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Topic: Hail Damage to an Airstream and a Lazy Daze... (Read 344 times) previous topic - next topic
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Hail Damage to an Airstream and a Lazy Daze...
It's HOT here in Las Cruces, NM and I'm planning my get-away to cooler climates soon.  However, in the meantime I've been watching YouTube videos.
Today, I came across a sad video from Robin of Creativity RV who had major hail damage to her Airstream as well as her friend Debbie (a certified RV inspector and technician) who owns an 2000 Lazy Daze rear bath.  She was visiting Robin and was staying in the same Colorado RV park. 
Robin had recently asked her friend Debbie to travel to her location to do a video called PROTECT YOURSELF! These 3 SILENT KILLERS Can Crush Your RV Life , and it's somewhat sad that the hail storm happened the day after shooting the video. 
Robin will most like "land on her feet as she has 328K subscribers and most likely does well from the revenue of her YouTube channel.  Debbie, probably "not so much" as her RV was "totaled out" by her insurance company. 
It's been a crazy summer and we still have much to go...
Cheryl (a.k.a. Desert Diva)
1998 Lazy Daze (26.5 mid-bath)
2002 Honda CR-V

Re: Hail Damage to an Airstream and a Lazy Daze...
Reply #1
Thank you for posting this information.  As you said in your post, a really sad situation.   Spring time in Texas and points north and east get hail all the time.   For example, every roof in my neighborhood has been replaced at least twice in the last 10-12 years.  That LD was certainly hammered.  😢

Re: Hail Damage to an Airstream and a Lazy Daze...
Reply #2
How awful!

My biggest fear about transiting the plains this spring was severe weather, especially hail and tornadoes.   I missed a chance to see the eclipse because the risk was too high in a better viewing location.

It’s not free, but the RadarScope app was very very helpful for dodging hail.    The pink pixels are hail.  If I know there is severe weather in the area, I’ll scout the surroundings for protection (gas stations, car wash, underpass, etc)

I saw the hail heading my way in San Antonio, and hid in a bank drive through.
Dave

2017 TK

Re: Hail Damage to an Airstream and a Lazy Daze...
Reply #3
We were caught in a large hail storm (4+ inches) in San Marcos, TX years ago at LD southern rally.  It sounded like we were inside a popcorn bopper.  Luckily, we were under a pecan tree that deflected the force of many of the hail stones.  We had significant roof damage and our insurance company totaled the roof.  We went to the mothership and Vince said it was all cosmetic and not to worry.  We kept the LD for another 5 years without any leaks before buying a different RV and trading our LD in.
Ross Taylor
2017 MB

Re: Hail Damage to an Airstream and a Lazy Daze...
Reply #4
Dave- I'm interested in RadarScope. Did you buy the Pro (9.99/year) or the Pro Tier Two (99.99 a year). Looking at the descriptions, the tier two mentions "hail contours" where the Pro doesn't mention hail.
Thanks!
Livin the dream, one nightmare at a time.....

2003 26.50MB, Blue

Re: Hail Damage to an Airstream and a Lazy Daze...
Reply #5
Dave- I'm interested in RadarScope. Did you buy the Pro (9.99/year) or the Pro Tier Two (99.99 a year). Looking at the descriptions, the tier two mentions "hail contours" where the Pro doesn't mention hail.
Pro Tier Two (by the month) while crossing the plains in spring, I let it lapse in early May once I was on the east coast where the hail risk is significantly less.   That’s what my image is from.

Without any subscription, it’s still very good for seeing the rain coming in real time.
Dave

2017 TK

Re: Hail Damage to an Airstream and a Lazy Daze...
Reply #6
I have driven a motorhome twice in hail storms, once in the spring of 1992 on US Hwy 60 east of the Great Array Radio Telescope. I was driving a newly purchased Barth all aluminum motorhome. I didn't know what I was going into until the wet thumbnail size hail started hitting the windshield. My only choice was to slowly drive through it. As I emerged from the hail the ice was about 10" deep on the road and a small tree nearby had all its leaves ripped off. Once I could find a safe spot to park I climbed to the roof to check for damage. The only thing that I found was the plastic decal on the AC shroud was ripped off. The aluminum roof was undamaged.
The second hail event occurred in September, 2014 driving south on I-225 in Denver, CO. We were in our 2010 LD pulling the toad and saw a strong rainstorm ahead with a white vertical section in the dark gray cloud. (Photo) We quickly learned that was heavy wet thumbnail size hail coming down. This time I was approaching the South Parker Road overpass which I pulled under on the road side. (Photo) Very shortly all traffic came to a halt until the hail passed. Then we followed south past the Kennedy Golf Course which appeared as though it had snowed on the grass. (Photo) It was very slushy to drive in for a short while. These were not fun events!
Mike
2010 RB "Monty"  & currently: 2021 RB "Villa Verde"
2004 Born Free 26'
1998 Beaver Patriot 33'
1992 Barth Breakaway 28'
1982 Fleetwood Jamboree 23'
1982 Dolphin/Toyota 22'

Re: Hail Damage to an Airstream and a Lazy Daze...
Reply #7
My worst hail experience was in a rental Winnebago at South Meadows Campground, outside of Manitou Springs, July 2006.

Heavy rain, very loud thunder, and pea sized hail.
Dave

2017 TK

 
Re: Hail Damage to an Airstream and a Lazy Daze...
Reply #8
Just when I thought I was done with severe thunderstorms, was hanging out in Gander and heard some very loud thunder.   Loud and windy enough to quickly resubscribe to RadarScope Pro Level 2.    Yep, there be hail too! (circled the hail in white, I’m the crosshair)

Started driving south to Terra Nova, tonight’s campground, as it looked like it would pass to the north.   Turned out one of the cells passed to the north, but another passed to south.  Was a bit of a close call, especially when my storm chasing brother noted that storm had gone linear, with a section bowing out, meaning a high probability of winds from 40-80mph!

All is well, storm successfully dodged, just distant thunder now.

In hindsight I should have driven about 30 minutes to the north and waited a couple hours, delaying my arrival by 3 hours.  But I was stubborn that I could dodge things with my tools, which I did, but it was stressful than relaxing elsewhere.
Dave

2017 TK