Stranded in Wyoming
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
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Stranded in Wyoming
SO let me start this by saying that I live in OHIO!
I sit here at a hotel in remote Wyoming, near Dayton, WY but up in the mountains.
My Expy has a bad tranny, while towing my camper.
Tranny fluid is now solid black and wont go into middle gears.
I am waiting for 2 tow trucks from 70 miles away (Cody WY).
The bad part is that we are supposed to be in Yellowstone tomorrow, it will probably take several days to get a repair, so I will sit, with 5 other in my party, in Cody WY waiting, instead of camping in Yellowstone.
SERIOUS BUMMER!
I had fresh fluid (10kmiles) and was towing about 5500 lbs. I guess the mountains were just too hard on the truck.
bummer!
I sit here at a hotel in remote Wyoming, near Dayton, WY but up in the mountains.
My Expy has a bad tranny, while towing my camper.
Tranny fluid is now solid black and wont go into middle gears.
I am waiting for 2 tow trucks from 70 miles away (Cody WY).
The bad part is that we are supposed to be in Yellowstone tomorrow, it will probably take several days to get a repair, so I will sit, with 5 other in my party, in Cody WY waiting, instead of camping in Yellowstone.
SERIOUS BUMMER!
I had fresh fluid (10kmiles) and was towing about 5500 lbs. I guess the mountains were just too hard on the truck.
bummer!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24,323
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From: 0,0,1
Did you have the OD turned off while towing? If not, that's likely what caused the meltdown.
Have you considered renting another vehicle and continuing your trip while your vehicle is being repaired? On the way back pick yours up and continue on home.
Have you considered renting another vehicle and continuing your trip while your vehicle is being repaired? On the way back pick yours up and continue on home.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 980
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From: Lunenburg, MA
good thought, but they'll nail him on mileage.
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 644
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From: GARLAND, TX
re:
better off leaving veh in safe place and picking it up with time with trailer and truck......
i know might be quite a drag but it's better off to tow yourself than hire tow truck........check pricing though if it's higher than ur gas price on picking it up then u know wut to do...
best of luck!
i know might be quite a drag but it's better off to tow yourself than hire tow truck........check pricing though if it's higher than ur gas price on picking it up then u know wut to do...
best of luck!
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 42
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From: Monmouth County, NJ
Sorry to hear about the bad luck. We did that trip last year with a Motorhome and SUV. thats a great trip and would look into a rental, and if you make it to the park go to the cauldron area, thermal areas.
But Cody is a great place, they have a great Museum. White water rafting for all and was great fun. They have a great rodeo, once we went we had to go again.
In town is the old hotel with a reproduction of a shoot out daily, just like old times. But remember no kids allowed in the bar area. LOL
If you can get a vehicle and make it to the park.. I would go to the thermal areas (not just old faithful).
Take some time and call around to all the little towns in the park, as I remember there were rental units at some of the lakes (maybe a cancelation). I doubt you can get a room at the hotel located at Old Faithful but what the heck, thought it was a several month wait but there are always cancelations.
best food in cody is out at the Motor home resort just west of town, its on the hwy leading to the Eastern Park entrance. We even got to eat with Calamity Jane.
there are also many hikes from this area, with such great scenery ...maybe the park is just to far
Good luck
But Cody is a great place, they have a great Museum. White water rafting for all and was great fun. They have a great rodeo, once we went we had to go again.
In town is the old hotel with a reproduction of a shoot out daily, just like old times. But remember no kids allowed in the bar area. LOL
If you can get a vehicle and make it to the park.. I would go to the thermal areas (not just old faithful).
Take some time and call around to all the little towns in the park, as I remember there were rental units at some of the lakes (maybe a cancelation). I doubt you can get a room at the hotel located at Old Faithful but what the heck, thought it was a several month wait but there are always cancelations.
best food in cody is out at the Motor home resort just west of town, its on the hwy leading to the Eastern Park entrance. We even got to eat with Calamity Jane.
there are also many hikes from this area, with such great scenery ...maybe the park is just to far
Good luck
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Long delay, no internet in Yellowstone.
I had AAA RV plus, so the tow was 100% covered.
I had to get a new tranny, $3000.
Rented a car and had the camper towed into Yellowstone.
Had a great trip, other than the added expenses.
AAA RV plus saved me about $1400
I had AAA RV plus, so the tow was 100% covered.
I had to get a new tranny, $3000.
Rented a car and had the camper towed into Yellowstone.
Had a great trip, other than the added expenses.
AAA RV plus saved me about $1400
New User
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Forsyth County, GA
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Senior User
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I had 112k miles on the truck, original tranny. I bought the car at 60k and it was a fleet vehicle, I dont think it had ever towed. The wiring adapter kit was still sealed in the original plastic bag.
I changed the fluid at about 80k, but I do a lot of towing with it.
I had OD locked out, but we were climbing the Big Horn mountains, so I was never near OD anyways.
I probably could have gotten the existing tranny rebuilt if I was home, but there were no transmission shops in Cody, WY. I was not from there and AAA only had 2 recommeded car repair shops, and the tow truck driver recommended against the other repair shop.
So, I was kinda forced to get a new (rebuilt) transmission, but it did come with a 3 year/36k mile warranty.
I changed the fluid at about 80k, but I do a lot of towing with it.
I had OD locked out, but we were climbing the Big Horn mountains, so I was never near OD anyways.
I probably could have gotten the existing tranny rebuilt if I was home, but there were no transmission shops in Cody, WY. I was not from there and AAA only had 2 recommeded car repair shops, and the tow truck driver recommended against the other repair shop.
So, I was kinda forced to get a new (rebuilt) transmission, but it did come with a 3 year/36k mile warranty.
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