Adventures in motion - or the absence thereof

Travel can always incorporate adventure. I traveled many thousand miles through largely uninhabited country, crossing North America on a 31 year old motorcycle three years ago. The only mechanical issue was a stone breaking the headlight. This trip has been more mechanically exciting.

Short version

Bad news - massive brake failure.

Good news - speed was about 10 miles an hour, 100 yards from trailer parking and .5 miles downhill from only Land Rover dealer in 200 miles. Repairs to be determined as we are in a motel tonight until service takes a look tomorrow.

Long version

So, in January, I bought a 2005 Land Rover Range Rover at a fairly attractive price. These suckers depreciate a lot.

Less than a 100,000 miles. Owned by local family who did not go off-roading. There were several reasons for buying a larger car and selling the two we owned:

• The schedule. Since the Taiwan portion of our wordly goods would leave the first week of May, and the Maine stuff would before the end of May (turned out to be June 6) and I was choosing to work until the day we were leaving (June 16 - Hudkins jackass gene), we'd need a car (and two motorcycles the second motorcycle would be for co-driver Grace) for several weeks after everything else was gone as we'd be camping in the house. That meant two motorcycles could not go on the moving van to Maine. I was thinking a trailer was the right way to manage what we would live with for two to three weeks plus two motorcycles. The two cars we owned didn't have the guts to drag a trailer over the Sierras, the Wasatch and the Rockies
• The wine collection. Moving wine across the country in summer is impossible without temperature control. Can't do that in a moving van or a trailer.

But why this car

• Timing - it went on the market in January while we were in Maine buying the house. It seemed a karmic gift
• Good for living/leaving in Maine as it would get through whatever weather
• Nostalgia.   One of the first cars I drove consistently when I was young was a Land Rover 109 Series II. This could have been it right to the vents under the split windshield to the spare tyre on the hood. Only thing obviously missing are the wing mirrors.

Which leads of course to the next thing about Land Rovers. They used to be very tough, somewhat finicky, and hard to get parts and service for. They have become a luxury brand. So now they're somewhat finicky and hard to get parts and service for.

Anyway, started using it in February. Surprisingly maneuverable for something so large. Handling not bad. Luxury features (who knew seats could have 16 different adjustments) nice on long trips. 105,000 mile service more expensive than anticipated (see above about service and parts) but other than that everything fine, barring the challenges of getting a second key (still don't have one see above about service and parts).

Departure plan: Load trailer Thursday June 15 and Friday June 16. Susan and dog to airport Friday at 10:00 PM. Grace and I start driving Range Rover and large trailer from San Jose, CA to Freeport, ME.

Tuesday, June 13, 3 days before departure, car stalls twice. Restarts without issue. Choose to believe it's bad gas or some such. 

Wednesday, June 14, 2 days before departure. Car dies in intersection. AAA to service depot. Bad fuel pump. Rent car. Don't pick up trailer.

Thursday, June 15, day before departure. Pick up car. Return rental car. Pick up trailer. Not enough time to pack trailer beyond loading first motorcycle.

Friday, June 16, day of planned departure. Car dies in intersection. AAA to service depot. Bad fuel pump. Rent car. Finish loading trailer. Load everything else into rented car. Drop Susan and dog at airport. Stay in motel as nothing in house.

Saturday, June 17 fuel pump replaced. Original pump missing clamp from output side of pump to rest of world. Departure at 2:30 PM with daughter Grace.

Sunday & Monday, June 18 and 19, uneventful in the best possible way. Car climbs mountain with trailer like a champ.

Tuesday, June 20, morning in Greenfield IN, right rear brake makes unusual noise that goes away almost immediately. Choose to believe that it's from dust, grit and gravel in parking lot.

Tuesday afternoon in Wheeling, WV grinding noise returns. I suspect hanging caliper. Local mechanic won't examine. Noise diminishes. Decide to head for nearest Land Rover dealer. Unfortunately located on the other side of Pittsburgh - which has an impressive rush hour.

Arrive 20 minutes after service department closes. Sales suggests going to Firestone across the street. Firestone doesn't have time, suggests another location up the street. They (hereafter the other shop or OS) are too busy also, but take quick look and say caliper appears to be moving freely. Keep going.

Tuesday evening - 50 yards from last check - VERY LOUD NOISE! THINK TRAILER HAS FALLEN OFF! Pieces of brake disc are in the road. Entire right rear brake disk and shroud broken . Pieces jamming wheel. Remains of caliper hanging from brake hose. Apparently, brake seized, all wheel drive and momentum kept turning and KABLOOIE.

Leave Grace in car in middle of road and follow passing AAA guy on foot to other shop. AAA guy no help. However, nice guy from other shop comes back down the road with me and helps me pull remaining brake pieces out so brakeless wheel can now turn. Picture of some pieces below including most of rotor, portions of caliper and shroud.

Drive very carefully (following parking lot turn around to OS. Nice guy from OS says okay to leave trailer there and lends jack, jack stand and wheel chocks. Drive back to Land Rover dealer (slowly as now have three brakes rather than four). Park in overnight cool spot. They provide ride to motel.

Stay tuned as tomorrow morning we find out about parts availability for a 12 year old Range Rover needing quite a few of them in Monroeville, PA. See above about parts and service.