I-10 starts at an elevation of seven feet above sea level in Orange, Texas and by the time you reach El Paso, the elevation is 3,740. My 2019 Kia Sorento SUV, which I dearly loved, was rated to haul my trailer. But, as my friend, Greg Temple, told me, “Yes, it was designed to haul that much weight from A to C, but you’re taking it from A to Z and back again.” My little car was struggling. As I reached El Paso, I was coming to the conclusion that my car either needed major work or I needed a new car. After three long days of 10 miles to the gallon or less as I pulled my little No Bo across Texas, I was ready to be parked for a while. My chosen spot was Las Cruces, New Mexico, home of New Mexico State University, and near a number of things that I really wanted to see and do.
While I was excited to explore the region, my first priority upon arrival was to address a problem with my car. I first took my Kia to a transmission repair shop and was told I needed a replacement. The AAMOCA Shop checked with Kia, and representatives there said they could put a new transmission in my car, but because of the way I was towing with the vehicle, they could not warranty it. I was frustrated by that. In fact, I had bought the RV, which I was loving, specifically because it could be towed by my SUV. Everyone had checked the weight several times. I even pulled into a Love’s Travel Center, and had it weighed to ensure I was not over weight.
The recommendation for a new transmission seemed like a signal that I was playing with danger. I truly loved my Kia. It was everything I wanted in a vehicle — except that it was more important to me to travel with my RV than it was to have a car I loved. So I began car shopping, looking for an SUV with a stronger towing capacity. I discovered my options were somewhat limited. I had it narrowed down to a Nissan Armada, a Dodge Durango, or a pickup. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a pickup sort of person, but as I said, I love my RV lifestyle. So I put my own vehicle preferences aside.
My daughter’s family is very Ford focused, and I didn’t really have a preference. So off to the Ford dealership I went. After a week of looking, test driving, haggling, and dealing with financing paperwork, I ended up with a bright red 2022 Ford XLT. The good news is that it’s low enough to the ground that I can get in and out of it relatively easily. The bad news is I’m missing some of the cool features that my Kia had. The truck gets better gas mileage than the Kia, and it pulls my RV with no pain or strain! So, with my car situation under control, I could finally begin exploring, again.
