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Topic: Learning Opportunities: Worst Breakdown or Flat Tire Experiences (Read 197 times) previous topic - next topic
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Learning Opportunities: Worst Breakdown or Flat Tire Experiences
The other on-going "Flat Tire" discussion got me thinking back over the years to our worst breakdown or flat tire horror stories, and what lessons we took away from them.  I'm sure there are many such moments from the uber-experienced fellow RVers in this forum.  I personally have have several real zingers, and I am sure others do as well. So, as not to sidebar the Flat Tire string, I decided to open this as a new topic.  Here is my opener:

Date: Mid-September, Early 1990s (Important note. Pre-Cell Phone era).  Location: Gravel road between Pyramid Lake, Nevada and Susanville, CA.  Rig: Dodge P/U with camper shell that pulled 25' Airstream trailer that was left parked and boondocked at the lake near old, abandoned "Warriors Point RV Park." (Used to be one of our favorite spots.)

Long, long, looooong story cut short (this ordeal was nearly 17-hours in duration), We were boondocked at "our spot" at Pyramid Lake.  No one else around within eye-sight.  Beautiful.  Decided to spend a couple of hours exploring further north.  Hopped into P/U, our two Black Labs in the back, and drove out on a fairly well-traveled (by northern outback Nevada standards) gravel road.  About five miles into trip, crossed one of many cattle guards and punctured both rear tires!   There was one spare in the truck. 

Situation: 5 miles from trailer, 10-15 miles from Sutcliffe Indian Rez HQ; Desert heat rising; No trees or shade; three or four bottles of water; Dog water bowl; No food; The older dog was 12 years old and "slow".   We decided that I would set out on foot and head back to trailer for food and water, then on to Sutcliffe, maybe catch a ride from a passing ranch truck or something.  Kathy and dogs would remain with truck and remain in shade of camper shell or even run air-conditioner in truck if necessary until I return with tow or other rescue.

No one passed me for first hour on road, then a 20-something German tourist stopped for me.  He was driving a small rental Toyota.  He was leisurely on his way back to LA via Highway 395, planning on staying in Reno that evening.  I made him a deal that if he would drive me to Reno airport I would fill his tank with gas and give him some dinner money.  He agreed.  He dropped me at Reno airport. The last rental car available was a small Toyota Corolla.  I took it.  I stopped at a 7-11, bought drinks and sandwiches, etc. and sped back out to where I had left Kathy --  nearly two full hour's drive at speed.  Kathy and dogs were in shade inside camper shell, hot but ok.  No other vehicles had passed her on the gravel road since I left.   I put spare on one side, took flat and threw it into trunk of Toyota, huge Labs into little back seat of Corolla, Kathy in Passenger side, and headed off on same gravel road for Susanville -- closer to us than any other major urban area - with air-conditioner on full. Reached Susanville Big-O tire shop about 3:00 pm.  Bought new tire and had it mounted on the spare wheel in the trunk.  Drove back out to truck, mounted other tire. Kathy and dogs followed me in P/U back to Reno Airport where I returned the rental car.  We stopped for dinner at a small steakhouse, before returning to the Airstream.   Disaster continues.

We had initially left "for only a couple of hours" and left several windows open, awning out.  Typical NorNevada afternoon duststorm had blown through covering interior with layer of silty dust.  Free-range cattle had stopped to collect around the outstretched awning, and had left their various calling cards splattered all about the trailer and the staked-down exterior carpet mat.

Lessons learned:  Never travel on remote roads without ample water and maybe even two spare tires; Always visually inspect remote cattle guards prior to driving over (road graders damage them); Never leave RV windows open when away regardless of forecast heat range; In the desert, always take a broad-rimmed hat, even when traveling by motor vehicle; When leaving spouse alone in remote desert for hours on-end, always arrive back to her with ice cold lemonade, a sandwich, and snacks;  Do not attempt to cleanse cow patties and pee spots from old-fashioned RV rugs in lake without about 4 other persons to help lift and drain from bottom of lake bed; Do not return to favorite locations for 10 years, or until cell phones have been invented and are in common use throughout the USA.  
2017 RB
 
Re: Learning Opportunities: Worst Breakdown or Flat Tire Experiences
Reply #1 –
Here's a story that happened to somebody else while I was watching.

I was staying at the Bluewater Lake Lodge & Horse Motel, a tiny campground just outside the gates of New Mexico's Bluewater Lake State Park. (Why? Well, I was doing my "one week out" before returning to the state park.) The park closes its entry gate at night, but there's a one-way "treadle" on the exit side, I guess so that you can leave if there's after-hours emergency. There are large signs explaining the gate hours and warning of "SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE" if you try to enter on the exit side. (See photos.) From where I was parked at the horse motel, I could see the park's entrance just a couple hundred feet away.

Early one morning, before the gate had opened, I heard a noise like gunshots. I looked out the window and saw a gigantic fifth-wheel trailer halfway into the exit side. They had apparently blown tires on their pickup by driving over the treadles, and had stopped to think about what to do next. As I watched, open-mouthed, they revved the engine and drove the rest of the way across the treadles, blowing all the trailer tires. Then, unable to proceed, they pulled over a few dozen feet past the entrance.

