#49: Pando, Tires, and Truma

By this time, I started making my way back up towards Salt Lake to get my Truma water heater/furnace replaced.

With all of this driving lately (these states out West are huge), I began to notice the tires on my car were getting pretty worn. Since I do much driving on unpaved, rocky roads, I didn't want to push it with vulnerable tires. I also didn't need a highway blowout to add to my list of things to fix.

I found a tire center in Richfield, UT, a large(r) town in the vicinity of where I was. Calling ahead, I ensured they would have the tires I needed by the time I arrived.

But first, a quick jaunt to Pando. A friend of mine mentioned Pando while I was in Salt Lake the first time around. I hadn't heard of it; that's what Google is for.

• Pando is referred to as the Trembling Giant due to the leaves' sound with just the slightest wind.

• It's a grove of quaking aspens in the Fishlake National Forest in Utah.

• The grove is a single organism, as all the trees share a root system.

• Unlike other trees, these aspens sprout from the parent tree's lateral root, making each tree a stem of a massive single clone.

• The word "Pando" is Latin for "I spread."

The above makes Pando the most massive living organism, spanning over 100 acres. However, there is an absence of young, regenerative stems to replace the older trunks due partly to deer and elk's overgrazing in recent years. That, combined with the regular deterioration of the older trees, makes Pando extremely vulnerable to shrinking. In time, Pando could completely die off. Teams of scientists are on it, though, studying the reasons for the decline to adapt accordingly. 

We slept among Pando at Doctor Creek Campground near Fish Lake. We hiked the trembling aspens, and it was unforgettable. We hit it at the perfect time when the aspen leaves were bright yellow.

After our hike, we hit the road for Richfield. The only decent place to stay was a KOA (Kampgrounds of America). I usually don’t opt for this chain campground, but I was okay with it because:

1. It was inexpensive.

2. I could refill the fresh water tank.

3. I could dump the wastewater tank.

4. I could do laundry.

5. I could take a shower.

Our first stop the next morning was the tire center. After waiting a few hours and dropping a pretty penny, we were off towards Salt Lake to get our replacement Truma.

We crashed at a Walmart parking lot about an hour south of SLC. I didn’t need anything fancy as I had just showered that morning, and my only requirement was being somewhat close to the dealership to get there first thing the next morning. Plus, I was used to parking lots by now.

I cannot believe I am writing this, but this visit to an Airstream dealership service center was, wait for it…quick and easy. It took the Airstream of Utah team a few hours to replace the Truma, test it to ensure it’s working correctly and consistently, and send me on my way. The feeling of driving away with a new working furnace/water heater was indescribable. I had been dealing with this wonky thing for my entire trip, and now I was sailing (driving) off into the sunset with a brand-new (working) unit. Life was good.

#46: My (many) Days in Salt Lake City

I gave myself a few days to get down to Salt Lake City for my appointment at Airstream of Utah. I was anxiously awaiting this date, September 15th, for many months now. On this date (or so I thought), I’d have the answers to all my Airstream problems.

Over this time, I kept a log of all the things I needed the service team to look at. These were mostly small things, but the elephant in the room was the Truma. I didn’t have heat, and I didn’t have hot water. NOT COOL.

The lack of hot water was the main thing. Since cold showers are no fun, I had to ensure I found campgrounds with (decent) public showers…at least occasionally. Showers became a special treat, rather than a usual occurrence, unfortunately. This extra level of criteria narrows down the search of places to stay, and in turn, makes it more difficult and potentially forces me to stay somewhere that I wouldn’t usually. I digress.

When I first got to town, I had a lunch date with two friends from business school who settled in SLC - Eric and Devon. It was so wonderful to see them and catch up.

After a pleasant night in an in-town RV park (where they pack in the rigs like sardines), I was Airstream-dealer bound. The team took the first day to attack the bumper. The seams had to seal overnight, so I stayed in a hotel, as I expected. The next day is when the fun began.

Day #1 of troubleshooting the Airstream:

Diagnosis: None. The entire Truma unit was dismantled in order to get to the root of the problem.

What I did: Errands around town. Visited the Salt Lake Temple, which was under construction.

Accommodations: Hotel again.

Day #2 of troubleshooting the Airstream:

Diagnosis: None. Unit remained dismantled. Airstream team in touch with Truma team to join efforts in troubleshooting.

What I did: Visited Antelope Island State Park. About 1.5 hours from SLC, this activity was recommended to me by a few different people. It’s home to over 600 American Bison. I didn’t find it super impressive, but it was something to do, and Addie and I got some exercise on a few small hikes.

Accommodations: Hotel again.

Day #3 of troubleshooting the Airstream:

Diagnosis: None. Unit remained dismantled. Truma team consulting on the issues.

What I did: Visited Park City, about 30 minutes away from SLC. I had never been, but like most mountain towns, I loved it. Addie and I perused the streets and stopped for a beer and a veggie burger at Wasatch Brewery.

