Ok, Ann, but what is “111111”? It can’t be how old the big white truck is, can it? Maybe 111,111 days old? No, that would be 304 YEARS old. How about 111,111 hours old? That would be about 13 years old, though this big white truck looks almost brand new. Maybe it’s the number of corners the truck has “turned” in its life time? No? Oh, wait, maybe it’s how many engine rpm’s it does … wow, jet engine and more! Ok not so much. So, what is “111111”?
Good guesses all, but nope, it’s none of the above.
I was driving home from the grocery store this morning and glanced at the dash board as I do from time to time while driving … to check my speed, oil pressure, engine temp, etc, make sure my headlights are on (and I check to make sure my turn signals are OFF), etc.
Everything is always A-OK when I do those visual checks, so this morning I was stunned to see what I saw.
In fact, I was so stunned that I pulled over to the side of the road as quickly as I could. Stopped immediately.
Pulled out my cell phone and took a picture of the dash board read outs.
See the photo below of the dash board of the big white truck.
What is it? Engine temp? Oil pressure? RPMs? Battery charge? Fuel mileage? The security system?! What?!
I’d bet lots of you noticed it in the photo above. 🙂 If you didn’t, here’s a closeup photo below …
The very bottom line ……. 111,111 miles. On my way home from the grocery store today, her odometer turned over to 111,111 miles driven from the time her odometer was brand new until this very minute on this very day. How cool is that? 🙂
I purchased this 2012 RAM big white truck in September, 2016, obviously a used vehicle when I bought her. It being a used vehicle was ok with me. Many of the indiosyncrasies would have been worked out already, and the price would be exceptionally less than a brand new big white truck.
This truck was built by RAM (Dodge/Chrysler) and delivered to a Canadian dealer and sold to its first owner, a Canadian person, in the fall of 2011. How this truck then later came to be for sale in 2016 in the USA is a matter of dealerships and used car/truck stuff. But I was very happy to find it. The mileage on this five-year-old truck was just 24,000 miles … that’s an average of only 4,800/year. It must have been mostly parked in the driveway! I am the second owner of this truck.
Besides the fact that the truck was the same white color as my Escape trailer (most important!), and the low mileage on the truck … the truck had all of the amenities that I wanted for a tow vehicle.
She’s had only two significant repairs since I purchased her 7 years ago … an electronic relay in the transmission failed (a known RAM problem) and she’s had the exhaust manifold shields and exhaust bolts replaced (another known RAM engine problem). Every brand of vehicle has its troubles. This truck has now had both of them happen, and both repaired. 🙂 Other than those two repairs, it’s just regular maintenance … and a bit of preventive mainteance as well, such as replacing brakes before they go bad, servicing the differential before the maximum mileage, cleaning the fuel manifold before it’s due, replace the tires before the tread is at minimum depth, etc. While towing the trailer, I’m usually on the road by myself. I want to minimize the number of problems. So far, so good! She’s a fine truck!
In the seven years that I’ve owned this exquisite big white truck, she has taken me (and Towhee the Trailer) everywhere we’ve ever wanted to go over a total of 87,111 miles, or about 12,444 miles per year. Which adds up to … 111,111 miles total in her lifetime.
And, and! Guess what the date was when I discovered that the big white truck had that very day turned 111,111. Just guess. The mileage changed over to 111,111 on January 1 … 1/1. I say this big white truck is #1!! 🙂
These are the kind of numbers that I always find fascinating. Coincidental numbers, random sequence, patterns and matches.
Glad to know that you enjoy them, too.
And what a testament to the value of taking care of your equipment!
Yes, me too! Of course. 🙂 Coincidental and random, or maybe not so much coincidental or random, who knows? Kind of like signing up for a dorm room at college when I was 18 years old and didn’t know anyone … and I got you for a roommate … perfect. Thanks Fritzi.
WOW! I love this kind of serendipity!
Also, happy for you that the big white truck has been a reliable ride – that’s so important when you travel a lot and carry your home behind you.
Safe travels in the new year!
Thanks Anne. I’m especially appreciative of comments like yours since you know about all that stuff about safety and reliable ride since you tow your home too. I’m loving that new trailer of yours, and you can park it in your garage!! amazing. Post more on your blog right now. 🙂
Wow, 111,000 miles. Way to not sit in one spot and grow old!!!!
