Bryce Canyon

[Bethers]

A couple Bryce Canyon pics I took from two of the viewing points today.

The first is actually a bridge in Red Canyon before getting to Bryce.

Here's a few from Bryce Point




And a few from the Paria View.




I'll go to all the viewpoints a couple at a time.

[MandysMom]

What magnificent colors and view! thanks for sharing.
Velda

[BirdbyBird]

Thanks for sharing. Some day I will get to do the great Utah exploration......if I am so lucky in this life.

[BarbaraRose]

Beautiful! I love the red sandstone formations! That area is on my bucket list.

[mtngal]

Awesomeness! So jealous! Seriously glad you got to go!

[Bethers]

Beautiful! I love the red sandstone formations! That area is on my bucket list.

My sofa is available for friends if you can make it while I'm here.

[snowball]

I love the color combo of the red cliffs the blue skies and the white of the snow. that is a beautiful area...
I think you are totally going to enjoy your summer
sheila

[JudyJB]

Tip about Bryce Canyon--I had a check engine light come on the day before I was supposed to be at Bryce Canyon. I got someone to check it, and was told I had 4 out of 10 spark plugs misfiring, but no one would fix the problem. Usual excuses--garage door too narrow, garage door too short, no equipment to work on motorhomes, much too busy to work on motorhomes, etc, etc. One very small truck place offered to fix it, but mechanic said he had never worked on v10, so maybe he should pass on this one. I agreed, since i did not want my vehicle to be a learning experience for him.

RV was running OK, although it was occasionally missing, but I was in the middle of nowhere, so went on to Bryce, figuring I would get it fixed the next week when I was closer to civilization.

As I was driving into Bryce, however, I noticed an auto repair place near the entrance which had really big doors on the garage! It is called Bryce Canyon Auto Repair and owned by Ruby's Inn. I pulled in and asked if they worked on RVs, and found out they did, plus they even had an RV wash, which i never used as I had just washed it. Anyway, they checked the engine again and ordered 10 new spark plugs plug 5 of something else connected to spark plugs. (Obviously, I am not very mechanically inclined.) They said they would have the parts the next day and would work me into their schedule!! Price quoted was fair--checked with son who knows such things, even if I do not.

Dropped it off at 8 am, and took the park shuttle which was about 100' from garage. Did the tourist thing, and had lunch out, then got call at noon that it was done and ready to pick it up! URL is https://www.rubysinn.com/bryce-canyon-car-rental/

[Shirlv]

Beth, amazing pictures, thanks for sharing

[Cudedog]

Tip about Bryce Canyon--I had a check engine light come on the day before I was supposed to be at Bryce Canyon. I got someone to check it, and was told I had 4 out of 10 spark plugs misfiring, but no one would fix the problem. Usual excuses--garage door too narrow, garage door too short, no equipment to work on motorhomes, much too busy to work on motorhomes, etc, etc. One very small truck place offered to fix it, but mechanic said he had never worked on v10, so maybe he should pass on this one. I agreed, since i did not want my vehicle to be a learning experience for him.

RV was running OK, although it was occasionally missing, but I was in the middle of nowhere, so went on to Bryce, figuring I would get it fixed the next week when I was closer to civilization.

As I was driving into Bryce, however, I noticed an auto repair place near the entrance which had really big doors on the garage! It is called Bryce Canyon Auto Repair and owned by Ruby's Inn. I pulled in and asked if they worked on RVs, and found out they did, plus they even had an RV wash, which i never used as I had just washed it. Anyway, they checked the engine again and ordered 10 new spark plugs plug 5 of something else connected to spark plugs. (Obviously, I am not very mechanically inclined.) They said they would have the parts the next day and would work me into their schedule!! Price quoted was fair--checked with son who knows such things, even if I do not.

Dropped it off at 8 am, and took the park shuttle which was about 100' from garage. Did the tourist thing, and had lunch out, then got call at noon that it was done and ready to pick it up! URL is https://www.rubysinn.com/bryce-canyon-car-rental/

Thanks, Judy. It is always nice - and heartening - to hear a good report of a mechanic, especially one that is found randomly when out on the road somewhere.

I had a really good experience with a mechanic when I was in Yellowstone a few years back - was having a problem with my then-new Jayco (one of the wheels was becoming hot to the touch which indicated over-heating wheel bearings). This place in West Yellowstone serviced my trailer (re-packed the bearings) - in and out in a couple of hours - price was reasonable - and it was Memorial Day! I was surprised that they were even open on a holiday. The trailer was under warranty, but any Jayco service places were literally a hundred or more miles away - I surely didn't want to break down in the back of beyond on my way to civilization.

