Our first breakdown

Had to come didn't it!

Anything mechanical that stands unused for years is the subject of much nervousness by new owners when its flexed appropriately

Our new to us RV is no exception!

Having said our goodbyes and covering just a few miles the dash starts to sing a song and flash persistent warnings

We are en route now to Poole and a welcome RV with Chums Russ & Lynne having booked on to their local campsite that can take big rigs

The engine goes in to 'Limp Mode' and its apparent I have a coolant issue as the temp gauge is very high and the word "Coolant' won't go away....

Thankfully we make it to a place of relative safety and the call is made

After a very prompt attendance by the rescue guy his diagnosis, and partly prompted by the amateur mechanic (thats me), is that the explosion of coolant from the rear of the RV engine out the pressure release filler cap is probably due to a seized thermostat

I do hope so!

There's coolant everywhere and loads on Max which I wash off

A three hour wait for the big boys ensues as they are in Sheffield on a job

The first wrecker is too small so reinforcements are called just as the heavens open

The plan is to recover us to Empire RV by towing method with front axle raised

Its on the way to Poole and we were due there after the weekend anyway

I'm informed that one of the half shafts needs to be removed from the rear axle to enable towing of the rear wheel drive RV

Strewth thats big, I thought and really heavy

Bizarrely after a lot of prep and quite pleasant trip down the motorways we are handed over to another crew at Strensham Services who have a beast of a truck to take us on the final leg to Emborough south of bristol

Disconnect one truck, bring in another

Simply lifts under the cross member and chained for security

Brakes disconnected manually again but no auxilliary air from the tow truck on this leg as they don't see the point

My thoughts later were that the air is there to keep the ride height correct but what does this amateur mechanic know right?

We are smiling for the selfie but in reality we are drained of enthusiasm and are finally laid to rest in the yard at Empire RV at midnight

Not bad from a 6.00am start....