Roger & Lynn

11 minutes ago, palamine said:

Roger and Lynn,

We feel so bad for you.  Honestly could you have gotten any worse luck.  Are you gonna be okay money wise, if you don't mind me asking?  

Well, if you see me at Walmart and I'm not shoppin"...ha! Actually, we'll be fine. Lynn can always go back to work!!

R  

20 minutes ago, sandsys said:

If only you'd kept the Red Rooster! We made the same mistake when we "upgraded" from our Winnebago View. It didn't have your problems but it changed our style of travel so much we stopped fulltiming.

Linda Sand

It's gotten so bad Linda, that when I see another RV I start wretching...ha!

R

Turns out that the alternator was bad and it got replaced last week. However, I just got back from the RV repair shop. It appears that my Magna invertor had a major failure during the engine startup and fried pretty much all of the 12v system's motherboards. HWH leveling, multiplex controller, etc. Stairs and keyless pad don't work. Not sure of the generator's status. They haven't gotten to that yet.
I guess that you could say that this repair is gonna be the "mother of all repairs" that I've faced...I hate RVs! 

R

12 hours ago, rmcf308 said:

Yes we needed a tow but we had coach net and it only took 8 hours to go 15 miles.  Coachnet provided the tow companies the wrong info on my RV and the closest company to have the equipment to tow was over 200 miles away. At 400 dollars an hour and 1600 as their estimate.  This was kinda pricey.  I called one of the local  tow companies and explained what my RV was and they said they could do the tow.  He towed us to a repair shop in  Sonora, Ca that got us going after 6 days but we could stay in the RV at his location. We did a lot of sight seeing in the area to include checking out where the Calaverrus frog jumping contest is held. 

That sounds similar to our recent Coachnet experience. The first tow truck was too small. When the second one did arrive, it took six hours to go 17 miles. The Beave is such a low rider that climbing under to disconnect the drive shaft can be a real challenge. There was some real "colorful language" emitted from under there!
The Cat shop replaced the alternator yesterday and I was told that the test drive went well. Of course, the other issues remain and I will have to find an RV repair place that can handle them. However, when I went to pick it up and started it, the Alladin system was showing that my house batteries were drawing 22 amps and I quickly shut it down. Tried to restart it and no joy. Perhaps, they were low and drawing too big a load for the new alternator to handle. It may or may not be fried...haven't heard back from the shop yet.
As a warning to you boon dockers. From what I've lately read... Run your generator for 30 to 60 minutes BEFORE starting the coach engine.  Let the generator and inverter charge up at least the coach batteries before starting the coach's engine.

R

9 hours ago, rmcf308 said:

Roger, I will have to say you have had the worst luck of any RVer I know.  My air conditioner went out and I had the hub holding the fan on the motor come apart leaving us stranded just out of Yosemote NP and a flat on the motor home.  Cost over $5500 to fix it all.  This nothing to the problems you have had.  I am very sorry for all the misery you have had and I hope it gets better for you. Hope to visit with you and Lynn again sometime in the future.

 

Jerry and Janice

Ouch, you guys. We certainly feel your pain. Did you need a tow? And then it's where to get service and a motel that allows pets if you can't stay in the rig.
I think that the happiest period in my life was the first two years of full timing in the ol" Airstream (Red Rooster). Trying to get back there but, I've gotta get the Beave repaired and sold first. We'll meet you guys down the road somewhere...I hope!

R

5 hours ago, steved44 said:

What a bummer Roger.  The Beav must have heard you were going to sell her and acted accordingly.  Sounds like one of the battery cables may have shorted out against something.  Is the battery box with the 300A fuse under the bathroom?  It sounds like one of the house battery cables was involved.  Steve

The Beav is definitely going down biting Steve! I checked the batteries...they tested and looked okay. The multiplex control box (in the breaker closet) was the smoker. I looked at those big fuses and they "appeared" alright. Finally got ahold of the service manager. Said they'd try and get a look see this p.m.

How's the shoulder treatin' ya? Getting better I hope!

