We had received a good run from California to South Carolina, then a return trip back to California. On our way we noticed a few problems... a slow air leak in the secondary system, and several clearance lights on this trailer were out. We mentioned these to the powers that be, and I think they were going to route us back to San Diego for repairs soon, .... but we broke down near Williams, AZ and ended up being towed to Ash Fork, AZ for repairs.
Sunday, 6/29/08
5:00am - We had just left a rest area near Flagstaff, AZ when traffic came to a stand still because of an accident. After waiting about 30 mins, traffic finally starting moving. When Leroy put the truck in Drive (we have an automatic transmission on this truck - bummer).... we heard a very loud, terrible metal grinding sound coming from the cat walk area just behind the cab and the wheels on the tractor would not turn. (The tractor is the front "cab" part of the semi-truck.) We were in the fast lane of a two-lane highway I-40 westbound, and people started honking at us to get out of the way. (We're trying!)
Leroy finally puts the Interaxle Differential on, and was able to get the tires turning just enough to get off the freeway. Leroy had me hop into the driver's seat and try putting it in Drive again, while he listened outside to where the terrible sound was coming from. It was coming from between the tractor tandem tires in the middle - the power divider box, the pumpkin, the differential. Not Good!
6:00am - we call our after hours number and tell them what has happened. We can't move, we are on the side of the road, and we are under a load going to Hollister, CA to be delivered on Monday 6/30 at 6am. They say, Let us make some calls and we'll call you back.
8:00am - They call us back. There is a "wrecker" (semi-truck tow truck) on the way, and they got the appointment for the delivery pushed back 24 hrs.
10:00am - the wrecker arrives and tows the truck to the nearest repair shop about 10 miles away. The mechanic does some preliminary work and discovers it is definitely the differential and not the transmission. Not Good news, but better than the transmission being out, right?
Sunday, 6/29/08
5:00am - We had just left a rest area near Flagstaff, AZ when traffic came to a stand still because of an accident. After waiting about 30 mins, traffic finally starting moving. When Leroy put the truck in Drive (we have an automatic transmission on this truck - bummer).... we heard a very loud, terrible metal grinding sound coming from the cat walk area just behind the cab and the wheels on the tractor would not turn. (The tractor is the front "cab" part of the semi-truck.) We were in the fast lane of a two-lane highway I-40 westbound, and people started honking at us to get out of the way. (We're trying!)
Leroy finally puts the Interaxle Differential on, and was able to get the tires turning just enough to get off the freeway. Leroy had me hop into the driver's seat and try putting it in Drive again, while he listened outside to where the terrible sound was coming from. It was coming from between the tractor tandem tires in the middle - the power divider box, the pumpkin, the differential. Not Good!
6:00am - we call our after hours number and tell them what has happened. We can't move, we are on the side of the road, and we are under a load going to Hollister, CA to be delivered on Monday 6/30 at 6am. They say, Let us make some calls and we'll call you back.
8:00am - They call us back. There is a "wrecker" (semi-truck tow truck) on the way, and they got the appointment for the delivery pushed back 24 hrs.
10:00am - the wrecker arrives and tows the truck to the nearest repair shop about 10 miles away. The mechanic does some preliminary work and discovers it is definitely the differential and not the transmission. Not Good news, but better than the transmission being out, right?
We will have to go to a motel nearby, at least overnight.
The shop has a steady flow of repairs coming in, mostly tires needing to be changed.
The shop has a steady flow of repairs coming in, mostly tires needing to be changed.
It is Sunday. It Is HOT!!! and there is only one guy in the shop, so we have to wait...... No food, only soda from a machine.
But they do have a corral of 3 buffalo at the rear of the property.
Dad-the bull, Mama and baby.
It looks like they are molting their winter coats, and shedding them for the summer.
Leroy was standing near the fence. The baby buffalo started to come closer because he was curious, but the Mama buffalo "charged" Leroy - protecting her baby.
6:30pm - Finally.... the shop closes, and the mechanic drives us to the nearest motel about 5 miles away in Ash Fork, AZ.
7:00pm - We check in. It is a 1/2 star motel at best. No frig, No micro, No phone, holes in the window curtains, torn carpet, a TV that only gets 3 channels (News, PBS, and religious programing), AND the nearest place to get something (anything) to eat is at a little convenience store inside a Gas Station about 1 mile away, on the other side of the freeway. We have no way to get around and we are hungry, so we walk.
At the convenience store, we buy some food, and a styrofoam cooler with some ice. (no ice machine at the motel.) -- But we really didn't want to carry all this stuff a mile back to the motel, so we ask the store attendant if he knows of anyone who could give us a ride back to our motel. - God is Good! - There was a nice lady worker who was just getting off shift. We asked her and she said yes, she would drive us (with stuff) back to the motel. Thank you God!
Monday, 6/30/08
We only brought enough clothing stuff for over-night. Yesterday, on our way to the motel, after leaving the repair shop, ... that is when the mechanic informs us that it will probably take anywhere from 2 to 4 days to do the repairs. I am hoping to have someone take us back to the truck to get some more clothes and some other things we forgot.... we'll see.
Waiting in Ash Fork, AZ.
Hoping to get Layover or Breakdown pay...
God Bless,
God Bless,
Laurie :)
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