UPDATE from Slim: GREAT NEWS! AAA has now offered me a FULL REFUND on the entire towing expense, which was quite high! They apologized for not getting a tow truck nor telling me one was not coming after I waited 5 hours. I asked them if the gravel road was an issue, and apparently it was not. I had RV Plus coverage, which as long was I was near a road (which I was) I should have been covered. I also inquired about a better coverage for emergencies. The "Premium" coverage was a little more but includes 320kms or 200 miles (I had 160km or 100 miles) towing PLUS up to 3 nights are covered in a hotel including meals. May be worth it for frequent travelers. So I am now happy with AAA (and CAA) again and will probably use them in the future. Thanks! SP
I ran into a similar frame issue in Utah with mine also breaking in the exact same spot. I sat for two days listening to excuses from tow companies and from welding shops. I eventually went and rented a Uhaul flatbed trailer and used a come a long to drag it up on the flatbed. I took it to a tool rental company and rented a welder and repaired it myself in their parking lot. Wow, what similar stories, good luck :)
He has probably has over 20k miles on that trailer, and lots of bumpy dirt roads. When you use a camper a lot you can expect frame issues at some point. It's either this portion that bends or cracks, or the spring hangers of a larger trailer that crack.
@@volvo09 I think trailer frame max load was little low by designed. I would think for little more max load rating in the future. It is always something for us to learn. Slim just showed us the frame tongue joint area.
yea, good one. i'd be a bit spooked about the weld just forward now though. do everything to get the weight over the axle and reduce the tongue weight.
Trailers still need about 10-15% of it's gross weight as tongue weight to tow properly. Regardless of the situation, the physics of trailer towing don't change. That aluminum frame was underbuilt for the application from the mfg. IMHO.
The world needs more men like Kyle not afraid to take on a big project like this. And keeping American and our Northern friends moving. God bless that man and so glad Slims angel was watching over him 🍻
Applause to Kyle at Solid Bloch Machining and Welding in Harvey, MI for saving the day and keeping our Slim Potatohead safe and able to continue on his adventures. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a lessoned learned for all of us who take our trailers (me: Chalet A-frame) of the beaten path. Just got back from a 1800 mi trip with lots of camping off pavement and immediately after watching this went out and inspected every part of my frame. Over the years I can't tell you enough how important your channel has been for all us RV'ers, regardless of the type of rig we have. Thanks Slim.
Steel is much stronger as aluminium. An alu frame needs to be heavier, thicker, etc, to compensate for the differences between steel and aluminium. Just an idea.
Thank you Kyle, and thank you Joe (the tow guy)! I'm glad you found the issue when you did. It's scary to think what could've been if you were on the interstate. Take care and happy & safe travels!
Poor Slim, your heart's always in the right place, but like a wayward lover, RV's & Vehicles will break one's heart ~ ! Thanks for sharing Slim & be well & safe in your future travels !
These insurance companies play games . Casey Ladelle "A towing channel out of Oregon", was saying how these insurance companies will try to really low ball what they will pay. They will leave motorist stranded for days and they simply do not care. Also a lot of them will not go off from a paved road for recoveries , so that is another trick that they use to not pay for towing. I am glad that you did not have a complete failure Slim , it looks like the frame was holding on by a thread! Thank you Kyle for helping Slim out! Staying tuned for your next video Slim! 👍
Sorry to see that happening Slim. You showed the qualities all us road warriors need: resourcefulness, patience, preparedness, and good humor. Most importantly, we need an adequate emergency fund. That can't be stressed enough. Thanks Slim for the entertainment and wisdom you've brought me over the years. Best wishes in all your adventures to come. Alan Monteath (TRALHED)
That was a stressful episode for you! I felt anxious just watching. So glad you finally found a good shop to do the repairs. Lots of lessons for all of us. I agree with your disappointment with AAA.
My AAA policy demands that towing can be done only on state or county maintained roads. That may be why he couldn't get the AAA tow company up that last 6 miles to the campground.
One of the issues with AAA is that response is prioritized based on safety and severity; a car broken down on the side of the highway will get a quicker response than a dead battery in a parking lot. Also, the times I've used them, I've always called AAA directly, as they will only send AAA affiliated towers. And I pay for their premium membership, as it allows for longer tow distance.
AAA has extra paid services covering RV recovery (AAA RV) and long distance towing (AAA Plus). Apart from the extra cost, it may be useful to discuss with them the ways you plan to travel and let them alert you to any clauses that might interfere. I pay for both, have done for years, but I agree, with all that I'd be disappointed if they didn't find a useful way to assist.
I love this guys content so much, it has inspired me to get outdoors and camping. I turned my Prius into a small camper and its been an amazing experience.
Talk about an adventure! You keep it real and show all sides of camping....what goes right and what can go wrong. Thanks for sharing your wonderful videos.🙂
It’s a good thing you saw the cracks, it looks like the one side was barely holding the trailer together, while the other side was completely cracked through. It looks like the manufacturer might have to add extra bracing at those points when they make more of those trailers. 😵💫✌️🇺🇸🇨🇦✌️
I have a call in... if he told Slim they have had no previous problems... After inspecting mine today, with only about 5k miles on paved highways (with no extra tongue weight) only I can now add mine with the same issues
Thank goodness you were safe in a campsite when you saw the issue, and I'm sure glad you're okay. 😊 Hope you get some reimbursements too! 👍 Be safe SP. 😎
Slim I am so sorry this happened to you. This issue has become more popular than you may know and not just with your small style traylor it has affected large towable RV's as well but most causes to those were because the materials use in the frames were not rated for the body of the RV.
