Help - no truck
- Thread starter hoshour
- Start date
Matthoek21
Veteran member
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
When I finally got to hunt, the first time out, I got a flat in the sidewall on the borrowed truck. Two expensive tires later (I wouldn't just buy one new tire when the others are fairly worn) I was back out there today.
What I didn't post before was the rest of what has made this trip, the first one my wife has come along on, really crazy. The first motel I stayed at was way overbooked and didn't have room. The one here said they had no reservation.
Actually, things are working out. The first motel turned us away but Priceline made good and refunded the price AND got me a free stay in an upscale hotel. The second motel admitted that I had made a reservation weeks ago (they remembered talking to me) but forgot to enter it into the system, so they put us in a suite for the week.
Even on the engine repair, things seem to be working out. Apparently, my engine is not blown. The mechanic assumed I had an interference engine, but I looked it up online and talked to a couple other mechanics and found out that it is a non-interference engine, which means when the timing belt breaks the pistons and valves don't collide. He did not believe me at first, but when he checked around, he apologized.
So, it may be just a timing belt replacement along with the plastic gears and the water pump. If so, that's a few hundred dollars.
Now, if I can just find a big buck! I've seen quite a few bucks in my limited time out, but nothing with impressive mass or a big prong. I'll hit it again in the am.
What I didn't post before was the rest of what has made this trip, the first one my wife has come along on, really crazy. The first motel I stayed at was way overbooked and didn't have room. The one here said they had no reservation.
Actually, things are working out. The first motel turned us away but Priceline made good and refunded the price AND got me a free stay in an upscale hotel. The second motel admitted that I had made a reservation weeks ago (they remembered talking to me) but forgot to enter it into the system, so they put us in a suite for the week.
Even on the engine repair, things seem to be working out. Apparently, my engine is not blown. The mechanic assumed I had an interference engine, but I looked it up online and talked to a couple other mechanics and found out that it is a non-interference engine, which means when the timing belt breaks the pistons and valves don't collide. He did not believe me at first, but when he checked around, he apologized.
So, it may be just a timing belt replacement along with the plastic gears and the water pump. If so, that's a few hundred dollars.
Now, if I can just find a big buck! I've seen quite a few bucks in my limited time out, but nothing with impressive mass or a big prong. I'll hit it again in the am.
Slugz
Veteran member
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
No luck finding a shooter today. We'll try it again tomorrow and if I don't find something 70-80" by Sunday, I'll just pack it in and head to Colorado for deer.
Musket Man
Veteran member
Just to let you know how my crazy trip ended up - I left without seeing a buck in the 70s or 80s and since I donate my meat when I hunt out West, I just passed. Got my truck back and headed down to Colorado for 3rd season deer.
Total bill on my truck - $1,365 plus nearly $500 for two new back tires and oil change and wipers on the borrowed truck. Aside from the two days out the week missed with truck troubles, another day was fogged in and rainy and the last morning the wind was 30-40 mph.
On the other hand, we met a lot of really friendly and helpful people in Thermopolis, Todd at Eastmans loaned me his truck for a week, which was really cool, and my wife got to experience what it's like to go hunting with me. The last part is pretty funny because I've never had another trip anything like this one. She must think I'm out of my mind. She may be right. There were several other setbacks I'm not even going to mention, it just got to be so surreal, yet in every case, a helpful WY or SD person showed up to offer a hand.
Side note - if you're ever in Thermopolis, you have got to eat or get a drink at the Safari Club in the Days Inn next to the hot springs. Jim Mills, now 84, has the walls of his restaurant covered with record book trophies from all over the world - 100 of the biggest specimens you're ever likely to see of trophy big game. He's got more in his home and in storage, plus some really cool pictures.
Stay at the Days Inn or the Quality Inn (where we stayed) or the Elk Antler Inn for a lower cost, and eat at the Black Bear Cafe, the Front Porch or the outstanding restaurant at the golf club. If you need a truck repair, the best mechanic in town is Mike at One Stop, but be prepared to wait a couple days. Hunt 83 or 75, I think 76 is a bit overrated, but then I only got there after everyone else had their pick and the antelope were so skittish by then that even the sight of a moving truck on a county gravel road set them running.
Total bill on my truck - $1,365 plus nearly $500 for two new back tires and oil change and wipers on the borrowed truck. Aside from the two days out the week missed with truck troubles, another day was fogged in and rainy and the last morning the wind was 30-40 mph.
On the other hand, we met a lot of really friendly and helpful people in Thermopolis, Todd at Eastmans loaned me his truck for a week, which was really cool, and my wife got to experience what it's like to go hunting with me. The last part is pretty funny because I've never had another trip anything like this one. She must think I'm out of my mind. She may be right. There were several other setbacks I'm not even going to mention, it just got to be so surreal, yet in every case, a helpful WY or SD person showed up to offer a hand.
Side note - if you're ever in Thermopolis, you have got to eat or get a drink at the Safari Club in the Days Inn next to the hot springs. Jim Mills, now 84, has the walls of his restaurant covered with record book trophies from all over the world - 100 of the biggest specimens you're ever likely to see of trophy big game. He's got more in his home and in storage, plus some really cool pictures.
Stay at the Days Inn or the Quality Inn (where we stayed) or the Elk Antler Inn for a lower cost, and eat at the Black Bear Cafe, the Front Porch or the outstanding restaurant at the golf club. If you need a truck repair, the best mechanic in town is Mike at One Stop, but be prepared to wait a couple days. Hunt 83 or 75, I think 76 is a bit overrated, but then I only got there after everyone else had their pick and the antelope were so skittish by then that even the sight of a moving truck on a county gravel road set them running.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Hope your Colorado hunt goes better. If you get down to SW Co, look me up, I'll be more than happy to fix you a libation and a great dinner.
CC, I would look forward to that. I'll be in Eagle Co. but I love SW CO and may do a hunt down there one of these years.
tdcour
Veteran member
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
It was definitely memorable and wife was super about it. What a gift she is to me. I loved having her along.