Newsletter 16

NL 16.

Aug-Sep 98

3rd month

Hey all!

It's been awhile since the last newsletter. We were waiting for our appointment at Collins diesel and toured the whole Yosemite park. It's gigantic! We then proceeded to Stockton and found a great group of people at the Sharpe Military depot FamCamp. It was a beautiful little RV setup with a pool and A grove of Eucalyptus trees strongly scenting the air.

Wanda, the camp host is a trip and mothers everyone that stops in there. We got the truck in and found that the overheating was due to a slight warp in my head (the diesel-not me!). Collins did a complete recalibration of my injector pump, installed the PAC Brakes, and a transmission temperature gauge. They didn't do cooling systems so another shop in town diagnosed and did the head work and cored the radiator. When I got it back from the other shop, after two weeks, instead of the promised four days, from the head/cooling work, I had to bring it back again for a loose and leaking water connection. We finally got out of Stockton and the truck indeed performed differently. How differently we weren't to discover for another three hours when we hit the mountains in Redding CA.

I was looking forward to climbing the hills with no overheating and delays to cool down. I couldn't wait to see the promised performance improvements. We stopped to fuel just before tackling the mountains and my fuel economy was half of what it was and there seemed to be two leaks under the truck! It had no leaks before the head work! I was getting six miles to the gallon instead of my usual 12, and the overheating seemed to be worse. Before I could easily do 35 mph up a long 6% grade and only had to stop for cooling. We hit the mountains and were already more than halfway to Sutherlin OR, the Next SKP Park we were heading for.

I could only make 15 mph in first gear and was furious as I had spent a total of three grand for the work done in Stockton-and got less than half of previous power and mileage. We got to the top of the Sisiques Range and were about to take a long 6% downgrade, and the transmission was overheating badly (about to go above the 300-degree max temp), so we stopped at the top to cool it down and check for any further problems. In the time it took to hop out and look under the truck, a pool of transmission fluid had already leaked out and was about a foot wide! As I stopped I had noticed the torque converter bucking some, and was concerned as using the PAC Brake down the hill would further stress the transmission. But I was not about to burn up my brakes again. It was 6 PM on a Saturday night. I knew that I had to stop for repairs to the repairs and hoped I had enough tranny fluid to make it down the hill to Ashland Oregon, and to the RV Park listed. The descent went fine as the Pac Brake was working.

As I pulled off I-5, I noticed that the tranny wouldn't shift out of 2nd gear and the torque converter was shuddering terribly. I decided to risk the 3.5 miles to the park, and hoped to get the rig parked before getting it towed to a repair shop. The only other alternative was to stop at the gas station and risk being stuck there overnight. I could only do 35 mph in second and babied it to the park with a line of ten cars behind me on the 55mph two-lane road, with no passing lanes. As I turned off, several of them honked and made a gesture that I chose to interpret as telling me I was number one!

I got the trailer parked and could barely unhitch as the torque converter was bucking wildly at this point. I have RRR emergency road repair service, but had enough for one day, and decided to wait until morning to tackle my possible show stopper truck problems.

The next morning RRR sent out a mechanic to fill up the tranny and see if it was dead. It holds 11 quarts of fluid and was down four. Apparently the leak had gotten bad just before we came down the hill. The tranny seemed to be OK! But since it could have damage I couldn't see I knew we couldn't continue. I called the Dave at Collins and told him about the power, economy, and leaking problems. The only options were to tow it 300 miles back to Stockton, or to bring it to Cummins in Medford (10 miles away).

