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Deja vu... I'm in another Flying J truck stop lot, this time outside of Shreveport, Louisiana, waiting out a possible thunderstorm.
So, while I'm waiting, let's talk shop.
If you've ever towed a car behind your motorhome or bus, you know that most states require some sort of supplemental braking system. These systems help the towed vehicle (often called a "toad"... get it?) slow down when braking pressure is applied to the vehicle doing the towing. This helps reduce the braking distance required to stop the vehicles. Many of these systems also offer emergency breakaway devices which will stop the towed vehicle if, for some reason, it gets loose from the tow bar.
Since The Greasy Beast weighs in at almost 6000 lbs, it was recommended I purchase an electrical EvenBrake System from Roadmaster (though Blue Ox also offers some excellent models that can handle this kind of weight). This system applies proportional braking to the Land Rover via a wireless transmission from the cab of the motorhome. It's adjustable in both its sensitivity and its pressure, and is extremely effective in helping reduce the stopping distance (as I recently found out in Texas when a woman missed her exit and decided cutting across three lanes of truck traffic was more important than taking the next exit).
These braking systems can be very expensive -- running upwards of $1200, depending on the model you choose. However, there are less expensive models out there, including simple mechanical systems, but, you get what you pay for in effectiveness and versatility.
The one drawback to using the Roadmaster Even Brake system is that is really does a number on your car battery. In order for me to properly tow the Land Rover, I have to have the key in the ignition and turned to the "Run" position (but with the engine off) so that the front wheels will turn freely. This means that the car batteries (I actually have a dual battery system) have a constant drain on them. It's recommended that you unhook the towed vehicle each day, start it up, and drive it around to recharge the batteries. Well, in my current situation, that isn't feasible, as the Land Rover is filled to the brim with my belongings that I'm bringing back to Atlanta from San Diego.
Knowing the difficulty of this situation, I purchased a solar charger from Coleman to keep the batteries charged while towing. Unfortunately, for the past two days, I've been driving under overcast skies -- not especially conducive to creating electricty from a solar panel.
So, guess what happened...
Yes, both batteries on the Land Rover are dead. So, here I sit, in the rain, ironically in "America's Wetland" (according to the "Welcome to Louisiana" sign), debating whether or not to continue driving without the braking system (which isn't really dangerous, but in the rain, why take chances?). I could jump start the Rover, but my jumper cables are at the bottom of a stack of boxes in the back of the vehicle.
So, is there a lesson to be learned here? There always is...
As the Boy Scouts say, "Be Prepared". Do everything you can to make sure all your equipment is in tip top shape. In retrospect, the solar charger wasn't enough. I should have (at the very least), cranked up the Land Rover and let it run for a little bit every night when I stopped. And, I should have had the jumper cables in a more convenient location.
Hindsight is 20/20. Foresight, unfortunately, is nearsighted.
Well, at least BABS is getting a nice bath.
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