@ Fredericksburg, VA

Alternate Blog Post Title: RV Preventive Maintenance Doesn't Prevent Anything  (OK, maybe caulking helps, but that's it!)

The picture is of what's left of our off-door side rear wheel - one of the wheels that had a full bearing and brake service while at MORryde on September 22nd.  The wheel came off on US 211 between Warrenton & Luray (Virginia).  

We'd experienced a repeat hydraulic system leak (began in July while in Great Falls, MT)) on the front legs that would let the front of the trailer drop over the span of an hour or two.  We'd left Luray Thursday morning to a hydraulic shop in Bealeton, VA for trouble shooting and repair.  We got that completed and parts on order (a 12 year old valve was going bad - probably a weak spring inside the valve).  We were on our way back to Luray, VA when a really nice lady got our attention and Donna got the rig off the highway onto a turn lane.  

What the picture (above) shows is what we found.  They lady knew where the wheel was (it rolled off our trailer in front of her), and we got it back.  Visual inspection shows no addition damage to the trailer.  No one was injured nor was any other vehicle involved.  Lots of people dropped by and offered assistance while we waited for tow service assistance (Good Sam ERS) to come get us.  Even a deputy sheriff came by and visited for a while.  We are blessed and lucky!

The tow service got there about 90 minutes after the request was made.  It was decided to chain up the axle's suspension so it wouldn't drag, and we'd tow the trailer 25 miles to New Market, VA for repair.  We looked like one of those oversized truck loads with a tow truck following with flashing lights on to warn people that we were slow.  Took about an hour and crossing two Appalachian Mountain passes to get us to New Market.  The trailer's at LL Trucking Repair in New Market.  They should look at it later this week and get parts on order.  It's probably a whole new axle system (less suspension).  Only the tire is usable.

We hope to be back on the road with both wheel and hydraulic repairs completed by the end of October.

Oh, best guess so far is that a wheel bearing overheated and came apart.  

We're fine and staying at Beth & Frank's Storage and B&B in Fredericksburg.  (Inside joke as they're best friends of ours, and we use them as a large package & mail drop when we're in the area.)  We're here until the trailer is repaired, or we're kicked out - whichever comes first.

When we know more, we'll post more.  David