So, there we were… happy campers, camping happily. The fishing, well, that’s another story, for another thread… But I digress…
An elderly gent walks by as we’re having breakfast, and strikes up a conversation with “wow – nice awning… almost like mine… how’d you get yours to unroll like that?”. DW looks at me like “Uh-oh….” and then proceeds to “volunteer” me to go hold an awning class at his campsite a few rigs down the row…
I bring the awning hook, just in case. We’ve got an A&E on our toyhauler, and they had a Carefree on their Jayco. No biggee… same thing, just a little different. I take a minute to figure theirs out, and show them how to unlock, unroll, tension, swing the legs out to make a “patio”, then stow it. Now the OTHER questions come: How do I dump the tanks - I explain it to them. Why don’t the lights work – I show them the switch on the wall (!) How come the trailer moves so much – I lower the stabilizers and they’re amazed! How about the air conditioner – I remove the adapter and move the power cord from the popped 20 amp circuit on the power pole to the 30 amp receptacle – instant AC! Hey! The microwave works now too! It was about then that we found their awning hook under one of the storage bins in the front compartment.
The DW and I walked back to our site, and she remarked “You’ve just made friends for life, you know that don’t you?” Yeah, probably…. But it felt good to help out a newbie RV’er too.
I guess my point is, although the owner mentioned several times about the “lesson” they got from the dealer, obviously it didn’t sink in to much, or the dealer went over it to quickly. Too bad the dealers won’t (I say “wont” because I know they “can”) take more time to ensure the buyers KNOW how to do stuff. In this case, I had THEM do the motions on the awning, the light switches, and the electricity. Hmmm… maybe another “career” as an RV systems instructor when I retire from my “real job”.
This past weekend was my first RV trip since the one many moons ago in the out-laws popup with no hookups.
I went all out with the Newmar diesel pusher (still sounds like I bought a drug dealer, but I digress).
I videotaped the PDI that the salesman did. He did a fine job, but there is no way any newbie could remember all of it. They even have a new EMS in the 2009 Newmars that Cookie, the RV dealers head techie, didn't completely understand. It's so new that a call to Newmar had them stumped on some features.
I managed to figure out most things. I shouldn't have left the inverter on since I was on 30 amp shore power. I also shouldn't have tried running both a/c units since I didn't have 50 amps. The EMS prevented the breakers from flipping. I knew it was questionable, but there was only 1 way to know for sure.
I also asked a nearby RVer to help me back in. My DW isn't quite comfortable doing it yet, so she wasn't sure what to tell me. I got in unscathed in 1 shot.
You never know when you'll be out of your area of expertise and need the help of someone else.
I have also enjoyed helping others in the campgrounds. I was there once and now I'm paying it back. Besides, it gives me exposure to other rigs and systems, from which I am always learning new things. It's just flat fun to be helpful.
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