1978 Dodge Transvan, Tow Truck

In 1983 we bought this 1978 Dodge Transvan from an US Army Major near Stuttgart, but before we reached Mettlach, it was obvious the water pump was kaput. The Ford dealer in nearby Merzig agreed to tow the camper to Merzig and repair it.

The next morning a small tow truck appeared, but there was no way it could handle the camper. An hour later they came with a larger truck, but it couldn’t haul the RV either. Finally, I started the motor and let it idle to supply power for brakes and steering, while the tow truck did just that to the Ford Dealer in Merzig. There is a very steep hill to climb up, then down, as we go from Mettlach to Merzig. The power and motor speed needed to climb the hill just might send the fan blade through the radiator. The tow truck was a precaution, the idling motor just made it easy to steer and brake.

We made several phone calls trying to find a Dodge water pump somewhere in Germany. The Ford Dealer finally called us and said they had found one in Hamburg, and it would be there today, but we believe more likely it will arrive on Monday.

By the way, that is Emmy on the right, and her Cousin Toni on the left, and we are just in front of Toni’s home, which has been the family home for over a hundred years.