The Case of the Missing Catalytic Converter and Repair Drama

Actually, not much of a case. Someone took it, and we didn't catch them. So this is more of the story of discovery, Working with Good and bad mechanics, figuring out what to do, and getting replaced.

Yup, something's missing

In March, we visited RoadAbode to get ready for our first trip of the season. We are always excited, because, well - first trip of the season, and we almost always head to our "home" campground. We call Country Acres our home campground because it's only an hour away, and we usually camp there first and last trips of the season.
We have a basic checklist of things to do. Check battery, look for leaks or pest infiltration, and start RoadAbode up. Usually when I start RoadAbode, even first time of the season, all I do is walk up from the house part, bend over, stick the key in the ignition and give a turn. Don't even need to touch the pedal and the fuel injectors do the rest. This time instead of the usual low throaty rumble we usually hear when I turn the key, we were greeted with a terrifyingly loud roar as the engine came to life. LOUD ROAR. Amy was putting linens away in our bedroom. Our eyes met and said everything in that knowing couples look. "THAT ain't good!" I quickly shut down the engine, fearing something was wrong with it. Hopped out and laid down on the ground and took a look. Sure enough, something was missing. "Hey Am, someone took part of our exhaust pipe!"  I bellowed incredulously from underneath RoadAbode. I laid there on my back , ticked, wondering why someone would cut a four foot piece of exhaust pipe out from under an RV. The other part that was upsetting is that though I had not visited RoadAbode In January and February as I usually do (busy at work with travel) Our storage place is behind a gated facility - with codes to get in.
We packed up and headed home still thinking why someone would cut out a four foot piece of pipe when I came to realization someone had not cut out just exhaust pipe - it was our catalytic converter!

What's missing? A Catalytic Converter!

I was not totally aware that removing catalytic converters from vehicles was a "thing" , but a quick Google confirmed the the metals found in the part are what make it an easy target for unscrupulous scrappers to make into quick cash.
Now that I identified what was missing, I had to find out if we could get it fixed before the next weekend. Then I remembered "hey, there is a truck repair place right next door" - convincingly called Jim's Truck Repair - they could probably fix it, and I wouldn't have to drive too far either. I called and spoke to what I believed was the owner, and though not 100% thought he could do the repair, but not by next weekend. So still a plus, I asked for an estimate. He asked for the Make/model, and would get back to me by end of day. Next day, I called in the afternoon since I had not heard back. An older, perhaps gruff sounding gent answered the phone, told me to hold on - and sounded like he threw on the counter - maybe even clattering to the floor. The owner got on the line after some time, and apologized for not getting back, but that he needed the VIN number as well. I said I needed to hunt that down, and asked If we could meet up at RoadAbode so he could take a look. He stated the next day at around noon or 1pm would be good for him. I let him know I needed to check with my boss, but would call back as soon as I got the VIN. Later that day I found the VIN in some paperwork, and called back. Mr McGruff answered. I had to repeat to him a several times the long sequence of numbers, either because of my speech impediment (I don't have one) or a bad phone line, or perhaps his short attention span to inane things like letters and numbers. I let him know that I still didn't know what time I could meet up with Jim (had not heard back from my boss yet) Mr McGruff bellowed into the phone "I don't know what's the BIG DEAL about meeting and gettin' him to look at this thing? It's sittin' RIGHT NEXT DOOR!" Taken aback I stopped for a moment, then proceeded to let him know that I work during the day, and to meet on Jim's schedule I needed to get approval to get the time - does that make sense?!? He grumbled yes into the phone and hung up. Later I called that I could meet the next day, Jim answered, and said no problem.
Next day I picked up Jim at the front gate, and took him to RoadAbode's spot. He took pictures, and measurements saying it seemed like he could refit a catalytic converter in. I drove him back over to his garage, and he said he'd call me with an estimate. Two day's later I hadn't received a call, and called there. "Are ys' sitting down? Mr. McGruff chuckled into the phone it's gonna be $2500 dollars! I thanked him and said if I would call back if I wanted done.
Amy canceled our March reservations, and kindly Country Acres let us reschedule at no loss for April.
I Googled the part and found that the Catalytic converter alone was $350-$400 dollars, depending on what site I visited.
I decided to call Bergey Truck Center - who up to this point has done all my yearly work and inspections. Since RoadAbode is a Ford, I was referred to the Bergey Ford Shop. The gentleman there was very helpful, and told me he would get a price, but he believed that since they were a Ford Service Center, that they would have to do replace from the headers by the engine block, all the way to the muffler. He called back in a few hours with a price of $2900, and confirmed that would be from the headers to the muffler. He also stated what I was already thinking. If it was his, he's get the part and get a muffler shop or independent garage to weld the part in.
At this point, I ordered the part online including shipping for $371 and figured I would find someone who could weld it on.

