NO LONGER - Stuck in Las Vegas...

[MKT]

New Mexico that is.

Been shooting at the Rocky Mountain Nationals in Raton, NM this pest week. On Tuesday the transmission on my Suburban took a vacation, dropping all gears, but it would recover if I shut it down and waited a few minutes. By doing this I was able to make it back to my hotel...barely.

Unfortunately for us the Chevy dealers in Raton. NM and Trinidad, CO have gone belly up leaving the closest dealer in Las Vegas, NM. Had the truck towed there on Wednesday. Stinking dealer didn't even look at it until Friday afternoon and guess what, the car dropped all gears while their mechanic was test driving it. Now the extended warranty company is insisting on a tear down and rebuild, leaving me stuck here for who knows how long. I'll probably call the warranty holder and try to convince them to just get a crate transmission, it'll end up being cheaper for them in the long run.

Fortunately for me, two of my team mates were able to move my family and most of our gear from Raton to Las Vegas. The hotel here was kind enough to allow us to check in at 0930 this morning. Another couple who live about 50 miles from us is being kind enough to haul our shooting gear, except the guns, home with them.

Now, here I am stuck in Las Vegas with no transportation. The dealer is two miles away, so I guess I'll be getting a little exercise humping it to and from the dealer, and the closest restaurant. On the positive side, I did just spend the last 6 hours doing a thourough tear down and cleaning of our competition revolvers. Tomorrow I'll work on the semi-autos, don't know what i'll do after that.

 

[Cobroller]

Could have been worse. I once broke down in Clayton.

 

[cp1969]

Tough break. We get complacent about the reliability of today's cars but they can, and do, let us down once in a while. Sorry for your involuntary vacation stay in Las Vegas.

FWIW, my grandparents were a cowboy and a cook on a huge cattle ranch at nearby La Cueva when they were young. When they got so homesick they couldn't stand it any longer, Grandma came home on a train but Grandad rode his horse home....from La Cueva to Eureka, KS, a little over 600 miles.

 

[leswad]

Could have been worse. I once broke down in Clayton.

Were you able to notice the pictures on the wall at the Dairy Queen in Clayton? Last time I was there most of them were gone... A church group had stolen them.

 

[feralmerril]

For a minute thought you met L.V. nevada. Saw a fellow trying to hitch hike out holding a sign, "anywhere but here."

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Got hosed properly in Oct.2008 in Wells, Nevada. Never go near the Shell station there.

 

[LVSteve]

Got hosed properly in Oct.2008 in Wells, Nevada. Never go near the Shell station there.

Tell us more. Was it $4/gallon gas, $2/bottle water, or something worse.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I pulled in there for gas before heading north deer hunting. Mechanic came running out & said "Pop your hood, I heard a squeal." Pulled into the shop & he said"Your fan clutch is shot". I didn't believe him but he had it out & just happened to have one in stock for a '91 Ford Explorer. Then he said both your idlers are shot too. Just happen to have them in stock also. Wanted to sell me tires & a radiator. Told him No Way. Pulled out with over 700 bucks on my Visa. When I got home to Oregon & my wifes funeral. [She passed while I was hunting] I wrote Nevada Better Business Bureau & they referred me to Nevada Atty General. Long story short I got 100 bucks back from Shell in Wells, NV. So beware of that place, it's a screw merchant establishment.

 

[MKT]

I thought the Chevy dealer in Las Vegas was trying to pull a quickie myself. When we came down on Friday to get a couple items we'd left in the truck, they hadn't even taken a look at it. On the drive down I was thinking they were purposely stalling in hopes that maybe I'd but a new truck from them rather than having mine fixed. Those thoughts went out the window when I pulled up and saw they only had maybe ten new vehicles on the lot, with a like number of used cars - none larger than a new style Impala.

When I went to the service shop I could see what was taking so long. Building appears to date to the 1920's, maybe earlier, with only six bays. Looks like only three might have a lift and all bays were full. This might be an extended, unanticipated vacation.

At least we found a decent eatery, only about a 3/4 mile hump from the hotel. Excellent enchiladas with green chili sauce and the biggest sopapillas I've ever had. Fairly inexpensive too.

 

[oldman45]

Why not rent a vehicle until yours is fixed? Certainly cheaper than staying around there.

My Chevy truck blew a motor at 400,000 miles. I had it towed to a shop and said fix it when you can. Called AAA to have it towed and then got a rental vehicle to get home with.

 

[JcMack]

A guy at work used to buy cars from a friend that owned a used lot. This friend also sold him a used car warranty. So the guy from work takes his family to the Smokies on vacation in his new to him Taurus wagon. Half way up one of those mountains the trans craps out. Turns out there is no real warranty. His car sales bud pools all the warranty monies and pays it out on demand, so to speak. The bud with lot is on his own two week vacation somewhere. So guy at work has to spend vacation money on transmission. I really thought guy from work was gonna kill car lot guy.