There they sat for nearly two days, while service trucks came and went. They had to replace seven tires. I can't even imagine what it cost. (Or what it cost their marriage!)
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Learning Opportunities: Worst Breakdown or Flat Tire Experiences
Reply #2 –
I recently had three separate and unrelated things happen to my 96 FL at the same time.
I was traveling from Ashland, Oregon to a motorcycle rally in Cedarville, Ca.
About 7 miles west of Alturas the motor quit, suddenly and without warning.
Luckily I was near a small pullout on the road and managed to get there and far enough off the road to not cause other drivers problems.
I called for tow service as I couldn't figure out the problem.  I did't have roadside assistance at the time. No tow available in Alturas, has to come from Susanville. Not going to happen.
My buddy was behind me a day so I called him and he left that night instead. I spent the night on the side of the road.
A highway patrol officer came by the next morning and checked on me, told him help was on the way.
Buddy shows up around noon. Goes down the road a mile do he can park his behemoth 43 foot RV.
Unhooks his Jeep Grand Cherokee and returns to help.
He hears clicking by the distributor but can't access the area without removing doghouse.
We decided to tow the RV into Alturas using the Jeep. Crazy, yes, did it work, you bet. His Jeep is a Diesel one and he said it towed OK, he felt it but not bad enough to stop.

Pulled into the first repair shop we could, a diesel truck repair place run by a nice Mennonite family.
This was Friday now, he got us in and pulled the doghouse to discover the coil wire had come undone from the distributor.
There was evidence of rodent activity and corrosion. He replaced the wire and it fired right up like normal.
Paid the bill and off we went. Leaving the shop on the highway, there was a lack of power and my turn indicators, brake lights and flashers were out.
Return to the shop and he figures out the multi function switch on the steering wheel isn't working. No one in town had one so we were spending the weekend until one came in. In the mean time diagnosing the lack of power was a bit frustrating.
Longer story shortened, the catalytic convertor was plugged, went to a tire and exhaust place and they banged out the plug and all was well. Got lucky, because in Ca. they should have put a new cat on it to the tune of $400, the bang out cost me $75.
Nice being in rural America.
It was now Monday mid day, I missed the rally, although I did ride over and see some old friends.

All told, the family was awesome, we stayed the weekend basically in their yard with two RV and three dogs.
And he was very fair with his labor times,  and I'm back on the road.

Only the second time in 11 years that I needed a tow. Other was when transmission went out, outside of Silver City, NM.
Jota
96 23.5 FL
Re: Learning Opportunities: Worst Breakdown or Flat Tire Experiences
Reply #3 –
Forty miles north of Winnemucca Nevada on 95 my temperature guage suddenly shot into the red. No shoulder and a two hour wait for a tow truck as cars and trucks flew by at 70 mph barely missing me.  Thought I would die that night in a horrible wreck as I waited for the tow truck. Should have walked off into the desert a short distance to wait but I was so tired I layed on the bed in my travel van and went to sleep almost hoping someone would smash into me.
Good part is I got towed into a great shop with a very good owner who got me back on the road in no time. If you ever break down in Winnemucca this is where you want to get towed. Following is my Yelp review.


Mike W.
Addy, WA
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5.0 star rating 5/1/2017
My car broke down late one night and I got towed into Manzos garage parking lot by a grouchy tow truck driver that tried to get me to be dropped of in his garage which was right next door. He told me everyone in town was busy and I better look for a cheap motel. He's said his shop had four techs and he'd probably get to me sooner than Manzos who was just a mom and pop outfit. I didn't like his attitude and declined the offer. I slept in my van that night and at eight am went into the office expecting the worst which was a few nights in a very seedy looking trailer park-motel across the street. Elias took me right in very first thing and in five minutes was on the phone ordering parts and an hour later I was back on the road. If you ever break down in Winemucca   Nevada this is the man to see. Thank you Elanzo for your professionalism​ and sympathy for someone who was really in a bind.


Manzo's Garage Winnemucca, NV - Google Search
Discuss anything with anyone and disagree agreeably. Always be polite and respectful.
Re: Learning Opportunities: Worst Breakdown or Flat Tire Experiences
Reply #4 –
Quote from: Andy Baird  - 
Here's a story that happened to somebody else while I was watching.

I was staying at the Bluewater Lake Lodge & Horse Motel, a tiny campground just outside the gates of New Mexico's Bluewater Lake State Park. (Why? Well, I was doing my "one week out" before returning to the state park.) The park closes its entry gate at night, but there's a one-way "treadle" on the exit side, I guess so that you can leave if there's after-hours emergency. There are large signs explaining the gate hours and warning of "SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE" if you try to enter on the exit side. (See photos.)

From where I was parked at the horse motel, I could see the park's entrance just a couple hundred feet away. Early one morning, before the gate had opened, I heard a noise like gunshots. I looked out the window and saw a gigantic fifth-wheel trailer halfway into the exit side. They had apparently blown tires on their pickup by driving over the treadles, and had stopped to think about what to do next. As I watched, open-mouthed, they revved the engine and drove the rest of the way across the treadles, blowing all the trailer tires. Then, unable to proceed, they pulled over a few dozen feet past the entrance.

There they sat for nearly two days, while service trucks came and went. They had to replace seven tires. I can't even imagine what it cost. (Or what it cost their marriage!)
Certainly candidates for a Darwin award. 

Chris  
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Learning Opportunities: Worst Breakdown or Flat Tire Experiences
Reply #5 –
Well, the sign does say "Do Not Block Roadway"...
2000 Front Lounge
Re: Learning Opportunities: Worst Breakdown or Flat Tire Experiences
Reply #6 –
<snip for alt answer to the "problem">

Quote from: Andy Baird  - 

From where I was parked at the horse motel, I could see the park's entrance just a couple hundred feet away. Early one morning, before the gate had opened, I heard a noise like gunshots. I looked out the window and saw a gigantic fifth-wheel trailer halfway into the exit side. They had apparently blown tires on their pickup by driving over the treadles, and had stopped to think about what to do next. As I watched, open-mouthed, they revved the engine and drove the rest of the way across the treadles, blowing all the trailer tires. Then, unable to proceed, they pulled over a few dozen feet past the entrance.

What he needed was more running room.  I would of suggested he back up a few hundred feet and hit those spiky things as a faster speed......
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2014 Twin King