Not the most auspicious beginning to a cross country trip. Trying to leave our site the jacks on the driver side chose not to rise like magic into their storage cylinders. After a moment of consternation I got out the WD 40 and crawled under the coach to clean the shafts so they could retract. A minute later they behaved as hoped for and retracted to Travel Mode.
As we hooked up the Jeep on the exit road I thought I had followed the ritual to perfection, apparently not, as the Jeep was not in neutral when I did the “roll test”. With Carol franticly giving me the STOP signal, I did and repeated the process two more times. The last time I had the manual open to the instructions and followed them precisely, which worked – remember to keep the brake firmly depressed throughout the process.
As we drove up the long but shallow grade coming out of Temecula on the I 215 the engine began to overheat. I nursed it to the top of the grade and finally into The Grove, the campground that Redlands Truck and RV maintains for customers. I was coming in for routine service and had them check out the cooling system. I just learned that the two stage clutch for the engine cooling fan isn’t working. It won’t switch to fast speed. We hope the part will be available tomorrow so we can get on with the trip.
None of this is really discouraging or even unexpected. The jacks do need to be cared for after a long pause and forgetting the rather involved procedure for getting the car into neutral didn’t surprise me. Even the failure of the cooling system was not unexpected and the likely cause is a relief since I have been imagining so many more costly and time consuming sources.
Like living in an aging body, traveling in an aging motorhome has some unplanned failures and unpleasant surprises.
Oh boy you 2, I love the part about “like the aging body”…and yes after being still ( or relatively!) for months, recollection is not 2nd nature, as when we picked up and moved around every so often😊💗
You are getting very zen about this whole RV thing👍
Hugs,
Jane & Dean
So glad you are both ok and that it is not a costly fix, although extremely important. Safe travels!
I admire your persistence & willingness to read & then follow the instruction manuals. Hope the rest of the trip is smooth sailing.
We have had versions of all three problems in our towing experience, but NOT all on the same day. That would lead most folks to blue language, but I’m sure you merely greeted each as one more of life’s problems to be solved.
After 20 years of RV travel I have learned that responding to problems with “blue language” merely delays the response necessary to correct the problem. The first two just required me to do things I knew how to do. The third, the over heat, was expected since we had experienced it on the way into the park in December. We are waiting for the part. I could be upset, but it would not improve the situation so there is no point.
You and Carol are amazing. I wish I had your attitude. I get so anxious when things like this happen! God Bless both of you for your wonderful personalities and I learn a lot from your experiences. May this trip be a a good one and a blessing for you to be with family and friends and maybe the Rochester Jazz Festival after the 62nd Reunion!! Wherever you go, have a safe and healthy time!!!
All I can say is that we have “been there and done that”. Good luck on the remainder of your trip.
xoxoxoxoxooxoxo