I know. It's been a while since I've posted. Not for lack of content. To the contrary, I've been busy. Lame but true. This spring we needed some distance from motorhome headaches. With those problems parked in CO storage we hit the road in Blacky The Wonder Tundra towing lil' yeti. We spent 6 weeks and covered 5,900 miles from CO to New England and back. We enjoyed visiting some friends and family in AR, KY and MI along the way. Loretta's a good sport but that's a lotta weeks living in and out of a tiny camper. So besides house chores in MA we also got away to ME for a week long treat in a time share. What a whirlwind.
When we returned to Pueblo we found a mechanic to check out the motorhome. Since the engine rebuild last fall (in OR) it kept running worse and worse. Turned out an exhaust lifter had failed. That fix made it not run as bad but something was still wrong. It labored hard, ran hot and had low power. To follow through on prior plans to summer in WA we left the motorhome in storage. This time resident volunteering meant living in the bunkhouse at Conboy Lake NWR. We had a great summer. I even got more heavy equipment training. Now there's only a couple of service fleet machines remaining that I'm not certified to operate!
But we missed living on wheels. So when we returned to Pueblo we made time for the mechanic to take another look. Turned out the timing needed adjustment. Then it ran well again. Mostly. The weather was so dang hot in early September. On a 100F day the motorhome overheated while still parked in storage. Just running the dash AC. The transmission got alarmingly hot without even shifting out of park! Clearly, something's still wrong. Even though the motorhome's rated to tow 3,500 pounds, and the 13' Scamp weighs well under that, we made a decision. No more towing!
Of course that new requirement changed everything. Towing the Scamp behind the motorhome was what freed up my truck to tow Loretta's car. She needed her car and I needed my truck. For us to continue traveling together, something has to give. But at this point we don't trust driving the motorhome. Anywhere. Ugh. Time for another kind of break.
We both had personal business to deal with but in different corners of the country. So for now we left the motorhome stored in CO. Although flustered and frazzled we haven't quite given up. We just needed another break. So she went to FL and I went to MA. Meanwhile, we keep exploring different solutions.
Of course we could park the Scamp in storage. But the motorhome can't go easily to many places we've enjoyed exploring on excursions with lil' yeti. Replacing the motorhome with something more capable to meet our requirements isn't in our budget right now. And replacing her car with something towable doesn't make any sense. Not with a motorhome that we're not willing to tow anything with anymore. That leaves my truck to reconsider.
I love Blacky. It's the best vehicle I've ever had. Bar none! Yes, it's getting a little long in tooth at 247k miles now. But it still runs so well! And after 17 years in service, especially in northern salt states the first half of its life, it's amazingly solid. And even still looks good. So why even consider anything else? Two reasons.
Shorter term, I'd like to rehab a vintage Airstream that I have stored. At 31' long it would be comfortable enough for both of us. Plus maybe a dog. And guest accommodations of course. The only thing is, to build it out the way I'd want, it really shouldn't be towed with any 1/2 ton pickup. Sorry, Blacky. Then there's the fact that it's currently just a gutted shell. In rough condition at that. So it's not really a short term prospect. Eventually, I'd need at least a 3/4 ton truck. Again, budget.
Longer term, I'd kinda like to trade the Scamp trailer for a Bigfoot or Northern Lite slide-in truck camper. But then I'd need a 1-ton truck. Which could still tow a car hauler behind it. Loretta could still drive the motorhome. Assuming we can get it reliable again. Just saying. Because, again, budget. Some day. Maybe.
Meanwhile, Blacky's a keeper. But needed new tires. Amazingly, I got 124k miles in 5 years on a set of Michelin X2 LT tires. I've been so pleased with them that I was tempted to stay the course with replacements. But there have also been times when I shied away from more adventurous travels because of highway tread. And life should be lived well after all. So instead of street shoes I opted for tactical boots. Let's see how these Pirelli Scorpion AT+ tires work out.
"One thing is sure: that time will tell."
--Asia
