RV REPAIRS – IT’S GONNA HAPPEN

Luckily Marci found RV blogs (well, Facebook pages) and we’ve been reading them religiously since April.  So we knew – I MEAN KNEW – that things will go wrong on any RV eventually.  We paid close attention to things that seem common (like tires) and things that are preventable (like fires at gas stations due to leaving the propane refrigerators running or leaving the antenna extended).

Look – we are just not preachy or judgmental.  And we are quick to point out that we are not experts at anything in the RV world.  So don’t take offense, go ahead -run your fridge, don’t check your tires, don’t triple check that your slide will not be dragging something across your floor.  And I promise – some of this WILL happen to us (or anyone who drives thousands of miles with a small home on wheels).

This morning we woke up at the KOA in Wendover, NV (there is a free 24 hour shuttle to the Casino – located about 300 yards away – for the ‘gamin’ camper). After 550 miles the day before, we planned to head across the salt flats in the cool morning.  And then I saw the tire.

As I said above, I’ve been warned.  Not just by all of you, but by two 5^th wheel owning co-workers I trust.  CHECK YOUR TIRES.

And I found the right rear (new at the start of the trip) was TOTALLY worn on the ‘outside’.  Remembering the photos of blow-outs on Facebook – I could see me changing a tire in the middle of 100 miles of flat salt and sun. I’ve changed a whole lot of tires in my life – I decided not to wait for Good Sam Road Service (doesn’t seem to be a prompt) and broke open my new ‘bottle jack’ to get ‘er done.

Right.

An hour later, covered in dirt, tire-blackened hands, and enough colorful language to hope that my neighbors’ hearing aide battery was dead – I got the spare on.  We quickly threw everything into the truck bed – (thankfully Marci insisted on a triple check – which prevented more RV repairs) and headed for The Tire Factory (whom I HIGHLY recommend http://www.tirefactory.com/gotirezonecom ) for a quick repair. They even moved us to the front of the line because our rig blocked their entire parking lot.

Anyway, I learned that the tire was faulty to begin with (nothing wrong with the axle etc), how to actually change an RV tire, and that we could persevere through our first RV repair issue.  I am sure there will be many more – but we choose to look at this as part of the adventure (and it will grow a life of its own as I tell the story over and over the years to come!)

PS This repair only cost $113 and a bit of worry in the 120 miles across the salt flats

Starting the Dream

“Slow down!”

“I am going slow.” I bark, reducing my speed from seven miles per hour to three.

“You’re making me nervous.”

“I’m doing the best I can, there are cars trying to get around me.”

“They can wait.”

“Stop yelling…”

“I’m not yelling, I’m nervous.”

And so it goes.

We are heading out for our first road trip since buying a 36 foot fifth wheel.  On the sales lot, the “coach” held the promise of serenity. Dark shiny polished wood, faux tile floors, luxurious leather recliners and a king sized pillow top mattress. Clearly this was designed to remedy whatever 21^st Century malady ails you. Visions of quiet morning sunrises with freshly brewed coffee swim in your head as you sign the bundle of documents needed to take possession.  The week and a half needed to install a hitch capable of towing 20,000 pounds (and the propane generator I insisted on to “camp” in style when there are no 50 amp services available) seem to drag on forever.

And finally the day arrives. 

“Good afternoon sir, how may I help you?”

“I’m here to pick up my trailer.” I proudly beam, feeling this should impress the pudgy acne faced boy, who must have been told to expect us (we did receive our Good Sam Elite Membership cards just days before…)

“So, you have already completed orientation?” He asks, clearly more amused than impressed.

“Uh, no…” tumbles my sheepish response.

And for the next two hours we are guided through switches, control panels, gadgets, hoses, and “Never, do this - before you do that’s”.

“Can we still return this?”

The mechanic chuckles as if he has heard this many times before. “Ah, you’ll get used to it.  This stuff is easy.”

I swallow my plea to reconsider.

And before you know it, the truck is attached and we are heading out of the lot.  Which naturally has VERY wide driveways to accommodate idiots (like me) who have been driving 6 foot vehicles at high speeds for thirty years and suddenly believe they can manage the equivalent of a semi-truck.

My confidence does not increase when I look in my extended rear view mirrors and see two mechanic’s leaning into to one another and watching me.  I can only presume that they have placed a wager on how long it will be before they see me in the collision repair center.

I will NEVER forget my first left hand turn. Neither will the lady in the Honda I almost ran over.

But alas, we got our “rig” to its assigned spot in the storage lot and rush home to choke down a muscle relaxant with a shot of tequila.