I've heard that these Ford excursions can be maintenance heavy, and we've already experienced that from time to time since its purchase. But with yet another issue upon us, "Beast of Burden" has slowly become its nickname, at least in my mind. Fortunately it still fits the "BB" we orignally named it.
We find ourselves at one of our Pensacola area campgrounds with three days of work in the books. We are hitched up and ready for the road. I mount the "Beast" on the driver side, press firmly on the brake pedal to engage drive, and squuuish. The pedal has nearly no feedback, no pressure at all. Brynn sits quickly and confirms there is a problem and I haven't lost my mind. We unleash some ropes holding our kayak to the roof to access the hood. After locating the brake reservoir (wih the help of the vehicle manual), we spy an empty tank. Its no wonder the brakes are shot. With the hope that its a slow leak, we find a kind soul to drive to the local gas station and bring back a few bottles of DOT 3 brake fluid.
In the meantime the boys are on the payground, since the RV is already sealed up and road ready. We even play our first ever game of hide and seek. Or if you are LJ, stand wide out in the open and giggle when chased.
After an hour delay, we receive our fluid, top off the tank, and venture forward. First stop, 50 yards down the road to the dump station. But it only takes 15 yards to deplete the brakes, and now I'm a runaway train at 2 mph. There's still just enough pressure at the calipers to bring us gradually to a stop when standing on the brakes. We flush the tanks and crawl back to our pull through site.
Plan B. We give a call over to Blue Angel Auto Service and explain the situation. They say they can likely have it fixed and ready by morning. Good enough, I can still make it to my course in Jacksonville which starts in 2 days.
I creep the Beast 4 miles down the road at 25mph, still with so little braking power I can hardly come to a stop. Nevertheless I make it in one piece, hop on my bicycle and make the reverse trip, at nearly the same speed I did in the truck.
After returning to the campground, we decide to play Putt Putt that the boys have been eyeing since we arrived. But before I can even tee off, the mechanic calls. Brake lines are fixed, oil changed and tires rotated. Grand total $220! A great price in quick fasion. Back on the bike I go, pedaling yet again along this familiar route. It's approaching 6 PM, only 10 hours behind schedule . But with a newly refreshed vehicle we take to the road enroute to Jacksonville, where our next journey awaits.
We find ourselves at one of our Pensacola area campgrounds with three days of work in the books. We are hitched up and ready for the road. I mount the "Beast" on the driver side, press firmly on the brake pedal to engage drive, and squuuish. The pedal has nearly no feedback, no pressure at all. Brynn sits quickly and confirms there is a problem and I haven't lost my mind. We unleash some ropes holding our kayak to the roof to access the hood. After locating the brake reservoir (wih the help of the vehicle manual), we spy an empty tank. Its no wonder the brakes are shot. With the hope that its a slow leak, we find a kind soul to drive to the local gas station and bring back a few bottles of DOT 3 brake fluid.
In the meantime the boys are on the payground, since the RV is already sealed up and road ready. We even play our first ever game of hide and seek. Or if you are LJ, stand wide out in the open and giggle when chased.
After an hour delay, we receive our fluid, top off the tank, and venture forward. First stop, 50 yards down the road to the dump station. But it only takes 15 yards to deplete the brakes, and now I'm a runaway train at 2 mph. There's still just enough pressure at the calipers to bring us gradually to a stop when standing on the brakes. We flush the tanks and crawl back to our pull through site.
Plan B. We give a call over to Blue Angel Auto Service and explain the situation. They say they can likely have it fixed and ready by morning. Good enough, I can still make it to my course in Jacksonville which starts in 2 days.
I creep the Beast 4 miles down the road at 25mph, still with so little braking power I can hardly come to a stop. Nevertheless I make it in one piece, hop on my bicycle and make the reverse trip, at nearly the same speed I did in the truck.
After returning to the campground, we decide to play Putt Putt that the boys have been eyeing since we arrived. But before I can even tee off, the mechanic calls. Brake lines are fixed, oil changed and tires rotated. Grand total $220! A great price in quick fasion. Back on the bike I go, pedaling yet again along this familiar route. It's approaching 6 PM, only 10 hours behind schedule . But with a newly refreshed vehicle we take to the road enroute to Jacksonville, where our next journey awaits.
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