Travel Day - OK to TX

Traveling June 12

Big travel day!

June 12th was our biggest travel day yet - 440 miles from Miami to Santo, Texas (Coffee Creek Campground). As we were planning this day at the Newell factory on the GPS, we kept having to fight the GPS to stay on the interstate. The GPS insisted we get off the interstate and take "FR" (farm roads) and after the excitement of the Ozarks, we want to avoid those roads as much as possible. After a couple hours of using "via points" to help reroute us, Dad finally found a setting in his Map Source program that had a slide bar that ranged from "Small Roads" to "Big Highways" and the slider was dead in the middle. Aha!! Finally we had found something to help fix our problems with via points and the farm roads. After selecting all the way over on the right to "Big Highways," the GPS put us on the right track to Santo.

We decided that an early morning start was the best option, and we were out of the Newell factory by 6:50am. Here's a quick run down of how we tow. The Jeep is attached to the Newell using a tow bar that Dad installed himself (duh) and a buddy brake system. The system we use is called RViBrakes, and it basically sits in the front seat of the Jeep, gets power from the cigarette lighter and has a clevis (new word of the day) that attaches to the pedal and actually applies the brake when Dad applies the brake on the Newell. Think ahead....I wouldn't be explaining this if it all worked out perfectly. Remember "it's always something," and I'm beginning to think I should have titled this blog just that.

So, we have a pretty good system of hooking up the Jeep, Dad does everything with the RVi system and I stand there and look cute and say "is the emergency brake off, the emergency brake has to be OFF" repeatedly. I'm a total joy, honestly. The RVi does its thing and actually pumps the brake five times to release the vacuum in the Jeep (what does that mean? I don't know - I just repeat what the smart man says). Everything looks great and we leave the Newell factory.

Before actually getting on the interstate, we have to stop and pay the toll. As we are driving up, Dad can't get his window open so that's humorous to me, but not so much the other way. Eventually, he gets the window open as we pull under the toll overhang. We pay our money, and Dad says, "I smell something, something isn't right!" What's the first thing I do? Bend down and stick my nose in the air coming from the air conditioner vents. Yeah. We are on the ON ramp to the interstate, and it's totally illegal to pull over. All of a sudden, the tire pressure monitoring system starts BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP so we pull over and realize the tires on the Jeep are incredibly hot (200+ degrees). Out of the Newell we go, and the Jeep is SMOKING from all four tires!!! Commence total panic mode because this could be a total disaster and we are on the side of the on ramp, and I don't want to drive a smoking Jeep! We didn't think to grab a camera, but thanks to the great work of Casey Latiolais (finally learned how to spell that last name), this picture gives an idea of what we saw!

Black smoke from Jeep! SCARY!!!!!!!!!

Dad gets in the Jeep and with one look at the clevis and brake pedal, he realizes that the brake has been slightly applied since we pulled out of the Newell factory. So, we hadn't ruined the tires because they had been turning the entire time (no flat spots), but there was a chance we had decreased the life of the brake pads. A buddy brake system isn't required when towing; however it is just extra help when stopping something as big as we are. It was an easy fix to unhook the RVi, get back in the Newell and try again. Almost immediately, the temperature of the tires went down, and we are back (safely) on our way towards Texas.

The rest of the drive went well and because of the "wide, open, spaces" (I still like the Dixie Chicks), we saw a TON of lightning as we neared the skyline of Fort Worth. It's really important for both of us to pay attention when we are near big cities (even if we are taking bypasses) because one wrong turn or one missed exit can really screw us up because, like I mentioned a while ago, there is simply no easy way for us to turn around.

Had to make sure we made NO error here.

We arrived at Coffee Creek campground in the mid-afternoon, and it is absolutely just a wonderful park! We are loving Texas so far!

Ya'll come on back now!