I stayed in the warmth of Southern Nevada as long as I could, I returned to the Oasis RV Resort from the Main Street Station, then I went up to Mesquite, NV. Oasis RV park for a week. I kept watching the weather, snow and rain across Utah, Nevada and Idaho hoping for a warming trend as a sign to return to the north........ It didn't happen...... Moms taxes and medical appointments could wait no longer, we had to return..... I left Mesquite fully intending to stay in Salt Lake that evening....
Blam, whap whap whap made it's appearance, another tire blew??? Mile marker 147 on Northbound I-15 about 2pm, I was at the side of the road, waiting once again for the Good Sam Emergency people to come change my tire, I realize I can change it in less then 10 minutes, given the tools I have and the on-board generator, besides a 2000 watt inverter on the truck to run my electric impact wrench. I've got a 12 ton hydraulic jack, that the tow truck operators usually resort to, since the ones they have don't go as high. But I wait, cause I paid for the damn thing (Emergency Road Service), I might as well use it.
The tow truck driver arrives, with a air jack, he puts it under the trailer on the axle, I stop him, ummm, you can't do that, he wants to know why, I tell him about Dexter axles, thay are just tubes with rubber rope in them and how they bend very easily. I let him know that I would like new axles, but felt it necessary to warn him anyway. Now, guess what, his jack can't reach the trailer frame, so he borrows two of my blocks to raise his jack up enough. He does have an air impact wrench and makes short work of the tire change. I ask him what he's torquing the lugs to and get told he doesn't have a torque wrench on the truck. I offer him mine and tell him a 100 ft-lbs is fine. He wants to discuss it, saying most 8 lug wheels are much higher, I agree I tell him, but those are usually 9/16 or 5/8 lugs. I politely point out the 1/2 in lugs he just worked with, he considers the point and gives in. Then we have a small discussion about drive axles and trailer axles and the needs of transferring engine torque versus load weight. He takes off and I limp into Payson Utah Walmart, they agree once more it's a road hazard that blew the tire and give me a new tire free of charge...... (since I paid the $9.76 road hazard warranty in 2005.) We stayed the night in the parking lot with Walmarts permission, I ran the generator for a while to warm up using the electric heaters, and taking about 15 minutes to change the new tire and spare back.. (in my shorts and sandals.)
The next morning I got up about 9am (it's a quiet store lot,) and drove into Salt Lake, I parked at Camping World and unhooked. I had a list of things I needed to do, haircut/style at Bella Mia (thanks Jen, I think this makes it about 13 years of haircuts), taxes to PC accountant, alignment check at the local Firestone store, Crown Burger (should be outlawed), Mountain America to check on real estate loans (personal loans are cheaper), Convergys, (drop off a care package...No hug, and yes, I'm whining......)
I make it back to Camping World around 6:30, shop until they close getting some supplies. I hook up and take off to Idaho, it's still cold.... I get into Hagerman at my moms house about 1am. Time for a well deserved rest...
I tucked the trailer in beside the house instead of parking it out front like I usually do, I think it's a sign I'm gonna be here a while doing yardwork.....;o)Just a tale of woe, hope and perseverance..