The stress in your voice left me extremely anxious. Explanation of repair sounds like it will fix the problem and make the frame stronger in the long run. Keep safe Slim.
Good heads up for all of us RVers. Unfortunately whatever modifications we make to our RV’s may have unforeseen problems afterwards. We’re so sorry you went through that. Keep staying safe!
I got this link from Kyle's mother who is my sister. I must say I was very impressed with the whole production! Very well presented, shown by all the effort to create and assemble this documentary. I am so glad Mr. Potatohead 😄 found Kyle Bloch to repair the camper!
It’s crazy that you would have this happen to you when you’re so diligent in how you maintain your equipment. It did make for a good video so hopefully you do well on that. Good luck Slim from Alberta.
I live in SCOTLAND, a place called Glencoe. I watched your heavy duty storm video, and i was hooked. You also did " reflections over 7 years as a you tuber" and i have to say slim baby... i like your style. You are easy going, entertaining and... most of all... you are like me... always looking on the bright side of this terrible world we live in. Long may you continue... Cheers slim.
I have the high-end RV package from the Canadian version of AAA, AMA. When I had a blow out of my class C motorhome last year they rushed to my assistance. They sent 2 tow vehicles, one for my cargo trailer and a flatbed for the 28-foot Class C. Saved my bacon as we were stranded on a very busy highway at 3am in the morning. Will be an AMA member for life as a result.
Sorry to hear you have all these problems. I think you also need a talk with the manufacturer about the frame design. Aluminium is not as strong as steel. If it basically was the same design, they potentially set you up for failure assuming you didn't overload the trailer and the weight on the hitch. The nice repair basically tells the story of what it probably should have looked liked.
Wow, what a stressful few days for you! It gives me chills to think what COULD have happened! I don’t even want to KNOW what that cost. But as I’m currently traveling to FL to pick up my own brand new small camper, I’m grateful for this cautionary tale. I’ll be buying those bottle jacks you have, and be super mindful of the tongue weight. But also... the manufacturer owes you on this one. I hope you get something back from them. A camper frame should last more than 2 years of use.
Same thing happened to Bex Cat Herder a few years ago. She was in Cali hills on a curvy, tree lined road with no signal . She was saved by the kindness of strangers and a mobile welder .
I'm glad that you found Kyle, he went above and beyond to insure that the repair was done right. Most place would have repaired it just enough to get up on your way.
Wow, that really could have been bad. So glad you pay attention, and are prepared. I would have been anxious too. Thank heavens for the shop that repaired it, and it's holding up. 🙂👍
This is a long video for you Slim. No one will complain of such a blessing. Life is a balance over the long journey is it not? For those of us who watch you, learn from you, we feel your moods and we know you are up to any challenge. A challenge is just a chance for another success. 😊
Love nature! Oh no ! To bad such a gorgeous place...glad you got it fixed...you can always come back...From Michigan my self ,15 miles from the ohio line...Michigan is a Beautiful place...Have agreat week slim!!
Slim, if you're still in Michigan and need a place to stay, I just purchased a small A frame. You're welcome to stay there. It's in northern Michigan. You'd have to cross the Mackinac bridge and go down an hour. I hope you're doing ok.
A strong suggestion Slim; thank the Creator for all the help you received with this emergency and practice gratitude that you had the resources to pay for it.
You are blessed to have caught that before it became catastophic, glad you are safe. Seeing the way Kyle fixed/reinforced it I think you have nothing to worry about for sometime, I have welding experience and Kyle did it right.
Wow, I have had AAA since the 70s and they have never refused service. When we bought our motor home, we got Good Sam who refused a tow but AAA saved our bacon. You Just never know. So happy for you that all need well. As a woman alone, I would have been in tears.
Love seeing people help each other out with willingness and smiles on their faces. Gives me hope bc In NJ , it seems like everyone it out for themselves.
Sorry to hear that Triple A let you down. I hope they reimburse at least some of your out of pocket expenses. I’m glad you got the trailer fixed up and back on the road!
Get your rig weighed. We all tend to guess what our real-world RV weights are, and many of us have historically underestimated. Once you know, you can evaluate your rig as to tires, axles, tow vehicle GVWR.
I encountered the very same problem with AAA. Like you, I had to call an alternative towing company. AAA could not come to me on the day of the breakdown and couldn’t say when they might arrive the next day. In fact, they said they may not make it out the following day. I was on I-95, on an exit ramp for Savannah, Georgia. If they don’t have adequate affiliate cover for such a huge city…what’s the use? I’m happy you got all fixed up and I hope you get some reimbursement.
We've fallen in love with the Munising area and have taken our trailer there a few times. We even lost a thermostat on our hot water heater the first time. It's good to know that if we have a frame problem there's a shop only 45 minutes away that can handle the repair!
