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Borrego Springs, CA

Monday, September 27, 2010

From bad to worse!

It was a little nippy in the rig when I got up this morning at the truck stop, so I decided to turn the generator back on to run the furnace.  Guess what?  It wouldn’t start!  Another alarm went off when I hit the on switch.  :(  Okay, so I decided I’d use my house batteries to take the chill off.  They were fully charged last night.  Ha!  They were just about dead this morning.  Ugh!  So I put on a few more layers of clothes and took Emma out in the dark.  I just crossed over into the Mountain Time Zone yesterday, so it doesn’t get light until after seven.  I, of course, was awake at 6:00.  So, after her first outs, Emma and I sat in the dark for over an hour.  I didn’t want to use up the little power I had left in the batteries for lights.  I had the frig running on propane, but a light was blinking about low power that runs the little light inside and who knows what else, so I shut that down too.

When it was light enough to see my phone, I gave the road service company a call, and a short time later they said I would be getting a tow within 75 minutes.  I was going to be towed to  Rush Truck Repair in Boise, ID.
52 On the way to Anahuac 2010 Country Repair was the towing company, and the truck had a big picture of Superman on it.  I got out of the rig to quiz them on what they were going to do.  I had read all the manuals last night on the requirements for having the rig towed.  :)  They told me that they had done this many many times, and that they would simply detach the drive thingamajig (not drive train, but drive something) so that it could be towed at highway speeds.  It was quite interesting to watch the whole operation, I just wish I was watching someone else’s rig.  They attached their own back lights in the hitch receptacle, and away we went.  It felt kind of odd to be trailing behind my own home!   

It was a good 50 or so miles to get to Rush Truck Repair.  They were able to get it into a work bay by about 1:00, and began the task of trying to figure out what was the matter.  Meanwhile, Emma and I sat outside by the car.  After an hour or so, the manager came out to give me an update, and to let me know that Emma and I could sit inside the rig while they worked.  He also let me plug into electricity so I could recharge the batteries, and turn the frig back on.

They found two problems.  Foremost was the water pump that didn’t work.  He explained to me that this was a very important part in keeping the engine cool.  I guess it also resulted in the radiator not pulling coolant from the reservoir.  Then, he showed me a belt that was pretty beat up on the outside.  It also could have been slipping.  I, of course, really didn’t know what he was talking about.  He said he would have the guys stay late to get a new water pump (that they had to go get) installed, but that he couldn’t get a new belt delivered until tomorrow.  He let it be my choice, but did state that he hated to see me get back on the road with that belt.  I told him that I wasn’t interested in having this experience again in the near future, so I would stay in a motel tonight.  I had asked him when I arrived if I could stay in the rig in the shop if things took more than a day, but that was not possible.  I was surprised he let me stay in the rig while they worked on it!

Anyway, he then went and made reservations for me at a Holiday Inn Express that allowed dogs!  So, I quickly gathered a few things and headed over to the motel.  There were only two rooms left, and I got one of them.  It’s been about three years since I’ve stayed in a motel (pre Emma days), and Emma has never stayed in a motel, or a sticks and bricks for that matter.  I was very proud of how well she behaved as we came in and she had her first elevator ride.  Just maybe she is finally growing up a bit.  :)  Tonight’s stay is costing me $99 ($20 of which is the pet fee).  Gone are the days of a $29 room in a fairly large city.  :(

Oh yea, I had to call the other repair facility and was eventually successful in delaying my appointment for a day.  So, tomorrow when I pick up the rig, I’ll backtrack about 20 miles and try to boon dock in the dealer’s lot.  This will all be worth it if I can get most everything taken care of.  At least that’s what I keep telling myself.  :)  Getting the Splendide washer/dryer fixed will once again have to wait, however.  No one seems qualified to work on that item.

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy

23 comments:

  1. I followed my 5th wheel being towed in Idaho last fall, and I know how you feel. I sure hope you can get all the work done properly, and have a trouble-free future with it.

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  2. Bummer! When it rains it pours, I hope this will solve your problems.

    At least the stay in the motel will make you appreciate you motorhome all the more, even with the problems that pop up from time to time.

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  3. Oh Judy... you seem so calm, cool and collected. I'm so proud of you! I would be throwing myself down in a hissy fit of tears by now. I'm proud that there are gals like you out there that can show "the guys" that we're all not like me!!!

    I truly hope that the next few days work like clock work for you and every little thing just falls into place. And Emma! What a brave girl in the elevator!! Both my twin grandbabies screamed four flights up and four flights down when they went to the hospital to meet their new baby brother! I hope she got a doggie biscuit treat!!!

    God bless...