Bought it - Can I get it installed?

I knew I had until April to find a place to get the new catalytic converter installed. Just needed the time to call around, get prices and find places willing (and big enough for RoadAbode) to install my aftermarket part.
Unfortunately, I now was travelling more for work, which afforded me little time to lookup and call places.
It was a bit fustrationg - and stressing too. That's When Amy came to the rescure!
While I was in LA for work, she managed to find a place that was only a few miles from RoadAbode, and could weld in the part. So without letting me know she drove RoadAbode to Dependable Auto Service in Hatboro, There, they treated her very well and showed here what they needed to do, and took pictures for her to boot. I think we found a new dependable place for future RoadAbode work!

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Spring is Here! Want to Know the One Problem with Lancaster PA?

Driving Past a Field in Lancaster, PA

It's SPRING!

The snows have melted, and the RoadAbode Crew is getting ready this week to go on our first RoadAbode weekend trip of the season. Each year we usually head somewhere in Pennsylvania. Sometimes it's to the horse country and gardens found in the Brandywine Valley. Other March trips we've spent in parks found in the Pocono Mountains region. Most March trips though, we spend in the Lancaster PA region.

Shakedown Time

For us, Lancaster is a great "shakedown" trip. A shakedown trip for us means a relatively short drive to let us ease RoadAbode back into duty after basically a three month rest. Lancaster is perfect not just because of all the attractions, but also it's only an hour from where we keep RoadAbode, and the campground we stay at is accessible by major routes. If it's cold enough to freeze, the campground has shower and restroom with heated floors - which is a plus.

The ONE Problem with Lancaster

We love Lancaster, but there is a problem when we go. There's such a diverse amount of things to do!  We love to get away to relax, and at our top Lancaster campgrounds, we do that very well. But... have you ever felt guilty because you are relaxing - instead of taking part in all the unique, cool things to do in an area?

Lancaster makes us feel like slackers! Maybe that's our problem and not Lancaster's.

With four (and pup) as our base RoadAbode Crew in the past, someone is not going  to be able to do what they want on our weekend trip out.. However, now that our girls are older, it is a little easier to figure out. We adults could drop our teen and twenty-something girls to the outlets for the morning (They LOVE Rockvale) and head out to the Mud Sales. Maybe the ladies want to sleep in and I'll go out visiting the Middle Creek Wildlife Area to witness the Snow geese migration.
Or maybe we should all head to the Lancaster City Farmers Market - Central Market - the country's oldest farmers' market, in the heart of Amish country.
The great thing is we want to go back and do things we've enjoyed in the past. The challenge is fitting in the cool new things we find in Lancaster County.
No matter what interests you may have, you may feel that twinge of being a slacker on a weekend trip. Award winning theater? Check. Awesome dining (and drinking) spots? Check. Unique local shops? Check. History? Check. Art and Culture? Yep. Happening City Nightlife? They have that too!
No matter what will get you up and off your duff relaxing on a weekend, Lancaster has it - ready to entice you out of your comfy reading chair by the campfire. It's almost unfair!

The Solution

We know the solution to our craziness. It's pretty simple. Spend more time in Lancaster!
We'll be in Lancaster this weekend - First Weekend of Spring! We have plans to visit some local shops and enjoy just hanging out. If you haven't tried Lancaster County yet - you should! If you have - let us know in the comments below - what are your favorite things to experience in Lancaster County?

