Hoping The Next Trip is Better

[memtb]

As I just retired ( 18 months ago), this was our first real vacation in 25 years. Though we’ve done a few, Short hurry home trips.
We left home (April 2nd) 30 hours late....leaving “between” winter storms, because wind, snow and icy roads predicted in and around the Cheyenne, Wy. area. We were “just” ahead of the next approaching front.....experienced pretty brisk winds, as we headed east on I-80, all the way across Nebraska.
We turned SE to avoid Omaha, and headed toward Missouri. Soon after the turn SE, stopped at a truck stop for fuel, walk the dogs, and do a vehicle “walk around”. At this time, I discovered 2 of the 3 5er tires ( triple axle) on the passenger side,nearly touching. I found the “spring-pack retaining bolt” broken on the leading axle. We parked the rig with the semi’s. We found a spot on the extreme edge of the lot, as it was early...about 3pm. Started calling around to locate parts. Finally, located parts in Omaha ( which we had avoided), 55 miles away. Though too late to get there before closing time.
We boondocked in the truck stop that night, and experienced the strongest “ in line” winds we’ve every had while in the camper. The next morning, Omaha set a low temperature record for the date.
We drove to Omaha, bought replacement bolts and a new spring pack ( in case I couldn’t repair the existing spring). By noon we’re, “On the Road Again”! Another 18 hours lost!
So ends the first 3 days of our trip. This is only the beginning....it got worse!

If anyone is interested, I can continue... upon audience request! ??

[memtb]

Mesa, Az.

Other than some steep, narrow roads...a beautiful, sunny ,pleasant drive ( except for one major case of road rage).
Set-up camp in an RV park about 3 miles from the shop that would do the window work. The young man said he would come over, a do the job onsite, tomorrow...Saturday.
It was while he was there, that I discovered “It”! The fiberglass surrounding the 5th wheel pin was hanging down. Screws broken, minor fiberglass damage....heck, I’ll repair it well enough to get home.
After the young man and I looked the job over, we decided that I’d take it to their shop Monday...where they would do the job. Hey....they have the tools and the knowledge!
It was Monday morning when connecting that I found “IT”....as I watched the 5th wheel pin slowly move several inches, up into the nose of our 5th wheel. Apparently it was much more than “broken” fiberglass!
A nerve wracking drive of 3 or so miles, awaiting a go ahead for repairs by the insurance company, a partial tear down, to find the frame broken where the camper bedroom area frame drops vertically down to the camper main I beam, and a week spent in a rental single wide trailer....we left Mesa.
So.....here we sit at home in Wyoming, waiting on the call! We get to drive, back to Mesa... and get our camper!

It’s not even summer yet! Anybody going camping? Anyone want to join us on our “next” adventure?

[memtb]

Big Bend....

We drove thru the park to camp in Terlingua ( as the RV park in the park was full). Right after setting-up camp, we received a call from DW’s sister....she told us that the young woman that we had met, just 5 or so days earlier was found dead. We’re still not sure of details, can’t find any thing pertaining in the local press.
We spent a couple of days in the park, enjoying the unseasonably cool weather.... which we had been experiencing most of the trip.
Now the scenic route to Mesa, Az, where we had an appointment with an RV repair shop to have a few more ( they did a bunch for us last summer) dual pane windows cleaned and resealed. e headed across New Mexico, headed for Silver City, NM. Nearing dusk, “near the middle of nowhere”, a deer stepped out....walking left to right. Sometimes a reflex action is the wrong action! You should never try to dodge an animal....especially when towing 20K pounds. An application of brakes, a little steering “nudge” to the right...deer missed! But, the trailer got onto the shoulder. A rather sharp jolt, everything stayed in a straight line...”no harm - no foul”! Just a few moments of attempting breath control. Did a “ one night stand” in Rose Valley (I think) RV Park. The park was very nice, the surrounding area had much to see....we’ll be back!

Next.....The Final Chapter

[memtb]

mbopp wrote:
Dexter or Lippert axles?

Dexter....it’s a 14 year old unit.