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  4. With all parts being equal, the worst part of your ordeal should be behind you now. The toughest part for me would have been waking up to all those new problems. At least when you saw Superman pull up you knew you were over the hump & you were not alone & helplessly stuck with your problem. The bill might hurt a bit but your problem is well on it's way to being solved & it sounds like you are in capable hands. Soon the wind will be at your back again as you roll trouble free down the highway to your next destination:))

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  5. You are a much better woman than I....I would have been curled up in the fetal position with Emma by my side...Maybe things will finally get "righted" when you hit the dealership....Best of luck to you..keep the faith...

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  6. WOW, what an ordeal you are having. I have not looked at Blogs for awhile and was shocked to read about your problems. I hope that it will get better for you soon.

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  7. Sounds like normal wear and tear repairs, Judy. You should be good to go and not have to worry about overheating again, so that's good.

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  8. Doesn't it just make you want to flip when something else goes wrong on top of the first one? Surely you'll be good as new in a day or two! Now the comment about the lack of anyone to work on the w/d personally interests me, as we have been casually talking about get a stackable set. . .may reconsider! Sleep well, stay cool!

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  9. We had to watch our MH getting hooked up to a tow truck just last February. Sort of a sick feeling in the gut, huh? Sounds like the service tech there knows what he is doing. Except for the expenditure (which is never fun) you should be A-OK soon. Good luck, Judy and Emma.

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  10. I'm so sorry to hear of your problems. Y
    It seems you've been in a bit of a "mechanical funk". It's funny how these kinds of things seem to come in bunches. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything will be repaired, and you'll have smooth sailing ahead!

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  11. good luck with the repairs!..hope you are back on the road soon..enjoy the stay in the motel!

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  12. Judy, I just read your post to Bruce and he dug out our Splendide manual. They list a phone number for service help and maybe they can put you on to a reputable service center. The western office is in Clackamas, OR and the number is: 1-800-356-0766. They also have a Splendide website: www.splendide.com

    Hope this gets you some help with the W/D.

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  13. Good Lord Woman, if you're going to be on the road with the big boys at least make an effort to understand. If they don't have the epa A/C units at the truck stop the trucks are running 24/7 for a/c or heat. Big rigs are like mini rv's with beds, frigs, etc. These guys live in their trucks. You'll also hear their air compressors discharge. If they are pulling reefers the reefers have small motors that run to keep food cold or frozen inside the trailer. Old time truckers are the nicest ever so make friends.

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  14. Excuse Me, Anonymous, but she was making an effor to understand by asking why and what. And if you've been paying any attention at all to this blog for any length of time I think you'd know the author is an intelligent person and doesn't need to be talked down to in the manner that you chose. The fact that she published your comment shows her intelligence much more than yours.

    I simply would have said "fuck off" and deleted it.

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  15. My virtual education continues! You sound like you handled everything with class and calmness. What would you have done if they wouldn't allowed Emma in the room? Smuggled her in?

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  16. Sorry to hear about all the mechanical troubles. We haven't had to be towed. That wouldn't be fun. Hope you get everything fixed up so that you will be good to go.

    I second Margie's recommendation of the Splendide place in Clackamas, Oregon. They gave us some good advice over the phone.

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  17. Remember the old Helen Reddy song, "I am Woman?" Well you definitely are! You're my hero, driving that big old MH, and handling all these problems. What the mechanic said sounds reasonable, so hopefully you'll soon be back in your home and on the road. It could have been worse, you could have broken down on the road with no cell phone. Hang in there.

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  18. Some days you tame the tiger. And some days the tiger has you for lunch.

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  19. Glad you are safe and didn't breakdown while driving and get stuck on the side of the road.

    We had a water pump go out along with a broken belt while driving and because of that we lost our power steering and were stuck on the side of the road for 3 hrs waiting for the tow truck. You made the right decision having them replace the belt.

    Good Luck today!

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  20. So very glad that you are getting the issues resolved. Seeing your home be towed away would be very disheartening, but as usual you've handled it like a pro! I hope that you are back on the road and regaling us with your adventures very soon.

    That was very sweet of Margie M. and Bruce to relay the Splendide information to you. RVers are the nicest people, always ready to help!

    Kerri in AL :-)

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  21. You go, Girl! I admire you SOOOO much!

    We once had to watch our rig get towed, it sure makes your heart lump up into your throat. Sooo glad you are changing the belt too. A broken belt on the side of the road is NOT fun either. Glad the mechanic is looking out for you.

    Now your next blog title can read:
    "It's getting better"

    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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  22. It's a blessing that this happened to you in a safe place with help nearby. Think of all the lessons learned...and even Emma had a new experience. Hey, is that you I hear humming "On The Road Again?"

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  23. Sounds like you have things under control. I agree with Rick...sounds like normal RV maintenance/repair stuff. Seems like when it rains it pours though. At the end of 2009 we had to replace one air conditioner, repair the other one, buy 4 new windows, and replace two jacks. Stuff happens. You'll get through it and move on down the road.

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