NHTSA Complaint #10198495 — 2001 DUTCHMEN AERO

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, SLOWING DOWN DUE TO SIGN THAT SHOWED UNEVEN PAVEMENT, DROVE ONTO THE BRIDGE, DRIVING OVER THE UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND APPARENTLY, THE CAMPER SPARE TIRE AND THE MOUNTING BRACKET HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE CAME OFF THE CAMPER. AFTER LOOKING IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE IF THE CAMPER HAD STAYED ON THE HITCH, I OBSERVED THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE SWERVING AND SLAMMING ON THEIR BRAKES. I TOLD MY HUSBAND TO CALL 911 AS THERE MUST HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT BEHIND ME BECAUSE NOW THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING. A VAN FLAGGED ME OVER AT THE END OF THE BRIDGE TO TELL ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED AS I WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON BEHIND ME. THE SPARE TIRE AND ITS MOUNTING BRACKET BOUNCED DOWN THE INTERSTATE APPARENTLY BOUNCING OVER THIS VAN THAT HAD FLAGGED ME OVER FOR SKIMMING THE VAN'S TOP. TIRE AND BRACKET ENDED UP IN MEDIAN ON BRIDGE AND COULD NOT BE RETRIEVED BECAUSE THE SHERIFF SAID IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DO SO. THE WARRANTY WAS UP ON 4/15/07 SO NOTHING WAS REPAIRED /REPLACED. WE WENT BACK 2 DAYS LATER AND THE TIRE AND MOUNTING BRACKET WERE GONE BUT CAMPER IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *JB