Av8r3400

https://www.boyerfamilyfuneralhomes.com/m/obituaries/Christopher-Bowman-6/Memories

Update email today: Just providing an update. The trans ecu arrived from Weller. It is installed, truck shifts and drives as it should. We still have an issue with the speedo not working and the diff lock alarm/light staying on the dash. We are currently working on figuring out why. Updates to follow. Any questions please let us know. Thank you. There is light at the end of the tunnel....

We lost Christopher Bowman last night to his long fight with leukemia. He and his wife attended the ECR a couple times with their big yellow 730 called "Foolish Mortals", due to their Disney addiction....

The TCM from Weller has been ordered and is on the way. Hopefully we are looking at a light at the end of the tunnel... Wheel Bearings: I was told by this dealer, who has dealt with lightning and overhead power line impacts, that they always pull the bearings apart but don't always find issues. I questioned them at length about this because it seemed logical that there would be damage there too. They assured me that the bearing inspection looked good with nothing more than normal wear, and minimal at that.

Is it too early to ask for a roll call of anyone still wanting to go to Deer Run in April just to hang around, talk smart and complain about lightning?

I think/hope so...

Welcome to the dark side...

After having still no hope for a factory new TCM being had anywhere on the planet, I gave the go-ahead to getting a "reman" unit. They should have it in the next week. Thanks "Weller Truck Parts"...

That looks like a nice size site. That's at Windrock?

I'd be open to other areas to ride, too. I have just seen where there are several good areas in TN.

Price paid for new wheels and tires was under $5800. I just deposited the check from the insurance for $5200. I'm calling that a win.

Just got the word today the insurance will cover 85% of the cost to replace the rolling stock. I'll take that. Still no word on the TCM...

Just floating a trial balloon here, please don't beat me up too bad... With what appears to be the demise of the East Coast Rally (Thank you Carl and Donna for your years of work hosting it), would there be any interest in something a little less formal and more of a straight social gathering of HDT people? Maybe near one of the ORV parks in TN in the same spring time frame? I know there's several people with ATV/UTV/Jeeps who may be interested. Honestly, I don't even know if there's an RV park near the ORV areas with facilities to accept rigs like ours. Thought or Comments???

I might be getting somewhere on getting the insurance to pay for at least the tires if not the tires and wheels. They're being installed on Friday, regardless if the insurance pays or not. I'm not going to risk it. My wife drives the rig too much by herself not to be thorough on this. The dealer has all the modules they need, except for the transmission computer, and will bring the truck in the shop Monday again for installation and further analysis for any other needed repairs.

Still waiting on parts. Specifically the instrument cluster and the "body control" module. We are going ahead with replacing the wheels and tires. I will battle with the insurance on them later.

...maybe. The insurance is pushing back on this now.

Unscheduled update: I found out today that we will be replacing all 6 tires and WHEELS due to potential damage. The tire shop that works with the dealer doing the repairs is counseling that they have had issues with boom trucks that have hit overhead power lines, then the bead on the wheels actually fails causing catastrophic failure. The insurance is buying off on this too, so were gong to have a new set of Alcoas and shoes on the rig...

We have punted on any trips for the rest of this year. So, I'm all in with them taking as much time as needed to fix the truck, CORRECTLY, if not quickly. My hope is that I can get the truck home, as an operating vehicle, before the snow flies. A bonus would be to have it in enough time that I am able to work on the truck inside my unheated building, fixing the lights, inverter and camera system.

9-02-22 Update: Here's the email right from the dealer working on my truck... well, we are finding more issues. We have couple of more modules on order such as dash cluster and a trans ecu along with nox sensors. Unfortunately they are a few parts that are on back order again. We have a estimate ship date of 9-30-22. It is very possible they will come before that time, but this is the time they are giving us. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they will arrive before the 30th.

No. So far it will cost me a $100 deductible...

Friday update (8/26/22). I don't have the truck back yet. I was told it will run and drive around the dealer under it's own power now. They have replaced several modules from the ECU on down. Right now they have four (4) more modules on order, TCU (I was expecting that one), the dash display module, body control module and the brake control module. The TCU is "back-ordered" and the dealer is dealing directly with Volvo/Mack on when it will arrive. They tell me the last one they had in the shop that was struck by lighting, they had to replace every computer in the vehicle. Optimism is still there, just reality-tempered a bit.

Unfortunately, for numerous reasons, the truck being only one, we will not be able to make it to the National. I hope we can be back fully operational by the ECR, if that happens, in the spring.

The ECU is installed. Proper communication with the truck's systems is possible now. They have order a couple of other modules that should be there in the next day or two. Progress is happening. Side note, my pickup is finally home from having a busted transfer case.

News on the truck: We've been playing the waiting game on a new ECU. I spoke to the dealer working on the truck and they expect the new ECU either tomorrow (8-19) or Monday (8-22). Once that is installed they will be able to run the truck properly and begin doing further system tests to see what else needs attention. I'm cautiously optimistic she will live again...

Some sad photos…