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Hailstorm Damage

Well, this has been the most eventful night in our year of full-timing. 

A hailstorm just passed over Kerrville, TX, and shattered the bathroom skylight over the shower.  We're open to the storm now.  Thankfully, we left the gray water line open yesterday to do laundry, so the water pouring in after the hailstorm should pass through.  Big mess to clean up, though.

The hail may have shattered our air conditioner shrouds, too.  Water has saturated the foam filters and is coming in through the interior grills.  We have towels spread everywhere.  Ceiling is wet, too.  Don't know what else we can do tonight.  Still too much lightning.  Tarps on top of the coach tomorrow, I guess.  Similar storm is forecast for tomorrow afternoon.

I've sent a note to Foretravel, asking about a replacement skylight.  Any other suggestions?  Anything else I should look for in the a.m.?  Just a little dazed right now.


Richard & Susan
The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #1
So sorry to hear that!  My mother lives in Fredericksburg so I'll be checking on her place now that I read your post.

I have no good advice about the skylight or shrouds.  I think you've done all you can at this time. You can temporarily cover them in the morning with plastic sheeting maybe, just to get you through the rain until you get replacement shrouds and skylight.  We had rain water enter through the a/c unit one time when I didn't have the shroud secured and got surprised by a shower.  No permanent damage as we were there to dry everything up.

You'll be ok for now.  So sorry you are having to deal wth this!  Good luck.

Chris
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #2
Oh man, that sounds like a nightmare.

No way you can even go up and at least tape plastic trash bags to the AC shrouds?  I'd be way more concerned about those than the skylight.  That would be terrible for the water coming down the AC to migrate into the ceiling.  This is what I had to do coming home from Dumont Sand Dunes a couple of months ago when the wind got really bad and it started hailing and noticed an upturn in wind noise up top.  Went up to check and the front shroud was almost shredded and the rear one was completely gone.  The plastic stayed on for the whole trip home and not a drop of water came inside.  The heavy duty large outdoor size was perfect, just unfolded it and taped it on around the edges.  But there was no lightning associated with that storm.  I don't have experience with lightning.

I'd also check to be sure that water isn't getting in between the outer skylight material and the ceiling.  Do what you can to be sure the water can freely flow into the shower.
Jennifer
2003 36' U295 (# 6070)
Thousand Oaks, CA

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #3
Chris,

Thanks for the encouragement.  Do check on your Mom's.  If you look closely at the the screen capture from weather radar, you can see that shortly after the magenta and white parts passed over us, it may have continued southwest-to-northeast across Fredericksburg? 

Hope not!  Best wishes for no consequences from the storm.


Richard & Susan
The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #4
Jennifer,

Thanks for the input about the A/C shrouds.  It's raining and there is still lightning, so no chance right now of getting on the roof.  The ceiling is already wet, so we're just going to have to live with the result.  Hoping that Chris' point about no permanent damage holds true for our situation, too.

We appreciate you caring!


Richard & Susan
The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #5
Plastic trash can lid and duct tape
1988  40' Grand Villa Cat 3208t

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #6
Sorry for this event but I would be up on the roof no matter what to try and stop the inside roof from getting any more water on it. Your interior lining could be history soon, sorry to say.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #7
Just start blotting the ceiling with dry towels as much as you can now to start drying it out. If you have any fans, run them pointed at the ceiling. It looks like the worst has passed you, so maybe you could get onto the roof safely at this time to try to cover the openings.
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #8
Restoration companies like Service-Pro helped us after our fire. They can suck moisture and kill cooties like nobody else. Your insurance can help, perhaps. I wish you well. We are watching the storm in New Braunfels from TN. Wish we could help, too!
Paul & Kathleen
1995 U320c SE 40'
Build 4681 --Cummins M11 /17511
"That Irish Girl"
Red MINI " 40"

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #9
Thanks, all, for the support and encouragement. 

When the rain eased a little, we turned on the docking lights and headlights.  Went outside and discovered hail broke our Highlander's sunroof.  Car is full of water and, of course, the body smashed with hail dents.  Don't know if a dent doctor will be able to finesse these out or not.  Some are pretty large and deep.

The good news:  we're fine.  This is nothing like people who lose homes in a fire or a flood that completely destroys everything in its path.  We'll get this stuff worked out.  It's just inconvenient when the coach is your (only) home, and ditto the car.  Guess we'll find out how good our insurance is.