Accommodations: Hotel again.

Day #4 of troubleshooting the Airstream:

Diagnosis: The existing unit is broken to the point of no return. It needs to be completely replaced. However, the new unit will take about 10 days to arrive at the dealership.

What I did: Weighed my options. I would not hang around SLC for over a week waiting for the new furnace/water heater to be delivered. I decided to take the Airstream (broken Truma and all) and head down to southern Utah to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks while waiting. I’d return to SLC when the new unit arrived.

I toyed with the idea of having the unit sent to the Airstream dealer in Denver, allowing me to keep on my original route and “meet” the part in Denver. However, the techs in SLC were already familiar with my case. It also exhausted me to think about having to download yet another service manager on the situation. I was so over this.

I left SLC with some frustration, but there was nothing I could do to change the situation. All I could do was make the most of it, which is what I did. I embraced my change of plans and got excited to head south.

Oh, and by the way, when I initially purchased the Airstream, I bought an extended warranty through a third party. These repairs and travel expenses (hotel, meals, etc.) were all included in my coverage. The claim submission required a lot of paperwork, but I would get reimbursed in the end.

#41: Spokane-> Idaho-> Glacier National Park

I arrived at Airstream of Spokane around 11 am. I was so relieved to be somewhere with people who could potentially help me. It’s worth noting that my (now) friend, Doug, was the only service manager willing to squeeze me in to his already busy schedule at this Airstream dealer. I was so grateful.

Since I needed a shower, the first thing the Spokane team did for me was to plug the Airstream into electricity, water, and sewer. I took a shower in the trailer, as it was parked in the parking lot.

The team took the day to troubleshoot, and the Truma was working fine. They ran it for hours - the heat and water heater. I was almost disappointed when Doug called to tell me it was working as expected. I wanted it to act up so they could more easily diagnose.

That Thursday night, I made a camping reservation in a regional park - with electrical hookups (I purposely stayed in the area just in case I needed to go back to the dealer the next day). I arrived at the park, hooked up, and turned on the water heater. It worked. The next morning, though...error code. This thing was playing with my mind. I called Doug, and I was back at the shop before breakfast.

Long story short, with George-from-Truma's help, a diagnosis was made: the fan on the unit needed replacing. 

Good news: George sent a new one that would arrive on Monday. 

Bad news: I had to find a place to stay for the weekend. 

Doug so graciously offered me to "camp out" in his driveway while we waited for the park to arrive, and I took him up on his offer. I felt safe, and Doug ended up becoming a trusted confidant and friend. I am so thankful for him.

My third party warranty covered the fan and repair labor - phew. By Tuesday morning, Addie and I were on our way to Montana via northern Idaho. Doug gave us a few places to check out along the way to Glacier National Park, our next destination. We stopped at Kootenai Falls and the Swinging Bridge in Libby, Montana. 

It was getting dark on our drive, so we found a place to stay in Libby. I grabbed a shower, and we hit the road for Glacier the following day.

Glacier National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the country. Even though it was mid-week, I had a hard time finding a place to camp near the west entrance. I settled on an overpriced RV park and called it a night.

At the time of my visit, the eastern side of the park and east entrance was closed (unfortunate). Going-to-the-Sun-Road (main scenic road through the park) closed at Rising Sun, just before the east gate. Some would argue that the east side is the preferred side, but it, unfortunately, would not be an option this time around. When I learned that I wouldn’t explore the park to its fullest, I decided not to stress out about trying to see everything. It wasn’t going to be possible, so I’d have to make it a point to return to Glacier again one day. On this visit, I would drive through the park and take in the iconic views.

The next morning, to beat the crowds, we set out before sunrise. Although the weather was cloudy and on the cusp of raining, I’m glad we got out early. Parking lots were filled by 8 am.

As mentioned, Glacier National Park is on my list of places to return. Something I’m learning throughout this journey is to be okay with not seeing everything. There is just no way to do so. As a frequent FOMO’er (Fear Of Missing Out), this is something that I’m getting more and more comfortable with as each day passes.

#39: Tackling the Truma

Upon leaving Mount Rainier, the closest and most suitable place I could find with electrical hookups was in Enumclaw, WA, about an hour southeast of Seattle. Haven’t heard of Enumclaw? Neither had I. But the campground was more than okay and close to stores if I needed supplies.

I started focusing on the Truma immediately. There were multiple issues:

1. Multiple error codes appeared when I turned on the heater. Sometimes it was one code, sometimes it was another, making it difficult to diagnose.

2. Usually, when the Airstream is plugged into shore power (electric power), a little “plug” icon appears on the Truma control panel screen (see image below). This was not happening, so it seemed the Truma didn’t recognize the connection.

Strike 1

The first call I made was to Truma customer service. They were extremely helpful, but after troubleshooting with me over the phone, they concluded that a professional needed to see it in person. On to the next option: Seattle Airstream dealer.

