By Cheri Sicard
RVs and hail are definitely NOT a match made in heaven. In the video below from Robin Barrett of Creativity RV (one of the winners of our 2024 RV video awards), we see what can happen when an RV gets caught in a freak hailstorm.
In the video, Robin was staying in her 5th wheel but had her Airstream Bambi trailer parked next door as she was doing some maintenance on it. At about 9 p.m. she heard something that sounded like a baseball bat hit the side of her RV. Suddenly the sky opened and ping-pong ball-sized hail started to rain down accompanied by 60 mph winds. All Robin could do was sit inside and listen to the hail destroy her RVs.
The hail increased and it seemed to go on forever!
Robin shot the video from inside while all this was happening, so be sure to give it a watch (and listen).
The next morning, everyone at the RV park where Robin was staying had sustained damage. Skylights were broken, vents were broken, RVs and cars were dented. Robin’s Airstream Bambi was affected the most. Two weeks later, the 5th wheel she rode out the storm in was almost unlivable. But the Airstream was worse.
Because it is all aluminum, the hail made serious dents in the trailer. Robin currently has been unable to find anyone to fix it as it involved taking out thousands of rivets. Robin covers her options, none of which are good. She is still deciding if she will keep or sell the trailer.
Robin’s RV was not totaled by her insurance company, although the next-door neighbor’s was. Robin also discusses options with insurance and salvage titles, should such a disaster ever befall you.
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I’ve seen hail damaged automobiles repaired by using dry ice to pop out the dents. It was suddenly popular here in Minnesota years ago, but haven’t heard much about it lately. Something to check in to.
As the video showed, Airstreams are very vulnerable to hail damage. Oliver travel trailers not so much.
Thank you, Cheri! 🙂 I did watch this video a couple of weeks ago. I found it odd that she said her Airstream was “destroyed,” but not totaled. Seems, “damaged” would have been a more accurate and descriptive title. Thanks again, have a great week, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