Slow and steady gets the RV up the mountains

We started our sixth year of full-time RV living in slow motion. We only moved 5 miles away for our first stop, and we didn’t leave that spot until 10 a.m. on our departure day. After emptying our wastewater tanks and stopping for coffee, we finally merged onto the highway at 11 a.m. for a potential five-plus-hour drive from Mesa, Arizona, to Page, Arizona. 

About an hour later, the congested cityscape gave way to expansive desert landscape, and we breathed sighs of relief. After six busy months in a metropolis, we were ready for a change of pace. 

The big truck that could

Vast deserts turned into mountainous regions, and we enjoyed a leisurely drive. While making the last long ascent into Flagstaff, a ding sounded from our truck dashboard, signaling that the check engine light had come on. “Oh no!” we thought. We had just changed our truck’s turbo after having issues during our last travel season. “Was the root cause something else?” we wondered aloud.

Slowing our pace, we kept going. The turbo continued to work all the way to Flagstaff. But while making a small climb just outside the city, and flooring the gas pedal, our speed dropped from 35 mph to 25 mph. 

We thought it best to find a place to stay in the area, where resources were available. Fortunately, Bob had already identified such a location as a backup plan in case we didn’t want to complete the drive to Page in one day. And that spot happened to be shortly after this hill-climbing challenge. We pulled off the main highway and turned off the truck.

Bob rummaged through a bin in our basement to find his vehicle code checker to see why the truck’s check engine light had come on. The results indicated an airflow leak in the intake system. 

On the level

We found a great spot to boondock off a fire road in the Coconino Forest, but Flagstaff is hilly. We couldn’t position our 42-foot fifth wheel to get level. Not knowing if we’d need to be in the area for a week or two to address the truck issue, we wanted to make sure we had a good setup.

After two hours of trying multiple angles and parking spots, we finally got our lengthy rig level and set it up. Bob spent many hours researching the truck issue before we called it a night.

The temperature had been forecast to get down to 26 degrees, a drastic change from the 80-degree temps we had left in the Valley of the Sun. Upon waking, I crawled out of bed to turn on our propane heater. The digital thermometer inside the rig read 44 degrees. With the heat on, I clambered back into bed to snuggle under the covers for warmth. 

Further research indicated our truck would be OK. Our new high-performance turbo has the ability to send more air into the engine than our truck computer expects. When this happens, the computer thinks it’s an error and puts the truck into limp mode, which greatly decreases performance. 

Just to be sure, we wanted to drive Gulliver around, separated from the trailer. While running a few errands, the truck’s check engine light never came back on. 

The road less traveled

Although we would have been content in Flagstaff, the weather forecast called for snow a few days later. We wanted to avoid that if possible. After a leisurely breakfast that included huevos rancheros and an egg burrito at a homey cafe, we returned to our rig to pack it up for another move. At 1:30 p.m., we hit the road and headed north. 

Instead of going to Page, we decided to camp on Bureau of Land Management land near Lees Ferry, southwest of Page en route to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, which hadn’t yet opened for the season. Lees Ferry, part of Glen Canyon National Park, is the only place within Glen Canyon where you can drive to the Colorado River, according to the National Park Service. 

After setting up our rig for optimal views of the towering red cliffs that line Marble Canyon, we took advantage of our proximity to Lees Ferry to admire God’s beautiful creation there. Of course, we had to dip our hands in the river’s water. 

The magnificent panorama that comprised our front and back yards for the week cost us the price of relentless wind for a day and a half and a blanket of fine dust on every surface in our trailer. But it was all worth it for the amazing scenery, the peace and quiet, and the slow pace of living. 

You might also like Exploring Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada.