By the time there was an open bay in the repair facility today, it was 2:30 in the afternoon. The tech came over to reinstall the drive line (?), and then hopped behind the wheel to drive the rig into the shop. He stepped on the gas and here’s what I heard next, “Holy shXX! You don’t have any brakes at all!” MY response? “That’s what I tried to tell you yesterday.” Somehow, he was able to maneuver the rig through four turns and into a bay, and roll to a stop at just the right place.
Seems everyone thought it was just a stuck parking brake, even though I told them the messages on the dashboard computer said hydraulic brake failure and check ABS. The tow truck driver also told them about the brakes. After all, that’s why he towed it and didn’t drive it. My non-mechanic’s guess is that the rig did exactly what it was supposed to do… it wouldn’t let me put it in gear without working brakes. Halleluiah!
After six this evening, I found out about all the possibilities of what caused this. Further investigation is needed, which will begin tomorrow. After my asking, it is a possibility that I will be here over the weekend since tomorrow is Friday. Needless to say, I’m not going anywhere tonight. They don’t even want to chance backing the rig out of the bay. After they consulted about what to do with me and Emma, I was given two choices. The first was to stay in one of the new rigs out next to the fence by the hookups. The other was to stay in my own rig inside the repair building. I chose to stay home.
Can’t say that this experience is on my bucket list, but both of us will be more comfortable in our own beds. With one of their extension cords, I have 30 amps, and the heater and fridge are humming away. No TV inside here, but I seem to have good internet reception. Now, if I can just figure out how to turn off the three different radios that are blasting in the building after the car mechanics go home!
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy “Murphy” Bell
Posts
You must be so frustrated right about now. Keep the faith, it will get fixed eventually.
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
Judy - Jim said to tell you that they had to disconnect the drive train in order to two the rig. Otherwise you would have a whole lot more problems. I cannot believe they wouldn't listen to you about the brakes. That is beyond frustrating. But "men" (not all maybe) need to find out for themselves. I would have chosen my home too. Hope the radios get shut off.
ReplyDeleteBetter news tomorrow? I hope that's what you hear.
ReplyDeleteYep! If anything CAN go wrong, it WILL. But at least Ms. Murphy and Emma get to stay in their home tonight, and find out what it's like to be Gypsy with no TV! Good luck on getting fixed and outta there tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThe saga continues. Can't wait for the next installment of this excellent drama! Hope you managed to get all those radios turned off!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about all your recent troubles trying to head south. At least you're in safe surroundings (but blaring radios would drive me nuts too!).
ReplyDeleteOMG ~ I just don't get repairmen anymore. What did they think you meant DUH! I know it's never on our bucket list but it keeps showing up from time to time... repairs that is!!! Wishing you luck tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteDonna
Well....well.....oh my....crap.....damn.....this sucks pond water.....yuck....Oh, what the Hell...SHIT!...
ReplyDeleteWell....at least you have a nice warm fluffy furry dog to keep you company...Gotta look at one good thing,....thinking of you and Emma tonight...
Wel, if you have your own bed, your dog, a good book, heat and light, what more do you need? Hopefully they will get your rig pulled out to the parking lot over the weekend. I'm just glad you didn't have a tragic break failure on the highway somewhere. Focus on that and everything else is trivial.
ReplyDeleteFunny, when I asked the salesman how often you need a break job on these big rigs he said "almost never." More bull shit I'm sure. H was really full of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Merikay on this one. Glad the brakes went while you were parked. And on the good side you are not having to search for blog topics. We are all waiting with bated breath for the next installment.
ReplyDeleteHope it doesn't turn out to be anything to do with the Workhorse brake recall you had done awhile back. Maybe you could tune those 3 radios to the same station for...surround sound:))
ReplyDeleteBeen my experience (camped out in the repair shop's lot) that the radios do not go off. If you don't have earplugs, do you have a slingshot?
ReplyDeleteEmjay (nah. Not serious)
Oh my goodness! What a predicament to be in. At least they let you stay with your rig but not so much fun when the radios are blaring. Sure hope this gets fixed pretty quickly for you.
ReplyDeletegood luck tomorrow!!..we can only hope that the repair won't be as difficult as you fear!..hope you slept well in your own bed!!
ReplyDeleteJust think of all the great "campfire stories" you're collecting!
ReplyDeleteWe look forward to hearing the one that starts out "Did I tell you about the night Emma and I spent the night in a service bay?" Then, we'll share the one about our schizophrenic fridge!
Glad to hear your safe at home for the night. Hope you get good news tomorrow. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you!
My only hope is that all this will be warranty work, sounds like and expensive job in an expensive shop. Be safe out there, hope it goes well for you. Sam & Donna..
ReplyDeleteShall we have a Snafu Rendezvous at some point, sit around a campfire and share stories? We have several tales to contribute . . . remember the night Dave woke me at 2:00 AM to say the toilet overflowed and we were flooded??? :o
ReplyDeleteGood grief, I miss a couple of days of blog reading and look what I've been missing. It is the life of a full-timer unfortunately. I have learned patience with these type delays, but the $$$ is what sickens me. So glad the brake problem was discovered while you were parked. We spent a night in a paint shop - no radios, but stinky and dark. Another time our only option was to move into a motel for two nights with the dogs. There's always a way to work it out...but patience is definitely needed. Hope your next blog post is good news and you are back on the road again. Isn't it such a sick feeling to see your motor home being towed by those big wreckers? I wanted to cry when we had to be towed.
ReplyDeleteWe have spent several nights in service bays...no radios but lots of light. We slept great because we were in our own bed. It's not the worst place you could be. Merikay is right...finding the brake problem when you did was a GOOD thing.
ReplyDeleteWe're learning that repairs are not a fun part of full-timing.
I have to say that Winnebago rig monitoring system does work. Glad you at least got to sleep in your own bed.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard, they changed it to "Bell's Law?" Murphy just wasn't cutting it anymore. Keep up the good humor.
ReplyDeleteSitting scratching his head wondering what would cause this problem??? Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteThis is making me a nervous wreck. I can't believe you're not having a melt down. Not that will help anything, but that's how I roll. :)
ReplyDeleteChris
OK, Murphy, you just gave me my morning chuckle--I can just picture you and Emma inside the rig inside the building! Hope they are able to get you out of there today.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking this is one repair you really don't want to rush, even though you want back on the road again.
ReplyDeleteYou'll get "safely" back out there ;-)
Even Murphy should run out of proofs someday, right? Like TODAY!
ReplyDeleteOUCH!!! Hang in there and I hope there is good news tomorrow. Just glad you weren't on the road when all this happened.
ReplyDeleteTake care , all will get fixed.
Curious to hear the cause of the failure. Keep us posted. Hang in there...it could be worse, you could be home replacing a roof. Just saying...LOL!
ReplyDeleteCheers! ~M
NO BRAKES! How many times do you have to tell them?
ReplyDeleteHope they are able to repair it real soon and hope it doesn't cost and arm and a leg!
Would this be considered the down side to having an RV???
ReplyDeleteNow.. if you were a MAN and said NO BRAKES would they have believed you? Of course. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI guess you get the satisfaction of a little inside "Told Ya So" attitude. TEEHEEEEEe
Hope you are fixed up right, and it's all warrenty!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Karen and Steve
(Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/