Took the kids to Big Bear Lake this week for some water fun and a little mild wheeling. Didn't want to do anything agressive since we were by ourselves, just some moderate trails so we could get the truck dusty and see the scenery. Since I wasn't going to do anything crazy, I figured I could get away with being lazy and not fitting my skids. (Hint- this is what Hollywood writers call foreshadowing)

We got done with our last trail on Thursday night and was almost back to camp when I noticed the engine getting warm--2/3's up the gauge. Crap. Sure enough, when I popped the rad cap, it was dry. Added water back in camp and saw water leaking from the bottom of the radiator. Decided to limp back to town to see about getting it fixed. No problems coasting down the mountain, but heat started to build as soon as we got to town. Not willing to take any more chances, I shut it down just about the time the town shut down. Checked into a hotel to wait for morning.

Friday morning comes and out comes the cell. Nobody in Big Bear fixes radiators. Double crap. Didn't have the luxury of extending my stay to fix it myself, so I had to tow the truck down to San Bernardino 40 miles away, drop it off at the rad shop, rent a truck to go back up the mountain pick up the kids, pack up camp, then high-tail it back down the mountain to pick up the Monty and drop of the rental truck before they closed for the day.

The guy at the shop (Automart Radiator Co. in San Bernardino, great service, see them if you need rad work in the area) says the radiator was in great shape, it just looked like something flew up (hmm, like a rock maybe, stupid?) and made a hole in the radiator.

$100 for the hotel, $40 for dinner, $260 for the tow, $70 for the rental truck, $40 to gas the rental back up, and $170 to fix the radiator. Total cost for this misadventure--$580. Expensive lessons are the best learned--don't freakin' wheel without full skids in place.

But I have to say, the Monty took care of us. It could have overheated half way up the last trail about a 4 hour walk from the nearest road--nope, he picked the best time to teach me a lesson without making it ugly.

Made the two hour drive back to San Diego without a hitch. Running strong and cool all the way back in 90-100 degree weather.

1990 Monty LS 3.0 A/T LWB. KYB front shocks, OME rears and coils. 33x10.5 BFG Muds. 5.29, 2.85, RD110, RD46. 2 bouncys. Aisins. Monte Disco swaybar disconnects. GenII t-arms, idler arm, UCA's, V45W front brakes. 2in BL.