JUNE 30     THE SAGA OF THE WHEEL NUTS

Not long after we returned from the last trip, Bus went off to Toyota for a little pampering. All the essential bits were checked, fluids changed and the like. The manual that came with Bus had a service history for its warranty period, but after that there was not history recorded. So I thought it was important that we try to always have work done at the same place, so they build up knowledge and history of the vehicle, Plus, to date, we had been satisfied with their work,

One thing that they picked up on, but could not “fix”, was that they were unable to loosen off the front wheel nuts, to remove those wheels for checking. The tools they had made no impact, and they were reluctant to try to exert too much force, in case they sheared off a stud.

When the mechanic told us this – and gave us a demonstration of no movement – John and I both had the same thought, involving what might have happened if we’d had a flat on the front, out on the road somewhere. If a full scale Toyota Sevice Centre didn’t have the tools that would work, what hope would a Roadside Assist person have?

On the way home from Toyota, John called in at a truck tyre place, and they were able to shift the nuts – undid them and then re-tightened them. Fine! Next day, John planned to undo them again, apply some WD40 (Basic Principle #1 – if it does not move, and it should, apply WD40). Then he would re-tighten same. But – the immovable objects were immovable again.

So, before this next trip, he would have to take Bus back to the truck tyre centre and get it all sorted.

One useful thing we did find out from the man at Toyota was that the front wheel nuts undo in different directions. One side of Bus is clockwise, the other is the other way. We planned to write this information on the back of the driver’s sun visor – along with the Bus height measurements and tyre pressures already written there. Handy reference point…

John replaced a broken cupboard door latch in Bus, and we tucked away a couple of spares.

Bus was washed. I used to regard John’s pressure washer as a “boy’s toy” but it sure came in handy when there was an acre of bus to wash! Grandson, visiting for the school holidays, also came in handy for helping to clean.

The inside was thoroughly vacced and washed. Beds were all made up with clean bedding. Even the dog’s bedding was washed.

John bought a couple of rubber floor mats for in front of the driver’s and passenger’s seats – to help protect the carpeted floors ,and also because they are easier to remove and clean. He also bought a mat that I can store in Terios which can be used as an outside doormat for Bus. We used to have a couple of these with the van, but must have included them in its sale. Most of the time, with a cement slab, or with our annexe matting, a doormat was not needed. But we had noticed, on this last trip, when we were overnighting in places where there was neither, we tracked a lot of dirt and leaves into Bus. Doormat needed…

I guess we will eventually get the rig exactly right?