More ramblings from the depths of my marginal brain. Or "How do I plan for and think about bad things that could happen while traveling down the road."
15 months ago we started our traveling life style with only slight hesitations about what was ahead in the great unknown. Being the planner I am, I had run hundreds of scenarios through my mind and had developed solutions for when "Crap Happened".
I had covered medical, dental, communications, financial, Mexican visas, foreign insurance, even vet care for Eva. I had done my due diligence and planning. I had worried the proper amount about our new life style.
The last couple of days gave us the chance to experience one of those fun little situations that life throws our way. Here's what happened.
As we drove uphill into Yosemite National Park I was hearing strange and unfamiliar sounds from the braking system on the motorhome. This was not an immediate problem because we were going uphill, the problem would be going 100 miles back down hill. We were camped for 3 nights so it gave me plenty of time to think about our situation.
Now back to my "Scenario Planning". I had planned ahead. I had an amazing tow insurance plan so I was covered there. Next was something I call my "OH Crap Fund". I had set aside a nice stack of money for when things went wrong. I never wanted to be forced into making a poor decision because of finances. It was time to use a little of that money to remedy our situation.
So instead of worrying or white knuckling my way down the mountain or being to proud and manly, I made the call. Getting a tow to our location was not easy, there was a very active forest fire going on the highway we had traveled into the park. They had sadly lost a pilot and his fire fighting plane in their efforts to put out the fire, so traffic was a challenge.
We waited comfortable in our home on wheels all day until the tow truck arrived. After hooking up, disconnecting the drive line on the motorhome, we were ready to follow the tow truck in our Honda. 3 hours and 97 miles down the mountains and we were in Fresno at the repair shop. It only took 13 hours to get through the experience.
Because we had the "OH Crap Fund" I decided to have a complete rebuild of the brake system. We had new pads, rotors and calipers on all 4 disc brakes. It was probably overkill for the situation but I thought that with many years ahead of travel I might as well use the "Fund" and have peace of mind. That's what it was there for.
Life is Good and it only cost $1,946.34. Cool.
Eva didn't worry one bit.
Bill and Jodee said
09:25 AM Oct 11, 2014
Hopefully you didn't tell the repair shop about the fund before they checked the problem You can't put a price on piece of mind and when it comes to tires and brakes I will always spend what I have (probably more) to get the best. Getting towed out of a forest fire is pretty dramatic by itself!
Especially important that Eva didn't worry
Glad you're back on the road safely.
Jodee
el Rojo and Pam said
09:28 AM Oct 11, 2014
Seems like your plan came together. Glad it worked out.
Gannet said
11:29 AM Oct 11, 2014
A man who knows his 6 Ps: Proper Planning Prevents P***-Poor Performance. Good job.
So, what was wrong with the brakes?
PIEERE said
11:37 AM Oct 11, 2014
Being road safe is most important as these monsters don't stop on a dime!!! Now you can have some more worry free driving!
Russ Ranger said
03:45 PM Oct 11, 2014
Gannet,
The front right caliper failed causing the disc pad on that side to fail until metal to metal took out the right front rotor. Having the motorhome towed was the best call and I am glad I did the right thing. Sometimes I am not that smart, but I made the correct and safe call on this occasion.
I don't even want to think about what could have happened given a poor decision. I did have the whole motorhome checked over before leaving Washington state for another year of travel. All was fine at that time, but stuff happens along the road.
Life is good..... now that I can stop.
WestWardHo said
06:45 PM Oct 11, 2014
Russ,
I like the way you think and so glad you took the safe option. Love your "oh crap" fund. Would have been more fun digging into ours had we named it that!
Thanks for sharing. I'm sure you helped more than one of us.
Sherry
Camper Chronicles said
07:26 PM Oct 11, 2014
My kind of guy. I do risk planning for work and of course have contingency plans for my life. I understand being flexible but don't really get the throw. Auction it the winds mentality. No offense to anyone who does but a little bit of caution is always a good thing in my book :)
BiggarView said
10:59 PM Oct 11, 2014
Don't know if I'd call it an "Oh Crap Fund" but the sentiment is the same. We plan on having a decent sized contingency account for all those "we thought about it, but hope they never happen things", just like the one you illustrated. Nothing beats peace of mind when you are financially ready for those moments. Thanks for sharing.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Saturday 11th of October 2014 11:00:31 PM
The Junkman said
04:06 AM Oct 12, 2014
As I have no income.. or work on the road.. yet..A fund or budget is not really needed.
My fund is the fund.. lol. It's all the same to me.
I think some call it a maintenance fund.. whatever.. I think you need a fairly large amount of money for emergencies.. ( or call it maintenance / repairs)
I mean.. If you where in a accident for example.. it could be a month to get your rig back.. That's a long time in a hotel..Even if insurance is covering it, you still have to pay it, and file a claim.