Wow Slim, what an experience! Sorry you had to go through all that anxiety, but still, happy you were safe and it got taken care of. Continue with your adventures, safely! and enjoy yourself!
Kyle said they see those types of frame issues quite a bit whereas the manufacturer said they haven't heard of it happening? 🤔 Kyle saved the day, thank you!
Glad you're ok & it didn't crack through at a bad time. I think that it was sort of the nature of the beast for that aluminum frame to crack at that spot because of torsion from off roading more than any tongue overloading. Nice that Kyle got you fixed. Sorry it ate your travel budget.
So glad you got it repaired Slim, shout ot to the tow truck driver and Kyle. Thats a big problem with aluminum frames, aluminum doesnt flex much so it tends to crack, steel frames flex and usually dont crack
Wow, so much there. Here's what I'm thinking. From someone who's over educated, thank God for those good honest people who learned a trade like welding and keep this country moving. The unsung heroes who fix our homes, cars, and trailers. And Slim, thank God for the humble guys who can shoot and edit a video under the most trying circumstances. Masterful.
WoW! You are courageous! I feel sorry that you are all alone while having this angst moments! Thanks indeed that you have the jeep! Travelling alone can be bitter in such moments!
U can see the stress in your eyes, been there done that in a 40 foot pull trailer. These are the moments when you learn how to adapt/improvise and survive. U got this. Be happy it wasn't at high speed...I'm in toledo of all else fails. My trailers in the yard powered and ready for guests ...help yourself
Great video, SP! Your mishap is a lesson we can all learn from. Being a BC resident and having BCAA, which is the BC section of AAA, we have used it many times for keys left in vehicles and tows. We travel quite a bit it northern BC and the Yukon and have utilized it for getting towed out of the mud in the spring melt, the snow in the winter and jump starts when the battery sat too long in the freezing temperatures. BCAA has come through without fail. In those far north areas, they don't have tow companies that are on their call list, so we have either had to find one ourselves and make the arrangements, or have had to wait til they can locate one. It's usually faster to do it ourselves. In both cases, we send in the receipts and after a several weeks (it takes longer than you think it should) we get a reimbursement for the full amount. RV traveling in the US we have yet to need to use our BCAA (touch wood!), but we do have the RV plus membership. I once locked my keys in my little Toyota motorhome, with the motor running and my kitten inside, while I walked the dogs. It was the RV door that had a faulty door latch that caused that. My cell phone was also locked inside!! I had to ask someone leaving the Walmart I was parked at if I could borrow their cell phone as I couldn't even go into the store with 2 dogs in tow! Thank goodness for kind people! At that time my husband's was the BCAA RV plus, while mine was the basic one. I just needed a door unlock and they were hesitant to do it as it was for an RV. But, thankfully, they did and I was saved. Needless to say, I changed my membership to the RV Plus as well immediately after. Another incident happened last winter while on the Alaska Highway in December. My car hit ice avoiding a collision with a moose and ended up in the snowbank. No damage to the car, thankfully, but it was stuck good. My husband was ahead in our truck, so I was not alone. It was dark, remote and miles from anywhere. We left the car and headed to Fort Nelson and a hotel. We contacted BCAA. They did not have a tow company there, so we arranged ourselves. The next day, when they delivered the car to us, the bill was almost $2000 cdn! But BCAA reimbursed it in full. Took a couple of months, but we got the money. Just got my renewal notice in the mail and happily paid it for another year.
Murphy's law win's again! Thank goodness you were not on the highway and it gave way! Take care and enjoy your next adventure, I know we all love your videos and escapades.
Wow! You described my worst RV nightmare. You were lucky to discover it when you did. Glad things worked out. Videos like this really help us to focus on preparing for trips and unexpected events. Thx
Glad your back up and running at full strength. I look forward to your videos, and was worried when I initially read the title. Happier trails, and safe travels Slim.
A couple years ago, another YT person living in her Casita had a similar calamity - broken frame. She was able to find a guy who did welding and had a portable rig. Got it welded with reenforcing straps welded on. And, aluminum does corrode, but it happens on the inside of the metal where it isn't visible.
Yep, flashbacks to BexCatherder. Although she had a steel frame and it is easier to find welders for steel rather than aluminum. AdventureVan guy also broke part of his frame that supported his motorbike platform last year. None of these trailers are meant for what they use them for.
Happy things worked out for you. Im always amazed at the skill folks have to repair things. Skills that not amount of a college education can provide. Just good ole blue collar ingenuity!
Slim I’m so sorry this happened to your trailer BUT thankful for no harm coming to you or any others ! And, what a prize winning video of this experience 😮 I appreciate you sharing this with us and the timing could not be better with many people preparing for vacation travels 😊 Blessings upon you 🙏
Anytime you travel, there will be break downs, leaks, flats, etc. How awesome it was that you discovered this when you did, not on the side of the highway. I keep up with another youtuber and her casita broke approx in the same place. Weight distribution is certainly important. Thanks for sharing. The quality of your videos are great. You give out some very nice views of your travels. Thanks again.