Strike 2

I called Seattle Airstream, and they were booked out for weeks. This is a HUGE problem with Airstream dealerships/service centers. They are so busy and in such high demand that they can't (or don't) make room for full-timers who live in their Airstreams. It's frustrating. 

The gentleman on the phone was friendly and gave me some things to try. Since one of the error codes I was receiving pertained to the fan, he suggested that the fan's electric connection perhaps became inactive. He advised me to test the wire that fed the fan to see if it was hot. I went out, bought a tester, and tried it. The wire was hot, concluding that this was not the issue. I appreciated his help, but none of his suggestions got me far. I got the impression that he could feel my pain in my voice.

Strike 3

The third idea was to see if any remote RV repair services were around the area and available. I knocked on the camp host door, and the friendly host gave me the name and number of a guy. I called. He was booked out for three weeks. I went back, asked if she knew of anyone else, and she gave me another. No luck with that one either.

I was zero for three, and I was beginning to feel like I was out of options. My neighbor at the campground saw me flustered and asked if he could help. He gave me the name of yet another guy, but I couldn’t even through to that guy when I called.

Oh, Yes. The Bumper.

Let’s also not forget that I still needed to address the bumper situation. Given my travel route, I would pass through a few more Airstream dealerships in the next few months. The bumper was not urgent, but after calling a few dealerships along my way, I learned that the new bumper would take six weeks to manufacture and deliver. I would be close to Utah with that timing, so I coordinated with Airstream of Utah in Salt Lake City to order the part and make the repair when the time came.

Conclusion

I spent the entire day on the phone, trying different potential solutions and getting more and more irritated. I needed to take a shower, so I braved a cold one in desperation.

Typically, I can solve my problems one way or another. But in this case, I felt so helpless and hopeless. My hands were tied. I was at the end of my rope. The tears of frustration began to roll.

It didn’t take me long to snap out of it, remembering my motto: 10% is what happens to me and 90% is how I react to it. I have some friends in the Seattle area and decided to retreat from my Airstream problems for at least a night and head to their house in Burien the next morning.

#38: Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier was the second of three national parks in Washington that we visited. After our ever-so-eventful experience at Olympic, I decided to drive Rainier and not worry about seeking out hikes. Numerous stressors were/are in the air: Addie's health, lack of mobile service, trouble finding campsites, and a fussy water heater in the Airstream. I didn't need one more thing to worry about, which was navigating Rainier's hiking situation (specifically with Addie, who is not allowed on trails).

Camping options around Mount Rainier were scarce. All the park campgrounds were reserved, and the only first-come, first-serve camping choice is tent-only. One of the most troubling factors was the lack of mobile service as I got into the area. I rely on apps to find camping, but obviously, apps are useless with no signal.

I spent a while driving to a few places I researched but couldn’t locate. I then had to go back into a service area to look up other options. Around dusk, I spotted some RVs through some trees off the main road. I turned around and took the first turn into the woods. This was lucky. It was a dispersed camping area that was annoyingly busy, but I could back into a spot between trees that worked - at least for one night. I would get up the next morning to find a more suitable place.

My stress level curbed some when I landed at La Wis Wis National Forest Campground. However, my stress level inflated again when I backed the Airstream into a post while settling into a spot. Not only did I back it up over the post, but also when I pulled forward trying to get it off (it was a short post just at the height of the bumper), a section of the bumper wholly detached. Awesome.

I was laughing at this point. This little mishap was nothing unfixable. I used duct tape to reattach what I could, and I went on with my day. We hiked around the campground area a little and hung out by the river.

After grieving the loss of the Airstream’s back bumper, Addie and I made our way to Mount Rainier National Park in the afternoon. Like many other national parks, there are multiple entrances.

I knew I wanted to get to the Sunrise section, which at the peak, is the highest point reachable by vehicle within the park. The road getting up to Sunrise, Sunrise Park Road, is only accessible in the warmer months, and as you drive up, you can’t resist pulling over at multiple points to take in the views.

The scenery from the top took my breath away. In my opinion, I was there at the best time of year, and the weather that day couldn’t have been any more perfect. Addie and I got some much-needed solitude up there, proving to us that you don’t always need to hike a park to get a lot out of it.

After a second night at La Wis Wis Campground, the next stop was to the park's Paradise section. The different areas provide various views of Mount Rainier. It's such a beautiful sight, though, so it never gets old.

At this time, not only did we have external issues with the Airstream (missing bumper), but we also had internal problems. My Truma water heater continued acting up. Sometimes it would work, and other times it wouldn’t. Since I had been dry camping for weeks by now, my next camping spot would need to have electrical hookups so I could troubleshoot.

Onward and upward towards Seattle, then to North Cascades National Park. In the back of my mind, I knew of the Airstream dealership in Seattle, so if I needed to, I could potentially get some help with the Truma there. I also needed to figure out how to fix the bumper. 

Homeownership (eye roll)...