Dave, at Collins, was totally professional and agreed that if the tranny was trashed they would pay for replacement! He also said that the problems with power and overheating must be checked too because something wasn't right. He agreed to pay for anything found that was part of the work he'd done. Cummins found that when the head was replaced, the other shop (not Collins) had broken the turbo intake pipe flange and, in effect the turbo had no boost pressure and the newly calibrated injector pump won't work right without pressure. I then took it to Dodge in Medford and they fixed the tranny gauge leak, and inspected the transmission . . . all were perfect. All of this took about a week. I also had the Dodge folks check the brakes for any burn damage. They checked out OK too. As I was driving home from their shop I heard a sudden crashing sound and couldn't figure what was up. At this point I was jumpy about anything. Another car came by and told me I'd lost a hubcap! I have stainless steel simulators that really cost a bunch to replace!

I went back and couldn't find it but there was also another truck parked in the same area. I saw the driver walking back across a bridge on the highway and thought he must have lost one too. I decided to wait awhile to see if he had by chance found my hubcap. He came back and turned out to be a professor at Arizona State U and he indeed had my hubcap. (The G.A.s [Guardian Angel's] show up again). He was tickled to have found the owner and since I had just picked up a cold case of beer, and we were both soaked in the 100-degree weather, he gratefully accepted a reward of a cold one.

We stood there chatting and drinking one beer at the side of the road then parted and went our separate ways. I got back to the park and when I tried to put it back on, saw that the "mechanic" at Dodge, who had checked the brakes, had dented my stainless steel dually wheel simulators with a two-fister screwdriver or something and had damaged them all. It was Friday. Another weekend delay. I brought it in and they said they would have replacements the next day. I asked them to power flush my brakes as they were still not as smooth as I knew they should be. I now have 156k miles on it and realized there was probably loads of gunk in the system. They couldn't get a set of dually covers anywhere and agreed to pay for the replacement set, and issued me a letter and computer printout to that effect. They cost right at $200.00. So I got in my truck and cranked her up to leave . . . and the brake pedal went to the floor.

I pulled right back in; the service manager was highly embarrassed.

He took it around the block and agreed there was air in the lines. He told me that of the thousands of vehicles they repaired every month there are always a few mistakes a month. He said that he had never seen any customer have everything they touched go wrong!

He pulled his head mechanic out and had him re-bleed the lines immediately and in another ten minutes I was good to go and on my way back to the park at last.

The guys in Stockton picked up the tab for the repairs in full. I called them and let them know that we would be driving to Sutherlin (where we should have been three weeks ago) the next day and would let them know if the full load test came out OK. The Park we stayed at in Ashland (Glenyan RV Park) was run by the owners Mike and Trudy. And there were Escapees in the park that they introduced me to on the first day. The SKPs, Larry and Jean , (The Woodcarver and the Tatting Lady) wouldn't let us sit stranded in the park for the weeks it took to get everything done. Larry took me back and forth to the repair appointments and wouldn't let me use the courtesy car service. He and Jean took us to their sister's place in the mountains with them. Jean taught Lynn to crochet cool stuff using plastic bags.

I have to say that Mike and Trudy were the best hosts we've ever encountered. Mike took me over to see his collection of saddles. Right! I thought it would be at least better than sitting around the campground. NOT! He has a museum quality collection of cavalry saddles, rifles, bridles, uniforms, holsters, pistols, sabers, and even horse gas mask containers! I was impressed and enjoyed my private showing immensely. I told him I'd look for a .45 Auto manufactured before 1921 for a reasonable price for him. Trudy and Mike had us over to dinner with Larry and Jean for some great food and camaraderie. It seems Larry and Jean first met them when they had tranny problems several years ago and headed for the nearest campground too. They decided that they liked SKPs and are setting up a deep discount for all SKPs at their park. Since they felt for our delay, they decided to discount us as the first ones under the new discount program. They certainly didn't have to as we were a captive couple until the truck got fixed. Their park is beautiful and has duck ponds, streams, and loads of plum trees and blackberry bushes. They encouraged everyone to pick what they wanted. People taking care of us again. And a wonderful experience. We will be back to visit.

