My wife and I had just set up camp in the San Rafael Swell in Utah miles and miles from the nearest town for several days of boondocking. Unfortunately a cold front arrived at the same time with gusty winds. The winds kicked up dust everywhere that left us and the RV quite gritty. The situation went from bad to worse as we discovered our water heater had gone kaput since the night before. Now here we were a long way from anywhere in the Utah desert, dirty and grimy without the option of a hot shower. Due to the remoteness of the place we couldn’t even use our cell phones to call for help as there was no service. It was certain peril for us both! Just as we were about to give up my good friend MacGyver shows up just like the cavalry in a western. Assessing the situation he discovered a redundant electromagnet in the water heater gas valve had failed.
Since this was beyond his signature bubble gum and gum wrapper resolution, his next option for a fix was using a thread bobbin wrapped with wire to fashion a new electromagnet. Having neither, he asked what we had in the way of a magnet. After a bit of thinking I recalled my prospecting pick (thankfully in the RV) had a strong magnet built into the head of it. Using his trusty Swiss army knife , MacGyver soon had the magnet in hand. Applying it to the gas valve we heard the bad side of the valve open. Applying power via the water heater switch energized the other (good) valve and started the ignition system. Within seconds the water heater roared back to life. Once again, when all seems lost, MacGyver saves the day! As he rode off into the sunset, he said to tell my readers to never try this yourself. Leave LP gas repairs to trained professionals or, when available, himself. MacGyver you’re my hero!
Needless to say, we used the water heater only as needed and had in properly repaired when we returned to civilization.
Boondocking with MacGyver, just another adventure in RVing!
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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