This morning we got any early start, one - to beat the record heat being experienced in the area, and two - to stop and explore the Capulin Volcanic National Monument. This dormant volcano is the only one in the USA where you can drive to the top, hike completely around the top, and hike into the caldera. Unfortunately, this was not to be!
Even though we have already driven through the hill country and panhandle of Texas during record heat with no engine problems, this was not the case in New Mexico. Dan noted the coolant system was running above the 1/2 way point on the gauge. This is about twice as hot as it should be. After holding steady for awhile, it started to rise even higher. Soon we were driving with dash heat on and geared down to keep engine RPMs up and coolant temp low.
We decided to skip the site seeing and head straight to our campsite in Raton, NM, rather than get stranded. The next two hours we drove with one eye on the road, and one eye on the gauge. Sometimes everything was normal, and at others it was back to running the heat and gearing down. In fact, we were flying up the pass at Raton, NM, doing 55mph, in 5th gear, and no problems. But within one mile of the summit, the temp gauge shot up rapidly, and different alarm lights started flashing. Since we were literally at the RV park, we pulled in, put the RV in neutral, and let RV idle while temp gauge dropped.
After the RV cooled and we had backed into our campsite, Dan called a “Coach Care” Cummins facility in Denver. What is Coach Care? - seems Cummins has realized there a lot of self drive RVs running around that have Cummins engines and Onan generators and has established Coach Care facilities at some of their truck service facilities. As we have noted before in this BLOG RV most dealerships are not equipped or staffed to work on the chassis, engines or transmissions of RVs (even ones they sell); and most truck facilities do not want to deal with RVs. Knowing this Cummins has established Coach Care facilities that are a part of truck service facilities they already have, but with separate service bays for RVs, separate RV technicians, separate lounge, and they will allow you to stay in the RV while repair is being made.
In fact, Cummins is training their techs to repair the refrigerators, awnings, leveling system, etc, etc, to attract RV’ers to bring their RVs to Cummins facilities for everything rather than RV dealerships. Anyway knowing of these new facilities, Dan went online to find the nearest, which turned out to be Denver. He called and got an appointment for 0700, Wednesday. He told them we would be there tomorrow, Tuesday; this would not be a problem because they have free water and electric hookups out front. Just like our last roadside emergency in AUG07, our plans have been delayed and changed, and we are probably looking at big bucks!
Even though we have already driven through the hill country and panhandle of Texas during record heat with no engine problems, this was not the case in New Mexico. Dan noted the coolant system was running above the 1/2 way point on the gauge. This is about twice as hot as it should be. After holding steady for awhile, it started to rise even higher. Soon we were driving with dash heat on and geared down to keep engine RPMs up and coolant temp low.
We decided to skip the site seeing and head straight to our campsite in Raton, NM, rather than get stranded. The next two hours we drove with one eye on the road, and one eye on the gauge. Sometimes everything was normal, and at others it was back to running the heat and gearing down. In fact, we were flying up the pass at Raton, NM, doing 55mph, in 5th gear, and no problems. But within one mile of the summit, the temp gauge shot up rapidly, and different alarm lights started flashing. Since we were literally at the RV park, we pulled in, put the RV in neutral, and let RV idle while temp gauge dropped.
After the RV cooled and we had backed into our campsite, Dan called a “Coach Care” Cummins facility in Denver. What is Coach Care? - seems Cummins has realized there a lot of self drive RVs running around that have Cummins engines and Onan generators and has established Coach Care facilities at some of their truck service facilities. As we have noted before in this BLOG RV most dealerships are not equipped or staffed to work on the chassis, engines or transmissions of RVs (even ones they sell); and most truck facilities do not want to deal with RVs. Knowing this Cummins has established Coach Care facilities that are a part of truck service facilities they already have, but with separate service bays for RVs, separate RV technicians, separate lounge, and they will allow you to stay in the RV while repair is being made.
In fact, Cummins is training their techs to repair the refrigerators, awnings, leveling system, etc, etc, to attract RV’ers to bring their RVs to Cummins facilities for everything rather than RV dealerships. Anyway knowing of these new facilities, Dan went online to find the nearest, which turned out to be Denver. He called and got an appointment for 0700, Wednesday. He told them we would be there tomorrow, Tuesday; this would not be a problem because they have free water and electric hookups out front. Just like our last roadside emergency in AUG07, our plans have been delayed and changed, and we are probably looking at big bucks!
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