The nightmare trip home

[OneBoltShort]

Well my wife and I made the run down to Florida to pick up our new pop-up. We figured it would be nice to get away and visit my brother in Georgia. Everything was goin fine, the camper was a little dirtier than in the pictures but for the deal we got we don't mind putting some elbow grease into it.
Anyway we hit the road around 6:45 Sunday morning and my wife takes first shift driving. Alittle after an hour on the road my wife wakes me up in a panic... The u-beams that hold the tongue to the frame under the camper were completely rusted through! We didn't think to check this since it's a Florida camper. So here we are stranded on the side of I-95 on a Sunday morning in South Carolina. After trying a few different tow companies we finally get a hold of driver that knows a someone who will weld the frame back together for us. After about 2 hours of waiting for the truck and 5 hours of waiting for the repairs (and $330) we're back on the road.
What shouldve been a 12 1/2 hour trip turned into a 26 1/2 hour adventure! On the plus side the camper made the rest of the trip with no problems and my kids love it!
Hopefully our next journey will go much smoother.
Anyway if any of you all get stranded in the South of South Carolina call Gardens Corner towing- the driver (Martin) not only took us to someone who could fix our camper on a Sunday morning, he took us place to place till we found the materials we needed and didn't leave until he was sure we'd be alright.

[JohnandLeann]

At least you received some great hospitality during your ordeal.  Sounds like good folks down there.

[Hoagie]

The u-beams that hold the tongue to the frame under the camper were completely rusted through!

First...  Welcome to PUT!!
 
Reminds me of the time I borrowed my sister's sailboat for a trip to Lake Mead. About 30 minutes away from the campground, my then GF is driving when suddenly there's a THUMP followed by a horrendous grinding noise. After a panicked pull over on to the dirt shoulder in the pitch dark, we find that one of the spring brackets has broken loose from the trailer frame (rusted-thru but painted over nicely!) and the axle has swung 90 degrees, dragging the tires on one side and the trailer frame on the other.
 
Fixed it with some rope, lashing the axle back to the frame. I think it was stronger than the original weld!! Anyway, made it to the lake and back home again. Never even asked to borrow that boat again.
 
Glad your little adventure also turned out okay and you are safe and you aren't going to let it deter you from enjoying your new trailer.

[tlhdoc]

I am glad your adventure turned out well.  

[jpcjtrtj]

happens on Sunday night at 5?

Two weeks ago we were coming home with the pup Sunday night at 5.  Rear tire of our AWD Toyota Sienna blew.  This was the second set of tires on a car with 49,000 miles on it.   They are "run flats" which means we didn't have a spare, they cost a bazillion dollars and noone carries them anywhere. . . .  Your supposed to get 100 miles on them after they go flat, except that doesn't work when you're pulling a trailer. . . . .

So, we had to disconnect, drive all over nowhere until we finally found a costco that was open.  (Even the Toyota Dealership wouldn't give us a tire.) Of course, Costco doesn't carry run flats and they wouldn't give us a tire unless I took off the wheel and brought it in the front door of the store.  Long story short, that's what we did.  I've changed out the run flats and now have a full spare, but jeeeeeeeepers. . .  .

[austinado16]

Excellent stories in this thread!!

Glad you guys all survived, and it's sort of something to laugh about later on.