Sorry about your trailer. That had to be nerve wracking for sure. I hope the rest of your travels are going to be better than the last few days. Good luck and happy trails my friend!😊
Owning a cargo trailer inspired me to invest in a tongue scale 20 + years ago. Guessing weight and where to have it isn't reliable. You kept your Level head and patience, good. It does seem that the trailer manufacturer should be partially responsible or at least made aware of their frame design and weakness. Good video Sir.
What a nightmare. I feel so bad that you had to go through that, but thank God you found someone that had the skill to fix it and did it right away. Seemed like an excellent guy. Hopefully there will be no more problems in the future. And yes...a cell booster is a must...we need to get one ASAP because sometimes there is just no signal and that's not good. The things you experience on the road are a learning curve for us all. Safe travels SP.
WOW... now you have me really worried too Slim... 🤔 I have the very same aluminum frame... I am going to start inspecting it every trip... I do have CAA and I did purchase their extended RV coverage.... but I am now going to read the fine print, thanks for the heads up 🙂
Slim... I just checked mine out... It was a brand new trailer with 1 summer of travel, plus this spring... a total of 8335 km (or just over 5000 miles) and 3900km of that was pick up and warranty repair to the trailer, not even camping related... It has all been on paved roads, with only the equipped 20lb tank and batteries under the cover,... and we travel very light in the trailer with most of our gear in the back of our Tacoma. There is definitely a design flaw, and I am just about to send photos to Trillium for their plan to make it right!!! 🤨😡 I'll keep you posted
High drama! Only because I know you are OK can I say I "enjoyed" this episode. Having experienced several disasters on our camping trips I can relate. Looking back now I am almost glad I had the experience of meeting amazing, kind , helpful people. Gives me faith in humanity. Summer after 911 we broke down in very rural Ohio with three kids, one with severe disabilities and medical problems. No cell service. 95 degrees. (crazy risk takers...) We were rescued by a man who towed us--minivan and pop-up-- up a mountain and let up camp on his farm and connect to his power for days. Made a lifelong impact on kids-- in a good way. Very proud of my son when he stops to help those in need. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
UPDATE from Slim: GREAT NEWS! AAA has now offered me a FULL REFUND on the entire towing expense, which was quite high! They apologized for not getting a tow truck nor telling me one was not coming after I waited 5 hours. I asked them if the gravel road was an issue, and apparently it was not. I had RV Plus coverage, which as long was I was near a road (which I was) I should have been covered. I also inquired about a better coverage for emergencies. The "Premium" coverage was a little more but includes 320kms or 200 miles (I had 160km or 100 miles) towing PLUS up to 3 nights are covered in a hotel including meals. May be worth it for frequent travelers. So I am now happy with AAA (and CAA) again and will probably use them in the future. Thanks! SP
Good news👍
I feel like congratulations are in order. I’ve never had luck in getting reimbursed for anything.
Glad your safe and you kept your cool.
Hmm, wonder if a RUclips channel with 164000 subscribers had anything to do with their decision to make the full refund.
@danielniesing5628 it's highly unlikely, as the claim was submitted prior to the video coming out. SP
I ran into a similar frame issue in Utah with mine also breaking in the exact same spot. I sat for two days listening to excuses from tow companies and from welding shops. I eventually went and rented a Uhaul flatbed trailer and used a come a long to drag it up on the flatbed. I took it to a tool rental company and rented a welder and repaired it myself in their parking lot. Wow, what similar stories, good luck :)
Was your trailer steel or aluminum ? Glad you were able to get it fixed .
@@heavencantwait1218 He showed it was steel & rusted frame when he bought it & changed over to a new aluminum trailer frame in the video.
@@philsmidwestclassiccars150 That was Slim Potato Head. @heavencantwait1218 is asking the OP (@timothyallbritton7203) about his trailer.
OMG! That was a brand new trailer frame not too long ago! Thanks goodness that it did not let go on the highway. 😲
Indeed. That's what you pay for a New Frame ??
Not good
He has probably has over 20k miles on that trailer, and lots of bumpy dirt roads.
When you use a camper a lot you can expect frame issues at some point.
It's either this portion that bends or cracks, or the spring hangers of a larger trailer that crack.
@@volvo09 I think trailer frame max load was little low by designed. I would think for little more max load rating in the future. It is always something for us to learn. Slim just showed us the frame tongue joint area.
Changes made to anything sometimes has bad consequences
That repair looks bomb proof! Way more reinforcement than I was imagining. Good job Kyle!
yea, good one. i'd be a bit spooked about the weld just forward now though. do everything to get the weight over the axle and reduce the tongue weight.
@@stephenmorton8017 Reduce the tongue weight enough and you'll be wearing the brown trousers.
@@mikekemsley1531 There are some RUclips folks showing the effects of weight distribution on stability. Over the axle is best.
Trailers still need about 10-15% of it's gross weight as tongue weight to tow properly. Regardless of the situation, the physics of trailer towing don't change. That aluminum frame was underbuilt for the application from the mfg. IMHO.
The world needs more men like Kyle not afraid to take on a big project like this. And keeping American and our Northern friends moving. God bless that man and so glad Slims angel was watching over him 🍻
Sooooo true
Applause to Kyle at Solid Bloch Machining and Welding in Harvey, MI for saving the day and keeping our Slim Potatohead safe and able to continue on his adventures. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You sound like their marketing department
@@KuruKuruGorilla He took the job when the first fabricator turned it down. Kyle deserves a shout out.
