Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:13:46 -0700
Reply-To: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Trip Contingencies
In-Reply-To: <0423089D-05CF-4874-9EBF-71D844922FB6@xochi.com>
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dear michael
your contingency plan is a fine one
breakdowns happen .. why do you think triple a has premium tow service and
the truck that arrives to rescue you has like many other tow vehicles a note
on the side front and back declaring triple a affiliation ...
the discussions you and your partner are having are likely more to do with
how you both deal with failure and breakdown /calamity and unexpected events
...
you need something akin to a written corporate safety plan .. and also a
preflight anxiety reducing ... in the event of an emergency talk ... take
your partner around the vehicle .. gently point out where the first aid kit
is .. where the jack is .. where your road triangles are ... flashlight ...
keep enough flashlights for each passenger show your partner how the spare
tire mounts and dismounts... how the oil and other fluid levels are checked
and how you monitor form inside the cab ...
describe in detail what will happen in the event of a calamity or upset ...
if then when the calamity arrives and the partner is acting weird hand them
the written plan and ask them to please look up the appropriate response for
this problem .. it is my bet triple a has a book dealing with upset and
calamity on the road ...
then lay out where yo uare going on a map ... have the partner do the
navigating ... at a stop with internet access log into google maps and
detail your from here to there .. then simply close the laptop and recall
the page while on the road ..so long as you dont close or change the browser
the page stays up ...
communication with your traveling companions is the best remedy and sure
fire way to enjoy a night of restful contented sleep ... with conjugal
visits included ...
i have had many cross country trips in a variety of vehicles and the only
calamity yet on the to be suffered list is plane crash
happy trails my friend
yours
On Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 8:51 AM, Michael Diehr <md03@xochi.com> wrote:
> My travel partner is, to put it mildly, skeptical of our vanagon's
> ability to make a planned 1500 mile road trip this summer. This is
> not without cause : in the 6 prior trips, three were problematic:
> once the engine blew up, once it overheated in rather extreme heat and
> we had to pull over for an hour, and once the alternator died (**) and
> we couldn't run A/C and lights at the same time. That time I had a
> friend bring a new alternator and replaced it at the campground. I
> thought this was kinda fun but I guess definitions of "fun"
> differ? :-) Other 3 trips it was fine.
>
> Negotiations with said partner have focused on strategies for
> increasing chances of next trip to be a winner, and reducing anxiety.
>
> Ideas included:
> * getting known issues fixed ahead of time by an actual mechanic
> * not driving up southern california mountain passes I-5 or I-15 in
> traffic + 110 degree heat
> * a relaxed driving schedule so we feel no need to press on in
> adverse conditions
> * getting AAA plus (100 mile) or premium (200 mile) tow package
> * having a list of vanagon friendly mechanics along the route
>
> The van has a new engine (about 10k miles), ecu, afm, battery,
> starter, alternator**, alternator wiring, fuel hose, injectors
> (professionally cleaned), and radiator. (**) the alternator was
> probably fine, it was the bad wiring.
>
> Known issues : minor exhaust leak, automatic transmission leaks a
> bit but works fine. The transmission is my only major worry, as it's
> more or less the only major trip-ending failure I can imagine.
>
> Any recommendations? This is as much an emotional as technical issue,
> methinks.
>
--
roger w
There are two kinds of jobs in the world:
Picking up garbage and telling people things.
Successful people do both, with the same good attitude. (riw)
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