A Simple Oversight Can Ruin Your Trip
02-20-2015
Author: Blog Editor in Roadrunner History Buff
A missing cotter pin almost wrecked my brand new car recently. I was driving from Ehrenberg, Arizona to Durango, Colorado with a rest stop in Kingman, Arizona. I rested from 6PM to 1:30AM and then hit the road again. After refueling in Flagstaff, I headed across the Indian Reservation. Making a pit stop beside the road for my dog Raleigh, I saw a very frightening thing. Fortunately by then, it was just light enough to see things. For some reason, I just happened to glace at the tow bars that pull my car. I noticed one of the pins had almost worked itself free because the cotter pin was missing. Can you image what would have happened if I hadn’t caught that!
I made a temporary fix with a screw driver and some duct tape. The consequences of my oversight could, indeed, have ruined my trip or worse. I say it was an oversight because I think I was distracted, in a hurry and didn’t follow good safety procedure.
A very good strategy to follow is one that an airplane pilot, commercial bus or truck driver would use. It is this; have a check list on a card (laminate it) and keep it next to your ignition switch. Include the following on the card:
Check fluids, oil water, transmission, windshield and fuel
Check for oil, transmission and water leaks. Check the pavement in the morning before you drive and check your hoses.
Check gauges: oil pressure, electrical charge, temperature and mileage
Turn off propane, a fire can consume an RV in minutes.
Check tire pressure. Use a baseball bat and thump them if you don’t have a fancy air pressure gauge
Check signal lights: turning, running, hazard and head lights
Check that all storage doors are secure
Check step
Check electrical, TV, water & sewage cords and pipes
Lower antennae
Check windshield wipers
Check mirrors
Check back up camera
Secure any objects that could fly around in the event of an accident.
Check towed car for lights, tow bar, proper gear
Secure sliding doors and cabinets.
Make sure you haven’t left the wife, kids or pets behind, ha!
Check weather conditions, plan alternatives or travel time. Wind can be a problem. It can blow a rig out of its lane into oncoming traffic or force it on to a shoulder. A good pilot will not hazard his life or his passenger’s lives if the weather is foul.
Finally, pay attention to your manual and have the recommended work done in a timely manner. A tire blow out, bad wheel bearings or faulty brakes can ruin your day or worse.
I have been both a pilot and a commercial bus driver and I know these things. As you might, but my carless moment could have been a disastrous. The first thing I did when I got home was to go to the hardware store and buy a cotter pin. It cost 79 cents. Carry a few extra ones.
Every Saturday morning, I read a newsletter called RVTravel, the editor of which is Chuck Woodbury. It is recommended reading for all kinds of useful information. There are a number of contributors discussing not only safety issues but useful tidbits. I particularly like the Chuck’s comments and the RV doctor.
Chuck is from Washington State but just happened to be in Quartzite Arizona last month while I was there also. I was invited to a meeting and I met him personally. He shared some of his thoughts and he had some guest speakers.
One discussed the problems the public is having with drones. Most national parks now have outlawed them in their airspace. A good idea, I think.
Another couple who call themselves the RV Geeks discussed internet connections while on the road. Most RVers have problems staying connected. Visit their web site http://thervgeeks.com/ for more information.
And visit www.rvtravel.com to get some additional useful information. I recommend you subscribe to the newsletter, a donation is suggested if you desire.
In closing, I might mention that in the past I have also been a Registered Investment Advisor and a Commercial Real Estate Broker. Take my word for it; an accident will not give you a good return on your investment! Drive safe and enjoy the ride, my friends!
Just for grins, since I haven't been there for 25 years, I stopped and visited the 4 corners monument.
One, last thing, I have been a volunteer at Durango Mountain Resort for years. I help the ski patrol with their mountain safety program. I may write about more about this someday.
Come visit and ski Colorado. Check it out! www.durangomountainresort.com
Happy trails my amigos and amigas.
Buenos Noches.
About the Blogger: Victor Ray has had a love for travel and history since he was a small boy. Now he has found a way to combine the two, traveling in his motorhome with Raleigh, his pure bread Australian Shepherd. He shares his passions exploring the highways and byways in search of scenic, historic, unique and pristine places.
I made a temporary fix with a screw driver and some duct tape. The consequences of my oversight could, indeed, have ruined my trip or worse. I say it was an oversight because I think I was distracted, in a hurry and didn’t follow good safety procedure.
A very good strategy to follow is one that an airplane pilot, commercial bus or truck driver would use. It is this; have a check list on a card (laminate it) and keep it next to your ignition switch. Include the following on the card:
Check fluids, oil water, transmission, windshield and fuel
Check for oil, transmission and water leaks. Check the pavement in the morning before you drive and check your hoses.
Check gauges: oil pressure, electrical charge, temperature and mileage
Turn off propane, a fire can consume an RV in minutes.
Check tire pressure. Use a baseball bat and thump them if you don’t have a fancy air pressure gauge
Check signal lights: turning, running, hazard and head lights
Check that all storage doors are secure
Check step
Check electrical, TV, water & sewage cords and pipes
Lower antennae
Check windshield wipers
Check mirrors
Check back up camera
Secure any objects that could fly around in the event of an accident.
Check towed car for lights, tow bar, proper gear
Secure sliding doors and cabinets.
Make sure you haven’t left the wife, kids or pets behind, ha!
Check weather conditions, plan alternatives or travel time. Wind can be a problem. It can blow a rig out of its lane into oncoming traffic or force it on to a shoulder. A good pilot will not hazard his life or his passenger’s lives if the weather is foul.
Finally, pay attention to your manual and have the recommended work done in a timely manner. A tire blow out, bad wheel bearings or faulty brakes can ruin your day or worse.
I have been both a pilot and a commercial bus driver and I know these things. As you might, but my carless moment could have been a disastrous. The first thing I did when I got home was to go to the hardware store and buy a cotter pin. It cost 79 cents. Carry a few extra ones.
Every Saturday morning, I read a newsletter called RVTravel, the editor of which is Chuck Woodbury. It is recommended reading for all kinds of useful information. There are a number of contributors discussing not only safety issues but useful tidbits. I particularly like the Chuck’s comments and the RV doctor.
Chuck is from Washington State but just happened to be in Quartzite Arizona last month while I was there also. I was invited to a meeting and I met him personally. He shared some of his thoughts and he had some guest speakers.
 |
Another couple who call themselves the RV Geeks discussed internet connections while on the road. Most RVers have problems staying connected. Visit their web site http://thervgeeks.com/ for more information.
And visit www.rvtravel.com to get some additional useful information. I recommend you subscribe to the newsletter, a donation is suggested if you desire.
In closing, I might mention that in the past I have also been a Registered Investment Advisor and a Commercial Real Estate Broker. Take my word for it; an accident will not give you a good return on your investment! Drive safe and enjoy the ride, my friends!
Just for grins, since I haven't been there for 25 years, I stopped and visited the 4 corners monument.
 Can you name the four states? |
Come visit and ski Colorado. Check it out! www.durangomountainresort.com
Happy trails my amigos and amigas.
Buenos Noches.
About the Blogger: Victor Ray has had a love for travel and history since he was a small boy. Now he has found a way to combine the two, traveling in his motorhome with Raleigh, his pure bread Australian Shepherd. He shares his passions exploring the highways and byways in search of scenic, historic, unique and pristine places.
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