I Agree 💯 %.. ❤❤❤
Outstanding work. Welding aluminum is real tricky.
He did a good job on the welds
Kyle we can’t thank you enough for helping our friend Slim. 🌴👍👍😎🌴
This was a lessoned learned for all of us who take our trailers (me: Chalet A-frame) of the beaten path. Just got back from a 1800 mi trip with lots of camping off pavement and immediately after watching this went out and inspected every part of my frame. Over the years I can't tell you enough how important your channel has been for all us RV'ers, regardless of the type of rig we have. Thanks Slim.
Steel is much stronger as aluminium.
An alu frame needs to be heavier, thicker, etc, to compensate for the differences between steel and aluminium.
Just an idea.
Glad to see your still on the road! Happy I was able to help and its still going strong for you! Cheers!
Hey Kyle! Glad you found the video. Thanks again for all you did! SP
Great job Kyle
You’re a hero, Kyle!
Thank you Kyle, and thank you Joe (the tow guy)! I'm glad you found the issue when you did. It's scary to think what could've been if you were on the interstate. Take care and happy & safe travels!
Poor Slim, your heart's always in the right place, but like a wayward lover, RV's & Vehicles will break one's heart ~ ! Thanks for sharing Slim & be well & safe in your future travels !
As someone who does fab work, you found the right guy to help you. Well done
These insurance companies play games . Casey Ladelle "A towing channel out of Oregon", was saying how these insurance companies will try to really low ball what they will pay. They will leave motorist stranded for days and they simply do not care. Also a lot of them will not go off from a paved road for recoveries , so that is another trick that they use to not pay for towing. I am glad that you did not have a complete failure Slim , it looks like the frame was holding on by a thread! Thank you Kyle for helping Slim out! Staying tuned for your next video Slim! 👍
yeah Casey is one of the good guys... AAA is useless...
Yes he spelled it out very honestly
One thing i have learned over the years is that having insurance will cover everything but the problem your having. 😏
Kyle did a great gob it’s nice to see a young man that takes pride in his work and is willing to help others
Scary! So good you brought both jacks. Wonderful welder you found, too! I like those reinforcements.
Thank you! Not the prettiest welds on the bottom there but they are SOLID!
It's always a pleasure to watch someone at work who knows what they are doing.
Sorry to see that happening Slim. You showed the qualities all us road warriors need: resourcefulness, patience, preparedness, and good humor. Most importantly, we need an adequate emergency fund. That can't be stressed enough. Thanks Slim for the entertainment and wisdom you've brought me over the years. Best wishes in all your adventures to come. Alan Monteath (TRALHED)
Well written Beautiful Message 🌿👍👍❤️👍👍🌿
Those guys did a fantastic job on reinforcement and welding. Nice one Kyle
That was a stressful episode for you! I felt anxious just watching. So glad you finally found a good shop to do the repairs. Lots of lessons for all of us. I agree with your disappointment with AAA.
I caravan in the UK and thought my insurance thru the Motorhome and Caravan Club was good. They turned out to be useless, always read the small print
My AAA policy demands that towing can be done only on state or county maintained roads. That may be why he couldn't get the AAA tow company up that last 6 miles to the campground.
One of the issues with AAA is that response is prioritized based on safety and severity; a car broken down on the side of the highway will get a quicker response than a dead battery in a parking lot. Also, the times I've used them, I've always called AAA directly, as they will only send AAA affiliated towers. And I pay for their premium membership, as it allows for longer tow distance.
AAA is the worst!!!
AAA has extra paid services covering RV recovery (AAA RV) and long distance towing (AAA Plus). Apart from the extra cost, it may be useful to discuss with them the ways you plan to travel and let them alert you to any clauses that might interfere. I pay for both, have done for years, but I agree, with all that I'd be disappointed if they didn't find a useful way to assist.
I love this guys content so much, it has inspired me to get outdoors and camping. I turned my Prius into a small camper and its been an amazing experience.
prius is nice for traveling. For camping I saw a lot of people are doing all kind of mod to use as camper and it is very cool.
Awesome! I started camping on a local beach island with a Honda Element, now I graduated to a small used Casita camper. So much fun!
my heart sank at the beginning! thank goodness you were able to work through this and get back on the road!!
I’m a pilot that why you should always pre-flight or deep inspection, lesson learned , praise GOD you didn’t fail on Highway !
Talk about an adventure! You keep it real and show all sides of camping....what goes right and what can go wrong. Thanks for sharing your wonderful videos.🙂
You found the right person to make the repair. He is a fabricator. That is what you needed.
It’s a good thing you saw the cracks, it looks like the one side was barely holding the trailer together, while the other side was completely cracked through. It looks like the manufacturer might have to add extra bracing at those points when they make more of those trailers. 😵💫✌️🇺🇸🇨🇦✌️
I have a call in... if he told Slim they have had no previous problems... After inspecting mine today, with only about 5k miles on paved highways (with no extra tongue weight) only I can now add mine with the same issues
@@davebenson1504 You have an Outback Trillium?
