BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!!

Wednesday - work continues on RV and parts are ordered for next day air delivery.  Parents arrive, and we continue to add stuff to the RV.

Thursday - parts arrive mid-morning, and the RV techs get to work at about 1000.  Stuck at work, big drill day and need to participate.  Drill over and RV is repaired.  All went well.

Thank you RV Repair Associates.  Delivered as promised to support the scheduled underway.

RV is gassed up,
RV is loaded up,
Jeep is gassed up,
POP to pack fridge Friday AM,
POP to wash windshield Friday AM,
as soon as I get off of work friday, we will connect the Jeep and go.

Can't believe we are almost there.
0 Days and a Wakeup before we leave.

Mr. Bill

I have told myself that I was going to stay away from Blogs, as it just isn't me. 

Well here I am, and I guess it is actually me.  What got me started was a friend from work. 

Thanks Bill for the idea and I hope you enjoy the fruits of your idea.

Repair Status

3 Days and a wakeup before we leave,

Parents coming down tomorrow to load RV.

So here is what happened:

Looks like the main slide has been rubbing on the fresh water tank for some time, and finially decided that Sunday would be the day to catch ahold of it in a major way.  As a result the slide tried to pull the fresh water tank out the side of the RV with it, but the tank gave up a good fight.  As it fought it overloaded the electrical parts of the small hydraulic plant and took them out. 

I think the we we found this was that it was binding, which probably explains why the bottom of the slide would kick out (ie. not full closed).  Then when Dodds RV found the hydraulics low and added oil, it gave the system the extra UMPHH to drag out the tank.

So what I got is a fresh water tank with a hole in the top (limits toilet useage, OUCH!) and a hydraulic plant that only allow the slides and jacks to move in one direction.  Neither of these problems will make for an enjoyable trip.

The technicians from "RV REPAIR SERVICES" that came out to work on the RV feel positive that they can get a replacement fresh water tank and the required parts for the hydraulic plant.

Plan is still to get "Underway" on Friday.

If I would of stuck with Dodds RV here in Portsmouth the best I would of had today would of been an appointment for sometime in the future.  At least now we are ordering parts --- PROGRESS!!

- NOTE TO SELF: Make a Facebook Page to allow myself and others to express their pleasure at Dodd RV excellent customer service.

OH - Got the Jeep completed today.  Should I dare connect it to the RV tomorrow??

WHAT ELSE COULD GO WRONG! (I just had to ask)

Well it looks like I have pissed off the neighbors with the RV.  Someone was kind enough to call the city and register a complaint instead of asking me first about the RV. 

Called the city Zoning Inspector and got the low down on the city requirements for parking.  Looks like I will need to move it to the side of the house, with the front being past the line of my front porch.  That isn't going to be a problem at all.  Might just be the reason to pour a pad.

WHAT ELSE COULD GO WRONG?

Let you know tomorrow on the repair status!

Found a TECH!!

After an exhausting day of phone calls with Dodds RV in Portsmouth, and being told why they can't support working on my RV that broke down at the house after being there for over a week for the same problem with my main slide, I finially was able to find someone who seems to know what is going on and is willing to come out to the house to look at it.

Thanks RV Repair Services!

Actually found them doing an internet search and their information can be found at
http://rvrepairservices.blogspot.com/

Will let everyone know how the repair work goes tomorrow.

FINAL ROUTE - Yeah Right!!

Previously I posted our final route.  Well I lied.  Today after getting throughly pissed at the RV, I sat down with the laptop and toyed with the trip.

Well, I deleted 3 stops:

1. Winslow Arizona - I am sure "The Eagles" would understand
2. Meteor Crater - 4 hours looking at a old large hole.  This I can do after a shower anyday.
3. Sedona Arizona - It was just a quick drive by anyway

But this did add new stops:

1. Painted Desert - Lots of opportunities to pull over for pictures at scenic overlooks
2. Pertrified Forest - Lots of, well, petrified forest.

I think everyone will prefer the changes, can always catch the crater later.  It won't be going anywhere, anytime soon.

5 days until we leave

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

- Picked up the RV from getting it checked out, and got a clean bill of health. (Friday)

- Worked on loading clothes and stuff on and off on both Saturday and Sunday.

- Some items need to go into the refigerator and needed to chill down the fridge in preparation for loading food later in the week. (Sunday)

- RV needs to be level somewhat for the fridgerator to work properly.  So we put the Jacks down today to level it and get the fridge cold.  While it was level tried to put out the slide, didn't work.  Tried to retract the slide the small amount it went out, didn't work.  Tried to lower jacks, didn't work. (Sunday)

- Now I got a $40,000 RV up on jacks, with the main slide out partially, and a cold fridgerator.  Need to leave to go cross country in 5 days.  Well I think this is going to be a problem.  RV shop opens at 0930 on Monday, I sure do hope they have mobile service that can come out to the house on Monday.

- Not to mention the Jeep saga, let me just say that Greenbrier Jeep is having issues:

• They lost my key lock for my wheels
• I had to run around to find a new set
• Dealer needed to remove the locks the hard way
• They broke 1 stud
• They installed new locks
• forgot to rotate tires and had to remove tires
• They broke another stud with a lock installed (galled it somehow)
• They lost my key and had to cut another
• They ordered a new set of wheel locks
• Now I need to return the jeep to the dealer around wednesday

 WHAT ELSE COULD GO WRONG?

Please refer to previous post and Commandant #2.