Truck

The truck is back in our hands now so we fired up the ol’ 4 wheeled sleigh to take the family to church this morning.

All systems seemed to work so we’ll keep praying that it stays that way.

Fifty seven miles.  Thats how far we drove the new (to us) truck before the check engine light came on.  A P205B code.  Its related to the heater on the DEF tank.  Oh, and the power door locks don’t work….they unlock but don’t lock.  So I’m miffed.  Wondering if this beast is a goose guitar.  Steph is looking on the bright side…”get all the kinks out now before we hit the road”.  Expensive kinks.  New possible truck names: Lotta Bills or Ben Dover?

 

The half hitch is a simple overhand knot, where the working end of a line is brought over and under the standing part. Insecure on its own, it is a valuable component of a wide variety of useful and reliable hitches, bends, and knots.

I should have known the deal was too good to be true.  I found an older model B&W companion hitch on Amazon for less than $300!  This is $500-$600 less than retail!  But there it was, part number RVK3000.  However, upon arrival we only received box 1 of 2….a half hitch.

Read more →

I find prearranged marriage a fascinating concept, one I have zero experience with personally.  But in a way, choosing the right mate for Ava has felt a teensy bit like that.  I mean, we can’t expect Ava to know how to chose a good counterpart.  Only we understand her needs and her limitations enough to make the right choice.  So it falls on us to to find just the right one for Ava and our family.  We found him in the hamlet of Sublette Kansas and just today, the day before Thanksgiving, I was able to meet Gimmy  for the first time.

He is now here in Colorado.  A young but experienced gent, strong and sturdy yet clean and welcoming.  Some of his senses are lacking though….it seems he needs a new NOx sensor.   My dealer buddy wants to change out the fluids and do a detail job so it will be a week or so before we finalize the sale.  And I need to get the B&W Companion before I introduce Gimmy to Ava and the two get hitched.

Note:  I have not yet ok’ed it with the family that we call him Gimmy so his name might change.

I hate to get too excited that we have a tow vehicle yet…but it is theoretically being trucked from Sublette KS.  It should get here the day before Thanksgiving.  With the holiday weekend followed by a  business trip for me it will be a couple weeks before we take possession of the beast.  But hopefully I can snag some pictures on Wednesday….not because it is particularly sexy (it a plain white work truck) but as a sort of “proof” that we have something to pull our 5th wheel with.  I think we are cutting things pretty close timing wise.  Raise your hand if you think we’re doing it all wrong!

Nope….again, not that kind of TV.  I’m talking about the news on the tow vehicle!  Its been rainy and dreary here in CO and that coupled with my random decision to give up caffeine for a bit has left me sort of in the dumps.  I felt completely paralyzed with what to do about trip preparation….and we’re only 10 weeks (or so ) out!!  Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!

My search for a truck so far has led me to believe you can only find DRW trucks in CO….the SRW’s are at least a state away.  I found one in KS and another in UT recently.  Essentially the same truck and price.  Getting the one in Salt Lake was an easy (and cheap….$59 one way) flight but KS what a bit trickier.  I debated….I thought….I dawdled….I pinched my pennies like those souvenir penny smashers….I drug my feet.  When I got home from church last night I did a quick search and found an even BETTER deal than I have found to date!!  My good buddy Scott Middleton at Insight Automotive is assisting me in checking it out and quite possibly buying it for us!!

So….stay tuned for more TV news!

No, not a television….a tow vehicle.  However, it is a little funny that our 300 square foot home on wheels has 2….that’s right, TWO, a pair, of televisions and our sticks and bricks has only one.  The thought of the downsize we are making is sometimes daunting but then I remind myself….this RV has 2 bathrooms, 5 beds (and soon a guest bed), 2 kitchens and 2 TVs!  It’s a mansion….a veritable castle relative to the majority of the homes of the world’s population.

But that’s not what you came to read about!  Alright, tow vehicles.   Read more →