You've mentioned how lucky you were. Slim, only real good people have such luck. Keep yourself safe 😊
Thank goodness you were safe in a campsite when you saw the issue, and I'm sure glad you're okay. 😊 Hope you get some reimbursements too! 👍 Be safe SP. 😎
In a world that seems to get crazier everyday, it's nice to see there's still good people out there who will help people out in a difficult situation.
Slim I am so sorry this happened to you. This issue has become more popular than you may know and not just with your small style traylor it has affected large towable RV's as well but most causes to those were because the materials use in the frames were not rated for the body of the RV.
The stress in your voice left me extremely anxious. Explanation of repair sounds like it will fix the problem and make the frame stronger in the long run. Keep safe Slim.
Good heads up for all of us RVers. Unfortunately whatever modifications we make to our RV’s may have unforeseen problems afterwards. We’re so sorry you went through that. Keep staying safe!
I got this link from Kyle's mother who is my sister. I must say I was very impressed with the whole production! Very well presented, shown by all the effort to create and assemble this documentary. I am so glad Mr. Potatohead 😄 found Kyle Bloch to repair the camper!
Thanks for decloaking.
It’s crazy that you would have this happen to you when you’re so diligent in how you maintain your equipment. It did make for a good video so hopefully you do well on that. Good luck Slim from Alberta.
I live in SCOTLAND, a place called Glencoe. I watched your heavy duty storm video, and i was hooked. You also did " reflections over 7 years as a you tuber" and i have to say slim baby... i like your style. You are easy going, entertaining and... most of all... you are like me... always looking on the bright side of this terrible world we live in. Long may you continue... Cheers slim.
I'm a Laird of Glencoe! I consider it a step up from my Mom who's from Edinburgh. Cheers from Canada!
Sorry this happened. ❤ You did a great job handling your stress. 👏🏼
I have the high-end RV package from the Canadian version of AAA, AMA. When I had a blow out of my class C motorhome last year they rushed to my assistance. They sent 2 tow vehicles, one for my cargo trailer and a flatbed for the 28-foot Class C. Saved my bacon as we were stranded on a very busy highway at 3am in the morning. Will be an AMA member for life as a result.
Glad it all worked out.
You found the right man for the job and I'm sure it puts your mind at rest.
Safe travels.
Thank goodness for Kyle and his expertise. Wake up call for all of us. Hopefully you got to enjoy Upper Michigan. 🙏🙏🙏❤️✌️☕
Sorry to hear you have all these problems. I think you also need a talk with the manufacturer about the frame design. Aluminium is not as strong as steel. If it basically was the same design, they potentially set you up for failure assuming you didn't overload the trailer and the weight on the hitch. The nice repair basically tells the story of what it probably should have looked liked.
Wow, what a stressful few days for you! It gives me chills to think what COULD have happened! I don’t even want to KNOW what that cost. But as I’m currently traveling to FL to pick up my own brand new small camper, I’m grateful for this cautionary tale. I’ll be buying those bottle jacks you have, and be super mindful of the tongue weight. But also... the manufacturer owes you on this one. I hope you get something back from them. A camper frame should last more than 2 years of use.
Same thing happened to Bex Cat Herder a few years ago. She was in Cali hills on a curvy, tree lined road with no signal . She was saved by the kindness of strangers and a mobile welder .
I was going to mention that too. It's got to be near devastating on stress levels to experience this! Thank goodness he got an excellent repair!
I remember that too ! Not seen any vids from her for a while now :(
I'm glad that you found Kyle, he went above and beyond to insure that the repair was done right. Most place would have repaired it just enough to get up on your way.
Wow, that really could have been bad. So glad you pay attention, and are prepared. I would have been anxious too. Thank heavens for the shop that repaired it, and it's holding up. 🙂👍
God Bless the Angel sitting on Slims' shoulder!!
This is a long video for you Slim. No one will complain of such a blessing. Life is a balance over the long journey is it not? For those of us who watch you, learn from you, we feel your moods and we know you are up to any challenge. A challenge is just a chance for another success. 😊
Love nature! Oh no ! To bad such a gorgeous place...glad you got it fixed...you can always come back...From Michigan my self ,15 miles from the ohio line...Michigan is a Beautiful place...Have agreat week slim!!
I guess adding a visual inspection of the frame to your daily pre trip inspection would be a good idea.
Glad your safe. Happy travels
Good Sam club is my favorite RV insurance... reasonable price and outstanding tow coverage
I'm so glad you made it to the other side of this adventure physically unscathed. May you have many happy trails from now on.
Slim, if you're still in Michigan and need a place to stay, I just purchased a small A frame. You're welcome to stay there. It's in northern Michigan. You'd have to cross the Mackinac bridge and go down an hour. I hope you're doing ok.
Slim, even in this anxious situation, your temperament is awesome...your just a though fella...we love you so stay safe
A strong suggestion Slim; thank the Creator for all the help you received with this emergency and practice gratitude that you had the resources to pay for it.
You are blessed to have caught that before it became catastophic, glad you are safe. Seeing the way Kyle fixed/reinforced it I think you have nothing to worry about for sometime, I have welding experience and Kyle did it right.
