Just like the rest of us!
We woke up yesterday morning and drove the short distance back across the Canadian border from Hyder, Alaska to Stewart, British Columbia. It was just starting to spit with rain as we pulled up to the border station. The Canadian guard asked a couple of questions, and scanned our passports and we were back in Canada... almost as if we never left.
Back in town, it started to rain harder. And it kept up all day. Just a steady heavy rain.
It's been a long time since we had a "do nothing" kind of day, but I guess this was going to be one. We didn't see the point of driving. With the low clouds, we would miss all of the beautiful scenery in this area.
I decided to call ahead and see if I could arrange for new tires for Sherman. We had bought four new tires in May of 2016 at the Kal Tire location in Swift Current. And the other two that are the inside of the rear wheels are older and more worn. The four newer ones only have about 35,000 kms (22,000 miles) on them, but the RF tire is the one that locked up when the broken ball joint caused the suspension to drop in Mexico last March. So it's got an annoying flat spot that's noticeable at slower speeds. And the LF tire is wearing badly on the edge. I've been keeping my eye on it for a long time and had hoped that the alignment we had done in Texas would have kept it from getting worse, but obviously there's still a problem.
The two outside rear tires are still in not bad shape, but there's another issue.
The original tires on Sherman were an oddball size... 7.50R16. You can still buy this rare size, but they're ridiculously expensive at about $300 a tire. So most people will substitute with a 215/85R16 or 235/85R16. The 235 is the proper diameter, but the 215 is the proper section width. And we have been using the 215 because I had read that the duallies will rub the sidewalls using the 235. But I've also read where some people have successfully used the 235s. Using the 215 has meant that our gas mileage isn't as good as it should be, and the speedometer is off by about 3 mph.
I've used Kal Tire for several purchases and repairs as the franchise has grown and have been impressed each time with the prices as well as the customer service. This time, I called the Kal Tire in Smithers, British Columbia and talked about the problem with one of their guys. Between the two of us, we decided to go with the larger tire. We don't think the duallies will rub sidewalls, but it's going to be close, depending on the offset of the rims. No way to tell for sure until they're installed, but from rough measuring, I think we'll be okay.
So, the tires are ordered and we have to be in Smithers by Tuesday.
But that's not all. The brakes are not acting quite right, and I have to pump them a little bit to build pressure. They probably just need bleeding. This doesn't make sense to me, but it happened once before a few years ago and that fixed them right up. So they will do that as well.
And, just the other day, the "service engine soon" light came on, and the idle is all of a sudden too high. I've done some research and it could be a variety of things, including the throttle body injector gasket. It doesn't seem to be affecting how it's running, other than the fact that it's idling too high.
As I'm researching all of this, Ruth says "uh-oh" as she's pointing to a drip of water coming from the air conditioner vent in the roof.
As I said, it was pouring with rain outside, and had been for hours. Just a minor drip, but it's still not good. Probably the air conditioner gasket. I've tightened it up once before, but when they become too compressed, they lose their functionality.
Yes, Sherman is getting old. But, unless something major comes up, we will continue dealing with these little problems for another year or so and then make a decision.
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New brakes and tires for Sherman, lucky guy! Soon you'll be back in the sunshine and that drip will be gone...
ReplyDeleteNo, not new brakes Peter. New brakes were done a few months ago. Just need to have them bled.
DeleteBrakes probably need to be adjusted too, the distance from lining to the drum is too far and need pumping up to cover the increased distance as they wear.
DeletePossibly, but I doubt it. I'm expecting that bleeding the system will fix it, but I guess we'll see.
DeleteHow old is Sherman? Sounds like a few kinks. But if you can get tires for $300 US, that's the best I've seen.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I bought tires, they were $158 CAD each. This time, they are slightly more and a slightly larger tire.
DeleteHope the rain helped squash the forest fire in the area. Soon new growth will take over the area where it burned...nature is wonderful that way.
ReplyDeleteYep, it appears Sherman is dealing with aches and pains as we do once we age. He may be tired of traveling across countries and needs to stay put somewhere.
The area that we drove through a few days before didn't get it and the area that we are headed to didn't either. It did most likely help the area that we were in, there weren't any fires that we knew of but it would certainly have reduced the chances that one would start.
DeleteYep, he has his aches and pains too but that isn't going to sideline him.
Good luck with Sherman, some TLC and he will be good again. Our coach is only 20 years old and just kept on going , hopefully for a few more years yet.
ReplyDeleteThank you, that is what we are hoping for!
DeleteYes, you keep yours in good condition but you also don't put as many miles on it or take some of the crazy roads that we do. ;-)
Sherman is like many of us. Along with the years and mileage, occasionally you’ll have the unlplanned drip or two.
ReplyDeleteVery true and we sure have put him through a lot in the last year!
DeleteMy first thought when I saw your header: Sherman is getting old, was, "aren't we all?"
ReplyDeleteYep, we sure are and you can't stop it!
DeleteHopefully it isn't the master cylinder... We need a replacement and it's kind of hard to find, for our 1994 motorhome.
ReplyDeleteWe found one easily through rockauto.com last October. I doubt that's the problem, but I guess we will see!
DeleteI like how you are so in tune with Sherman. As I read other blogs and posts in Facebook groups, it seems the more in tune people are with their rigs (and get the problems fixed as soon as they can or need to be) the longer they last. I think you've done an awesome job keeping Sherman in great shape especially after the roads you have travelled over the last 2 months. You guys are good role models for people like Ian and I as we get closer to hitting the road. Cheers, Judi
ReplyDeleteThanks Judith! We are lucky that Kevin is pretty knowledgeable about mechanical stuff and it really helps that Sherman is an older vehicle because the mechanics of him are much easier than all the new electronics in vehicles these days.
DeleteIt is also very true that it is better to keep up on the maintenance as you go along and either fix or replace faulty items before they break. Hopefully because of this we will be able to keep Sherman on the road for quite a few more years yet! :-)
New tires, brake job and minor leak fix should do the trick let’s hope anyway. Sherman has been through a lot this past year and probably is a bit worn but he will be good as new with your love and care. Enjoy the drive.
ReplyDeleteSherman needs new tires but he doesn't need a brake job, that was all done when we were down in the States back in April. Kevin is pretty sure that all they need is to be bled which a fairly easy thing to do and hopefully that will fix the issue that he is having with the brakes.
DeleteYep, Sherman has been through a lot over the last ten months or so but he still has lots of life in him yet! :-)