dleslie125
Southern Ontario/Palmetto FL in Winter
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
Hjudge49 wrote:I wish I had said it first, but one poster earlier reminded us that we are driving a house down the road at 65 MPH. You have to expect that stuff is gonna break.
But most quality is so bad they leave the factory with enough problems BEFORE they even hit the road. Good thing buses and airplanes aren't made with so little quality.
I've often wondered what a study on life expectancy would produce for RVers and others.
Don, Bev & Phil
07 Jayco 32SS on Kodiak May 07 Yahoo Kodiak Group
06 HR Amb 40PLQ ISC 330/950 9/05-5/07
04 Winnie Jrny 39W CAT C7 7/04-9/05)
00 Triple E Commander 5/03-5/04
Toad - 07 Tahoe LTZ 12/06 -
04 Colorado Z71 04- 06
|
OzarkPreacher
S.W.Mo. God's Country
Senior Member
Joined: 02/23/2004
View Profile
|
Well, I am a tinkerer and like fixing whatever the problem is. I try to keep things in tip top shape so when we do hit the road I can relax. But things do happen and they have to be repaired. I will say it is more enjoyable to work on a quality built rig than a thrown together one. However, I don't sit around and worry what will break next.
The good part is that whatever breaks you can find advice on what to do right here. These folks will either steer you in the right direction or give you so much advice that some of it is bound to work.
be blessed
|
jeffnkelly
St. Louis MO
Senior Member
Joined: 02/15/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
We make a list of fixes/add ons while we are out. THEN I triage them. Like... Okay... WHen we get home, I am gonna.... (Instert menial task kere)...
We take everything out of MOHO from the trip... Take a few days to mull the list over... Take everything BACK to MOHO and begin the triage'd tasks...
It works for me...
When the simplest of tasks become big issues, I simply state, OUT LOUD...
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS HARD $#%@$!^(%%^#$!#!
Smooth Roads!!!
2006 Damon Challenger 372F Triton V10
2007 Ford Edge
JeffnKelly
St. Louis MO
|
SunflyerA
Andover, Minnesota USA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/08/2004
View Profile
 Online
|
Fortunately all of the tasks on my list would never impact an outing in any way, but I just made a new list last weekend and came up with 50 plus items that need attention.....nothing critical....I will be busy this fall.
sunflyer
2005 Fleetwood Excursion 39S
350 Cat
|
chuckster11
Idaho
Senior Member
Joined: 04/30/2004
View Profile
|
One advantage to all of this is that I know the location of every Ace Hardware store between Idaho and Savannah, Ga. in case you need a widget you "think might work" to keep your coach together for another 300 miles!
Actually it has kinda been fun in a masochistic sort of way. These things test both your problem solving skills and your bank account.
|
|
|
xctraveler
Rochester, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 10/28/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Our coach is always in better shape after a multi month trip then when we leave home. While living on it I repair and adjust and tinker regularly. When it is in storage, it is easy to forget about the little stuff and not "get a round tuit."
Headed to the kids for week. May actually get some stuff done since we will living on board in their yard (we have 30 amp and my macerator pump will keep my holding tanks clear over the 120 foot reach to the clean out).
Paul
Trucking down the road in a 2004 Southwind 36E on Workhorse Chassis with a 2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD stick shift tow'd with US Gear Brake System. Check out my journal
FMCA 352081
|
jomarfl
Tampa
Senior Member
Joined: 01/27/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Speaking of maintenace, any good books out there for those of us who are challenged in reading as well as working with screw drivers and wrenches? I'm not even one of those weekend mechanic kind of guys, but do like to tinker now and then. But I try not to turn, cut, or touch anything I"m not sure about
Papa John & Mother Mary
Living The Good Life In Tampa, FL
Retired Military, USAF
2008 Fleetwood Fiesta LX, 34N w/bunks
|
50pascals
rochester, ny
Senior Member
Joined: 01/10/2008
View Profile
|
I am a bit fortunate in this regard. Ours is a 1992 that sat in various storage for 10 years. We've been running the wheels off it for the first time this summer.
We have a Georgie Boy Cruise Master with a Cummins on an Oshkosh chassis with full frame rails. Admittedly - I only bought it because it was a diesel. I paid what the engine and tranny were worth. But I lucked out with the caliber of the rest of the equipment.
I have looked at and worked on many RV's since then, and appreciate what I have.
A friend of a friend is a former RV mechanic and when they were both over here he was very excited that this is what I bought. Everything was all top notch for it's day.
He was VERY surprised that the fridge still worked. So probably on borrowed time with that. Of course, the wife just broke the door handle pivot off of it.
All the RV related stuff works great - except the genny. But I know what to do with it now.
I used the water heater for the first time last week, and it fired right up.
The to-do list seems to be all related to upgrades we voluntarily want, finishing our interior rehab, and getting ready for new full body paint.
I do see many class A's getting serviced at our local Ford dealer, and I am not sure I would want a newer one after seeing what got done to those units.
It seems many of the class A's are on a chassis that is at it's limit for length and weight. The frames are extended with tin, then for fun they hang a hitch off the tin. Something to be said for full frame rails. The more solid the foundation, the better the rest of the unit will age.
For example, many rigs from the same era and newer are already bent right after the rear tires. Not alot, but it's starting. Some look like a boomerang.
Clearly there are design-life considerations made during manufacturing. However, they sell them all as if theirs is the best. Let the buyer beware. It's up to you to determine the quality of the unit you're buying.
Admittedly most of this was learned after the fact, but I do have an eye for these things. And as I said - I lucked out on mine.
KNOCK ON WOOD!
* This post was
edited 08/13/08 10:30am by 50pascals *
|
decan9
Oceanside, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/26/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
My '97 winne was 10 years old when I bought it but everything worked. So I spend my time greasing, polishing, reupholstering the bedroom valances, checking for everything that works, going camping too! Fingers crossed!!!!
Bonnie and me and Casey makes three!
Staying warm in Southern California
FMCA #402157
W9NCR
|
jokers99
Madison, S.D.
Full Member
Joined: 05/26/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
We are the same way. One of our favorite sayings is "it's all part of the adventure". Hopefully when we get the new rig bugs worked out all will be well but you never know. We still enjoy every minute in it.
Kerry and Joanne
Lucy (female Jack always on the attack)
2007 Holiday Rambler Admiral,2002 Ford Focus
Full-timers mantra, Close your eyes, click your heels,
you're already home.
Madison S.D. via Vancouver, WA. 
|
|
|