 

[MKT]

Why not rent a vehicle until yours is fixed? Certainly cheaper than staying around there.

Not exactly an option. We may have sent all of the ancillary shooting gear home with friends but I still have a Suburban load of guns, ammo, bikes and bike rack (for the kids) plus clothes for four. We were able to stuff about half our remaining gear into a teammate's rental and the rest of the stuff in the remaining room of another teammate's Tahoe.

The rental went back to the ABQ airport yesterday and we're here, like it or not. If all goes well the truck may be completed tomorrow. I humped the four miles round trip to the dealer this morning. The truck was on the lift and they were pulling the tranny. I also spoke with the warranty company and they only need the tear down to decide whether to rebuild or replace. We should know in a couple hours.

 

[Rick in IA.]

I pulled in there for gas before heading north deer hunting. Mechanic came running out & said "Pop your hood, I heard a squeal." Pulled into the shop & he said"Your fan clutch is shot". I didn't believe him but he had it out & just happened to have one in stock for a '91 Ford Explorer. Then he said both your idlers are shot too. Just happen to have them in stock also. Wanted to sell me tires & a radiator. Told him No Way. Pulled out with over 700 bucks on my Visa. When I got home to Oregon & my wifes funeral. [She passed while I was hunting] I wrote Nevada Better Business Bureau & they referred me to Nevada Atty General. Long story short I got 100 bucks back from Shell in Wells, NV. So beware of that place, it's a screw merchant establishment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dick,

Similar story from me, happened in 1985. We were driving to IA. from NM. Pulled in for gas somewhere in KS. I pop ed the hood on my 1984 Ford F250 to look around as I was filling with gas. Guy comes out, looks under hood and pulls out a small magnet from his pocket, runs it by the alternator. He shows it to me and it has metal fillings on it. Says I need a new alternator. I tried to wiggle the pulley, looked ok to me. He had one on hand too. I basically had to tell him to move his hands as I shut the hood. I can't imagine how many people he cheated.

By the way I still have the old Ford pickup and guess what, it still has the same alternator.

Rick

 

[feralmerril]

You cant beat knowing a good honest mechanic. Take good care of him if you find one!

 

[Dan Cash]

While in Las Vegas, watch thy self. It is a very dangerous place. Very easy to get in the way of a drug or gang shootout.

 

[MKT]

A couple of New Mexico Troopers gave me a heads up on Las Vegas. I'm not stepping out of the hotel without my USP40 Compact or my P2000 and a reload. My El Paso Saddlery rig carries either piece very comfortably. The walk to the restaurant and the dealership takes us right past a questionable cantina and I've noticed that everyone seems to give us the stink eye as we pass...clearly they've ID'd us as non-locals.

 

[WPWarhawk]

The whole state of New Mexico is about as third world as it gets in the USA.

I hope they get your rig fixed soon and you are able to get out of there before you have any more problems.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Just sold my '91 Explorer to a private party. $1800 bucks. Had 205,500 miles & running strong. Guy is happy as a clam, towed a Uhaul from Calif. to Oregon with all his furniture & got 18 MPG. Explorer was a Sport Model 4X4 with posi traction. Bought a 2007 Ranger with all the bells & whistles like the Explorer. Ranger has 20,700 original miles. Hope it treats me as good as the Explorer did.

 

[MKT]

Well, we're still stuck in Las Vegas and getting very familiar with every pebble along the New Mexico roadway as we walk to and from the restaurant...even the local canines know us now.

The warranty company is covering the transmission, which is being replaced rather than rebuilt. Unfortunately they are shipping one in from who knows where rather than getting one from one of the big dealers in ABQ (warranty company's choice not the dealer's). They gave a 3 to 4 day delivery time ob Monday. All I know is the transmission need to be here by tomorrow or we are totally screwed.

There is a motorcycle rally here in the middle of nowhere this weekend and every hotel is booked solid as of Friday, which means as of 11 am on Friday we'll be living in the parking lot. We might end up having to rent a truck to move us and the gear to Santa Fe, another 70 miles or so south. To the best of my knowledge that'll be the next town with reasonable accomodations.

I am trying to get a tracking number for the shipment, and had teh dealer try yesterday. When the dealer tried they did get questioned abot why they would need that. I called this morning and explained why, politely but forcefully. The warranty company will be contacting the shipper and getting me a tracking number.

Cabin fever is starting to hit the kids. There is little for them to do besides the pool.

Here's to hoping the transmission arrives soon.

 

[Cobroller]

Glad to hear that help is on the way. Maybe you can hitch a ride with a biker.
Most motels overbook for these events, but you might get a cancellation.
I wouldn't take off for Santa Fe unless I had reservations there, but a rental truck would at least get you to the resturants. Good luck.