I wrecked our escaPod

I just found your messages. I have followed all your rpod mods over time and feel like I know you. I just thought a would drop you a note to wish you well.

But Wait!!!! If they did a remanufacture of the outer skin as you mentioned, that would make your pod blue, but green on the inside. hmmmmm. Does this make it a one of a kind pod? And what would stop you from selling it as a 2017.5 ???  lol 

It has been a few days, so I thought I would post an update. I am still awaiting word from Forest River as to whether it is feasible to have the factory repair our escaPOD. I had hoped to hear something by yesterday (Friday), but that didn't happen and the offices were closed by the time I could call.

OTOH, I did hear from the auto body shop. It turns out that, despite the appearance, the Escape was not damaged as severely as the picture suggests. He said the quarter-panel damage was mostly on the exterior panel and the interior panel was not badly damaged. He also said that the hitch was now replaced and the frame was straight. It will be going into the paint shop soon and then to a 4-wheel alignment. After any finishing touches, it should be ready for our daughter and son-in-law to pick it up.

Once they pick the Escape up, we are going to try to sell it. The Frontier is doing okay. While I preferred the non-towing mileage and the performance of the turbocharged engine in the Escape (does not lose power at higher elevations), the Frontier does have a higher tow rating and the truck bed is handy for carrying things that would otherwise have to go on the tongue or the rear-bumper cargo carrier. (gasoline, propane, etc.). I really like the Escape but we just don't need two vehicles.

I am talking about taking it to the factory in Goshen, Indiana. I spoke with Samantha Hoover at the warranty and service department of Forest River's factory. I also sent her pictures of the damage. I am not talking of some "offsite repair facility." This would be a factory repair. It might actually end up being a remanufacture as they would have the capability of stripping off the entire roof and sides and replacing them. Since the slide-out was not damaged, it could be removed and reused. The same with the AC unit, the antenna, Fantastic Fan, and the spoiler. I would not be disappointed if they were to just discard the current spoiler and install one of the new style spoilers though. The interior cabinetry is fine as is the shower. The floor and frame appear to be undamaged. Just one stabilizer jack was damaged. I expect a factory repair job would be essentially a remanufacturing of our escaPOD's shell.

Of course, all of this would be moot if the cost for the factory repair would be too high. I won't know until I ask though. Unlike our Escape, there was no damage to the frame or suspension. We towed it across the country with our patches without problem. Hopefully, I will get an estimate from the factory in a day or two. I'll share what I find out here. If the cost is too high, I will see what the insurance settlement will be. I'll apply that to a replacement if it turns out that is the way to go.

Could you imagine the work to remove the roof panel, it must be attached to the ceiling framing somehow. and then all the corner trim and stuff on the roof taken off, and the diamond plate up front removed. And then the whole side fiberglass would have to come off to still have it be one piece fiberglass sides, which includes windows, doors, and all the little things attached to the side. As Kokopod said "it will never be the same" And i'm sure lots of little issues will be popping up forever. I've had a truck repaired with major damage and it was never the same, and the pieced together bed pretty much fell apart after a few years with the new seams coming apart.