What if it Snows?

On my way up to the Truck, I decided to hit Walmart. Got a few supplies. Got a 3.5cu Fridge for $99. Draws the same amps as my useless 1.7. It was taining hard. Went to Truck, grabbed a wrench, and got locked out of my Jeep. I’ve been keeping a window down just in case. First time I haven’t. The thing locked itself. Jeeps running, one and only keys in the ignition. Phones also locked inside. I brought my keys for my P/U sitting at home. Wife couldn’t get here, even if I could somehow call her. What to do now? Had to drop my trailer, BT to Oreillys, bought a slim Jim for $20. After 3 hrs I gave up. Go to gas station, borrow the Owners phone. Call home, get road service #. Spend 30 minutes on hold. Guy says he’s still looking for a Wrecker. I tell him, they have one a mile away. Ask about my coverage. Says first $50 free. I say how about I get the Local to do it. Yes turn in receipt. Bobtail to the Guy sitting in his Tow Truck. He says no problem. 4 hrs. and $85 later, I’m drying my feet by the heat. Apparently Slim Jim’s don’t work on slide type locks. This is exactly what I’m talking about. Takes forever to do one little thing. Lol. Oh man, enough to drive a Guy crazy. I can’t afford crazy. Feet are nice and dry. Gonna swap the fridge’s out grease the fifth wheel, and go blow out the sprinklers. Get back to OTR insanity. The best kind.

 

I just tore out some of my hair reading your account of that experience.

 

I would have thought it was in the 1950's. The end of WWII was the end of steam era for railroading 1946ish. By the 1950's steam was no longer king of the hill. With the advent of better diesel locomotives the industry would have taken note. Less repairs and fewer parts.

 

Oh and to @JolliRoger ? I slept pretty well last night. Went to bed at 9pm, got up around 5am. It wasnt a solid sleep. Yet I didnt get up, so I will take it.

 

Before my time. But from what I understand Gassers were common in the 1960’s. @JolliRoger would know. Dodge had the 361 and 413. GMC I think ran 427’s, maybe 389’s also.Ford maybe 390s? GM sold their Company Trucking Operations to Roger Penske in the 80’s, then sold Detroit Diesel to Roger Penske, around 1988 right after developing the 12.7. Workers morale and Quality control was terrible when GM sold it. GM basically gave up on Detroit Diesel. Later Cat finally won a lawsuit against Detroit, in the late 90’s, for stealing Corporate secrets by hiring their top Engineer. Cat was on its way to developing the first electronically controlled Injection timing Diesel. Instead Detroit stole the technology. and developed the series 60, setting Cat behind 4-5 yrs. Cat tried had a hybrid 425 dubbed PEEC electronic, a big ecm mounted on a mechanical Fuel pump. It was a flop, I had one. Wouldn’t run with the old style full mechanicals. Computer would only give it enough fuel to be efficient. Still only got 5-5.5 mpg consistently, while 12.7s were getting 7mpg or more, easily. The small Bus engine the 11.1 would really get good mpg’s in the old Cabovers. Idle all you want, for 3 days and still get over 7mpg. It was amazing. Cat finally came out with the 435E model in 1995. It was a very good engine, Bad cams in early production, but quickly corrected. Then came the emissions. EGRs in 2002 on Detroit’s, twin turbos on Cats. The new Cummins. Suddenly there were a lot of brand new Trucks brok down on the shoulder. Sometimes I’d see 5 or 6 in one day. I wanted no part of that. And that’s how I ended up with a 22 yr old Truck with 2.3 mil miles. Can’t believe it myself. Planned on upgrading every 4 yrs.

 

I ended up having to swap the doors around on my new fridge. Time to start packing up the Truck. The Bag Lady is getting much better at packing less things. Shower bag has really lightened up. If I’d have built that upper bunk style shelf, we’d have plenty room. Big ole refrigerator looks funny in here. Never had anything bigger than the 1.7. Still a work in progress.

 

It was CNN, what would you expect?