RV BREAKDOWN Now What? Arizona Part 2

They breakdown? Really? What do you do when that happens?

Cry and quit. Just kidding. You deal with it. This is RV life. This is how it works. With this lifestyle, you are creating memories. Both the good and the bad.

In my Test Trip post, I noted that a problem had started that we didn’t know was happening. A horrendous drive on the I-40 sealed the deal on a major problem.

After we finished with Route 66, we headed south towards Prescott Valley, a part of Arizona I have never visited and wanted to check out. Gorgeous. Beautiful area of the state. Searching Campendium I saw Lynx Campground and booked a spot for the night. It is nestled seven miles outside of the town but gives you the feeling you are high in the mountains. We had a great spot, the weather was perfect, and the camp hosts is incredibly friendly and welcoming.

After this campground, we decided to head south to Palm Desert, California. Taking Highway 89 South, I saw a beautiful landscape that you wouldn’t think existed in Arizona. I wish I had taken some photos. I was just in awe of the scenery, and the road is a little scary, with two lanes and it winds down the mountainside with cliffs and tight turns. The road is off-limits to vehicles over 30 feet. We did see a semi-truck pulled over by highway patrol. Big rigs are not allowed and I know why; It is too dangerous. Sticking to our 100 miles of travel in a day we stopped in Wendon, Arizona, and found a hidden little gem of a campground called Morenga Palms RV Park. Located off Highway 60 basically in the middle of nowhere is a great stopover for the night.

The next morning we headed for Palm Desert. We were thinking we would head south loop around the southern area of California and work our way up the California Coastline into Oregon. That was the plan anyway.

Looking through my Route 66 passport, I saw in San Bernardino, California, a familiar childhood memory; the McDonald’s Museum. They don’t list it in the passport as a place to visit. It’s not mentioned much in books or in the famous “YouTubers” trips. But there is the picture of the Hamburger head policeman and noted the first original McDonald’s museum. I decided I must check it out. In next week’s post, I will write about the very scandalous history of the famous arches. Oh my, who knew? I wonder if that’s why it’s not mentioned much on the Route 66 tour.

We were traveling on Interstate 10 in California on our way to the McDonald’s Museum and I noticed Wolf was driving about 40 miles an hour. The interstate is very busy, it was a Saturday and I asked him “Why are you driving so slow?” I could tell by the agitated look on his face something was up. “I’m driving behind trucks that are going slow!” I left it alone.

We arrived in a very sketchy section of San Bernadino and I was a little nervous, I admit. Nonetheless, we arrived at our destination and there was the McDonald’s museum. Small, but all the McDonald’s characters lined the parking lot, and it was pretty busy. We finally found a spot along the street to park the motorhome. The parking lot is small. It is not big rig friendly, even for our 27-foot Daisy.

Wolf decided to let me in on what was bothering him. The front end of our motorhome was shot. The wheel alignment was off, and the steering was difficult. That was the reason he was driving so slowly. He could have told me. He wanted to head back to Vegas. I said we can’t run back to Vegas whenever we have a problem. We have to deal with it; this is life on the road.

I went into the museum. Nothing could be done at the moment. It was a quick visit. Photos and story next week.

Checking Google Maps, this was not going to get fixed in our current location. I searched Victorville since it is a traveling corridor with truck stops I found a mechanic that had good reviews for RVs and Trucks. Bob’s Tire and Alignment Service. Great service, I highly recommend. We found a park Adelanto RV Park. In the past this park didn’t have a good climate. Since the new owner took over and he cleaned it up it is fine. We didn’t have any issues. They were booked, but, reception said “I do have an overflow spot. You’ll have power and water but it’s in the front parking area.” I took it. Not ideal but we did not have a lot of choices. It was a Saturday no one was open. I phoned Bob’s on Monday, he said he couldn’t get us in until Wednesday. I went back into the RV park reception and requested a spot until Wednesday. A spot had opened up and we moved over.

On Wednesday, we went over to Bob’s and he got us right in. It took six hours. We hung out in the parking lot under a shade tree. We had our chairs, the dog beds, and the weather was good. He moved us off the lifts, which he told us would happen, to fix a tractor that had an appointment. We took advantage went inside the motorhome, made coffee, had lunch and used the restroom. New rotars, brake pads, tire rods, steer casing and an aligment, and a couple thousand dollars (UGH) and by 3:00 PM we were done and on our way. Breakdowns will happen in RVlife. Don’t let them ruin your day or the desire to travel. Stay calm, research the area and make the best choice you can with the circumstances. It can and will get fixed. There are always options.

Thanks for following along on our journey. I appreciate you, and please Like, Share and Subscribe. Check back next week on the McDonald s Museum for a step back into your childhood. It was fun.