I have the worst luck with major car breakdowns during long distance travel.

[Sigblaster]

This kinds ties in with my hotel thread, as it happened again on a small vacation this weekend. Some history:

~1987. Driving my beautifully restored 1966 Chevy Impala from Fort Campbell to NY on a 4 day pass. Fuel pump conks out just outside Elizabethtown, KY. Long story short, hitched a ride back to E-town, picked a new fuel pump, and made a side-of the road repair (pretty simple on that car). Not too bad, and luckily I had the tools to get it done.

~ 1993. Dodge Shadow ES turbo. Driving from Fort Hood to Indy. Water pump dies just outside Joplin MO. Was able to limp it into Joplin by letting it cool, driving slowly for a short while until the temp got up to about halfway, then letting it cool again. Did this about half a dozen times. Stopped at the first mom-n-pop gas station and got it replaced. Lost about 5 hours travel time.

2000. The trip from hell. Previous ones, I was alone. This was a family move from AK to IN. 1994 Suburban, pregnant wife and 2 kids. Driving to the ferry port at night, hit a bit of construction. You know those small bumps in construction zones that have this "Bump Ahead" sign that seems silly because the bump is so small? Yeah, this one had no sign, and it was a HUGE bump. Busted up half my exhaust. On a Sububan, mind you. The bump was invisible at night on an unlit highway. Had a 1 day layover in Juneau for the next ferry and had my exhaust repaired there. Get off the ferry in WA. Get down the road aways, transfer case explodes. Extra day of travel time. Montana, fuel pump goes out. Extra travel day. Minnesota (I think) AC compressor implodes, takes the belt with it. With some loaner tools from the auto parts store, I short-belted it, so no AC for the rest of the trip. Trust me on this, you don't want to get stuck in a traffic jam in Chicago in the afternoon with a wife and couple kids with no AC.

Then, this weekend. Almost took my wife's 2019 RAV4, but we needed cargo room, so we took my 2006 Pathfinder. I love this truck. As old as it is, it still looks great and ran great (until this weekend). AC went out Friday morning. Son of a... It couldn't have gone out 3 days earlier, so we could take the RAV4, or 3 days later, when I wasn't traveling? We came home early this morning, a few hours earlier than we planned, so we could travel when it was cool. And it was. Wife, daughter, and 9 month old and 6 year old grandkids. Afternoon travel would have been another trip from hell, but an early departure avoided that.

Feel free to commiserate or make fun of my luck as you please.

 

[indyjohn]

I am sorry for you misfortune sb. I just completed a 1128 mile round trip to Rogers AR in my 10 yr old Tahoe with 168,000 on the odometer.

I consider myself fortunate.

 

[Sigblaster]

I am sorry for you misfortune sb. I just completed a 1128 mile round trip to Rogers AR in my 10 yr old Tahoe with 168,000 on the odometer.

I consider myself fortunate.

You ain't gotta feel sorry for me. Adversity is just adventure. Like my trip from hell. Part of it happened across the Independence Day weekend, and my wife's birthday is the 3rd of July, We spent the night sitting out back of a nice little hotel in the middle of nowhere, Montana, watching a fireworks show all around from people celebrating our country. I had beer, the kids ran around having fun and playing, my wife had presents... Other than the fact that my truck was in the shop, it was a really good weekend.

 

[Biggredchev]

Sounds like you need to keep a tool kit on hand lol. Ive only had one misadventure knock on wood.

About 2 years ago i was headed to see the family around the Danville,IL area. I was cruising down 25 south of Lafayette just after dark. About a mile before Windgate i smoke a good size doe in my little Pontiac car. I just soldiered on with my busted headlight and leaky radiator since it was after dark. I got lucky i had a gallon of water in the car or i dont think i would’ve made it lol

 

[chocktaw2]

My brother services our vehicles. Checks everything every 3000 mi, no issues,

 

[Jaybird1980]

Sounds like you need to keep a tool kit on hand lol. Ive only had one misadventure knock on wood.

About 2 years ago i was headed to see the family around the Danville,IL area. I was cruising down 25 south of Lafayette just after dark. About a mile before Windgate i smoke a good size doe in my little Pontiac car. I just soldiered on with my busted headlight and leaky radiator since it was after dark. I got lucky i had a gallon of water in the car or i dont think i would’ve made it lol

Sounds like he needs to take a spare car on every trip.

