Failure is not an option...

Really? not an option?

I think that in reality, when it comes to equipment and things you depend on, failure is more like multiple choice type thing.

How would you like your equipment to fail?

a) Spectacularly and at the worst possible moment.
b) Slowly and silently, until the repair becomes super expensive.
c) Fast and suddenly on the dot, right after the warranty expiration.
d) In an deceiving way, making you fix the stuff that does not need fixing.

This is the list of things that have failed so far...

- MaxxAir vent:
The motor and the control panel quit. Not much of an issue so far.



- Breakaway switch cable:
This was the cause for the big brake repair expense.


- Cabinet catchers
RV drawers and cabinets need to close shut and stay secured. A special kind of hardware is used to keep the drawers and doors secured while the RV is moving. These catchers have worn out and failed in some of our doors. I have been able to repair all of them but one.



- Window elevator
This is the little crank mechanism that flips the windows open. One failed. Easy repair.



- Hiking boots
After 3 years of hiking, my Lowa boots sole unglued. I Krazy glued the sole back...but the repair only lasted about a week. Time for new boots.


- Wireless router
Our Cradlepoint router, all of he sudden, quit. After an iChat with technical support, the company instructed me to send it back for replacement.


- Hiking pants
Some of the outdoor gear getting sold now days, is more "boutique camping" crap than real gear. But is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish the crap form the real gear, as name brands like Columbia, REI, North Face are getting into the "cute gear" business. So far, 3 pants with those magic fabrics that dry fast and are "tuff" with names like "titanium", have succumbed to fast wear due to backpack rubbing near the waist area.


So...failure has plenty of options to sneak into your trip. Best thing to do?

- Carry essential tools for repairs
- Allow flexible plans to make time for repairs
- Budget for repairs on the road
- On critical items, design your solutions to have a "plan B" or a backup ready.