the pain. Thanks for listening!

nomad297 · 06-28-2020, 06:37 AM

Things like this really suck and I really feel bad for you, but it’s not the end of the world and it certainly isn’t the end of your camping season. Just cover up the damage for now. I know you don’t enjoy the feeling of having a brand new camper with damage like this, but at least you have a camper! This damage won’t hinder your camping plans one bit — just do everything you were planning on doing and at the end of the season when you would normally wrap it all up, drop it off for the repairs. Consider this time as free storage. Hopefully it will be ready for you in the spring and you will forget all about this traumatic incident as soon as you are on the road headed towards your first outing of the year.

Just try to forget about it for now and enjoy the rest of the season. Have fun!

Bruce

Riich · 06-28-2020, 08:37 AM

I don't understand this people backing into things. If you can't see, use a spotter and communicate with each other. No see, no backing. It's that simple. There is no reason in the world to back into something.

Elizabeth Lynn · 06-28-2020, 08:52 AM

Rich,

I agree. I think that's part of my frustration. As it happens, I drove a truck, pulling a corn dog stand for two summers to pay for college. It was drilled into us by the owner to never, ever, ever back up without assistance. If you have to ask a stranger, then do it. Of course, that was not always possible, but it sure drove home the importance of the upmost caution. It's definitely one of those "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," or "a stitch in time saves nine" things. But then, I'm dating myself.

TitanMike · 06-28-2020, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizabeth Lynn

Rich,

I agree. I think that's part of my frustration. As it happens, I drove a truck, pulling a corn dog stand for two summers to pay for college. It was drilled into us by the owner to never, ever, ever back up without assistance. If you have to ask a stranger, then do it. Of course, that was not always possible, but it sure drove home the importance of the upmost caution. It's definitely one of those "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," or "a stitch in time saves nine" things. But then, I'm dating myself.

Don't worry. Many of us here are "well dated". I've been around for 14 Presidents.

As for backing up, it's a big deal with our regional transit agency. Drivers who have "backing accicents where they were not using a spotter are subject to dismissal.

Most are worried about hitting objects like other vehicles, buildings, etc. What about a kid?

PenJoe · 06-28-2020, 03:28 PM

According to you explanation of the damage, it is localized and high up with the 6" diameter puncture. It would not appear that another camper would have the configuration to cause that type of damage. I would be looking for possibly a boat and trailer. An outboard motor cowl or boat gunwale would be about the height of the damage.

DouglasReid · 06-28-2020, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenJoe

According to you explanation of the damage, it is localized and high up with the 6" diameter puncture. It would not appear that another camper would have the configuration to cause that type of damage. I would be looking for possibly a boat and trailer. An outboard motor cowl or boat gunwale would be about the height of the damage.

Or a plumbers truck carrying a length of pipe on a rack above the bed.

Riich · 06-28-2020, 09:17 PM

The puncture is below the kitchen window. That isn't particularly that high up.

overeasy · 07-04-2020, 08:02 PM

I am glad most people do savely back up. I put a beeper on my MH so that the mother of the kid that is not old enough to know better's parent might hear it and think "WHERES JOHNIE" not annoy people. I did see on the mirror of a semi like the ones I drove for 30some years the letters G. O. A. L. I then remembered what I was taught, get out and look.

Witch Doctor · 07-06-2020, 09:57 AM

I see you live in Michigan, your not far from the factory, I would call them and they maybe able to get you in to do the repair, make a little trip out of it, the factory could be done in two days, I would rather have them do the work then any dealer. Sorry that happened, but give them a call and see if they have a spot open. FR is pretty good about helping you and they will have everything there and get you done fast not like a half a@@ dealer.

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