Our Truck Failed Us!

Generous Hands and Going the Extra Mile

On a lonely two-lane road in rural Montana, our truck decided to quit. It just stopped.

And that’s when it hit us: a two-lane country road with a narrow shoulder is not where you want to break down.

With two hours to wait for a tow, we had plenty of time to think. What’s wrong? How would we get it fixed? And just how much would this little adventure cost us?

Optimism Led the Way

We were optimists when we chose a 2002 Ford F-350 for our first go-round of RV life. And it certainly lived up to its reputation as the workhorse everyone said it would be. But even with the best of care, we were also warned that it could turn into a hole you throw money into when things go wrong.

Still, my husband is the king of optimism and possibilities. So after a half-hour of sitting, he tried the engine again. And the truck fired right up.

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, he quickly cancelled the tow truck and pulled back onto the road. Had we dodged a bullet? we wondered.

Still with no idea what had happened, and with only 30 miles to go, we held our breath. But 10 minutes later it happened again. No warning lights, no overheating—the truck just stopped.

This time we contacted a local towing service from the small town we’d just passed through. Good move, as it turned out.

He Really Went the Extra Mile

This tow truck driver knew it all, in the best way. He owned the highest rated car/truck repair shop in town. Granted, it was the only one in town, but the online reviews were excellent. He’d recently sold the business to a long-time employee, and he and his wife were one week away from hitting the road in an RV, just like us.

Even better than his story, his powerful tow truck easily pulled our truck with the fifth wheel still attached. And he went out of his way to deliver the fifth wheel to our campground before hauling the truck back to his shop. He even put our truck at the head of the repair queue when we told him we had to fly out of town in a few days.

Despite his best efforts; however, that repair didn’t fix the truck. But the extra tow to the campground and expedited work were worth the $200 bill.

More Extra Miles

But he wasn’t the only one willing to go the extra mile.

A fifth wheel being towed into a campsite draws a few stares. And curiosity grows when the tow truck leaves with your truck still attached.

So it wasn’t long before someone knocked on our door and we met Danny and Sandy, “just like ‘Grease,’” as they said. 

Seeing we had no transportation, they wondered, did we need anything? Could they pick up groceries for us? Take us anywhere?

Over the next few days, Danny and Sandy took us along to explore the nearby museum towns of Nevada City and Virginia City (both of which I would expect to find in Nevada, not Montana). Who knew those little Montana towns had such impressive Hollywood credentials? Movies starring Dustin Hoffman, Marlon Brando, and Jack Nicholson were all filmed there.

Finally, even though it was a half-hour out of their way, Danny and Sandy offered to drive us to the airport in Bozeman. We won’t forget their kindness, and I hope they see this post!

Divine Encounters

Danny and Sandy aren’t the first people we’ve met who stepped in at just the right moment. Throughout RV life, we’ve had many people to feel grateful for.

·       The tow truck driver who pulled our rig out of deep sand (read that story here: We Got Stuck in Black Sand!)

·       A fellow camper who offered two-by-fours to get our rig out of mud (notice a pattern?)

·       A fellow camper who helped us find and use the hand crank for our jacks when the electric lift broke

·       Others who offered friendship, information, and sometimes just entertainment from afar along the way

Looking back on our travels, we like to recall the places, the sights, and the food. But more than that, we love reminiscing about the people we met. The ones who made a rough road a little smoother, who gave us something besides our problems to focus on, who reflected the kindness and generosity of God.

And may we willingly travel the extra mile for others we meet on the road ahead.

When have you been touched by the generosity of strangers? I’d love to hear what happened. Share in the comments below.