The Inspection

It was morning, early morning, very early morning, when the alarm clock rang at half past five. It was the sixth of March and our appointment at the truck workshop was coming up. Sebb had already woken up before the alarm, and the morning was zero degrees cold, but it was already bright outside. At quarter to seven, we got into the RV and set off. Gary purred to life and took us to the workshop in Engelsdorf after a twenty-minute drive. Here, they were indeed prepared for large vehicles. Our huge Gary looked like a dwarf among all the seven-and-a-half-ton trucks, articulated lorries, and tractors. On one of the other lifts, a newer motorhome was already being worked on. The auto mechanic raised Gary onto the lift and took a full hour and a half to inspect the vehicle thoroughly from underneath, outside, and inside, shining a light into every little nook and cranny. Every little detail was explained, and we were completely fascinated by the inspection. The result was that Gary was in a suitable, good condition for its age. There were leaks, yes, but nothing that would have rendered the vehicle completely unusable. The engine was leaking oil, and the transmission as well; something needed to be done about that. The body showed signs of leaks in several places too. Since the undercarriage was seriously made of wood, it would soon need to be resealed, as moisture would otherwise cause the wood to swell. This had already happened at the tailgate, and the insulation was crumbling from under the open interior paneling; outside, everything was still intact, for now!

After the detailed inspection, there was a short conversation, and the complete protocol with the upcoming necessary repairs would be sent to us by mail in the coming days, along with the invoice.

We were totally relieved. On the way home, our joy was immense that the expert confirmed to us that Gary, while not new, was in good shape. Restoration and maintenance would now be the orders of the day so that Gary could transport us throughout the entire trip.