So the more you can save, the better the security feeling.
Diana and Jim said
06:12 AM Oct 12, 2014
Take a look at our blog and read the "South to Florida" post from earlier in the week. It must be "right front caliper" week! This really drives home the point that we all must do walk arounds at every stop. It is so easy to do. I'll bet you are getting better fuel mileage now, correct? We are...like 3 mpg better! Put your hand near the hub of every wheel. You will feel the difference in temperature, if your caliper is sticking. Do NOT touch the rotor like I did!
Lesson here is that we all need to stop as soon as we see or hear a problem...me included. We have a responsibility to others on the road to not endanger them. Ask any automotive engineer what the most important system on a vehicle is and they will say "brakes". It doesn't matter how fast you can go; it matters if you can stop.
So glad you made it safely and that you didn't attempt to drive down the mountain.
More ramblings from the depths of my marginal brain. Or "How do I plan for and think about bad things that could happen while traveling down the road."
15 months ago we started our traveling life style with only slight hesitations about what was ahead in the great unknown. Being the planner I am, I had run hundreds of scenarios through my mind and had developed solutions for when "Crap Happened".
I had covered medical, dental, communications, financial, Mexican visas, foreign insurance, even vet care for Eva. I had done my due diligence and planning. I had worried the proper amount about our new life style.
The last couple of days gave us the chance to experience one of those fun little situations that life throws our way. Here's what happened.
As we drove uphill into Yosemite National Park I was hearing strange and unfamiliar sounds from the braking system on the motorhome. This was not an immediate problem because we were going uphill, the problem would be going 100 miles back down hill. We were camped for 3 nights so it gave me plenty of time to think about our situation.
Now back to my "Scenario Planning". I had planned ahead. I had an amazing tow insurance plan so I was covered there. Next was something I call my "OH Crap Fund". I had set aside a nice stack of money for when things went wrong. I never wanted to be forced into making a poor decision because of finances. It was time to use a little of that money to remedy our situation.
So instead of worrying or white knuckling my way down the mountain or being to proud and manly, I made the call. Getting a tow to our location was not easy, there was a very active forest fire going on the highway we had traveled into the park. They had sadly lost a pilot and his fire fighting plane in their efforts to put out the fire, so traffic was a challenge.
We waited comfortable in our home on wheels all day until the tow truck arrived. After hooking up, disconnecting the drive line on the motorhome, we were ready to follow the tow truck in our Honda. 3 hours and 97 miles down the mountains and we were in Fresno at the repair shop. It only took 13 hours to get through the experience.
Because we had the "OH Crap Fund" I decided to have a complete rebuild of the brake system. We had new pads, rotors and calipers on all 4 disc brakes. It was probably overkill for the situation but I thought that with many years ahead of travel I might as well use the "Fund" and have peace of mind. That's what it was there for.
Life is Good and it only cost $1,946.34. Cool.
Especially important that Eva didn't worry
Glad you're back on the road safely.
Jodee
So, what was wrong with the brakes?
The front right caliper failed causing the disc pad on that side to fail until metal to metal took out the right front rotor. Having the motorhome towed was the best call and I am glad I did the right thing. Sometimes I am not that smart, but I made the correct and safe call on this occasion.
I don't even want to think about what could have happened given a poor decision. I did have the whole motorhome checked over before leaving Washington state for another year of travel. All was fine at that time, but stuff happens along the road.
Life is good..... now that I can stop.
I like the way you think and so glad you took the safe option. Love your "oh crap" fund. Would have been more fun digging into ours had we named it that!
Thanks for sharing. I'm sure you helped more than one of us.
Sherry
Don't know if I'd call it an "Oh Crap Fund" but the sentiment is the same. We plan on having a decent sized contingency account for all those "we thought about it, but hope they never happen things", just like the one you illustrated. Nothing beats peace of mind when you are financially ready for those moments. Thanks for sharing.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Saturday 11th of October 2014 11:00:31 PM
My fund is the fund.. lol. It's all the same to me.
I think some call it a maintenance fund.. whatever.. I think you need a fairly large amount of money for emergencies.. ( or call it maintenance / repairs)
I mean.. If you where in a accident for example.. it could be a month to get your rig back.. That's a long time in a hotel..Even if insurance is covering it, you still have to pay it, and file a claim.
So the more you can save, the better the security feeling.
Lesson here is that we all need to stop as soon as we see or hear a problem...me included. We have a responsibility to others on the road to not endanger them. Ask any automotive engineer what the most important system on a vehicle is and they will say "brakes". It doesn't matter how fast you can go; it matters if you can stop.
So glad you made it safely and that you didn't attempt to drive down the mountain.
Jim (and Diana)