[memtb]

The saga continues:
After a slow drive on the smaller roads of South La., an afternoon touring Avery Island (very beautiful), then on to the Johnson Space Center ( impressive), and then to a small town SW of Houston, to visit the DW’s sister. Several calls to local RV campgrounds, with no answers, nearing sunset, and running low( very low) on fuel we found and drove thru a small, older (many residents living there) park. It was a nice enough park, with a couple of small lakes adjacent. We contacted the owners wife, a young, bubbly, very personable young woman.... who said that they had nothing available. There was an undeveloped area of the park, where she allowed us to boondock. A good visit with family, and off the next morning to Del Rio, Tx.
Arriving Sunday afternoon, with plans to spend a day or so around Del Rio sightseeing, and pick up a grill guard ( custom made....hell for strong) for our little class c.
A miscommunication on the order 6 weeks prior.....they built the grillguard for a Ford Excursion! :M
Tuesday....onward to Big Bend NP.
A last chance fuel stop ( highest prices on the whole trip), before entering the park. Check trailer tire and bearings with the IR gun, fuel-up, and dump the garbage ( a Wal-Mart bag hanging from the 4 WD shift lever). Approximately 40 miles later, while taking pictures at the BBNP entrance.....I noticed my IR gun missing. The last place seen....the last fuel stop! Turn around, return, (greatly adding to the price of the fuel), park, rush to the trash can to retrieve my IR. You guessed it.....they dumped the garbage. The can wasn’t even full, and these places never dump.....until it’s running over. Now... I go “dumpster diving”! 😮 :Mit Thankfully it was near the top! :R

Don’t change that dial....we ain’t done yet!

[mbopp]

Dexter or Lippert axles?

[K_and_I]

"Cheer up, things could be worse." So I cheered up and, sure enough, things got worse.

[memtb]

Continuing:
Tho retired, we’ve got a lot to do in the spring....hence the “time”constraints”.
Our trip thru Mo. and Ar. , was uneventful....but rushed. Enjoyed a family reunion (which we haven’ attended in many years) In Evangeline Parish La., then on to Zachary, La. (actually camped in St. Francisville)....to visit family ( kids, grandkids, great grandkids), and eat some (a lot of ) much needed Cajun seafood!
Arrived in Zachary on a Monday noonish, uneventful ....until Friday.
While watching my grandson pitching for the Zachary 9th grade baseball team....we left the Dodge running, with the AC running with the dogs in the truck. We returned to the truck to find (as we attempted to drive away) that the power steering pump had decided to “smoke-itself”! Not literally.....merely overheated and was “barely” functional.
For those of you, not familiar with the later model Cummins engines....the power steering pump is responsible for both steering and brakes.
Learning to drive was a challenge. Initially, finding out that you could either steer or brake, but not both simultaneously ?? ...proved rather difficult. Though, having a manual transmission quickly proved to be a benefit. “IF” you can keep the rpm’s high enough....you can both steer and stop! ??
On Saturday afternoon, on the way to dinner with family, got a new pump, to I install Monday at my brother’s home.....company, concrete, and tools! ??
The change-out was less than easy. After several hours of profanity laced ....blood, sweat, and tears ( literally), we had the pump off. Only to find....that the excessive heat had damaged the reservoir where the plastic fitting joined the pump. This required a special order for a pump...the pump was in Houston. We were supposed to leave Monday, but between awaiting a new pump and repairs, we left Wednesday morning....another 48 hours lost.

Stay tuned....it only gets better!

[mrquacker]

Never stop a good tale in the middle. Do continue!

[MFL]

Yes, whole story...it helps make our own problems/adventures seem petty compared to others with more serious problems.

Hope your future trips go more smoothly, and you enjoy many HAPPY trips/campouts during your retirement!!

Jerry

[USAFBILL]

continue please

[theoldwizard1]

Having a "schedule" is incompatible with retirement and travel !

[DutchmenSport]

Just think of all the stories you'll be able to share on RV.net now! Document everything with photos and share. You know.... we all live for this stuff!

Yea, it gets better! It really does!

[pnichols]

downtheroad wrote:
It's all part of the "adventure."
Your experience sounds like some of the stories from my ancestors who "RV'ed" in a covered wagon on the Oregon Trail in the 1800's.....

Good point!! We're all softies compared to what boondocking folks had to deal with in the Good Old Days.

Our two worst trips are:

1. Blowing the transmission while going down the driveway to leave on a trip across the U.S..

2. Having a rock from a truck tire shatter the overhead cab forward facing window in our motorhome 3000 mi from home and then it taking three(3) tries by installers to finally get a new window installed correctly so it didn't leak.

[Grit_dog]

Ya, sorry to hear that, but sounds like you’re knowledgeable and prepared to handle it. And presume you made it and lived to tell about it! Let’s hear the rest!!

[ppine]

Perspective is a wonderful thing learned by experience. If you travel a lot things are going to happen, especially in the winter on the Great Plains. If you discover a problem at a truck stop you are really lucky. My bad experiences involve hospitals and walking out from a remote location at 11,000 feet.