Sunny mounted a solar panel, did an oil change, and I changed the airfilter. I thought we’d be in top condition, alas, it started not wanting to shift out of 1st and 2nd gear! I figured we change the fluid! We only JUST got this thing rebuilt in end of August, if you’ve been following me and can remember, only six months ago! So I usually like doing maintnance work on the Bus, however the transmission filter is a job where an impact drill and a specialized funnel are invaluable, so I was willing to hand the job off for $120, especially after another shop had quoted me $320 on the job.
The shop pulled the pan and showed me the mini rivers of metal shavings flowing on bottome of the pan and and said they’d call Hanser’s to confer with them. I had already told them that my warranty was up, but they wanted to check on it anyway!
I’m so grateful they did, because Hansers apparently remembers us and loves us and wants us to continue our journey, so they have offered to ship a transmission down to the shop FOR FREE! All we have to pay is labor and fluids! Estimated at $500! For a transmission, that’s cheap as f*! For a mama of two in a poor spange area, checking necessities off her list, it is a lot! But we have probably over a week to rally up the funds! Anything helps us here!
Paypal.me/MatildaBugus
I started a new paypal so I can switch my personal one back to personal instead of business. My super awesome mom has already donated $150 to the cause and I have a couple people looking into their own capability to help. So, maybe you could spare anything we would surely appreciate you! (Crikett, I’m NOT talking to you, you’re so kind and gracious and I know that you’re always willing to help me, but I’m already floundering trying to think of ways to tell you how much I appreciate just your existence alone!)
We were just planning on heading to the Rainbow gathering for Valentines day close to Portal, AZ. I had spoken to multiple people I would’ve been happy to hang out with for a week or so without cell service but plenty of nature connection and friends for the boys to play with. Now the plan is to find a good little spot to come up with the money to survive and help Matilda survive. Feels stressful and almost futile. The boys had voted for the gathering after I had spent months purposefully not planning on going, and now I feel disappointed anyway. By the time the tranny is in, assuming we make the money happen in time, the gathering will be over. Maybe I’ll catch everyone on their way out of the woods. What would I do, if I already had the money for the labor in my pocket? try and make a little extra to cover leeway and duration of replacement and then probably chill at a campsite to keep us from breaking down far from the shop as much as possible.
I’m pretty preoccupied with this verdict and these aspects at this very moment. I wish I had more kid adventures to report, but mechanical maintnance takes precedence.
Let me just add a picture to beautify this post.
I hope you all are grateful! I’m certainly grateful that this happened at this time, for I feel blessed beyond measure that Hansers is helping out!
Loving you! Stay grateful!
Matilda the Bugus 