Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-30-2014, 12:38 AM   #1
Infractee
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 796
Camper Hit By Lightning!

Going out this weekend, went and picked up FW at storage, as soon as I turned battery on I hear an alarm going off, I go inside and the LP detector is ringing, thought it was odd as the LP was off. Hooked it up and brought it home and that is when the fun starts...
Neither of the two rear slides work, I check the fuses and find a 15A burned out, it is for the radio. Main AC does not work, code E1 is flashing on control panel, looked it up says it is a loss of communication to the controller. Bedroom AC still works tho and bedroom slide still works as does the landing gear but the rear stabilizers do not work, neither does the TV or radio. I also notice that the awning LED strip has several diodes that are out, some are bright, others are dim. My touchscreen remote is absolutely dead, will not operate anything, I even reset it and still nothing. Fridge works as does the ceiling fan. Most all the lights work as well. All of the fuses in panel are good, they all have power to them, did a cycle of all breakers and results still the same. So I started thinking, with the 15A fuse blown to the radio, what does the antenna look like on the roof, climbed on up and found the tip burned like an arc welder had touched it. Looked all around the roof and found no other damage, manually opened the slide to get back there and look at the ceiling below the antenna and found several staples popped out and the trim piece going across hanging down.... Brand new camper... replaced our last one that was crushed while in storage by the roof of the storage place during an ice storm... Insurance company is going to love me...

Still going camping tho damnit!!
RhoZeta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2014, 01:13 AM   #2
Infractee
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 796
Tip of antenna...
I

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forest River Forums mobile app
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	1401430386158.jpg
Views:	323
Size:	32.3 KB
ID:	53798  
RhoZeta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2014, 04:51 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
RPAspey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
Dang, never hear of that before. Sorry.

2000 Cherokee 31BH, "flipped axles and raised",LEDs, solar, inverter, etc..aka "boondock ready". '07 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB, modded as well. C-co, 8/158th, AVN.
__________________
2000 Cherokee 29BH with 6V batteries, LED lights & 400 watts of solar power, flipped axles and raised. 2007 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB with lots of mods. C-co, 8/158th AVN Maint.
RPAspey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2014, 09:34 PM   #4
Infractee
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 796
Never heard of it either, once I started to put the pieces together it became obvious. Also forgot to add, left landing gear foot pad was bent up in the front and the concrete under it was damaged, a section triangle shaped about 6" was popped up, guessing this is where the bolt found ground at, maybe to a piece of rebar just under the surface. When I take her back Sunday I will examine the area closer.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forest River Forums mobile app
RhoZeta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2014, 09:48 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
SKnight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,428
Wow! Amazing the power in a lightning bolt. Guess it could have been worse, I've fixed cars that have been struck and it can get really ugly.
__________________
Now-2014 Sierra 346RETS 5er BUB
Then-2002 Keystone Springdale 286RLDS TT

Nights camped in 2014-28, 2015-127, 2016-10
SKnight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2014, 09:58 PM   #6
NELA
 
Weezer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,221
jeeze, do we now have to start driving a wired lightning rod into the ground once we get set up at a site?

If the old adage is true, you're safe from lightning striking that TT again though.

I'd say your luck HAS to get better from here on.
__________________

If age is a state of mind, and I've lost my mind, I'm AGELESS, right?
Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around:
Flagstaff 5er 2014 8528 IKWS, Platinum Package, Regency Interior "Buffy"
F250 Super Duty 2013 Tuxedo Black "Biff"
Days camped 2014: 30
Weezer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2014, 10:51 PM   #7
Infractee
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 796
And now to add insult to injury, inverter is no longer working, battery dying, all my DC stuff is dead, thank goodness for AC power! LOL

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forest River Forums mobile app
RhoZeta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2014, 08:26 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
RPAspey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
You might have been better off if it burnt down...thats a lot of destruction. You'll likely find more as you start making repairs. Might your insurance take care of this?

2000 Cherokee 31BH, "flipped axles and raised",LEDs, solar, inverter, etc..aka "boondock ready". '07 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB, modded as well. C-co, 8/158th, AVN.
__________________
2000 Cherokee 29BH with 6V batteries, LED lights & 400 watts of solar power, flipped axles and raised. 2007 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB with lots of mods. C-co, 8/158th AVN Maint.
RPAspey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2014, 08:40 AM   #9
CLT
Next Gen Camperbot 5000XL
 
CLT's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 316
Sorry to hear that this happened to you. If it were me, I'd be afraid to camp in it until fully fixed because there is wiring that you can't really access easily to verify that there is not a problem with it. Be safe! Camping can wait a while.
__________________
NO TV!!! NOW WHAT???
2014 Coachmen Apex 259BHSS
CLT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2014, 08:43 AM   #10
DDC
Senior Member
 
DDC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Komoka Ontario
Posts: 2,680
I had this happen at the house when a tree in the yard got hit and there was a wash line on it that ran to the corner of the house, the phone company had a ground wire there and it went in there and the destruction was weird, some things fried some not and then the insurance company telling me it was a power surge not a lightning strike, won in the end though the tree was covered too. Good luck with it and double check everything works exactly like it should.
__________________
"Well that didn't go as expected"
2015 Chev 2500HD Highcountry Duramax
Cedar Creek Silverback 33IK
Donald&Casey cairn terrier
Rest in Peace Mary my darling wife.
Scottish by birth Canadian by time.
DDC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2014, 09:02 AM   #11
Infractee
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 796
Was not too worried on hidden issues, the only fuse blown was for radio, all of the 120V breakers were intact as well. Battery was disconnected at time. Brought it home and plugged it in to 120V and it ran for approx 24 hours in front of the house, figured if it was going to light off it would have then...

Funny you mention that RPAspey, I was talking to a friend about it last night and he told me I was lucky it did not burn to the ground and I replied, am I?? LOL
RhoZeta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2014, 09:08 AM   #12
CLT
Next Gen Camperbot 5000XL
 
CLT's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 316
Well that was a good call on the 24 hour break-in period. I wasn't sure when your departure was going to be, but I somehow thought you were taking it right from storage and going to the campground.

Any word from your insurance?
__________________
NO TV!!! NOW WHAT???
2014 Coachmen Apex 259BHSS
CLT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2014, 09:26 AM   #13
Infractee
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 796
Have not called them yet, on Monday when we are back in town I am going to start making some calls, figure out the best place to take it to and get some estimates going so I can let them know. I have never used any local dealer/service center so I guess I need to find one.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forest River Forums mobile app
RhoZeta is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
camper, light

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:04 AM.