Electrical Issues and on to Oregon

Mt. Hood from the Top Spur Trail near the Pacific Crest Trail

Two years ago before we started our big adventure we received all kinds of helpful advice from other RV owners.  One thing we were told was to expect that things would break from time to time.  Just like in a regular home or with your car – stuff happens.   It is just a little more inconvenient when you are traveling.  So this has been our week to try to solve why we had warning lights going on and off in the RV.

As we were leaving the Redwoods the check engine light came on and then a few other warning lights flashed and went off.  Around the same time David noticed that the electrical connection for our ‘towing’ lights and brake-assist on our car was not working.  We also lost power very briefly so we decided this could be a serious issue and we should find the nearest Mercedes/Sprinter dealer A.S.A.P.  Although we had hoped for a few more days in northern California, there was a dealer in Medford, Oregon about 4 hours away and that seemed the sensible thing to do.

The technicians told us that the RV experienced a ‘power surge.’   They couldn’t determine why there was a power surge but they were able to reset the computer and all the warning lights were OK.  As far as the electrical connection to the car, they thought that was a ‘RV’ issue.  We sort of have two parts to our RV.  The motor and chassis is made by Mercedes/Sprinter but the RV is constructed by Leisure Travel out of Canada.  To make a long story a bit shorter, we decided to change our plans and head north to the Portland area to the nearest Leisure Travel Dealer and try to get things fixed.

Instead of taking our time working our way through Oregon, we drove from Medford to Portland in a day.  Our hope was to get it all fixed and then spend about 3 – 4 weeks enjoying Oregon.  But no such luck.  The Leisure Travel Dealer said that the problem was in the Sprinter chassis after all and recommended us to another place in Portland.  But with the July 4^th holiday around the corner, we couldn’t get an appointment until Monday, July 7.  So we were stuck.  But what a place to be stuck!  We headed about 50 miles east toward Mt. Hood and decided we would spend the first week in July and the holiday weekend hiking in the forests and as many wilderness areas as we could manage.

Wildwoods BLM Recreation area near Mt. Hood

 

And that is just what we have been up too.  The weather has been perfect and we have taken some gorgeous hikes.  Today we try yet again to get things fixed.  We are heading out to Portland this morning.  I’ll post photos of our adventures in and around Mt. Hood in the next day or two.   If all goes well today we will be heading for the Oregon coast tomorrow.  If not, well, I’ll let you know…

David's Stats:  A lot of driving

Foxglove