So it was quite comfortable in Gila Bend, and since the Holt’s Shell is a Passport America park, the cost was only $13/night. And initially, I paid for 3 nights. But the WiFi was good enough that I kept extending my stay. Meanwhile, I figured since I had so much room at my site, I could finally work on my car’s tranni which if you recall had issues. Usually a ‘thump’ when it up shifted from 2nd to 3rd and rarely from 3rd to 4th. Since I’d been having trouble with the tranni since just a month after I bought it in August of ’16, and was using a work around to keep driving, I felt that this was a good place and time to work on the issue.
First though, to give an idea of where I’d parked and the work space I had, a few pics:
There was enough space to work on the car on either side, or right in front. What I did was move around to the passengers side closer to my tools. But in any case, here’s a shot of the desert where you can walk your dog if you have one…
Weather was really nice and mild. I’m like 40 miles from Phoenix here.
A few days after I got here to Holt’s, this nifty RV pulled in next door. I don’t know for sure what the brand is, but it’s attractive for sure:
I never bothered to look up the brand. Also, look at how tiny the LR slide is. It’s also got small tires. Kinda a retro RV, but with slides. I think it’s a 20 odd footer.
And then the Oregon Ducks b-ball team made it to the Sweet 16. Huh. That’s cool. So they ended up in Phoenix for the finals. And won, made it to the Final Eight then the Final Four. My brother offered a ticket, but I was so comfortable here, and have the DTV so I could watch the games without worrying about a black out, that I said thanks but no thanks. And as it turned out, the game I would have gone to the Ducks lost. I had a feeling.
So it’s early April in my blog world and I’ve taken my car apart and worked on the tranni…found that it had a bad shift solenoid. Order, received, and replaced it over a few days. Here’s a link to that story: Tranni Repair. That was a chore because I had to be very careful to keep it on the down low since few RV parks appreciate people working on their vehicles in their spaces. I did spill some oil, but was able to scrape it all up and dispose of it in a nearby dumpster. So, now with a working Line Pressure solenoid, it was time for a trip and I decided on visiting Ajo, 45 minutes due south of Gila Bend. Easy trip and good for testing.
So, off I went, traveling through more desert. The arches off in the distance are for the border control station a few miles north of Ajo.
And soon I arrive in Ajo, and old Spanish silver mine. They force marched hundreds of Mexicans up here to work them to death in the mines. But first they forced them to build the church and rectory. I’m kind of embarrassed that I got so few shots of the town and environs. I drove around the town for a couple hours before and after lunch and seems I failed at getting any sense of the place, picture wise. But…in compensation, here’s some murals on the backs of buildings downtown old town. 
And at lunch time, I stopped in across the street from the murals to have a snack and to try one of the brews they had on tap.
There’s that mural building.
Nice little bar & restaurant, good food. 
And it’s soon time to head back to Gila Bend. Nice little day trip. I found a thrift store in old town Ajo and I did some shopping. Lots of fun stuff at ridiculously low prices too.
And back home in time to watch the Ducks play in the Sweet Sixteen.
Here’s a view of the Holt’s RV park. Not too crowded. Generous sized spaces. Clean bathrooms and laundry. A little remote but, not too noisy either.
And here I am.
Couple days later, took a drive around the area here at Gila Bend. It’s sort of desert farmland over there in the distance I think.
Well, it seems I never got around to taking any pictures of downtown Gila Bend. Huh. Well, it is unremarkable so…until next time, thanks for reading!!
So we’ll assume the transmission is fixed – all is well from the test drive?
It sure seems to be. Smooth as silk now. I towed the car up to Beatty, NV a week later, and the battery died while towing. It was down to 10.8 volt. That reset something in the tranni computer because when I got the car running again, I soon found out that the minor thump from 2nd to 3rd that was there after the repair was entirely gone. Feels like a new tranni now. I can put it in D and accelerate like normal again.
That rig next to you was made by Thor. Our Bend dealer sells some, but I wasn’t impressed. A friend traded their virtually new one back for an older Beaver while we were there last year and they were vastly happier.
Ahh. Thor. Their lack of esteem for their workmanship proceeds them. I thought it was an interesting design…at least from the outside, didn’t get to tour the inside. But knowing it’s a Thor, I’d not be interested.
Jim, How are the tires you bought from Amazon holding up? Are you pleased with the ride? I am fixing to replace mine, some are 6 years old and some are 7 but all have major cracks in the sidewalls, and of coarse they are Michelins.
Just went outside and check the fronts…they look great. Can hardly tell they’ve been driven. But, I only have 2500 miles on them. As far as ride? I’ve often wondered how people tell…I cannot generally tell a difference in ride with new tires, or new shocks, or even new padding on the drivers seat. I do not have one of those calibrated butts that people tell me they have, and I sometimes scoff at. I have not noticed any wandering, excessive bounce, or wobble that might be attributable to the tires. So I’d say they are giving me a smooth, comfortable, road tracking ride. I do keep the pressures up high too, and there’s no harsh slams so far when I hit a road transition (though shocks are suppose to have a lot to do with that).
Too bad about the major cracks in your Michelin tires. I’m not a big fan of the brand. Mine, which are Michelin and came with the RV, are around the same age as yours but surprisingly, all the cracks are tiny. Well within the specs to keep driving. The have to be under a certain depth, direction, and length and you can drive them safely…or so they say. I might give these another year before I change them. Michelin says 10 years if the cracks are in spec and you have the inside casing checked after 7 years or something. But you can bet I’ll get any new ones from Amazon. Best price around, and no shipping costs if you’re a Prime member (which does cost around $100 per year).
Found a good price on toyo’s (235.00), What do you think? By the time you have somebody remove the tires and inspect the inside I think money will be well spent on new tires.
I do very much enjoy your blog, and appreciate the time you spend answering questions. I think many people are glad you are there.
Thanks for the compliments. Appreciate that my readers get something out of my ramblings.
Toyo’s are an excellent tire with an excellent reputation on RVs. They would be in my top five:
1) Toyo
2) Bridgestone
3) Double Coin
4) Hancook
5) Roadlux
These choices are as of today. Value vs known reliability made these tires stand out during my research months ago. Since the economy changes, that means the industry changes, and tire quality changes, so this list might need revision within weeks, months, or years as data accumulates over time. So be willing to change your mind about a brand.
$235 is an excellent price. Remember, if you have a Love’s Tire Center nearby, they have been known to B&M tires you buy somewhere else for $40/each. And they have a real spin balance machine for big tires. Plus $7/wheel brass air valve (strongly recommended you change them when changing tires–just as preventative maintenance). Oh, wait, I just realized, tire shops seldom balance the rear dual tires…not generally needed…industry practice is to not balance them. So that $40/tire might be less? Or might include the new valves free?
Also, when you do replace your rear tires, get some brass valve extenders, the kind installed in the wheel. Those made airing the tires so much easier. Last set I bought was like $70.
Thanks Jim, Happy and safe traveling to you.