Where to begin …
The good news is that we’re safe at the Arabian RV Oasis in Boron, Calif., a small (pop. 2,253) desert community north of Edwards Air Force Base along Hwy. 58. Considering what could have happened … we are truly blessed.
Trying to piece it all together … yesterday afternoon after leaving ‘the back way’ out of the BLM Hot Spring LTVA (along several miles of bumpy, unimproved desert road) … we decided to stop for a “world famous” date shake at Hadley’s Fruit & Nut outlet in Cabazon, just west of Palm Springs on I-10.
After our date shake, we pulled forward through the RV parking lot, presuming there were cutouts for driveways ahead of us, and only discovered, too late, that there were no cutouts, but very high curbs. Although we took it as slow and gently as possible there was a major bounce and a definite ‘crunch.’ I walked around the rig looking to see if anything was obviously broken or hanging down … all appeared okay.
We proceeded to travel more-than-100 miles west on I-10, to and around San Bernardino, then north on I-15 over the 4,190-foot Cajon Summit, then on US 395 through the Mojave Desert to CA Hwy 58, and west a few miles to Boron.
It wasn’t until we got parked at the Arabian RV Oasis, and started setting up that we noticed the trailer tires on the driver’s side were only about 1/4″ apart. (Click on image to enlarge.)
Jimmy scrambled under the rig and discovered that the main, long leaf spring was busted on the back wheel. And, in addition there was also an older break on the leaf below it, which must have added to the stress on the longest leaf. (Pardon me if I don’t exactly have these terms correct … but out of the four leaves, two were broken.)
Jimmy talked with the RV park manager who said there is a Mike’s Automotive repair place about three miles from here. Of course it is closed on the weekend … however we are going to give them a call first thing Monday morning.
Our angels was truly watching over us and we trust Mike’s will be the perfect solution for our busted spring.
Photos: (Top) The two 5th wheel tires were only about 1/4″ apart. (Julianne G. Crane); (Bottom) Broken spring. (Jimmy Smith).