I love his belt and suspenders approach. He really went the extra step. Good job.
Even I was feeling the anxiety Slim. Glad you’re truckin again. Safe travels. Cheers to Kyle. He’s the man. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Wow, I have had AAA since the 70s and they have never refused service. When we bought our motor home, we got Good Sam who refused a tow but AAA saved our bacon. You Just never know. So happy for you that all need well. As a woman alone, I would have been in tears.
Glad you were sorted in the end Slim. Those fabricators are sterling folk, glad you gave them a good mention.
Glad you got your trailer fixed and can continue on your way. Good luck and keep the good stuff coming.
Love seeing people help each other out with willingness and smiles on their faces. Gives me hope bc In NJ , it seems like everyone it out for themselves.
Sorry to hear that Triple A let you down. I hope they reimburse at least some of your out of pocket expenses. I’m glad you got the trailer fixed up and back on the road!
Slim, keep your eye on the rear end of where the front bar frame is welded to the rear section, as that is now where the stresses will occur.
Kudos to the tow trucker and welder. So glad you found it in time. Thanks for the tip keep a bug out bag in your vehicle. Happy trails!
Get your rig weighed. We all tend to guess what our real-world RV weights are, and many of us have historically underestimated. Once you know, you can evaluate your rig as to tires, axles, tow vehicle GVWR.
Hey that was a great line at 22:58. You captured that emotion perfectly.
I encountered the very same problem with AAA. Like you, I had to call an alternative towing company. AAA could not come to me on the day of the breakdown and couldn’t say when they might arrive the next day. In fact, they said they may not make it out the following day. I was on I-95, on an exit ramp for Savannah, Georgia. If they don’t have adequate affiliate cover for such a huge city…what’s the use?
I’m happy you got all fixed up and I hope you get some reimbursement.
We've fallen in love with the Munising area and have taken our trailer there a few times. We even lost a thermostat on our hot water heater the first time. It's good to know that if we have a frame problem there's a shop only 45 minutes away that can handle the repair!
Wow Slim, what an experience! Sorry you had to go through all that anxiety, but still, happy you were safe and it got taken care of. Continue with your adventures, safely! and enjoy yourself!
Kyle said they see those types of frame issues quite a bit whereas the manufacturer said they haven't heard of it happening? 🤔
Kyle saved the day, thank you!
Glad you're ok & it didn't crack through at a bad time. I think that it was sort of the nature of the beast for that aluminum frame to crack at that spot because of torsion from off roading more than any tongue overloading. Nice that Kyle got you fixed. Sorry it ate your travel budget.
So glad you got it repaired Slim, shout ot to the tow truck driver and Kyle. Thats a big problem with aluminum frames, aluminum doesnt flex much so it tends to crack, steel frames flex and usually dont crack
Kyle is a hero! Glad to see you got back on the road!
Wow, so much there. Here's what I'm thinking. From someone who's over educated, thank God for those good honest people who learned a trade like welding and keep this country moving. The unsung heroes who fix our homes, cars, and trailers. And Slim, thank God for the humble guys who can shoot and edit a video under the most trying circumstances. Masterful.
So glad this didn't end up worse than what it did. You seem to have a knack for finding good quality shops! Glad you're back on the road, Slim👍
If you have enough money you can pretty much get anything fixed. Imagine being in a situation like this and not having the money or credit
WoW! You are courageous! I feel sorry that you are all alone while having this angst moments! Thanks indeed that you have the jeep! Travelling alone can be bitter in such moments!
Slim prevails through tragedy calmly. Also delivers a good video and some road lessons.
U can see the stress in your eyes, been there done that in a 40 foot pull trailer. These are the moments when you learn how to adapt/improvise and survive. U got this. Be happy it wasn't at high speed...I'm in toledo of all else fails. My trailers in the yard powered and ready for guests ...help yourself
Great video, SP! Your mishap is a lesson we can all learn from. Being a BC resident and having BCAA, which is the BC section of AAA, we have used it many times for keys left in vehicles and tows. We travel quite a bit it northern BC and the Yukon and have utilized it for getting towed out of the mud in the spring melt, the snow in the winter and jump starts when the battery sat too long in the freezing temperatures. BCAA has come through without fail. In those far north areas, they don't have tow companies that are on their call list, so we have either had to find one ourselves and make the arrangements, or have had to wait til they can locate one. It's usually faster to do it ourselves. In both cases, we send in the receipts and after a several weeks (it takes longer than you think it should) we get a reimbursement for the full amount. RV traveling in the US we have yet to need to use our BCAA (touch wood!), but we do have the RV plus membership. I once locked my keys in my little Toyota motorhome, with the motor running and my kitten inside, while I walked the dogs. It was the RV door that had a faulty door latch that caused that. My cell phone was also locked inside!! I had to ask someone leaving the Walmart I was parked at if I could borrow their cell phone as I couldn't even go into the store with 2 dogs in tow! Thank goodness for kind people! At that time my husband's was the BCAA RV plus, while mine was the basic one. I just needed a door unlock and they were hesitant to do it as it was for an RV. But, thankfully, they did and I was saved. Needless to say, I changed my membership to the RV Plus as well immediately after. Another incident happened last winter while on the Alaska Highway in December. My car hit ice avoiding a collision with a moose and ended up in the snowbank. No damage to the car, thankfully, but it was stuck good. My husband was ahead in our truck, so I was not alone. It was dark, remote and miles from anywhere. We left the car and headed to Fort Nelson and a hotel. We contacted BCAA. They did not have a tow company there, so we arranged ourselves. The next day, when they delivered the car to us, the bill was almost $2000 cdn! But BCAA reimbursed it in full. Took a couple of months, but we got the money. Just got my renewal notice in the mail and happily paid it for another year.
