Broken down in NJ

[Ken-55]

I'll keep this short because the iPad that I borrowed is running out of battery and I can't buy a charger till the morning.

1991 Itasca w/454

Left front caliper locked up on I-80 eastbound just before the GW bridge after leaving the Navy/ND game at the Meadowlands this afternoon. coachNet found someone to get me off the highway but they don't think that they will be able to get someone to even look at it until Monday.

If anyone has any ideas of who could get enough repairs done so that I could limp home to CT, I'm all ears!

I'm at a WalMart on the NJ side of the GW bridge.

I'll check back here after 10 am when Staples opens . . . WalMart doesn't have a charger in stock for the iPad yet.

Thanks!

[Ken-55]

Opppps . . . Right front!

[Dave Rickey]

May be too late, but iPad can use any mini-B USB charger. It will be slower charging from one designed for a phone, but it should be able to operate.

--Dave

EDIT: I take that back, you can use an iPhone charger, but not a generic phone charger.

[Good man]

Ken-55,
Go to any motel and ask the desk clerk to show you that big box of chargers under the desk... chargers of every description left behind by guests. Most of the time they are happy to give you one that fits your device.

On the way to Mississippi with 120 health workers responding to Katrina, I stopped at several motels and they gave me the whole box when I told them what we were doing. The chargers were a very hot commodity among our group as well as the victims in Gulfport and vicinity.

As to your caliper lock-up. I had this happen on a '94 Ford Explorer and it was the flexible brake line which had delaminated inside and was not allowing the caliper to release. You can loosen the bleeder line and smack the caliper with a hammer to release it, if it does not release as soon as the pressure is taken away. You will not lose a significant anount of brake fluid if you do this quickly enough.
Avoid braking hard until you can get to the NEAREST competent repair shop if this works to get it unlocked and rolling. Replace ALL flexible lines if this is the issue.
Good luck!
Jim

[RVThere]

As I found from personal experience, if you break down on Saturday, you are usually stuck until Monday AM. You may want to call the tow driver back and see who he recommends to call on Monday to get your caliper fixed. If you're at the Wal Mart in Saddle Brook, there are plenty of truck repair places around there.

We left the MH home and the boys and I took the train to the Navy/ND game today which was very convenient. After a goal line stand in the 1st quarter, it was ALL Navy in a dominating victory of 35-17.

GO NAVY!

[Ken-55]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVThere As I found from personal experience, if you break down on Saturday, you are usually stuck until Monday AM. You may want to call the tow driver back and see who he recommends to call on Monday to get your caliper fixed. If you're at the Wal Mart in Saddle Brook, there are plenty of truck repair places around there. We left the MH home and the boys and I took the train to the Navy/ND game today which was very convenient. After a goal line stand in the 1st quarter, it was ALL Navy in a dominating victory of 35-17. GO NAVY!

My youngest son is in the Navy's DEP program, set to enter boot camp the middle of December. My oldest son bought us all tickets as kind of a "boys" outing before he went away. Our seats were in the corner about ten rows up, so we had a great view of that goal line stop. We really enjoyed the game and tailgating.

I'm in North Bergen. Nice shopping center with WalMart, Staples, BJ's and lots of other places. They put me back on the quiet side closest to the garden center which looks to be closed for the season. I went in and talked to a manager . . . They said, "no problem". CoachNet had called ahead and already obtained permission, but I wanted to check with them out of courtesy.

I did ask the tow truck driver, he's going to check with his boss and try and
get back to me. He did say the there's a GM truck dealer nearby???

[Rocky Larson]

Gerber RV

Good Luck.

[Ken-55]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky Larson Gerber RV Good Luck.

Any personal experience with them?

[Rocky Larson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken-55 Any personal experience with them?

No, but they are the only "Select" Workhorse service center in New Jersey so I figure they might have some brake fixing experience. That and they are not too far from your location. I plan on using them later in November.
Good Luck.

[Wayne M]

I have read thsat the the iPhone, and iPod chargers will work on the iPad.

[Ken-55]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M I have read thsat the the iPhone, and iPod chargers will work on the iPad.

They do! . . . the Walmart clerk didn't . . . Staples did.

[Ken-55]

Some progress!!!

Gerber is not open until tomorrow morning, but their website contained a link to their FaceBook page AND both the owner and his son (who's the Service Manager) "follow" their FB page. I sent the son a message through FaceBook and he called me!

He sounds like a real nice guy and will try and have me back on the road sometime tomorrow afternoon.

CoachNet is sending back the same towing company that rescued me last night in the next hour or so, so that I can be there when Gerber opens up in the AM.

I'll keep y'all posted!

[Rocky Larson]

Be sure to mention my name. It might help when I try to schedule my appointment next month.

[wagonmaster2]

Good luck, there's nothing worse than being left stranded while traveling. It's great and almost unbelievable that the shop would work you in that quick and have you back on the road that soon.
The first time I broke down, and on my maiden voyage with a new coach, (my jacks wouldn't retract) I called 3 Winnebago shops in Idaho before I found one that would even look at it in less than 2 weeks.
Most times I feel they are envious that we're traveling and they're not so why put out even the least amount of effort.
Again, good luck.

Wagonmaster2