Accident Update 5/24 home again

[Shadow Catcher]

On the way back from Challenger Door after they repaired the galley door (they did a great job) I had a cornfield meet. in getting off the road for a rest the coupler detached from the ball and Compass Rose ended up on its side in the grass beside the road. It straightened out the safety chain removable links which should have been stronger than the chain.
As many of you know I often say you are building an airplane and not a tank, and the lack of damage to CR is truly amazing. The tongue box is crumpled that platform it was on is bent and one of the frame members is bent. There is damage to the Filon in the front bottom corners and some slight structural damage I can see.
I was able to put my tow strap on one of the axle supports and get it upright a couple of men stopped and helped, they evidently work with boat trailers and the one who set the coupler made the comment that the coupler had not been adjusted to grab the ball properly, there is a lesson for you all here adjust the coupler to fit the ball. I was able to tow it home with no problems and from what I could see wheels are not apparently bent. the big casualty for Nancy is that the interior cabinet doors self destructed.
I will post pictures tomorrow

[parnold]

Sorry to hear about your accident, but fortunately all is not lost, and no one was injured. I had a similar mishap many years ago with a trailer but my safety chains held. Scared the crap out of me. Now I am very careful to be sure the lower clamp on the receiver is meeting the ball correctly. They can loosen up with age too, it's an easy thing to check.

[KCStudly]

Man, really sorry to hear that. Glad that you are okay.

Hope the damage is not too bad and that you are able to make repairs w/o too much trouble. Did you have it loaded up with stuff (that went everywhere) or were you traveling light?

Lessons learned the hard way are never forgotten, is about the only positive thing to say, other than glad you were not hurt.

[mikeschn]

Yea I'm sorry to hear about that too.

The ball coupler adjustment is a valuable lesson for everyone here.

Mike...

[nrody]

So glad no one was hurt and that CR is not lost.

[Verna]

WOW!!!! I'm so glad you're not hurt....and that the CR isn't badly injured. Material things can be replaced/repaired--people are a different story.

Now.....how do you adjust the ball coupler???? I had some trouble coupling the Escaped2 to my hitch when I pulled it out of the garage to put it in the side yard. It just didn't fit right, and I couldn't figure out why. I had no trouble when I towed it home from Tennessee.

[bdosborn]

Dang it! I hope you can fix it without too much trouble. I better check my coupler next time I hitch up.

Bruce

[S. Heisley]

Oh, NOooooo! You certainly have had your heart-aches with this CR. First, the build and now, this?!!!
I'm just glad you weren't on a road with lots of traffic when she let loose. That could have been way worse.

I hope that the cabinet doors are the worst of it. If your cabinet doors are toast,
you can buy new doors, custom made to fit. Here's the website, taken from the CrowsWing build thread:

http://www.rawdoors.net/

[Shadow Catcher]

CR was for the most part loaded, all of the electrical ,battery, both charge controllers air pump which were "permanently" mounted. The 100# battery stayed in its box and suffered no damage I have to check for damage on the other components.
I have the builders engineering drawings for the trailer sides and pictures of it being constructed and will be very involved in its repair. Galley area appears to be fine.
If the frame were not bent I would be confident in doing the repairs my self.
I was considering the addition of a bulldog or other hitch, now I will.

[tearhead]

I am so sorry. What a bummer this must be.

[Shadow Catcher]

I have contacted the insurance company and an assessor has already been assigned. What really hurts is that I had just about finished all of the fixes and additions and everything worked!

[S. Heisley]

I have contacted the insurance company and an assessor has already been assigned. What really hurts is that I had just about finished all of the fixes and additions and everything worked!

...Except the coupler.

It's a good thing that you had insurance to cover most of the damage.

[Oldragbaggers]

Very sad news. I am so glad no one was hurt and that you have insurance. I will be very certain to check my coupler before hitting the road. It's a great lesson for us all, but I'm sorry it had to come at your expense. Hope your teardrop is repaired and underway again soon.

[bdosborn]

Fulton Coupler Adjustment

Bruce

[Verna]

Fulton Coupler Adjustment

Bruce

Thanks, Bruce--printed and saved. I had no idea there were adjustments.