So we drove to Sutherlin and finally got to test the performance work. FINALLY! IT ALL WORKED!!!!! No overheating, 60 mph up hills that we could only make 35 on before the mods. We were finally passing all the 18 wheelers up the hills. Instead of terror going down the mountain passes we flipped on the PAC Brakes and I didn't have to touch my brakes on 6% downgrades except for once on a long straight descent. It drives like a new truck and cruises easily at 70mph (before it was 55-60 with a little strain on hills). The previous problems were forgotten! I have never dealt with more professional people in the performance and repair arena (Collins)

It would have been easy to get mad and fix the blame instead of fixing the problem. But when mistakes do happen, and the mechanics not only take full responsibility, but are sure enough of their work to pay to get it resolved with no lawyers or animosity, just plain old fashioned customer service and pride, my faith in my fellow man gets a real boost. Dave at Collins was a pleasure to have a problem with, and find total customer satisfaction his goal. Anyone can be good at customer service when everything is perfect. Few can exceed even reasonable expectations when a serious problem arises. Collin Diesel Injection, in Stockton CA. is one of those rare shops. When I can afford the Banks stinger kit and the Banks turbo, I'm going back to Collins for the work. In the end the only thing they had responsibility for was the failed seal in the tranny temp gauge sensor-no one could foresee it failing. But had it caused my tranny to fail they would have covered it. My confidence in them, and my satisfaction with the performance increases, once the turbo intake was replaced, is higher than if all had gone well from the start. They won't leave you twisting in the wind.

We got to Sutherlin and met Bill and Jean our neighbors. It was the week before Labor Day and we found that we couldn't find anyplace that wasn't booked solid for the Holiday weekend and decided to stay two weeks at Sutherlin rather than have to sleep at highway rest stops. With Bill and Jean leading, we toured the Oregon coast and saw herds of Elk just standing and laying by the side of the road and giant salmon leaping in the rivers. I finally totally washed and waxed the coach. It needed it. Lynn got a real scare when I fell off the ladder from four feet up and landed flat on my back in the gravel. It knocked the wind out of me, so I couldn't talk or move for a few seconds, and Lynn thought I was seriously injured. The only thing injured was my pride other than some scrapes and bleeding on my elbow, and a very sore hip and shoulder for a few days. I finished waxing the other half the next day, but had to get Lynn to help as I was so sore. (G.A.s again!)

We saw some of the most beautiful countryside and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean from Coos Bay OR. And met Marge and Mel, who owned the lot next to the one we were renting, and who also insisted on hosting us since I'd given some computer coaching to Marge. She has kids older than me and just got a Pentium II 266 with all the trimmings to learn computing and do email. So we kept busy and I paid off some karmic debt to the SKPs.

We took off the Tuesday after Labor Day and went north then east to where we are now, Astoria OR, on the coast, with some of the most beautiful harbors, bridges, and fishing villages we've seen yet. We are staying at Camp Rilea, a tiny Army post with firing ranges right behind the RV area. It is a beautiful little post and the sound of pistol ranges being used makes me feel right at home. We got in at about 7PM because midway here we stopped at a rest area just south of Portland on I-5, and Lynn told me I had better take a look at the bedroom window. The wind had somehow gotten under the jalousie pane in the middle of the window and had broken the glass out as well as bending the frame of the ones above and below it. I couldn't reach it and had no ladder with me (I'd been borrowing ladders as I have a six-footer in storage.) G.A. time again. Another RVr at the rest stop went up top of his motorhome and got me his ladder and I now have a duct taped window that looks just terrible. The whole thing will have to be replaced, but it's water tight and secure for now. I called USAA and verified that wind damage is covered and I was really glad I got a 100-dollar deductible. The new window will cost about 500.00 to replace on the road.

So after another interesting but beautiful trip we were again pretty late pulling in and they just happened to have one space left (G.A.s again).

It's only $5.00 a night here so we are staying for three or four days to see the Pacific coast. While I was backing in the neighbors all came out and helped back me and invited us to a bonfire as soon as we were settled. All of us are Military retirees and we had temperatures of 65 degrees! I was in shorts and still loved it. We met some great folks and I went back to get my guitar and proceeded to provide some intermittent entertainment. Everyone loved the Medical Lab Tech song, and I played requests for them. We had a great time and learned a lot about the area we're in.

