Hi all- Glad to be part of a bigger"Virtual Campground"!
I'd like to share an experience we had over the 4th of July Holiday week of camping in Michigan. We had spent several days at our "Go To" Wolverine Campground and were headed to Sage Lake further North. When we travel my wife will drive one truck towing our boat and I drive towing our 5th wheel. We stopped to get fuel near Frankenmuth, MI. Those of you who have Diesel trucks I think will agree that at most truck stops, gas stations and fuel depots, Diesel Handles are GREEN. Also, the diesel pumps are most commonly located on the outside islands. Well we pull into a BP and I pull up to the outside island, stick the handle in the tanks turn on the pump and go to help the wife get pulled into the island on the other side of the station. I grab the handle and she is trying to hand me a black handled hose, I say "No I need Diesel, diesel is green". Well NOT at this BP! By the time everything sank in my tank was full of Regular Gas!
I had to have the truck towed to a mechanic (Shout out to MAD Diesel Performance in Holly, MI) who drained the tank & lines, replaced the filter and got me back on the road by noon the next day. The wife called around to different RV Dealers in the area and found one that sent their service mechanics over in a truck and towed the 5th wheel to a local campground for us (Shout Out to Leisure Day Travel in Clio, MI).
So lessons learned -
Slow down and make sure you're at the right pump in the station when fueling. Seems obvious but we get into a routine and sometimes forget to pay attention to details!
Think outside the box when challenges arise. I was going to have two tow trucks come and take the truck and trailer to the mechanic. The wife is the one that thought of finding a way to get to a nearby campground.
While she was calling around to the various dealers let me say that we found one dealer in particular was "generally" dis-interested in our plight and offered ZERO assistance or suggestions. So going forward I "generally" will avoid them for any purchases or service.
Lastly - I was thinking it would be really neat if someone could or if they wanted to join up with me to create it, a database of nationwide resources to be able to use when challenges arise and you need help on the road in a place far from home. Maybe even a group fellow campers that would be willing to help out, (tow a trailer for, provide advice on local mechanics, etc.). Just a thought while I was gritting my teeth waiting on the tow truck!
Be safe, be alert, and ENJOY!
I'd like to share an experience we had over the 4th of July Holiday week of camping in Michigan. We had spent several days at our "Go To" Wolverine Campground and were headed to Sage Lake further North. When we travel my wife will drive one truck towing our boat and I drive towing our 5th wheel. We stopped to get fuel near Frankenmuth, MI. Those of you who have Diesel trucks I think will agree that at most truck stops, gas stations and fuel depots, Diesel Handles are GREEN. Also, the diesel pumps are most commonly located on the outside islands. Well we pull into a BP and I pull up to the outside island, stick the handle in the tanks turn on the pump and go to help the wife get pulled into the island on the other side of the station. I grab the handle and she is trying to hand me a black handled hose, I say "No I need Diesel, diesel is green". Well NOT at this BP! By the time everything sank in my tank was full of Regular Gas!
I had to have the truck towed to a mechanic (Shout out to MAD Diesel Performance in Holly, MI) who drained the tank & lines, replaced the filter and got me back on the road by noon the next day. The wife called around to different RV Dealers in the area and found one that sent their service mechanics over in a truck and towed the 5th wheel to a local campground for us (Shout Out to Leisure Day Travel in Clio, MI).
So lessons learned -
Slow down and make sure you're at the right pump in the station when fueling. Seems obvious but we get into a routine and sometimes forget to pay attention to details!
Think outside the box when challenges arise. I was going to have two tow trucks come and take the truck and trailer to the mechanic. The wife is the one that thought of finding a way to get to a nearby campground.
While she was calling around to the various dealers let me say that we found one dealer in particular was "generally" dis-interested in our plight and offered ZERO assistance or suggestions. So going forward I "generally" will avoid them for any purchases or service.
Lastly - I was thinking it would be really neat if someone could or if they wanted to join up with me to create it, a database of nationwide resources to be able to use when challenges arise and you need help on the road in a place far from home. Maybe even a group fellow campers that would be willing to help out, (tow a trailer for, provide advice on local mechanics, etc.). Just a thought while I was gritting my teeth waiting on the tow truck!
Be safe, be alert, and ENJOY!