Broken down while on the road.
Well I had no idea that my mom's RV would shut its engine down when it ran hot. The needle just touched the red! Then my mom could no longer turn the steering wheel and we were right in the middle of a turn to get off the road. There was a ditch ahead!
Mom was only able to cry out, "Oh, Oh!" seeing the trouble with the steering I jumped up to grab hold and helped her pull it back to the right side and away from the ditch ahead
When the RV stopped rolling, we were turned away from the ditch. However we were still blocking the entrance into the rest area. When the engine had cooled a bit, we were able to restart it and got into the rest area to one side, where it again, shut off. Only three truckers were blocked during this time. One of them got out of his rig and stayed with us for awhile as phone calls were made for help. The other two just got back on the road.
We got somebody to come out to look at it and was told there was a pulley that had come loosed from the crank shaft. The dude said he has never seen this before.
We were able to get a towed into a shop where we are now waiting for Monday morning to find out if this place can fix our problem.
Fun huh? But we are safe. Just now more than a bit worried what this is going to cost but we are safe. Just no longer on the road to Gold Beach, OR but cooling our heels in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Anyone lives near here? Maybe we might eat dinner together on Sunday?
Checking to find the cause of the overheating of our big machine.
Watching the service man checking to see what is the problem with the RV. He is adding water to the radiator.
Together both otherbug and Lowgirlscout are watching the process.
The guy could not fix it so we had to get a tow truck to be pulled into a shop. The first guy said there's a pulley that has come loose from the crankshaft
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You know what you might try is doing a search in the WU photo galleries by Cheyenne, Wyoming. I'll bet you'd turn up some photographers in the area! But even if you don't, I'll bet you have some new friends before this is all over. I love traveling in the west, because people are friendly and helpful.
Hope all is going well. Post us an update whenever you can.
Do you have AAA? If you do, this is the time to ask them for help.
Where are you staying? I assume there is a hotel nearby. I seem to think that there is a group who comes to the help of stranded travelers (they help out $ as well if needed). Many years ago I had a relative who was traveling from Upstate NY to MA (after visiting me) and got stuck on the road, needing work on the car. The garage wanted cash only! Anyways, I was able to send money via some agency or other (I no longer remember). If needed ask for help, most people are decent and helpful! Just watch out for the crazies, use your gut feelings well.
Sending a big hug.
(If I see something on the news about two women in cowboy hats, dusters, bandanas tied over their faces and waving 6 gun shooters in a Cheyenne bank, I'll know who it is!)
That's always my big worry doing that drive up to Dad's by myself. I know it's a much shorter trip than what the two of you are doing but it is always in the back of my mind. Esp since I can't hear, which means I can't carry a cell phone.
Shore's suggestion sounds like a good one. Check for photogs or bloggers by location and see if you can make contact. Still, as she says, folks out that way do tend to be friendly.
Meanwhile, get out and take in the sights.
From me - redagain, "Geocaching has been around for 12 years now. I like it as it gets me out to walk/hike about which I need to be stronger heathwise.
Proserpina Right now we are staying with and in the RV. The generator and batteries give us lights and heat. But if it gets locked up inside the shop when they start working on the engine, we have a tow car to find a hotel. Mom is with Good Sams and they took care of getting the RV last night into this lot at the freightliner place. Since the RV is only four years old, we are checking to see what might be covered.
shoreacres Thanks for the the idea. Right now checking in with family and friends I have. Then catching up on email too. Got some photos up load but having problems loading to WU using iPhone and iPad. I keep thinking I will figure it out soon. Meanwhile, I am dropping links to my flickR account.
The shop told us today to be ready for them to move the RV into their shop at 8:00am Monday. That means we must be out of the rig, slide outs IN, and so I am packing a bag tonight to place in our little red tow car.
My mom who is Lowgirlscout - wanted me to share to Proserpina -
We have Good Sam and the AAA does not do RV -- they are just for cars. The tow guy was very happy to tow us cause he said Good Sam always paid up - never makes his company wait - unlike some other companies out there.
I hope it all goes easily and you're back on the road quickly. All things considered, it sounds as though things are going pretty smoothly.
Our #1 son is a geocacher. He got hooked while living in UK. He does not do it as much now that hes in TX, says a person could get shot out there. People take their private land serious!
Hope you are back on the road soon..Happy trails
Sorry about your road trip troubles. I can think of worse places to have to hole up. Cheyenne's not bad, and geo-caching sounds like fun. Hope you are on the road soon. You'll probably get to your destination in time for the festivities. And don't forget, those Redwoods await you.
:)
Take care.
I have photos of the bad parts that cause this breakdown... will post a blog later about this... Folks need to know that they might be driving out there with BAD metal on the pulleys of their engine. We are not the first to have this problem!!
We could had been killed with what had happen.. and no recall has been yet made! Are they waiting for folks to be killed??? Folks need to know and have their engines checked!!!!
I need all of you to repost the info I am going to give you later in this blog... I will add it to what I have here instead of creating a new one.
Lori
I know you're disappointed but look at this as time you and mom can spend together, see new sights...an adventure. Just go with the flow and turn a bad thing into a good one.
Perhaps you can make arrangements to meet with a couple of the West Coast WU photogs anyway. It might not be the big meet you were hoping for but it would still be fun.
Class A RV engine parts are supposed to be built heavy duty; there's no excuse for the pulley to fail like that.
I wish you two the best of fortunes for the rest of your journey!
The RV was turned back over to us around 8:30pm... not a good time to hit the road.. so we will moved westward during daylight on Wednesday. We are only doing about 340 per day.. and at 60 miles per hour...
If anyone is still in the area.. maybe I might see you.. but can not make it in time.
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