More tomorrow.

The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #10
yes plastic trash lid, or maybe you have or could get some rubbermaid storage containers to fit over anything that needs it and stick them to the roof with some adhesive caulking. Boy oh boy, what a nasty unforeseen event. All the best.
2000  42 U320 DGFE full body paint/modified front lower cap, Build# 5742
2004 C-RV Toad
Tom and Mary, Trouble & Mr. Pants

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #11
Richard, how perfectly dreadful, I am so sorry... :-*  ...such a helpless feeling, just relieved to know you two are OK physically...this is an alert (at least for me) to know more about the shrouds, til now I'd thought they were something completely different....just so sorry you have to go thru this.  Do what you need to do when the sun comes up but keep us posted at some point.

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #12
Richard,

Sorry for the problems.  A/C shrouds are say to replace once you get some.

Check this post out for your skylight.  You can find others with a quick search.

Hope this helps and things get better soon,

Rich and Peggy

Replacing our shower skylight
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #13
The good to this story is no one was in the shower when the sky light busted. 
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #14
Richard and Susan, I hope you are OK and safe.  I am sorry to hear this story, just as you were getting settled in for the summer.  Try to get as much water removed and dried out as soon as you can.  Call your insurance person. This type of event should be covered under you Comprehensive coverage.  There are folks out there who can help recover from this. 
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #15
That is my fear with the coach outside and in storm country. I am glad you are ok. Insurance claim will probably be your best bet.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #16
So sorry to hear of this terrible event .  I had a similar situation several years when hail broke through my roof vent.  I stuck an umbrella through the opening and opened it up.  Probably wouldn't work in high winds though.  I wish you best of luck getting through this.  Rodger
Rodger Riggs
1996 U270 36',  Build #4831, Jerry Whiteaker's old coach

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #17
So sorry to hear of this terrible event .  I had a similar situation several years when hail broke through my roof vent.  I stuck an umbrella through the opening and opened it up.  Probably wouldn't work in high winds though.  I wish you best of luck getting through this.  Rodger
What a great idea, will sure have to remember that one, no climbing on the roof and exposure to the elements and SIMPLE.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #18
Sorry to hear of your misfortune.  I was at camp Foretravel  on the 3rd and 4th of May and 2 coaches were there for hail damage repair. 
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #19
If you have comprehensive insurance the hail damage and associated water damage should be covered
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #20
I read about how it was wet and what I have done is similar to bogey, suck it dry as you can with a wet dry vac and then put a box fan on the wet areas and let it blow on the damp areas.  this will get rid of the water.  Both are cheap at big box stores.  You will have it dried up quickly for probably less than 100. 
Best of Travels

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #21
Oh no, the car too.  So sorry to hear that.  It has been a bad spring in the hill country - friends in Boerne got hammered a few weeks ago by hail, doing $5500 damage to a car, destroying pool equipment and plumbing, metal roofs on houses, etc.  I think many service providers in the area are backed up trying to handle all the claims, and our friends just finally got State Farm out to their place two days ago.  The dent repair and auto glass people are very busy but you should be able to get someone to replace the car glass, even if you have to head in to San Antonio.

You may be able to find a/c shrouds at a local place in Kerrville - I remember one along the main street there.  Might have better luck going to San Antonio for those as well, however.  Very easy to replace, once you have the new ones.  Best of luck handling everything!

Chris
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #22
The wonderful part of our lifestyle is that you can always move to get better service.  Your insurance company can suggest where you can go to get estimates and repairs.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #23
Scary stuff ! Escapees magazine had a article in their recent issue about a couple that got hit a couple of years ago. Totaled out their 7mo old Winnebago & Jeep. We spent 2 periods sharing bathrooms in COE campgrounds on our last trip due to tornadoes, but no damage. Guess that's why we pay the bucks for insurance.

The very best thing is no physical damage to yourselves.
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: Hailstorm Damage

Reply #24
Let me know if Foretravel does not have the double dome skylight in stock.  I got one there the last week of April when we met you on the parking lot.  But we're home now, parked inside, and have not installed it yet.  I could go to the coach today, and retrieve it, and ship it to you.

My cell is 214-850-8303
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)