 

[actaeon277]

Air Conditioning?







Not seeing the problem

 

[Sigblaster]

Sounds like you need to keep a tool kit on hand lol. Ive only had one misadventure knock on wood.

About 2 years ago i was headed to see the family around the Danville,IL area. I was cruising down 25 south of Lafayette just after dark. About a mile before Windgate i smoke a good size doe in my little Pontiac car. I just soldiered on with my busted headlight and leaky radiator since it was after dark. I got lucky i had a gallon of water in the car or i dont think i would’ve made it lol

I have a basic roadside repair kit, but it's something I can leave in the truck without caring if it gets stolen, Ok, losing the jump pack might **** me off, but the random cheap hand tools could be stolen without me caring too much. It's not practical for me to run around with my tool chests stowed in the back of truck, especially as old as it is. It WAS near end of life, and I tend to buy my vehicles used but low mileage and in good shape, and run them to death. My last two vehicles were towed to the dealership for trade-in.

 

[churchmouse]

I am sorry for you misfortune sb. I just completed a 1128 mile round trip to Rogers AR in my 10 yr old Tahoe with 168,000 on the odometer.

I consider myself fortunate.

We did a 1200 mile fast turn around this weekend helping a friend move. Rolled casual over. Ran like a bandit coming home. The computer shut me down a few times (110) but maintained 85 most of the way when the family mini van dip shits would stay out of the hammer lane. 04 GMC Sierra with 156K on the clock. Ran like a clock.

SB when you split the transfer case was it evident the speed bump may have been a contributing factor...???

 

[Sigblaster]

We did a 1200 mile fast turn around this weekend helping a friend move. Rolled casual over. Ran like a bandit coming home. The computer shut me down a few times (110) but maintained 85 most of the way when the family mini van dip shits would stay out of the hammer lane. 04 GMC Sierra with 156K on the clock. Ran like a clock.

SB when you split the transfer case was it evident the speed bump may have been a contributing factor...???

I'm not sure the transer case issue was caused by that bump, but I'm suspicious...

I was running in 2WD anyways, but the guy traveling behind me caught up to me, and motioned for me to roll down my window, and told me my vehicle was spraying something all over his vehicle. I took an exit and crawled under to take a look, and said things that would be filtered by INGO.

 

[churchmouse]

I'm not sure the transer case issue was caused by that bump, but I'm suspicious...

I was running in 2WD anyways, but the guy traveling behind me caught up to me, and motioned for me to roll down my window, and told me my vehicle was spraying something all over his vehicle. I took an exit and crawled under to take a look, and said things that would be filtered by INGO.

Reason I said this is it takes some serious effort to split a transfer case short of catastrophic internal failure. I have destroyed a few and only 1 split the case.

 

[d.kaufman]

Reason I said this is it takes some serious effort to split a transfer case short of catastrophic internal failure. I have destroyed a few and only 1 split the case.

Didn't look back to see if vehicle was a Chevy but they're notorious for pump in transfer case wearing a hole thru the case. New Process dropped the ball on that set up. It seeps the fluid out slowly and eventually will scatter if you dont notice the leak.

 

[femurphy77]

Worst trip I've experienced was a recent trip to FL, halfway thru AL we hear a helicopter overhead. Only thing is it wasn't a helicopter or overhead, it was a left rear tire about to shred. Pull off the shoulder and change it in about 10 minutes so back on the road. After a few miles the helicopter is back! Now the space saver is shredding itself. Make it to a station that surprisingly has air available and proceed to blow up the space saver at about 40 psi.

Not near the horror story but it's all I got. Fortunately not nearly as "entertaining" as the OP's plight.

Be sure and check the spare before a road trip kiddies!

 

[Sigblaster]

Sounds like he needs to take a spare car on every trip.

Actually, that is the plan for the future. Since I work from home, my vehicle is not a priority right now. I'll keep it for a few months with no AC, as I'm not going to sink any money or labor into it. We're shopping for a new home, and the bank has pre-approved me to carry two mortgages, so I don't want to screw that up by adding a car payment to the mix. I could afford it, but the bank might not see it that way.

I want to be able to own two homes at the same time, so we can find the right new home and move at a leisurely pace, rather than sell and be rushed into finding a new place. A new car for me can come later, but we've decided that future family trips will be with two vehicles- one for passengers, one for cargo. Any en route rapid disassemblies will be easier to deal with if we have a second vehicle along.

