Community Forums

RV Wizard · 06-12-2008, 06:46 PM

We had a customer leave our dealership this morning for a six week trip out west with family to include his 11 year old granddaughter. He want to use the rest room and pulled off the side of the highway. Put the coach in neutral and went midship. What he forgot to do was to set the parking brake and while away from the wheel the coach rolled off the shoulder and into an imbankment. THe granddaughter tried to steer the coach but at her young age was not experienced enough to know what to do. Luckily she was not hurt. The damage is significant to the point that the trip was cancelled. The customer made it back to the delaership where we and his insurance company will get it repaired.
Please folks be careful this summer and think safety.

RV Wizard · 06-12-2008, 06:46 PM

We had a customer leave our dealership this morning for a six week trip out west with family to include his 11 year old granddaughter. He want to use the rest room and pulled off the side of the highway. Put the coach in neutral and went midship. What he forgot to do was to set the parking brake and while away from the wheel the coach rolled off the shoulder and into an imbankment. THe granddaughter tried to steer the coach but at her young age was not experienced enough to know what to do. Luckily she was not hurt. The damage is significant to the point that the trip was cancelled. The customer made it back to the delaership where we and his insurance company will get it repaired.
Please folks be careful this summer and think safety.

Renegades · 06-12-2008, 08:56 PM

Mike,

I have one question, is he a newbie? Why put it in neutral and not park. At least no one was hurt except someone's pride. Yes everyone be careful out there this summer.

Jim

SargeW · 06-12-2008, 09:06 PM

That's heartbreaking stuff. One lesson I have learned in life: The best lessons in life either hurt the most, or cost the most.

Glad everyone was OK.

Sarge

RV Wizard · 06-13-2008, 12:31 AM

The ironic part is this person is a very seasoned motorhomer with a 5 digit FMCA member number 75xxx. He was very excited about the trip and could have been distracted. I feel so bad for him and his family.

Digital Boy · 06-13-2008, 02:44 AM

Hey Jim (Renegade). . . long time no see . . . Anyway, Mike, it was a DP right. He put the Allison in nuetral but did not pull out the air park brake?

By the way, Mike. Where are you folks these days?

We're in Pigeon Forge until November.

Route 66 · 06-13-2008, 03:12 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Why put it in neutral and not park. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

If it's diesel pusher, there is no park.

Only neutral.

You have to pull the yellow air brake parking knob out.

Tom N · 06-13-2008, 03:33 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">very seasoned motorhomer </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

At least he remembered to pull off the highway. Ever hear the joke about the motorhome driver that put cruise control on and got up to make himself a sandwich??

Does the phrase "very seasoned motorhomer" mean elderly?? My wife thinks I'm starting to slip up occasionally!

-Tom

Cruzer · 06-13-2008, 03:57 AM

I'm surprised that the system didn't beep and alert him that it was in neutral and the park brake wasn't on. Mine does that.

It reminds me of one time when I refueled at truck pumps, then pulled ahead to allow the guy behind me the chance to fuel while I went in and paid. I did park the coach, let it idle, and pulled the yellow park brake. I got out of the seat and the next thing I know Leann is yelling at me "we're rolling backwards!". Actually it just looked that way because the truck next to us was starting to pull forward and she had no frame of reference looking out the window.

She'll never live that one down.

full-timer · 06-13-2008, 05:25 AM

A lot of accidents happen when people get in a hurry or take short cuts to do things.

Joe

exrench · 06-13-2008, 04:37 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by full-timer:
A lot of accidents happen when people get in a hurry or take short cuts to do things.This is why most seasoned RV people allow either incoming or departing rigs to do so without interference or excessive goodbyes or greetings.There is a time more appropriate for that.

Joe </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gadget Man · 06-13-2008, 05:14 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Cruzer:
I'm surprised that the system didn't beep and alert him that it was in neutral and the park brake wasn't on. Mine does that. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Ditto. It saved me once when I first bought my coach. I thought I engaged the parking brake, but didn't.

RV Wizard · 06-14-2008, 12:11 AM

The coach was a 99 Monaco DP. I am not sure it that year has a warning for no brake set in neutral. His insurance agent came out yesterday and serveyed the damage and we are working up an estimate for repairs. At least no one was hurt.
Lew, I have sent you a PM.

Digital Boy · 06-14-2008, 03:18 AM

I can add that my '98 Dutch Star (Spartan chassis) has no such alarm.

There have been occasions when I have been in traffic jams where I've gone into nuetral to wait without setting the parking brake. I've never heard an alarm. Until I read this thread, I didn't know there was an alarm!