hard way why you should be familiar with a vehicle — especially a
military vehicle — before taking it on a road trip or out into the bush.
My two best friends and I decided to explore Death Valley in my
rugged old “army Jeep.” Again, these were the days when recreational
four-wheeling was almost unknown, and most Jeeps were owned by
hunters, farmers, miners or ranchers who used their vehicles for work,
not play. There weren’t even many MV hobbyists back then!
I’ve written several articles about what to check and how to prepare
MVs for long trips based years of sometimes painful experience. But,
except for filling the Jeep’s jerry can, and taking five gallons of water
and a handful of tools, for my trip I did none of the things I now advise
people to do. Nevertheless, and no doubt due to proper previous
maintenance at the Oakland Street Department, the Jeep ran fine all day
at 45 mph. However, at about 1 o’clock in the morning, climbing into
the mountains out of Bakersfield on a winding, two-lane and deserted
road, the engine just quit. One moment we were cruising sleepily along,
planning to be in Death Valley by dawn and have exciting adventures,
and then next we were coasting to a stop in the dark in the middle of
nowhere.
Being in such a situation — without proper tools and with only a
cigarette lighter for light — is not the time to learn about waterproof
distributors! It’s certainly not the time to realize that virtually nothing
inside that distributor — the ignition coil, the condenser, resistors, the
inner cap, the rotor and the breaker points — are likely to be found at
the next gas station, or even the next town!
singke
(singke)
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