Trip Report - Death Valley, October 2010

[pjpvi]

Talk to PJPV if you need some emotional support. He bought a used van and has had numerous problems but he bounces back.

PJPVI here ....

Yeah, I've had my share (maybe more than my share) of issues, but love the van and will keep it as long as I can afford to keep it on the road (or off the road as the case may be). For the record, it is running great at the moment. Just need to take care of a continued pull to the right that got a bit more pronounced with the switch to 35" tires and I need to tighten up the steering a bit. (Then there is the very long list of "want to do's")

I'm really overdue for another trip and seeing some of the pictures in the trip report sure make me want to get out again.

Enjoy the ride!

Phil

[jage]

New is not all that bad. I bought my van used, ran around town test driving and hitting the bank, then pulled out of the sellers driveway and on the first hill the engine light came on. I thought it was because the cruise control was on and I was flat towing, but it turned out to be a harbinger of a several month cycle of returning to the same dealership for a week at a time each month until a different one in Indiana finally replaced the turbo under warranty.

[saline]

Sorry to hear of your SMB troubles right out of the gate. We purchased used and ended up having a few issues, mostly from the van sitting for 6 months prior to our purchase. Truth is, these are very complex vehicles and I have resigned myself to the fact that there will ALWAYS be somthing to tinker with or fix, especially where we take our SMB. We routinely take our SMB into some of the most remote places in the lower 48.

This last trip was 1050 miles and included Saline Valley in DVNP. No problems except that our Fiama awning buckled in a windstorm after being impacted from above by an unlatched cargo carrier lid (my bad) and our lab ate a superglue bottle on the pullout carpet.

I hope you have many journeys. Don't be afraid to get off the beaten path!

[vwteleman]

Originally Posted by saline

... after being impacted from above by an unlatched cargo carrier lid

Saline, that seems to be a recurring issue with you.





Brent

[saline]

Ouch!! Hahaa. Got me on that one! At least I was stationary this time.

[Christopher Thwaites]

What about the DOG! Lips stick together?