If you’re ever in Joshua Tree and need a good mechanic, give Brass Knuckles Mobile Mechanic a call. He came out to my campsite on BLM land, right in the middle of the desert, and did all the work there.
The camper’s wheel bearings needed to be re-greased, and I wanted both brakes checked. He serviced the bearings on both wheels and checked the brakes for $175 total. A big RV dealership, one of the names people know around the United States, had quoted me $499 just to get the bearings done. I won’t name the dealership, but that gives you an idea of the difference.
He was a very cool guy, and he took his time. He also teaches at a local college, and he showed me how to do a bearing change, what to look for when inspecting the bearings, including scratches, and how to adjust a brake. He walked me through the work while he was doing it, so I could see what he was looking at and understand what to check myself.
The price was very reasonable, but the time he spent showing me everything was a big part of what made it such an absolutely great experience. He was awesome. If you’re in the Joshua Tree area and need help, please look him up. Whether many people find this page or just a few, I want his information here so anyone reading the story can use it.
With the bearings and brakes taken care of, the desk was back out on BLM land for a couple of days, with fantastic views.
My friend was staying with me in the camper, and we had four days off to hang out. We hiked up to a place we call “the Rock” to watch the sun come up and ended up spending about half the day there. It was absolutely amazing. It’s one of my favorite places in the world, and I absolutely love it. I wish I could spend more time there, but between my work schedule and having to head back, that just isn’t possible.
The day we hiked to the Rock, the temperature was forecast to reach 102 degrees, and the next couple of days were looking just as hot. My friend made the smart move and rented a house for two days so we could have air conditioning around the clock and recharge our batteries. We did laundry, went grocery shopping, hung out, and caught up.
After our two days at the house, we needed somewhere to go next. With Tropical Storm Rachel coming in, I wasn’t about to head back onto BLM land and get stuck in the mud again. So we parked at Tortoise Rock Casino in Twentynine Palms, where they let us stay for 48 hours to weather the storm.
The casino was great, and it was good to have bathrooms available too. We spent those two days there before moving on.
Today we arrived at Ryan Campground, where we’ll stay for two days. It’s beautiful, quiet, and cool. We’re still feeling the last effects of the storm, which is keeping things nice and cool right now.
Tonight, I’m looking forward to making double bacon cheeseburgers with asparagus.
Brass Knuckles Mobile Mechanic
Phone: 909-375-8180
Website: brassknucklesmechanic.square.site
Email: brassknucklesmechanic@gmail.com
Facebook: Brass Knuckles Mobile Mechanic
Mobile service in the Morongo Basin and Coachella Valley, including Joshua Tree.
The Guy Behind the Desk
