Few sounds make an overlander more nervous than a mysterious noise coming from somewhere underneath the vehicle.

For several weeks, YOLA had developed a loud clunking sound whenever we turned the steering wheel. By the time we reached Mount Vernon, Washington, we decided it was time to have someone take a serious look.

That’s where we met Avalon, who managed to get us in with their mechanic, Neff. While we went off to have breakfast, Neff spent nearly two hours carefully assessing YOLA.

Finally, he found it: the skid plate. A relatively simple culprit behind a noise that had been causing us considerable concern.

Avalon explained our options and tried to help us get into a specialty shop for a more permanent repair. With a ferry to catch, Neff reinstalled the skid plate as a temporary solution so we could continue safely.

Then came another surprise. When it was time to pay, Avalon told us there would be no charge. What mattered most was getting Kristi and John back on the road so we wouldn’t miss our ferry.

Avalon and Neff, thank you for taking the time to investigate YOLA’s mysterious noise, explain our options and help us continue our journey.