| I Almost Made it Home [message #140453] |
Mon, 22 August 2011 13:31  |
Bob Raef
Messages: 165
Registered: July 2009
Location: Lubbock, TX
Karma: 0
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After Jim Rountree and I spent about 12 days getting my 23' project hopefully semi road ready for the trip (600 miles) from San Antonio, TX to Ruidoso, NM with last load of personal items. Left San Antonio, solo, on Saturday August 6 at 12 noon with temp about 100*F driving the GMC with no A/C of any kind, towing my 2004 Avalanche also loaded (heavy). Held speed in the 45/50 range and made it about 50 miles and experienced vapor lock. Made it into a rest area before it died. Took time out to eat a sandwich, tried the engine and it fired right up so I hit the road again. Experienced vapor lock again after 70 miles pulling a hill north of Junction, TX. It stumbled once and died in the right lane. Called AAA for assistance, got an ETA of about 1 hour. A state police officer arrived and wanted the rig off the hiway immediately. I told him AAA had been called and it would be about 30 minutes before Mr. Hook would arrive. After the officer left I changed the large fuel filter we had installed to catch trash from the tanks, and I tried the engine again, it fired right up, I called AAA, cancelled the tow and headed out again. All system were go and temp had gone down a little, held speed to no more than 45 and other than stumbling a few times I made it about 200 miles to San Angelo stopped for supper and topped off tanks. The tanks sounded like a coffee pot boiling even after I filled them. By now it was about 7 PM. About 9 PM I made it to Big Spring, TX stopped to visit with my Grand Daughter's family. Left there about 11 PM headed for Brownfield, TX. After about 20 miles, I noticed an erratic alternator (a new on Jim had just put on) fluxuating between 12 vdc up to 15 + vdc. Started turning off various accessories to determine what might be causing the problem. Seemed to be associated with either the vent fan or the radio. By the time I made it to Brownfield (2:30 AM) the alternator was steady on 12 vdc. Slept about 2 hours, hit the road about 5:30 AM with about 200 miles to go. Keeping one eye on the road and the other one on the volt meter, it wasn't long before I noticed the volts were a little less than 12 and knew the alternator was no longer producing any current. I hoped it would make it to Ruidoso before draining the engine battery. I almost made it, 12 miles short of home, the engine just died. I called AAA for a tow and gas with an ETA of 45 minutes. A NM state trooper arrived and demanded I get it off the road immediately. I was already as close to a barrier as I could get and still open the door. I had started the generator and hooked my jumper cables from the house battery up front to the engine battery and also plugged up my battery charger to the outside 110 vac reciepticle to charge the engine battery (the generator needed a tune up before I left San Antonio). When tow finally arrived, after 1 hr and 30 minutes, (trooper was furious) stopped generator, disconnected charger and jumper cables, put in gas, primed carb, and with his jump the GMC fired and off I went and made it almost home (2 miles short). Called my wife for a jump (let the cables charge engine battery for about 15 minutes) started the engine and made it home. I had no problems with the tires which were my main concern before the trip started. Trip consider a success.
I can not thank Jim Rountre enough for his help and guidance getting the coach ready to roll.
Bob Raef, KF5TYA
(575) 973-2273
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| Re: I Almost Made it Home [message #140457 is a reply to message #140453] |
Mon, 22 August 2011 13:44  |
g.winger
Messages: 792
Registered: February 2008
Location: Warrenton,Missouri
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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To bad you couldn't hook a rope to the gas pedal of the Avalanche!!!!,,,glad you made it. Wish congress new what alcolhal was doing to us. I think the blend has changed since 2-3 years ago. I,ve noticed my lawn mower gans "bulging" and staying that way. Even after they cool,,,,still has pressure. Never done that before.,,,,PL
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