Driving through the rolling hills of central Pennsylvania on a bright, warm late Summer afternoon, we were headed back to Ohio from our first major trip in our newly minted full-time traveling lifestyle. During the last two weeks at Hershey Park, we'd soaked up rollercoasters, swimming, and all the candy you could stuff in your face. Kelley and I were chatting about our future adventures, looking forward to our first trip down to Florida, and making birthday plans for the upcoming 'birthday season' for our sons.
Little did we know that a few moments later our plans were about to get a giant monkey wrench thrown into them. The truck chimed indicating a system message - 'Service DEF System, See Dealer'. I stole a glance at Kelley, who had also heard the sound. 'That message doesn't look good'. We were hundreds of miles from our home base in Ohio, in the middle of farm country in the heart of Pennsylvania with no reservations on a Sunday. What the hell are we going to do?
Pausing the story for a minute, I want to remark how impressed I've become with my wife for her ability to handle crisis situations. Being the driver, I'm often left feeling a bit helpless in these sorts of situations other than to keep the rig between the lines and follow her instructions for where to take us. Without hesitation she pulled out her phone and started researching the error code. In moments we realized just how screwed we were. We had maybe 100 miles left before we were put into "limp mode." Once the countdown ran out our truck would not go over 5 miles per hour without dealer or divine intervention. Didn't sound so great while towing an 8 ton house on wheels.
Kelley started frantically looking for a park for us to 'crash land' that was also 'close enough' to a Ram dealership or diesel shop. Our options were incredibly limited, but fortunately 25 miles up the road in Bellefonte, a little town just north of State College, she spied a KOA. The downside was that the site was only available for a few nights, which meant we were racing two countdowns now.
Before settling down for a sleepless, anxiety filled night, we compiled a list of three Ram dealers that were in the area. Most of them opened at 9:00 a.m. the following morning. Whichever we chose would put us in a situation where we would not have enough miles left on the truck to get back to the campground if they could not fix it. By the time we parked the rig and unhitched, we had 75 miles left.
As soon as the clock struck 9 o'clock on Monday morning, I hit dial on the first dealership. We immediately struck out; their diesel mechanic was on leave. Five minutes later I was on the phone with the next dealership. Strike two; their mechanic was three weeks behind and there was 'no possible way they could fit us in'. Well shoot, one left. It was also the furthest one away. Hit dial on the last number. Phone rang, rang again, then a woman picked up, 'Courtesy Motors..'
Her name was Stephanie and I ran through the explanation with her about what was up with the truck. Told her I was a Marine vet and we really needed help. Without hesitation she said, 'My Dad is a Marine, bring it down, I'll fit you in, and we'll see what we can do.' Fifteen minutes later I said my 'goodbyes' to the family and was off to make the 57 mile drive down I-99 to Altoona.
I got to the shop in Altoona around 9:30am with 12 miles left on the countdown and their diesel tech took the truck back immediately and got to work diagnosing the problem. At the time we were naive to the fact that DEF systems are finicky beasts and it doesn't take much to get them fouled up. After running some tests, it seemed clear that our DEF pump was shot. Ouch. The shop would have to order the part and it wouldn't get in until some time late Tuesday, maybe Wednesday morning. Double ouch.
Stephanie arranged a ride down to the local Enterprise to get loaner so that I could avoid sleeping in the service waiting room (just kidding!) and get a couple of days worth of work in while we waited for the truck to get fixed. This is where the silver lining of the whole situation finally appeared, we ended up renting a Jeep Wrangler!
Kelley has a closet fixation with Jeeps and me showing up back at the campground with one put smiles on all the kids faces. It wasn't long before they figured out how to take the top off and the next day, while I worked, they were off to check out a nearby state park and go 'cruisin'. Enjoying their temporary induction into the Jeep "cool kids club," the crew came back to the camper to receive good news. The part had arrived and the next day, first thing in the morning, the dealership would get to work installing it.
Wednesday morning, Logan decided he wanted to accompany his old dad for one last ride in the Jeep. He and I left Bellefonte and headed back down to Altoona to await the installation of the new DEF pump. While we waited, I introduced him to Perkins brunch. Stephanie left us with assurances the work would be wrapped up by lunch time, meaning we would have plenty of time to return the Jeep, grab the truck, and still be out of the KOA on Thursday morning. What could possibly go wrong, right?
Actually nothing went wrong! The part was installed, Logan and I played musical vehicles, and we were back 'home' with the family by suppertime Wednesday night. I won't lie and say that I didn't nervously keep stealing glances at the system messages on the truck dash. The wounds were still fresh from the previous Sunday's betrayal and I was having major truck trust issues. Wasn't it inevitable that the dreaded DEF pump disaster message would return? It never did. Not during the one hour drive back up to the KOA nor during the remainder of the trip back to Ohio.
Kelley and I are incredibly grateful to the whole service department at Courtesy Motors of Altoona, and especially Stephanie, for recognizing a family in need and going out of their way to help us get back on the road. If you ever find yourself passing through central Pennsylvania near State College and need diesel work, I highly recommend you look them up.
Travel has taught us, in an unsympathetic, no-mercy sort of way, that breakdowns are a part of 'the life'. Its not something that we found to be typically highlighted in many of the glamorous YouTube channels, but instead something we had to learn the hard way first hand. The gritty reality is that even in these moments of anxiety, stress, and fear - these are yesterdays too. And these yesterdays are absolutely worth capturing. Without a doubt they reveal our true character and looking back, they reveal themselves to be our moments of greatest growth.
Wow I can't believe you guys lived through this! I would've been freaking out! Good thing Josh had a quick thinking partner to get you guys on the right track.