Travel Expenses, and Waiting for a New Hitch

When we were in La Pine Oregon, I was hoping to be able to drive through the Sheldon Wildlife Reserve East and South of Lakeview Oregon, but the broken hitch didn’t make me want to add miles to our trip to Carson City Nevada.  When we got to Lakeview, our thoughts were to keep on straight South, because the hitch was getting a little worse, and if we reached the point of needing help, a better traveled road would be best.  We spent the night in Alturas California, 53 miles south of Lakeview, and yesterday we drove straight to Carson City Nevada.  We are now parked at Anne-Marie’s Sister Kathryn’s house. 

The new hitch has been ordered, and is scheduled to arrive next Wednesday.  The old hitch is in real bad shape, I think that the welds broke some more, and the back side looks to have bent some.  We don’t want to take any more chances with trying to move the trailer, we are in a good spot, Kathryn has a RV hookup alongside of their house, and we can stay as long as necessary.

We seem to have had a lot of travel expenses this year.

Trailer expenses this travel season:
Grand Rapids Michigan, Slide gasket install and parts $183.06
Duluth Minnesota, bathroom backsplash $60.17
Mitchell South Dakota, turn brake rotors, brake pads, parts and tools $188.04
Yakima Washington, Replace Rear Stabilizer Controls $107.00
Yakima Washington, finish brake pad replacement, trailer brake pads $51.93
Portland Oregon, electrical wiring repair, parts and tools $159.08
Carson City Nevada, Hensley hitch replacement $2089.00
The total this season to date: $2838.28

Van expenses this travel season:
Wall South Dakota, towing to Rapid City and engine repair at Ford Dealer  $1351.88
Urbana Illinois, fix air-conditioning after Ford Dealer $109.76
Sault Ste. Marie Michigan, fix heater after Ford Dealer $59.95
Indianapolis Indiana, two front tires $467.04
Front hubcap still missing from front wheel after tire replacement.
Yakima Washington, brake pads $60.99
Hood River Oregon, turn brake rotors and tools $68.57
Hood River Oregon, engine fluids flushed and changed $256.64
Total this season to date: $2374.83

The total repairs and expenses for the travel season are $5213.11.  The amounts that some other full time RV travelers have are greater, but this is the greatest for us.