Swimmingly good Afternoon

Emily's hardest thing was the Anticipation. Every 5 Minutes it was "Is it noon yet?"
Not because she was hungry for lunch, but because she wanted to go swim. Amy got her into the new swimsuit they purchased earlier in the week, and at 11:50am - we bundled up and headed for the pool.
Emily was thrilled once in the building.

Kimberly just was not in the mood for a swim, so I decided to "Take the Plunge" with Emily.
The water felt a bit chilly at first, but we both warmed up to it really quick. The only others in the pool were two pre-teens and their mom, who was lounging in the hot tub next to the pool.
As Emily and I floated, paddled, and swam around, we found the 'hot spots' in the pool.

At first I thought they were from the pre-teens (eee-wwww) but quickly figured out it was the inlets where the pumps recurculated the water back into the pool. Nice and toasty!

Emily and I swam for about an hour - til we both had fingers that looked like wrinkled prunes. Just then a large group came into the poolhouse - so it was a good time to dry off and head back for lunch!

A Laidback Morning @ Otter Lake

Slept soooo well – woke up @ 6:30am – temp inside RoadAbode stayed around 57f overnight – but we are all comfy in our sleeping bags. I made a pot of coffee, took a visit to the ‘loo’, and Amy made a great breakfast for all – sausage, pancakes, and French toast! Emily is eager to go swimming – they have an indoor pool here, a few campsites away from us – but the pool does not open until noon.

Our Winter Trip to Otter Lake

Anticipation….
It’s always fun dreaming about and planning for a trip in RoadAbode, but nothing beats the excitement of being packed up, starting her up, and pulling out. Started Friday off by only working the AM, and Amy picked up RoadAbode after dropping the girls @ school. Amy proceeded to pack in the clothes and ‘stuff’ we had all picked out Thursday nite. After getting done my reports and stuff, @ work in the AM – I headed home, helped pack what I could, and set up the bike rack for the first time. Worked pretty easy, but good thing Amy picked up a “rack bar” for Emily’s bike. Her ‘girl bar’ was too small to fit on the rack without it.
We drove up with no incidents, just had to get use to being behind the wheel of something bigger than RoadToad, and how you get ‘sucked in’ as big rigs pass you by on the highway.
Headed up the Northeast Extension, the weather was beautiful – blue skies and little wind. Got off @ exit 95 – the Pocono exit – which connects to RT 940 and US 80. We stopped at the WAWA there to get gas, and some coffee and muffins. They also have a nice manned visitor center there, and got some great free maps of the area. We continued on to Route 80 east, connected with 209 North 2 exit 309, and followed the rest of the directions pretty easily to Otter Lake.

Amy & the girls had never been to the campground, but I had been there when I was 11 or 12 when my brother Frank had taken me with his then wife and her brothers & sisters. Otter Lake is located on a windy road about 9 miles in from Route 209.

We checked in easily (but - how come all these campground offices are run by 17 year old girls?) Only one small issue - getting the propane tank filled. Had not had to do that since we bought RoadAbode. We had to pull back out to the main road and back into a driveway that was down the road a bit. I couldn’t see well in the mirrors – cause I was backing into the sun, but we managed.
After that – got to our spot at J-15 – pretty level, and sized nicely. Only hooked up cable and electric, I don’t want to mess with frozen sewer hoses.


Walking around the campground, what hits you is the quietness and serenity. There’s hardly anyone around, though there are plenty of seasonal trailers on the premises. It’s great to be able to hear birds, wind, and not much more around.


We worked on getting the bikes off – carrier did great – and took a ride out to the camp store after adding air to everyone’s tires.
Emily did a great job keeping up, even with training wheels and sans any shifting gears. She’s working on true ‘kid power’.After getting back, I got the propane thru the lines, kicked on the heater (getting down to mid 20s) and Amy warmed up the oven for our traditional Friday Nite Pizza.

We enjoyed watching some Disney and Cartoon Network, took a walk to visit the restrooms, and enjoyed the stars in the sky – without the light pollution we are so use to in Philly. Time for bed!