Nope, going to keep moving until … well, until the time comes, as it were. 🙂
I’m looking at buying a hardshell kayak and getting back on the water for day adventures. Thanks for the comment … made me smile. 🙂
You go girl!!! 🙂 Here’s to another 111,111 miles under your keel.
(From this boy who loved boating too.)
Amen Rob! 🙂
As a math major and an IT professional, like you are Ann, I’ve studied random numbers and statistics. This is so cool! Makes my day. I bet you slammed on those brakes so hard. It’s a wonder you didn’t simply stop in the middle of the road!
YOU are #1 … well ok, the big white truck is too, but I sure love this blog. Thank you for adding wonder and humor to life.
Ha! Thanks Ruth. In fact, it was a darned good thing there was room to pull over off the road or indeed I might have simply stopped in the middle of the road. What could be more important than random numbers?
Wonder and humor (and peace and love and sharing) are so important. Thank you, Ruth. 🙂
There are no coincidences. That big white truck is #1.
And as well, your care of the truck makes a big difference, who knows, maybe the big white truck knows? 🙂
I think she does know. Even if she is made out of metal and plastic and oil and stuff like that, I think she does know. Orginally, if you go back far enough, her components were all organic, after all. Thanks David, very nice comment.
I love noticing stuff like this. I pulled over when my car got to 100,000 and took a picture too. I’d never have a car that old in calendar years with that low a mileage though, that’s phenomenal!
Oh good! Someone else who pulled over and took a picture. Thanks Dawn, glad I’m not the only one. 🙂
And yes, the low mileage when it was owned by the Canadian owner has made a big difference. I am quickly building the mileage up, however, and loving every minute.
So if the big white truck was brand new in the fall of 2011, and it now has 111,111 miles on it (that is so cool), then it is now about 12 years old, and so the average annual mileage is about 9,250/miles/year. When (if!!) you ever get around to selling it, it’s going to be the most attractive big white truck on the market. On the other hand, the way you take care of it, I suspect you will keep it for many more years and it will out-live all of us and end up in some museum somewhere … Ann’s big white truck, famous! 🙂
You sure got the math right, Tim. I hadn’t done that, thank you, puts it in better perspective. I hadn’t thought of re-sale value, but that sounds great.
Ann’s famous big white truck … in a museum … I like that. 🙂
Jolly good! 🙂
🙂 Thanks Henry.
How cool you noticed that odometer! All ones on January 1. Like you’ve said before, you take care of her and she’ll take care of you. Works with humans, works with trucks. 🙂 Ah, sometimes I think trucks are human. Odd thought that. 🙂
Somebody else here mentioned that the truck had a life or feeling or some such like that. I think so too, like you said too. Maybe a lot of it is the physical care of a physical “thing”, but there’s an emotional/spiritual part too, I swear it. Very nice comment, Babe.
My gosh you know a lot of things about a lot of things. I’m reading back in other blog posts now. You were a Paralegal, and a truck mechanic (and boat mechanic, and a boat captain), and a Microsoft Computer Systems Engineer. Can you cook? LOL! I bet you can! In your blog posts, you talk a lot about learning … you’ve sure done that. So much knowledge in your bones! And yet you also pay attention to “little” things like the odometer on your truck. And you take “Little Towhee” with you on all your trips. That’s so cool! I wish my husband and I were still RVing, we’d be up your way in a heartbeat.
And, yes, you’ve said this but we agree … you have the best readers ever who make the best comments. More comments!
Our best to you for 2024. Thank you for this blog and for the peace and kindness in your heart.
Oh I wish you and your husband were still RVing too, Marge. I’d love to have you come visit or just be in Washington State so I could visit you. I know you’re down south these days. If I ever get down there, I’ll come bother you for sure! 🙂
“So much knowledge in your bones” … I liked that. 🙂
Thank you, Marge. My best to you and yours for 2024 too.
How fun! You’re a good truck mom that BWT is ticking over so smoothly. I hope you can catch 123,456 as well!
Oh yes!! 123,456 is now on my radar! I hadn’t thought of that number, but it is now on a sticky-note on my dash board. 🙂 Thanks Virginia.