Re: [A/S] hitch pins

[garyz620@xxxxxx]

Hello all, 
Having my stuff stolen has kind of gotten to be my irrational fear lately.  
Well, maybe it's not irrational but since I've never been a victim I 
sometimes wonder why I'm so concerned.  I, too, bought a hitch pin lock and 
lock for the coupler - even before I went to pick up the trailer!  Use them 
both all the time and recognize the down side - can't get it uncoupled 
quickly if necessary - but that's a tradeoff I've chosen.  

The concern about theft also prompted me to buy an engine immobilizer as soon 
as I got my new Super Duty.  I can just imagine some 16 year old looking at 
the "V 10" on the fender and thinking, "Hmmmm, that sounds like fun."  (Now 
that I think of it I should probably take that off.)  Anyway, I thought you 
might be interested in my experience with the engine immobilizer.  

It was quite an experience getting it installed but like most guys, I was 
determined to figure it out and finally did after several emails to the 
company.  So very proud of myself for finally getting it installed and 
working.  It's the type where you need an "activator" - a thing you plug into 
the cigarette lighter - to allow you to start the engine.  Tried it out in 
the driveway and it seemed to work just as it was supposed to.  Dang, I'm 
good!!!

Well, a few days latter we're hitched up and heading east on I-80 from 
Lincoln looking forward to meeting our son in Story City, Iowa for a few 
days.  About 125 miles into the trip and travelling along about 65 mph, the 
engine started to lose power so I pulled onto the shoulder.  Before I got 
stopped the engine had died.  I assumed it had to be the immobilizer and was 
right.  I fiddled with the activator.  Took it out of the lighter socket and 
put it back in, spun it around a bit figuring it had just lost contact for 
some reason.  I started the engine back up with no problem and pulled back 
onto the highway.  Just back onto the highway for a minute or so and working 
back up to highway speed when a plastic burning smell attacks our noses and I 
notice smoke coming out from under the dash!  Mind you, this is a brand new 
truck with the Airstream I've waited for and saved for for almost 20 years.  
In my mind I imagine it all going up in a ball of flames in seconds.  Well, 
as we head back onto the shoulder very quickly, I tell Susan to get the fire 
extinguisher from the trailer as soon as we're stopped.  She jumped out just 
as we stopped and was back at the truck cab with it in hand in seconds but 
fortunately it wasn't needed.  With semi's whizzing by us only inches away I 
managed to get back under the dash which required removing several pieces all 
the while wondering what I'd find and if it was going to errupt into flames 
at any second.   I finally got my hands on the immobilizer relay I had 
installed and it was very hot.  I knew I'd found the source of the problem 
and pulled it out.  It was melted and many of the parts immediately adjacent 
were very warm.  My heart began to return to its normal pace and I remembered 
to breathe once more.  Fortunately I had the original relay with me which I 
could plug back in.  After that all went well.  We travelled with windows 
down the rest of the way to get rid of the horrible burned plastic smell and 
occupied our minds mostly with hopes that there was no permanent damage which 
it appears there is not.  

I must confess that all of this is most likely my fault and no one else's.  I 
bought the immobilizer on ebay since it was advertised for a Super Duty.  I 
assumed it would work on my engine but have since found out it was designed 
for the diesel.  I suspect that is the problem.  The fellow I'm talking to at 
the company that manufactures it is being very helpful and is very concerned. 
 

I guess the morale to the story is that there's a trade off for everything.  
Here I was so concerned about preserving my truck and almost destroyed it 
myself!  Can't say it's changed my attitude about protecting my stuff, 
though.  I'm a real slow learner!  

By the way, when we got to Story City and pulled into our campground 
(Whispering Oaks - very nice) several of the other rigs already there and 
others who arrived later were Airstreams.  A couple of 34' trailers and about 
half a dozen high dollar motorhomes.  I generally see very few Airstreams 
here in the middle of the country.   All appeared to be from the Kansas City 
area.  The next morning they were gone.  Too shy to go over and strike up a 
conversation so I don't know where they were headed.  I know, I miss out on a 
lot of good experiences.  

Anyway, glad to be back home safely.  Glad to still have my trailer and truck 
- oh yes, and wife - still with me.  Gads she puts up with a lot!  Looking 
forward to the next trip Labor Day weekend when we'll have a little family 
reunion in Albert Lea Minnesota.  What exciting plans do those of you who are 
still working stiffs like me have for Labor Day weekend?  

Do you know where your fire extinguisher is?  
Gary Zook
Lincoln, NE