It Can Happen Anytime - Highway Mishap

We had our friends Dan and Sandy for dinner last night, and they were relating a story about their trip through Chicago, on their way to Arizona in October.

Similar GMC Denali SUV

Their ride is a 45' Monaco Diesel Coach, and they're towing a GMC Denali SUV. It's daytime, they're in heavy freeway traffic heading west through the 'Windy City.' A transport truck in front is losing large steel grates, and freeway traffic is weaving to avoid them. Dan sees the grates coming, but he's in the passing lane moving with the flow, and there is no way out - he runs over a grate.

Moments later he hears a weird sound from behind, and passing cars are signalling that he has a problem. Given the number of lanes, his only option is to hastily pull over to the left shoulder.
Even getting out of the coach, with the exit door open to oncoming traffic is risky.

Their issue is a shredded rear tire on the Denali. The rubber is gone, the steel bands are wound around the wheel hub.

Sandy calls AAA, but they're told this could take at least 45-minutes. Dan and Sandy recognize the danger of staying where they are. In heavy traffic, working their way across several lanes to the right shoulder is not an option. There are no police or safety vehicles to assist.

With a slight break in traffic, Dan manages to get his side locker door open to get his wire cutters. Sandy reads up on how to access the spare tire, something they've never had to do before.

Then, there is the not easily accessible car jack. It does eventually get the vehicle in the air, but it's far from simple, and probably not especially stable, given where they are. The spare tire is released through a hole in the rear deck of the Denali. Even this, is proving challenging, given the vehicle is carrying cargo, which has to be unpacked. Their bikes are on a rack behind the Denali. Cars and trucks at freeway speeds are passing just inches away.

The wheel replaced, they get on their way, with only minor body damage to the Denali from the steel bands.

The practically new $250 Michelin tire is replaced under road hazard coverage. Their insurance company wants to know if they got the name off the truck that caused all this? Say what!

This is another example of why it pays to pay attention - accidents happen.

Dan and Sandy proved up to the challenge of dealing with this emergency situation on their own. Not every RVer could. I hope I would respond similarly, but you never know until you're put to the test.

They're safe, the story has a happy ending. Luck was on their side.

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