What size tires are on YOUR RV's ???

Thanks for all your well-wishes and prayers for a wonderful vacation. and before I get started here let me just say , God is still good!

My trip was cut short.... very short!

I left in the afternoon on Thursday and got a whole 20 miles down the road. Something started vibrating... flapping... slapping. I pulled over and checked but didn't see anything. Got back on the road for another mile and it just got worse .... louder. so I pulled over again. The outside dual tire on the drivers side had come apart, tread off and belt showing..... WHAT? Got to a tire place that was still open, had the spare put on and asked his opinion about the other tires and continuing on my journey. He looked them over and said it was "probably a fluke, happens once in a while. Other tires look real good".

Okay, back on the road..... just breezing along so smoothly. Another 50 miles ..... vibrating, flapping .... oh no! not again..... Yes, again! I limped along to the next exit and pulled off into a station with a tire shop. Looked at my tires and the other dual, same side, had come apart. So much tread had come off on this one that it bent a metal frame (maybe for holding a mud flap??) up over the tires. The station attendant took a crow bar and bent it up out of the way so it would be off the tires. They didn't have any tires the size I needed. He gave me directions on a local route to get up to the Love's truck stop a couple exits further on. So I drove, very slowly. It was after dark by this time and all I wanted to do was get there and hide between 2 semi's for the night, which I did . I was never so glad to see that truck stop come into view!

Next day ..... Loves had no tires my size, and sent me across the overpass to a near tire shop. Manager there was not very hopeful. He was however very helpful. He explained to me that my problem was dry-rot, and that the tires on my RV, although having lots of tread, were in dire need of being replaced! He also explained that the size tire I had was about obslete!!! 800 x 16.5 very hard to find but he would do his best to find some. He called all over western KY and came up empty. He advised that the best thing to do would be to change out to 16' wheels so tires would not be a problem. He explained that when rv's only get used a few times a year the temp changes and constant sitting caused dry-rot. Typical especially in this situation where I had an '89 and it had only 30,400 mi on it when purchased. Well, I was at least getting an education! I assured him that if I could get this situation remedied, my little rv would not be "sitting" much.

I went back to the Loves not knowing what else to do. I felt so foolish, even wondering what I was doing thinking I could just get an rv and go. (hey, I am being real here... ) I broke down crying thinking I had messed up so bad, maybe I hadn't listened to the "Boss" closely enough. I needed to talk to someone so I called one of my daughters and asked if she thought I had been foolish and broke down crying again. She was appalled and said "Mom, this is just a bump in the road. We are so proud of you and your courage!" Well that cheered me up a bit. I called my neighbor (I have been blessed with some neighbors who really care about me) being they have all kinds of big, little, and in-between equipment they use on their farm, and asked where he recommended for tire repair . I filled him in on what was happening. He directed me to call his brother (they together own the farms next to mine) who loading equipment for a sale the next day. He called back 20 min later and told me to sit tight; he would get the sale items unloaded and go back to get his low-boy and come get me, but it would be towards evening.

He got there about 5 pm , loaded my rv up and I climbed up into the semi with Izzy, and we rode back, having a very good conversation. He gave me his advise, which I greatly take to heart, about what to do about tires and wheels. Getting to my place he took Izzy and unlocked my door for me and proceeded to unload my rv. I tried to give him some money to at least cover some of the fuel but he said I would hurt his feelings by offering. So feeling very humbled, I just thanked him.

These two brothers were very well respected and some of the best friends of my husband, talking farming and buying and selling cattle together. They, and the man who leases our fields have really watched out after me. The Lord has been so good to provide such good friends. I was reminded once again of the scripture the Lord impressed on my heart shortly after losing my husband. Isaiah 54:1b (NAS Bible)that says "for the sons of the desolate one, will be more than the sons of the married woman". I believe these are 3 spiritual "sons" the Lord has provided a to be His hand in helping provide for me in ways that I cannot provide for myself. And in turn I am praying that the Lord will mightly bless their lives.

Yes, my trip to PA is delayed. Am I giving up? Not on your life. Like my daughter said, "Mom, its just a bump in the road" :-)