Broken…but not beaten
I’m writing from a hotel in Blue Earth, MN. The Familyman Mobile is sitting in a giant garage waiting for a part to be installed tomorrow.
The story began earlier this morning when we left a blustery Walmart parking lot in Albert Lea, MN. In fact, it looked like a blizzard outside. Yuck.
Anyway, we were on a small detour to see Mount Rushmore while traveling southish to Oklahoma City, OK. Things were going well, and my wife had just gotten off the phone with her mother. As she shared all the details of a cold and great weekend in Duluth, I heard her say, “Yeah, we had a few problems…but they’re minor compared to breaking down.”
Three minutes after hanging up…the RV engine stopped. Long story short: we inched our way toward the shop that was 17 miles away, dropped the family off at McD’s (since they informed us there was no waiting room), and then stalled permanently 1.8 miles from the shop on a two lane, no shoulder road. The tow truck came, pulled me with a big strap, and figured out the fuel shutoff solenoid was broken.
Now, we’re watching HGTV on motel television while feasting on pizza. Hopefully we’ll be back on the road by the time you read this.
Here are a few photos from…
Can’t park here…but I asked anyway and they said OK.
Mall of America – Cal in a Big Rig
Mall of America – Ike 4 stories up on the high ropes
Cal and Jed at McD’s while they work on RV
Thanks for Praying!
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Blue Earth is the home of the Jolly Green Giant. Did you stop to see him?
Hope the repair went well and glad you were “close” to a shop. Most frustrating part of owning anything is not the upkeep, but the timing of those repairs.
Best to your Crew,
PapaBear
Father of 6
Ho Ho Ho…weeee…saw it.
Sorry to hear of your troubles!!
I’ve done that stretch of road many times between Rapid City, SD and Minneapolis.
Will you still go to Mount Rushmore, or does the breakdown delay you so you won’t have time?
please remember if you in the northwest(oregon)I work for Guaranty RV centers, if you need any help with your coach give me a call
Todd…man I wish I would have known you were in the area! We could stopped to say hello! Rochester, MN travel safely my friend!
You weren’t fasting and praying when the RV broke down were you? wow! did you get to listen to larry guthries’ ‘the day I burnt my neighbor’s house down’ (happened the day he and his wife were fasting, seeking God. (great story of God’s creative way of working in their lives for His glory but, I’ll be prepared for anything next time I fast and pray)
OK, this is a little technical, but if it saves you some trouble, it’s worth it. I had this same behavior with my 93 Gulfstream Tourmaster, 8.3 L Turbo Cummins. It was not the fuel shut off, but the run/stop solenoid which was intermittent. Bypassing the solenoid would allow the engine to keep running, but I would have to un-bypass it to get the engine to stop. Anyway, this was good enough until I replaced the solenoid, which was not expensive or hard.
I bet you are wishing they held the Minnesota conference in July.
I wish the weather in our state would have been more “MN Nice”. We loved having you and your family here.
Hello Wilsons!
What are the chances that you will be heading to OKC through Denver? LOL!!! Our fulltime rv family is heading home to MT during the next 2 weeks, and would love to Wallydock next to you for a night of fellowship! We did Mt. Rushmore last spring, and this year will be going east only as far as Billings. Give us a holler if you happen to be taking I25!
ticknortribe.blogspot.com
blessdx11 (at) yahoo (dot) com
From the technical guy on here… when I find it I’ll forward some info on tow truck operators. Consider getting your hands on a copy of “Interstate Directory” from Target Media Partners. Often times you can find a free copy in a box with the free mags at some truck stops.
Fast Facts about MN… even though I’m sure you’re long gone from there now… The First Open Heart Surgery took place there in 1952. Tonka Trucks, were 1st designed and made in Mound, MN- near Lake Minnetonka ironically enough. nearly 3 million cows live and graze in MN. and St. Paul was known for awhile as Pigs Eye… for the Canadian Fur trader that lived there.
I’m sure you’ll sleep better with this information. 🙂