Murphy's law win's again! Thank goodness you were not on the highway and it gave way! Take care and enjoy your next adventure, I know we all love your videos and escapades.
Wow! You described my worst RV nightmare. You were lucky to discover it when you did. Glad things worked out. Videos like this really help us to focus on preparing for trips and unexpected events. Thx
This guy is PRO !!! I love the way he explain ... FULL of confidence !!!
Good morning Slim!!!! Great to see you again!!!
Good morning!
You are so calm 😯. I’m over here just shaking my head with the close-up of each side. Unbelievable!
Glad your back up and running at full strength. I look forward to your videos, and was worried when I initially read the title. Happier trails, and safe travels Slim.
Glad you’re ok Slim and everything turned out ok, As always thanks for sharing.
A couple years ago, another YT person living in her Casita had a similar calamity - broken frame. She was able to find a guy who did welding and had a portable rig. Got it welded with reenforcing straps welded on.
And, aluminum does corrode, but it happens on the inside of the metal where it isn't visible.
Yep, flashbacks to BexCatherder. Although she had a steel frame and it is easier to find welders for steel rather than aluminum. AdventureVan guy also broke part of his frame that supported his motorbike platform last year. None of these trailers are meant for what they use them for.
Happy things worked out for you.
Im always amazed at the skill folks have to repair things. Skills that not amount of a college education can provide. Just good ole blue collar ingenuity!
Slim I’m so sorry this happened to your trailer BUT thankful for no harm coming to you or any others !
And, what a prize winning video of this experience 😮 I appreciate you sharing this with us and the timing could not be better with many people preparing for vacation travels 😊
Blessings upon you 🙏
I glad you got your trailer fixed. I'm looking forward to new adventures
Anytime you travel, there will be break downs, leaks, flats, etc. How awesome it was that you discovered this when you did, not on the side of the highway. I keep up with another youtuber and her casita broke approx in the same place. Weight distribution is certainly important. Thanks for sharing. The quality of your videos are great. You give out some very nice views of your travels. Thanks again.
He did a great job on it. So glad you are fixed and able to roll again.
Sorry about your trailer. That had to be nerve wracking for sure. I hope the rest of your travels are going to be better than the last few days. Good luck and happy trails my friend!😊
Owning a cargo trailer inspired me to invest in a tongue scale 20 + years ago. Guessing weight and where to have it isn't reliable. You kept your Level head and patience, good. It does seem that the trailer manufacturer should be partially responsible or at least made aware of their frame design and weakness. Good video Sir.
What a nightmare. I feel so bad that you had to go through that, but thank God you found someone that had the skill to fix it and did it right away. Seemed like an excellent guy. Hopefully there will be no more problems in the future. And yes...a cell booster is a must...we need to get one ASAP because sometimes there is just no signal and that's not good. The things you experience on the road are a learning curve for us all. Safe travels SP.
Kyle has done an excellent job on reinforcing the area.. good on him.. 😃😃😃👍👍
Fantastic repair! Kyle is the real deal. Wisdom and skill in the repair. That guy was a blessing!
Well put
That was a fantastic fabricator who did a great job. Safe travels.
WOW... now you have me really worried too Slim... 🤔 I have the very same aluminum frame... I am going to start inspecting it every trip... I do have CAA and I did purchase their extended RV coverage.... but I am now going to read the fine print, thanks for the heads up 🙂
Slim... I just checked mine out... It was a brand new trailer with 1 summer of travel, plus this spring... a total of 8335 km (or just over 5000 miles) and 3900km of that was pick up and warranty repair to the trailer, not even camping related... It has all been on paved roads, with only the equipped 20lb tank and batteries under the cover,... and we travel very light in the trailer with most of our gear in the back of our Tacoma. There is definitely a design flaw, and I am just about to send photos to Trillium for their plan to make it right!!! 🤨😡 I'll keep you posted
High drama! Only because I know you are OK can I say I "enjoyed" this episode. Having experienced several disasters on our camping trips I can relate. Looking back now I am almost glad I had the experience of meeting amazing, kind , helpful people. Gives me faith in humanity. Summer after 911 we broke down in very rural Ohio with three kids, one with severe disabilities and medical problems. No cell service. 95 degrees. (crazy risk takers...) We were rescued by a man who towed us--minivan and pop-up-- up a mountain and let up camp on his farm and connect to his power for days. Made a lifelong impact on kids-- in a good way. Very proud of my son when he stops to help those in need. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
Slim you really dodged a bullet there. The expense is better than what type of accident it would have caused.. Glad it all worked out for you.
That fellow Kyle was a real professional. Fixed it better than when it was new.