I forget the name of the place, but could look it up if anyone is interested.

Anne

[MandysMom]

Anne, rather than risk skin on your hands, pick up a digital thermometer gun to test temp on all wheels at each break. A difference of more than a couple degrees on wheel or tire indicates an issue. Tires get warmer with the friction of running with low pressure and bearings get hot from lack of lube. Mel always tested all 6 tires on our bus at each break we took. Places like Harbor Freight carry the thermometer guns for not a big investment. I just found 2 different models at under $30 on HF site. Amazon also has them.
You were wise to get those bearings checked as it might not have been a "break down" that stopped you but a fire! And the gun might have detected the difference earlier than you did with hand.
Velda
And PS, that heat issue is why my Dad chose a trailer with full size auto tires vs the smaller trailer tires to reduce the heat from running small tires faster because of size.

[Bethers]

Judy, I passed that place yesterday. Good to know they can help if necessary! I wondered as I drove passed if they do any rv repair work or just engines. I have a small issue I'd like fixed. I'm going to look closer first but otherwise next time I drive into Bryce I'll stop and ask.

[Cudedog]

Anne, rather than risk skin on your hands, pick up a digital thermometer gun to test temp on all wheels at each break. A difference of more than a couple degrees on wheel or tire indicates an issue. Tires get warmer with the friction of running with low pressure and bearings get hot from lack of lube. Mel always tested all 6 tires on our bus at each break we took. Places like Harbor Freight carry the thermometer guns for not a big investment. I just found 2 different models at under $30 on HF site. Amazon also has them.
You were wise to get those bearings checked as it might not have been a "break down" that stopped you but a fire! And the gun might have detected the difference earlier than you did with hand.
Velda

Thanks, Velda, about mentioning about the digital thermometer gun. I never would have thought about it for a wheel application - although I saw people at Yellowstone that had them - they were using them to aim at the thermal features! This definitely is going on my Amazon list, I think it is a really good idea.

Actually, the tires were not particularly warm (at least no warmer than they should have been; realizing that tires do heat up with road friction). But one of the wheels was definitely warmer than the other, which was the tip off about the bearing problem. Having a digital thermometer gun would have been useful!

And PS, that heat issue is why my Dad chose a trailer with full size auto tires vs the smaller trailer tires to reduce the heat from running small tires faster because of size.

Interesting you should mention this! LOL. Great Minds Think Alike!

When I went to the dealership up in Redding, I had already made my mind up on exactly what I wanted. When I got up there, the dealership had two versions of my trailer (Jayco 154BH), the "Regular" version and the "Baja" (meaning off-road) version. This put a bit of a wrench in my plans, and I was stumped!

The Baja was a bit more money. . . but it had leveling jacks at all four corners (the "Regular" only had them at the back), the Baja had a larger propane tank, a larger fresh-water tank, and a larger black-water tank, and several other upgrades. But here was the kicker (this was hard to visualize in photos, but very obvious looking at the two models side-by-side) the Baja had full-size wheels and tires (together with a reversed axle) that made it stand about around eight or ten inches higher off the ground than the Regular version. Man, I could see myself bottoming out in the Regular version if I didn't pull out of a gas station just right, not to mention a forest campground somewhere!!

LOL! But the wheels! OMG!! The tires/wheels on the Regular were tiny (at least compared to those on the Baja) and I figured these tiny wheels would need to make two revolutions for every single revolution the wheels on the Baja would make - with the additional wear-and-tear of little wheels always needing to turn like crazy.

So. . . Like I said, the Baja was more $$$ (although not that much more) but I felt that the added features - and the larger wheels/tires - definitely made the higher price worth it.

Took me a bit of walking around the dealership parking lot hemming and hawing - I'm a person that usually goes for the cheapest price on something, all else being equal - but, in the end, I decided to go with the Baja - it just made sense!

I'm still glad that I did.

Anne

[Colliemom]

Wow,beautiful pictures Beth. Hi have never been to Utah well I guess I’m going to have to put it on my list. I’m getting to where I don’t feel like dragging my trailer all over the country anymore though. Would rather just be free to drive. Maybe I’ll have to come stay at their place where you are working. Do Thty allow dogs.

[BarbaraRose]

Ann, the place you went to in West Yellowstone was probably the same place my Jeep was at for most of the week I was there. They finally figured out the problems with the Jeep after several tries and got me thru the park and on my way south.

Both of my trailers had regular sized tires which I noticed when I was looking to buy them and was glad they did. I have seen those itty bitty tires they put on pretty good sized rigs and wonder how they get by with that. I would never feel comfortable riding on them.