06/27/2016
Are you really ready for your next adventure into the back country? Some intrepid travelers will make lists so everything they need and want is on board and ready to go while others will rely on their memory, luck, and good fortune. Regardless of the routine you follow to get ready, a thorough vehicle inspection should be included in your preparations; and if you tow a trailer, thoroughly inspect it too. Unfortunately a vehicle inspection won’t catch every potential problem. The next best defense against being stranded in the backcountry is to identify evolving problems as soon as possible and mitigate the potential of component failure.
The ability to identify problems early requires little more than the five senses; sight, sound, touch, smell and taste, but I don’t recommend tasting anything. Almost all electronic or mechanical problems will present with one or more of the following signs and symptoms. Oil and water leaks are never normal with one exception, an air conditioner draining condensation. You should know where the air conditioner drain is on your vehicle so any water draining from it doesn’t cause undue concern. Unusual smells coming from your vehicle or noise that wasn’t there yesterday can indicate something’s amiss. If vehicle behavior changes, such as; hard starting, an electronic devise that works intermittently, difficulty shifting the transmission or steering is different from what’s normal, these symptoms may indicate that something needs adjustment, requires lubrication, or a component needs to be replaced.
The picture below illustrates the necessity for performing a vehicle inspection before you leave home. These trailer axle bearings were destroyed as a result of a missing dust cap. If the vehicle inspection had been performed at home where tools, parts or a mechanic were readily available this field fix might have been avoided. Regardless of the cause, the smell of hot wheel bearing grease caught the driver’s attention when we stopped for lunch. Fortunately, we were able to accomplish a field fix and continue our journey.
Don’t assume your well maintained vehicle is ready for the trail. New vehicles are not immune to mechanical and electrical problems either. Wear and tear may not have taken their toll but impact damage and manufacturing defects can strand you in the backcountry too. Being aware of vehicle sounds, smells, fluid leaks and behavior, you can identify, lessen the effects, and avoid many more serious and expensive problems. If signs of a problem show up on the trail, stop and identify what’s wrong. Repair it if you can, or get help when necessary. Always, inform someone about your trip plans, be ready to spend longer on the trail than you anticipated, and perform a vehicle and trailer inspection before you leave home and at the end of the trail. Life favors the prepared, are you?