It seems the tuna fleet here can't sell their tuna because of stiff competition from Asian fisherman or something. So they are liquidating their tuna to the public right off the boat. I've had fresh grilled Tuna and only Salmon can even come close. We broke up the campfire at about 11PM with a whole bunch of new friends.

We went down to the docks yesterday to buy fresh seafood right off the boats. We brought Bogart along and he was fascinated by the new smells and the people. While buying our Tuna a flock of ducks swam up to the pier we were on and Bogart tried to jump at them and almost dragged Lynn into the water! She just managed to keep his rear legs on the dock and had him suspended by his collar over the water. I wish I'd brought the video camera! (LOL) We got a 12-pound Tuna for 80 cents a pound! Only problem is they freeze them on the boat as soon as they catch them. So we had to get a little advice on how to defrost and fillet it. We passed another boat unloading live prawns. They must have been 12 inches long and the tails were 2 inches across! I asked if we could buy some and he started at 8.50 a pound. I thought it was a little rich for my budget but really wanted to taste some of 'em. After taking off the heads, a pound of prawns yields only a half pound of tails and I was worried if a pound would be enough for Lynn and me. I only had 12 dollars in cash left so I asked him to just give me 12 bucks worth. My jaw dropped when he removed the heads before weighing. He decided to let us have 2.5 pounds of it for my twelve bucks! We had enough fresh prawn for three meals.

We got home and I started defrosting the Tuna. When we filleted it, we got almost eight pounds of steaks. We decided to have fresh prawns for dinner and they were fabulous. They tasted like lobster and were so sweet and tender they just melted in the mouth. We love the Pacific coast!!!!!

It's Thursday the 10th and we are about to go down to the town and see the beaches, then over the bridge to Washington and scout that side of the inlet. But we are loaded up on seafood so we'll wait till we get up the coast some to get more. Our little freezer's full.

We will leave for route 101 around the coast of WA either tomorrow or the next day, then on to Eric's RV to get the window replaced. We should take about three days to Seattle and then stay at Chimicum, an SKP park on the coast.

From there, we plan to stop at the Hitchhiker factory and head back to Louisiana. (grandkids fix) I may also have to fly to Ohio on business for the Escapade where we will have a booth for the debut of our special SKP offer to the club membership. To all those we promised to visit this year, sorry but we can't get caught up north in the snow past the end of September. However considering the learning curves and challenges we've overcome, we're happy we did as much of the country as we did. And the new friends we've made have contributed to our latest decision. Lynn and I have decided to forget the boat and sailing for a few years more, and continue as full time RVrs for enough years to do every state, Canada, Alaska, and Mexico, before we decide to put down any roots or anchors.

It's occurred to us that we've seen more of Europe and Africa than we have of this beautiful country of ours. And despite the negatives we always hear about our society, we're finding our countrymen to be more decent, honest, and friendly, than we ever expected. So we intend to continue where we left off next spring (and might just head to Mexico for most of the winter, or head back to Yuma and do some gold mining while the weather is good there). After spending some time with the family first. We won't be in Louisiana more than a month though as the winters are wet and muddy, and the spring has tornadoes and storms non-stop. Maybe Acapulco or the Caribbean coast. Well, anyway, we know in the spring we'll be finishing up our itinerary and seeing our friends we missed. I guess we've become snowbirds when we weren't paying attention.

Moreover, it's about time we started paying back some of our debt to all of our rescuers on this trip, by passing it on as they requested.

Well, it's time to sign off and find somewhere to connect and send this letter off. And Bogart's dancing around waiting to go for a ride in the truck (he loves riding in the truck). Lynn's crocheting while she waits for me to finish. Time to go see what's around the corner.

Dg/RV