On the road breakdown stories..
I'd be interested in reading your on the road breakdown stories and how you got back on the road. I'll share two. I have been RV-ing on and off since 1987. I guess we have been very lucky to have...
Forum Discussion
stories:
Trailer got a flat on the drivers side on the interstate far from an exit.
I pulled over to the left side/missle of the interstate area. It was in the desert. I wanted to not be changing the tire while standing in the road. People do not slow down or move over for breakdowns.
I got a ticket for being on the left of the interstate. Apparently this is not legal, even if you have a breakdown. If you have a crash, move to the right or you will get a ticket.
Other story:
I had a utility trailer lose a wheel, or the axle broke. I drug it 11 miles down interstate before I even knew it. I was in the middle of no where of course. The trailer was so perfect, and custom built, but small and not worth a lot value-wise. I could have rented a flatbed trailer and towed my broken trailer home, one-way rental, but decided that would be costly and the closest u-haul was a long way away. I unloaded the trailer, took off the gas lifts, license plate, tongue mechanism and anything else of any value and abandon the trailer. Sad day.
Other story.
In middle of nowhere again, got flat and ran spare but it developed a bubble (belt broke). Truck camper setup with trailer. I lowered air pressure and drive a max of 35mph for 2 hours, wobbling all the way, to get to the nearest town where I barely made it before closing time to get the tire replaced. All there was was a used tire shop. I got a tire that was close enough to the same size...
Foutunately no police passed me with tickets in hand.
Other story:
Water temps rose, steam filled the hood. I was 2 miles from an exit, so pulled into a gas station and parked out of the way. It was late at night, so I asked attendant if I could stay and explained...
I added water but temps still went up, determined it was water pump, so with cold engine I was able to drive a mile or two downhill to Autoparts store. Got a water pump for about $25 and changed it in the parking lot. Fortunately, on this truck it was super easy and required minimal tools and took about 20 mins. Filled up water and got back on the road.
Always carry a lot of tools, and know what tools you need for your vehicle that might be odd tools.
Last story:
Ram trans went out.
I was 20 miles from a trans shop. I had towing coverage for "rv". They said it did not cover a cargo trailer, and that was specifically why I had the RV coverage, and had even been towed before with the cargo trailer. They kept sending 3/4 ton tow trucks that were not able to tow a 7,500 lb truck with a truck camper on it. I spent two nights camping in a small town in a noisy parking lot, spending days calling, then waiting hours for the insurance co to call back with news that towing is on the way. I had to get a relative to drive up 2 hours to actually tow the trailer, and eventually they sent a flatbed tow truck that could tow my truck. They guy drove through low branches and almost ripped everything off the roof. The camper was ten feet off the ground when on the ground and probably 14-15 feet off the ground on that flatbed. I had his phone number and had to ask him to not drive through branches. That was my worst trip, but at least I was close enough to home that I could get rescued and wait at home for the trans fix.
I sold the truck immediately after I got it back home.
Trailer got a flat on the drivers side on the interstate far from an exit.
I pulled over to the left side/missle of the interstate area. It was in the desert. I wanted to not be changing the tire while standing in the road. People do not slow down or move over for breakdowns.
I got a ticket for being on the left of the interstate. Apparently this is not legal, even if you have a breakdown. If you have a crash, move to the right or you will get a ticket.
Other story:
I had a utility trailer lose a wheel, or the axle broke. I drug it 11 miles down interstate before I even knew it. I was in the middle of no where of course. The trailer was so perfect, and custom built, but small and not worth a lot value-wise. I could have rented a flatbed trailer and towed my broken trailer home, one-way rental, but decided that would be costly and the closest u-haul was a long way away. I unloaded the trailer, took off the gas lifts, license plate, tongue mechanism and anything else of any value and abandon the trailer. Sad day.
Other story.
In middle of nowhere again, got flat and ran spare but it developed a bubble (belt broke). Truck camper setup with trailer. I lowered air pressure and drive a max of 35mph for 2 hours, wobbling all the way, to get to the nearest town where I barely made it before closing time to get the tire replaced. All there was was a used tire shop. I got a tire that was close enough to the same size...
Foutunately no police passed me with tickets in hand.
Other story:
Water temps rose, steam filled the hood. I was 2 miles from an exit, so pulled into a gas station and parked out of the way. It was late at night, so I asked attendant if I could stay and explained...
I added water but temps still went up, determined it was water pump, so with cold engine I was able to drive a mile or two downhill to Autoparts store. Got a water pump for about $25 and changed it in the parking lot. Fortunately, on this truck it was super easy and required minimal tools and took about 20 mins. Filled up water and got back on the road.
Always carry a lot of tools, and know what tools you need for your vehicle that might be odd tools.
Last story:
Ram trans went out.
I was 20 miles from a trans shop. I had towing coverage for "rv". They said it did not cover a cargo trailer, and that was specifically why I had the RV coverage, and had even been towed before with the cargo trailer. They kept sending 3/4 ton tow trucks that were not able to tow a 7,500 lb truck with a truck camper on it. I spent two nights camping in a small town in a noisy parking lot, spending days calling, then waiting hours for the insurance co to call back with news that towing is on the way. I had to get a relative to drive up 2 hours to actually tow the trailer, and eventually they sent a flatbed tow truck that could tow my truck. They guy drove through low branches and almost ripped everything off the roof. The camper was ten feet off the ground when on the ground and probably 14-15 feet off the ground on that flatbed. I had his phone number and had to ask him to not drive through branches. That was my worst trip, but at least I was close enough to home that I could get rescued and wait at home for the trans fix.
I sold the truck immediately after I got it back home.