R

1 hour ago, Onthego said:

Us on the other hand lived in the Denver, Co. area for nearly 40 years (1972-2011). Love the no humidity but don't want to do snow anymore and summer is too short. I saw snow every month of the year except July and the only reason I never saw snow in July is because I wasn't high enough in the mountains. We'll be settling just north of San Antonio in the next year.

Travel safe everyone.

Jeff    

Have you and Tina started the ground break yet?
We're fairly settled in and enjoying our new digs here in the Iowa City area. College town, excellent medical care and friendly neighbors.
On the downside, I went out to the RV storage lot last Friday and fired up the engine on the MH. Wanted to make sure that it did so for the upcoming repair work this week so that we can put it up for sale. It started but, smoke started pouring out of the dash and the breaker panel in bathroom. Dash volt meter was pegged out past 18v.
Can't level the rig. House multiplex light switches are all lit up but, no lights. Genny won't start, etc. Spent the rest of the day getting it towed to a Cat shop and they haven't returned my calls yet. On the bright side, at least I have a home to sleep in!
I hate motor homes. Apparently, there's no end to the amount of money you pour into them...even when you're trying to get rid of 'em!!!

20 minutes ago, Onthego said:

Time to move on from Peoria. Going racing tomorrow at http://www.centralillinoisdragway.com/ then on down to Springfield for a week or so. If you can imagine we've had rain and thunder storms along with a tornado warning a few nights ago. There have also been some beautiful days and some super humid days too. Life back east.

Travel safe everyone.

Jeff    

Go get 'em Jeff!

Here in Iowa City, dew points near 80...crikey. That's like Florida in the Summer. It takes your breath away...need some gills. Gotta say we're enjoying our new stick and brick with the AC and all for that.  Winter comes and that will be a distant memory. We missed the changing seasons. But, think we'll pass on winter and head to the south then.
"Is this heaven...no, it's Iowa"!

10 minutes ago, sandsys said:

Linda hasn't traveled up north for years. South of the Twin Cities Mystic Lake Casino's RV park has a self serve RV wash with power wands and catwalks so you can actually get up high. East William O'Brien State Park has electric sites. We like 38e as it is near guest parking where you can park the vehicle that didn't fit in the site. North the main thing that comes to mind is Betty's Pies but I don't know if she is still in business. Oh, and the headwaters of the Mississippi at Itasca State Park; you can walk on rocks across the river that is huge even here in town. (bring a towel; it's nearly impossible to resist the urge to wade right in.)

Linda

3

I think that I had a piece of Betty's pie https://bettyspies.com/ some years ago on our way to a fishing trip...very good! It's worth going there for the drive along Lake Superior. Walkin' the rocks at Itasca is a must if you're in that area.

5 minutes ago, hdrider said:

 Oh sure, House on the rocks then on to Milwaukee (probably stay at the fairgrounds, I contacted them via email and will probably call hem in the morning) to visit Harley Davidson Museum and maybe the Pabst Mansion, We already have reservations at Sturgeon Bay in Door County where we will stay 1 week, will be securing reservations at Apple Creek just outside of Green Bay so we can do the train museum, Lambeau Field and other sites around Green Bay and travel to Oshkosh from there for the Oshkosh Airshow at least 1 day and that's just a start.

 

I'll be curious what you think of Apple Creek. We've stayed at the fairgrounds...good location and quiet. 

3 hours ago, steved44 said:

Jeff, we got a lot of rain and lightning, but nothing severe in this area.  Most of the larger storm went to the North.  you're right, spring around here is a bit too exciting at times.  We just got in the habit of being here in the spring and can't seem to shake it.  We will have another round of storms this weekend.  Nice weather otherwise though

 

Glad to hear that Steve. Too bad about those storm chasers...we'd watched them on the Weather Channel.

1 hour ago, hdrider said:

 We were thinking about waiting until next year and go directly from AZ to Michigan but decided driving through tornado alley this time of year just wasn't going to happen so we decided to head that way from Oregon. What's a few extra miles to avoid what seems to be certain bad weather.

 Hey Roger we have the House on the Rocks on our radar on our way to the Harley Museum then Door County.