 

[Jaybird1980]

Actually, that is the plan for the future. Since I work from home, my vehicle is not a priority right now. I'll keep it for a few months with no AC, as I'm not going to sink any money or labor into it. We're shopping for a new home, and the bank has pre-approved me to carry two mortgages, so I don't want to screw that up by adding a car payment to the mix. I could afford it, but the bank might not see it that way.

I want to be able to own two homes at the same time, so we can find the right new home and move at a leisurely pace, rather than sell and be rushed into finding a new place. A new car for me can come later, but we've decided that future family trips will be with two vehicles- one for passengers, one for cargo. Any en route rapid disassemblies will be easier to deal with if we have a second vehicle along.

Now that I think about it, you are probably only going to end up with 2 broken down vehicles. It's a curse.

 

[ws6guy]

This reminds me that I need to get a new spare for the wifes car before vacation next months. Current space saver is worn out but I think there is room to fit a full size.

 

[Alamo]

Worst trip I've experienced was a recent trip to FL, halfway thru AL we hear a helicopter overhead. Only thing is it wasn't a helicopter or overhead, it was a left rear tire about to shred. ...

I'm cruising about 75 along I-10 outside the 410 Loop heading west into San Antonio. Suddenly the whole truck (Dodge diesel) is shaking and pounding, sounds like Thor is beating on it. Thinking exploded tire, I pull off asap. Scurry around truck expecting to see shredded rubber at least, and ... all four tires are fully inflated. ?? Walk around again slowly this time, looking more carefully, and realize that the entire tread, all the way around, has come off the right rear tire. Metal cords are showing and the inner rubber is intact, so still holds air, but absolutely no tread.

I look over the top of the 410 bridge that crosses I-10, I see one of those tall signs used to advertise to interstate travelers: "TIRES", looks like it's on WW White Road which crosses I-10. Yo. I sneak across the grass to the frontage road and carefully drive to the tire shop and order two new rear tires, since the left side was the same brand and I presumed the same age. (Tires were on the truck when I bought it).

Same highway, same direction, a little farther into town, approaching the I-10/I-37 interchange, again about 75 in a Ford Escort. Engine stops dead. No cough, no vibes, just quits. Step on the clutch, shift neutral, emergency flashers, coast under the I-37 bridge and start changing lanes from far left to far right. Coasting up the other side I pull over in the little triangle area between I-10 and an on-ramp from I-37. This is fun because rush hour traffic is hammering by on both sides. Don't bother getting out, just called AAA and about 20 minutes later a tow truck arrives. Turned out to be broken timing belt.

One more: Once more on I-10, also approaching I-37 interchange, but this time from the other direction. Morning commute to Brooks AFB, about 0630. As I take the flyover connector from I-10 to 37, my little Chevy S-10 coughs a couple times, quits. Clutch and neutral, flashers, check gauges -- CRAP, I forgot to fill up on way home last night and needle is buried below E. Dummy! I pull over onto the break down lane but let momentum carry me to the top of the flyover, doing about 25 mph at this point. As I crest the hill, I can see there's an exit ramp at the bottom of this connecter that goes downhill to a surface street where there is a gas station on the right hand corner. I keep coasting along in the breakdown lane, take the exit ramp, coast to the bottom, look both ways real fast and run the stop sign at about 15 mph, two right hand turns into the gas station, and coast to a stop in front of the gas pump without touching the brake.

 

[flightsimmer]

I've already written about my saga from Venice, Florida to Indy so I won't repeat it here but next time I will be taking a newer vehicle but again that is no guarantee.
Problems can and will happen anytime.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

When I was a kid in the 60s early 70s
And we took a family road trip my dad would load the trunk with spare parts and tools. I mean he had a battery starter alternator fan belts points plugs (the sixtys) and a carb rebuild kit. I once sat on a suitcase all the way to Canada because it wouldn't fit in the trunk..
Ahaaa the memory's

 

[JTScribe]

I had a brake caliper fail on my 96 Taurus on my way home from western Colorado one Christmas. Changed it in the parking lot of an Auto Zone in Denver. Made it a bit past St. Louis, took an exit to get some gas, and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. New caliper had a bad seal or something. Exchanged it at another Auto Zone and replaced it in THEIR parking lot, along with filling up the brake fluid. I don't remember yelling at the guys at the second Auto Zone, but I probably should have.