Providence :: it was meant to be

After market pressure sensors on our motorhome averts potential disaster

2010-06-18T14:18:42Z

I hope this story will be beneficial to my fellow RVers:

Background:

Back in August, 2009 attending the FMCA regional rally in Burlington, VT, I was convinced to add an after market tire pressure monitoring system to the Providence. A tire blowout or other loss of pressure on a 32,000 lb vehicle could be a disaster to the motorhome or tow vehicle. In addition to alerting to a potential tire problem, I would always know my tires were set to the right pressure for load safety, tire wear and fuel economy. The system purchased was from Pressure Pro.

Fast forward 10 months:

]]> June 18, 2010 - On our trip leg from Grants Pass, OR to meet up with friends in Redding, CA on I-5 I was notified by the Pressure Pro monitor that our right, inside, rear tire on the Providence was losing pressure; reading 85 lbs from a normal road pressure of about 105 lbs. We were about 10 miles north of Weed, CA. The pressure continued to drop at a rate of about 10 lbs per minute. We pulled over to the shoulder and stopped. The pressure monitor was now reading 50 lbs. A quick inspection certainly revealed a deflated tire but could not determine the cause. Next step: limp at low speed to the Weed southbound rest stop about 1.5 miles away to get off the highway.

Diagnosis:

I called the closest Les Shcwab tire store (Mt. Shasta) and ordered mobile tire service. When the wheel was removed it showed the tread literally separating from the tire (see below). It was a defective Goodyear tire. We were fortunate to have the technician find a replacement, but not a Goodyear. I was a bit surprised this size tire (275/70R 22.5) is not readily available (the technician had to drive to the Oregon border to pick up a tire of the right size).

Conclusion:

The pressure monitoring system prevented a potentially disasterous outcome. I could not feel any difference in handling and if the tread had completely separated without my knowledge it could have caused significant damage to the motorhome as well as the tow vehicle.
Motorhome tires are not readily available. I eventually removed the new tire and replaced it with a Goodyear from the front then put two new Michelins on the steering axle. The non-Goodyear replacement tire is now stored as a spare.

I can't imagine being stuck on the side of a highway with a motorhome tire issue waiting for a replacement.

Thank you Pressure Pro and the initiative of the Les Schwab technician for getting us back on the road within 3 hours of the incident. I now feel a bit more confortable with a spare tire.

See the full gallery on posterous

Grants Pass, Oregon and the Rogue River

2010-06-17T23:29:02Z

We were looking forward to this stop on the Rogue River in Oregon. We stayed at the Moon Mountain RV Resort in Grants Pass. I would say it was "one" of the finest except the sites were very narrrow.

Here are photos from the upper Rogue River towards Crater Lake in the east. They include the Mill Creek Falls, a living stump and a natural bridge that the river runs through.

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Phoenix RV Park: Salem Oregon

2010-06-15T23:01:38Z

On our way to meet our friends in California we made a two night stop in Salem and stayed at Phoenix RV Park, one of the finest RV resorts in our experience full time RV'ing. We also took a day to visit Pacific City on the Oregon Coast, about a one way 60 mile drive. Had lunch at the Pelican Pub and Brewery. Got a magnificant picture of the fourth highest "haystack" rock in the world from the pub outdoor deck/patio.

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Mount Rainier National Park

2010-06-13T22:41:31Z

During our stay in Chehalis, WA we took a day and visited Mt. Rainier National Park. Drove all the way to the end of the road to Paradise. Had lunch at the Copper Creek Inn and enjoyed one of the best burgers I ever had. Took two slices of homemade blackberry pie home to have for dinner ;-) Highly recommended if you are touring this park. Copper Creek is just two miles from the park entrance.

The attached photos were taken as we traveled to the top (Paradise). The volcanic mountain is covered in glaciers. The canyons you see in the photos were carved by gacier activity.

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Next stop: Thousand Trails Preserve near Chehalis, WA

2010-06-10T13:30:08Z

We departed Lake Pleasant (Seattle area) this AM heading south. Quick stop at Freightliner to have a couple issues checked. Whew, no problems. Now in Chehalis, WA, just 30 mi south of Olympia, at the Thousand Trails Preserve. Absolutely beautiful; old forest, ferns, wildlife. So many trees, no DirecTV. Like a rain forest and wet, wet, wet. Here until Monday then south into Oregon. Maybe we can get out of the rain soon!