 

That's a good start but, don't forget Lambeau...I need to hear how my stock is doin'! Gotta do some supper clubs, eh? Ely area of the Boundary Waters is another. The Wolf Center and the Chocolate Moose Restaurant. I'm sure Linda has some good tips! 

Steve, you Okies must get your adrenaline rush living in tornado alley. Being a fellow Midwesterner I kinda get it but, not like OK does! Stay safe my friend...I'm sure you guys know where the shelter is...make sure you don't wait too long! 

R 

Wow, I reckin' that I'd better start making some reservations...it sounds like I've upset the equilibrium of the universe! 

R

37 minutes ago, jeriwilliams1 said:

It'll probably rain hard, thunder, lightening, tornadoes and hail.  How's that for a forecast?    Bend is east of the Cascades so different weather patterns.  However, it should be nice but might not with all the strange weather up there this year.  My forecast is maybe nice and maybe not.  Do I sound like a weather professional?

 

We're going north via California/Oregon coast.  Lots of routes depending on how you go but you already know that.  How you heading north?

 

 

 

 

 

Crikey, sounds like the Midwest....

You'll like this Jeri...we have no plans,

So, June 9th in Bend shouldn't be too bad?

We've got from now till then to get there...any suggestions for stops along the way?

So sorry for your for your loss Linda. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

Roger and Lynn 

So sorry to hear of your father's passing. It was good that you got to spend time with him.

Right Linda, we have used them a few times and were well pleased. They have full hook ups there too so that helps. Nice to have people that understand the RV life. Steve

Was it hard to get an appointment, Steve? I checked them out at http://rvservicereviews.com. They had 95 reviews and were rated excellent overall. Don't need 'em now (I shouldn't say that) but, sounds like a good place to go if/when I do!

R

 

Going to the Tempe Elks. We'll catch up when we get to town.

 

Jeff

You bet...give our regards to J & T when you get there!

VERY windy today in Yuma. Dust flying like crazy and suppose to rain tomorrow. It almost never rains in Yuma but it has rained several times on us in the 4 weeks (two 2 week stays) we've been here. Moving Sunday to Phoenix for a month then Tucson for Escapade. After Escapade heading for Texas.

 

Travel safe everyone.

 

Jeff

Your rainmaking skills are holding!

Where 'bouts in Phoenix? We're still at Apache Wells (Mesa) til the end of the month then March in Tucson.

R

 

When you change a date of something announced here it is good to post the change here since you never know who may be following the original plan. Even though I like Farkle better than quesadillas.

 

Linda

I've never been farkled but, I liked the quesadillas...spaghetti was great too!

Meetin' J & T for lunch thursday...hopefully, it won't be as crowded as Silly Al's...

R

We were planning on going over on thursday for the Margartias but the weather didn't look good so we stayed in Casa Grande. Even in the rain, I know the bunch of you had fun anyway. Stay dry is not normally said in the desert, but applies in this case.

 

Jerry and Janice

Rainy weather? Tina & Jeff...I'm just sayin' ...

R

Yikes, Roger! Good to get that done while you're somewhere with a good address. Q has plenty of "parts" but you have to look a little while for them. I managed to do some of that while I was waiting for the body work to be finished in Red Bay Alabama. Nothing like being near the factory to make sure all the parts are available. Having a cold one must mean your ice maker works!! Steve

You got all that right Steve. Think of Q as a giant Lowes...you know that part is in there somewhere but, spend all day looking for it!

That ice maker in my "new" fridge is part of my plan to pay off the note on the MH. In twenty years it'll make up for all of the ice I used to buy. Of course the rig (and maybe me) will be in the scrap heap!

R

Since we've been here in Casa Grande I've replaced a water pump, toilet, water line vacuum breaker, broken sink drain line and just finished replacing leaking feeder hoses. All hidden and hard to get at ('cept the toilet)...I hate plumbing. The up side is that it all happened while sitting here these past few months. Hope this is it for a while. Probably not a lot of plumbing supply stores in Q. Now it's time to take care of my plumbing with a cold one!

R