Tug with Andersen broke down

[drjp]

Hi all. Advice seeking here!
A couple miles outside Cazenovia NY, after some long (for New York State) grades pulling our 5.0 with a 21 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel and Andersen hitch, got a steady check engine light. All temps and pressures were ok so drove into town. At slower speeds something smelled, smoke out of the right hood. After we stopped looked like transmission fluid dripping from right engine compartment.. We were able to pull into a closed auto repair shop’s lot on the same block and are hoping to get a diagnosis and repair this week (transmission seal? *) Labor Day weekend!

I’m not sure we can keep the 5.0 on the repair guy’s lot, especially if we have to farm the job out to a transmission specialty shop. AAA suggested we rent a truck from Hertz as tug, but how likely would it be to find a rent truck with a ball in the bed so that I could use my Andersen hitch? How have others of you solved problems like this, having to move the 5.0 with a sick tug?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[GinoandLinda]

You might be better off seeing if an RV shop can move it for you. Not sure anyone rental company will allow towing a fifth wheel but I could be wrong.

 

[iamunique127]

If you have the AAA RV coverage maybe they can help you.

I seem to recall one time using CAA here in Canada and I didn't have the coverage to do what I needed but was allowed to upgrade my coverage on the spot and get the required service.

Maybe try one of those ideas.

Good luck.

 

[nepaweb]

Sorry to hear of your mechanical problems. And on a holiday weekend besides.

If the rental vehicle or towing service options don't work out for you I have a truck with an Andersen hitch. I live about 100 miles from Cazenovia but maybe could free up some time to come up and help you get moved to a campground or storage area.

Send me a PM if you can't find a local tow vehicle and we can set something up.

 

[drjp]

Yep, they offered that upgrade and I’m going to do it

 

[drjp]

Sorry to hear of your mechanical problems. And on a holiday weekend besides.

If the rental vehicle or towing service options don't work out for you I have a truck with an Andersen hitch. I live about 100 miles from Cazenovia but maybe could free up some time to come up and help you get moved to a campground or storage area.

Send me a PM if you can't find a local tow vehicle and we can set something up.

That is the kindest offer! Heart warming and many thanks for this.

I will see if I can keep the 5.0 at this location until the tug gets repaired. But if there’s no other way, I will DM you.

Those new to this forum can see here another example how people reaching out to others in comradeship and sharing create true gratitude.
Jonathan

 

[Ron in BC]

That is the kindest offer! Heart warming and many thanks for this.

Those new to this forum can see here another example how people reaching out to others in comradeship and sharing create true gratitude.
Jonathan

Ron

 

[drjp]

Update: The Good Samaritan is on his way to pull my 5.0 to a campsite outside town while I get truck fixed. Absolutely Good Samaritan!
Jonathan

 

[GinoandLinda]

That’s awesome. Hope everything works out for you.

 

[jxoco]

From experience with a camper on the back of a pickup truck, never use the overdrive setting on the transmission.

 

[drjp]

From experience with a camper on the back of a pickup truck, never use the overdrive setting on the transmission.

Yep, almost always when I’m towing the 5.0, I use the Towing setting, which upshifts at higher rpms and prevents going into 8th (overdrive) gear ever.

As it turns out, transmission is ok. The diagnosis was a cracked fuel line spraying diesel over the hot engine. I had had a fuel pump replacement a few months (and ca. 6,000 miles) before under recall. The original Bosch two-piston fuel pump apparently had an occasional habit of spraying metal fragments downstream through the fuel system and causing big damage. When Dodge techs replaced the pump with an earlier, proven Bosch unit they apparently bent the forged steel line out of the way; can’t do that. Weakened it at a bend —> crack-leak later.

Took a week, and a couple of Dodge supple depot tries to ship the correct replacement line out to the boonies for the repair. I had a nice enforced camp out at the Lebanon Reservoir RV campground, Hamilton NY. Real pretty place; I recommend it.

 

[Jim Bennett]

Early last year when my pickup had a bad issue, I got it and my 5.0TA towed no problem. Many towing companies, especially those associated with AMA, offer this. We got a ride home from the guy towing our trailer.