Visit to Snoqualmie Falls, just east of Seattle, WA

2010-06-08T13:23:45Z

A rare day with no rain in the Northwest. Off to Snoqualmie Falls for a photo op! Some of the photos are rather unique. Woodman Lodge Grill served the best fish and chips I ever had: fresh halibut in beer batter. Pam had the best salad ever: "Grilled" romaine wedge with blue cheese and bacon. Highly recommend the restaurant.

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Pike Place Market Seattle, WA - Incredible

2010-06-04T13:08:52Z

Rain for the fourth day but we ventured out to Seattle and the Pike Place Market. Awesome! fresh seafood, meats, vegetables and flowers. Located right across from the cruise ship docks.

Had lunch at the Market Grill. Great clam chowder and shared grilled shrimp over rice with grilled garlic bread. Yummy. Will go back to shop for the fish and veggies.

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See the full gallery on posterous

West Across the Cascades to Lake Pleasant - Bothell, WA

2010-05-27T12:58:26Z

We are leaving Twisp, WA this AM traveling west across the Cascades to Bothell, WA just north of Seattle where we will spend a couple of weeks. Looking forward to the Pike Place Market in Seattle along with many other local attractions. Hoping for decent weather :-)

Arrived at Lake Pleasant RV Park ... beautiful, quiet, secluded, scenic and lots of ducks and geese in the lake. Still raining!

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West across the Cascades on Hwy 20 to Twisp, WA

2010-05-25T12:28:09Z

First stop: Twisp, WA. Staying at River Bend RV Park right on the Methow river. Large pull through site, grassy and very clean. The views out our Providence picture window are spectacular.

The river, wildlife and a wide variety of birds including the the state bird Willow Goldfinch, Orioles and Osprey diving into the river for fish. It is also common to see Bald Eagles flying low along the river as reported by locals. Hope to see one!

(continue for pictures)

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Enjoying our friends and KT Ranch in Colville, WA

2010-05-23T11:32:10Z

We are enjoying our last day in Colville, WA with our good friends David and Linda. A few pictures below.

Next: heading west through the mountains Monday across highway 20. Next stop: Twisp, WA for a couple of days. Maybe see a bald eagle or two. (continue for pictures).

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Prosser, WA: Birthplace of Columbia Valley Wine

2010-05-10T13:34:09Z

We visited Prosser, WA yesterday, advertised as the birthplace of Washington wines. There are at least a couple dozen wineries in this small town including Hogue, Snoqualmie, Heaven's Cave and Alexandria Nicole Cellars. Snoqualmie has become one of our favorites. Winemaker Joy Andersen has worked magic at the winery since 1991 and features popular varietals including a full line of organic wines. We sampled her Syrah for the first time and loved it. If you visit the Columbia Valley region put Prosser on your list of stops.

Bryce Canyon

2010-04-23T16:01:04Z

April 22, 2010: Bryce Canyon National Park

Located towards the north/central region of the great Colorado Plateau, Bryce Canyon is most famous for Hoodoos: a pillar of rock of fantastic shape, left by erosion. 200 million years of earth movement and water erosion has created this natural wonder. Our visit was on a cloudy, rainy and snowy day with temperatures hovering right at 32 degrees. Below are just a few of the pictures we took along the various park viewpoints along it's 18 mile paved road high along the plateau rim featuring many perspectives of the "Bryce Amphitheater," the most famous being Bryce Point overlooking the Hoodoos. Zion and Bryce possess fantastic beauty and geological formations but are small in size when compared to the grandest of this great plateau region; you guessed it: the Grand Canyon.

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Zion Canyon

2010-04-21T19:36:49Z

We made into Zion Canyon yesterday. It is five miles deep and at the end another one mile hike to the narrows. That's where the canyon walls are only 30 feet wide and the Virgin River continues its sandstone cutting activity. This entire area is simply incredible. 200 million years of water eroding a high desert plateau combined with volcanoes and upward movement of the earth's crust. Human inhabitants trace back 12,000 years.

The canyon's of the great Colorado plateau includes Bryce to the north, Zion and the Grand Canyon to the south. These canyons will eventually wash away. Others will form. A constantly evolving geology influenced by the hands of Mother Nature.

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Kolob Canyon

2010-04-19T19:35:30Z

Kolob Canyon is in the northern reaches of Zion National Park. More exotic formations literally created by water. Check out the river of trees and the hanging forest. These were taken in the AM into very bright sun so it was a challenge to get the contrast adjusted. Enjoy, we did.

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