Marc says, this should be a stress free trip because we don't have the RV in tow.   

Can pull over anywhere.

Just before Hoover Dam (Nevada) sounded like a rock floating around in one of the tires.   Pulled over at Hoover Dam and crawled around - aaaah, found it.   A small pebble in the left front wheel.   Back on the road within ten minutes.

Not long on the road and the noise would come again when accelerating.   Press the brakes and it quits.   This 'game' went on for some time.    We pull into Henderson and decide to pull into a Ford Dealership to have the wheels pulled.   Found nothing and said brakes are fine.   A dealership is just up the road in Las Vegas if you need it.  

Back on the road after an hour and forty minutes.

Well, on the freeway en route to Ely and the noise is now worse - tricky driving on the freeway because now at 40 mph the scraping sound happens.

Get on I-95 for the turn to Friendly Ford Dealership to find the off ramp we need is closed.   We do a complete circumnavigation of downtown Vegas and circle back and around to get headed north.

About 45 minutes later, we get to the next dealership.    After another hour, we are booked in for an appointment early morning tomorrow.

Our truck is loaded to capacity with stuff we are returning home with, including computer, papers, two bikes, cooler and two doggies.

Tomorrow is saturday so they told us most likely, in the event parts have to be sent in, nothing would happen until after the weekend.

Knowing we are spending the night, we rented a car, moved over important 'stuff', the dogs and left the truck in their locked compound for the morning.

Another hour spent on the phone trying to locate an available hotel room that could take us on short notice.    It is friday night in Vegas but ALSO we are in the middle of spring break so it is insane!

Found a Motel 6 right behind the Luxor, just off the strip.   (photo is not mine)

So, we are hanging out in Vegas for two nights - may be three or four.

May we will wander the strip tomorrow evening.  Too exhausted tonight as we started this part of the trip at 6 am this morning and it is now 9 pm.


Tomorrow's a new day 😌



Tomorrow has arrived:   April 8th

By noon, we have the truck off the hoist and ready to go.

Turned out to be the four wheel drive front actuaters on both sides leaking. Four wheel drive was partially engaging from pressure leak. 
Replaced both gears and actuators out of shop after a test drive.
Feeling very fortunate as we got the last two parts in stock and a mechanic working Saturday that knew his stuff.  

Thought we might get to hit the road today, but too late to cancel the reservation.  So, off early tomorrow morning.