redbeelips

One thing that many people don't take into consideration when flat-towing is whether or not the frame of the car is constructed to withstand the constant pull and push (as the car pushes against the tow bar when braking). I towed my 2000 VW for more than 50,000 miles without incident until I had two incidents within a few months of each other. The frame pulled apart and away from the car. The first time it happened I thought that it was due to someone leaving off a bolt during a scheduled maintenance earlier that same month. I was alerted to a near tragedy by a passing motorist as we traveled along I-70 in Lincoln, NE. With the help of a couple of bungie cords holding up the front end, I drove to a nearby mechanic who replaced the missing bolts that held on the front of the car to the frame. Then the unthinkable happened again a few months later. The front end of the car frame pulled away from the rest of the car and was dragging the ground. There was only one bolt holding the corner of the driver's side front end to the frame. This time it happened on I-95 in Laurel, MD. The car was totaled by the insurance company after they examined the damage. They told me that the car was not meant to be flat towed because the frame of the car was not rated for towing. Many people feel that if they have a car with manual transmission or if Blue Ox has a tow bar for their car (Blue Ox assured me that my VW could be safely towed), then they can tow it. Check the tow rating for your frame. I will no longer flat tow our vehicle. It is just too risky. I am getting a tow dolly that stores underneath the rear of the mortorhome when we park.

This is exactly what happened to us when we purchased 6 new Goodyear tires from Camping World in Myrtle Beach a week ago. We forgot our homework and neglected to tell them what we expected and did not check the dates until we were back at the campground. We went back the next day and complained to deaf ears and got the same explanation you received about the warranty starting from the date of purchase...but only if you have the receipt. If you don't have the receipt, the warranty starts on the date of manufacture. So, we bought three year old tires with a four year manufacturers warranty that will be valid from the date of production if I loose my receipt. In other words, we paid $2300 and have only one year left on the warranty if I misplace my receipt. I called another Camping World (Seffner, FL) to find out their policy. I called them because I know they sell lots and lots of tires. They told me that they could not promise a specific date of manufacture but that they don't have problems with dates being that old because they sell such a high volume. They also said that the warranty begins the date of sale and suggested that we go to the Goodyear website to check the warranty. We did and it said what they said. We knew better and simply forgot because of blind trust...CAVEAT EMPTOR For Sure!!! Speak up and Check those dates before they are mounted!!! We plan to buy another motorhome in the next two years anyway and they will unfortunately become someone else's headache. We will be checking the sidewalls for cracks much more closely now than ever before.

Four years ago, my husband lost his arm above the elbow in a motorcycle accident. We both rode touring bikes and toured nearly every state in the Union. Three weeks after he was discharged from the hospital, we went to an RV Show and purchased our very first motorhome (36 ft Winn-Adventurer w/3slides). Now, 4 years and 54,000 miles later we rejoice in the healing times we have spent with each other. Last week, our aunt died (we were her guardians). after a two week slide into profound dementia, kidney failure, and excruciating pain. Insurance, her creditors, relatives showing up to pick her bones, funeral preparations, etc. have left us frazzled!!! We buried her on Friday and we are leaving for a two week "getaway" to the FMCA rally in VT and then onto coastal Maine. Only another RVer can understand how staying with your loved ones in a big box for a few days can be so healing. I could not really put it in words until I read the post by the Relationship Doc. Thank you!