Another mechanical failure in Las Cruces

In Feb 2011 when I was here I had a brake failure on my way out the White Sands Ntnl Monument. While it was a fairly simple fix, and not all that expensive either, it did dampen my confidence in the van so I cut my trip short.

Since a particularly rough road outside of Carlsbad, NM I have been getting a vibration from the rear of the van. I figured I shook a weight off a wheel and would stop at some point to have them re-balanced. Then came a low-speed squealing sound that sounded like something was caught up under the van and scraping over the roadway. After I climbed under it and verified no tumble-weeds were stowing away, I came to the conclusion that one of my universal-joints was telling me it was leaving this world. It explained the vibration and the noise.

This morning, after a good nights sleep in a Las Cruces Walmart, I pulled into an auto-parts store, dropped the drive-shaft from under the van, and replaced the universal joint all within a half-hour. Again, this was neither expensive or difficult as long as I was in town. If this $13 part failed me in the middle of no-where, it is a whole different story!

One might consider Las Cruces as unlucky for me, but I see it in the opposite light. Two times now Las Cruces has saved me from being stranded in the middle of a desert high-way. Both times the parts store employees were very helpful and courteous. Both times the cost was nothing in comparison to a tow.

When you drive thousands of miles, you can expect some mechanical failures from time to time. I carry all my tools with me and feel prepared to handle most issues as long as a parts store is nearby too…