Posts from the ‘RV Trips’ category

the tale of Woody

Once upon a time in an RV park full of fun people escaping Winter, there lived a Mr. and Mrs. in a 5th wheel trailer.  Neighbors of Mr. and Mrs. got a sweet little puppy and it made Mrs. want a sweet little puppy of her very own.  But Mr. did NOT want a dog and said “NO dog!!!” to his Mrs.  All of the RV park soon knew of this.

Then one day, Mr. and Mrs. went away for a few days.  When they returned, there was a little wooden dog on their doorstep!  Mr. set the dog to the side of the concrete parking pad. 

On another day, Mr. and Mrs. returned to find that the dog had a sign around his neck – “Woody” – so now the dog had a name.  Often when Mr. and Mrs. went away, they returned to find that Woody had more stuff…a collar, a leash, a water bowl, a bone, a kerchief.  Sometimes he moves to different places on the site – a dog needs a bit of variety.  One day there was a small pile of poop wood shavings and Mr. and Mrs. were in a bit of hot water for not picking up!  But the park forgave them after it got cleaned up.  And then this Christmas, when they were gone an entire week, Woody acquired a dog house…

Now, I don’t know if Mr. and Mrs. and Woody and all of the people at the rv park are going to live “happily ever after” but I do think that they know how to have fun! And, of course the moral of the story is that nothing stays “secret” in an rv park…

Around Rockport

I took Karl for a morning walk next to the RV park and found a road that leads down to the water. Cloudy, cool and overcast but still beautiful.

Sea grass – what color up close!

got Jacks, got Rooms, got Stars in my eyes!

The beast aka “Wild Thing” is home!  The jacks work, the rooms work…. a pump relay was replaced and the old one found to have arcing.  The BIG question is….what caused the arcing and the motor failure and are we cured or just treating symptoms.  I actually think we are cured but time will tell.  I’m planning some overnight trips VERY close to home along some bumpy roads – to mimic a long trip – and see if a literal shake-down brings up more trouble or if we are good to go.  Still – a motorhome – house on wheels – made of atoms (not my line but I like it!) – things are going to break…

Jacks 

Motorhome

Stars in my eyes – well, the “stars” I’m writing about…several days ago, Karl and I bumped heads playing…  His head hit me on the browbone above my left eye hard enough that I saw stars – Pretty, but OUCH and I thought I might get a black eye, but no so I forgot about it until yesterday when all of a sudden a large floater in my eye and then last evening a flash of light when I moved my eye. 

I looked on the internet and scared myself silly so called my eye Dr. this a.m. and they fit me in to the Sat a.m. schedule… So far so good – the thing that floater and flash “possibly” signifies is detached retina – which they can fix but better to find and fix sooner than later.  At any rate, the retina is not detached and they will keep an eye on it.

The good news is this fun eye patch that they gave me – they dilated the pupil extra to really get a good look and it is extremely light sensitive until it returns to normal…and I have 1 or 2 more checks so….

EyePatch 

from the motorhome repair shop

Working

Sadly, today’s post comes from the motorhome repair shop.  I did write a draft there although am posting from my home office.

The service writers and staff at Loren’s Auto Repair are used to me bringing my computer and today offered me a desk!  I’ve downloaded PDF’s for them while there so I guess got semi-official status today.  I had a quiet corner, my iPod, a good cell signal for my aircard so work as normal.

That’s the good news… I was there in the first place because when I went to run the jacks down prior to some final trip preps they were not working.  Slide rooms work fine so the new electric motor is fine.  I checked everything I knew how to check. 

Shop

The shop got them working but not by a method I was willing to go home with.  After checking all power to and from the switch they started thumping things and then the jacks worked.  I’m not up to writing the entire ugly scenario but by end of the day it was determined that the problem is a pump relay – the relay that sends power to one of the room solenoids or the jack solenoids.  Hopefully they will find one tomorrow and get it replaced.

Meantime, I cancelled the trip – I’ve now spent a day and a 1/2 of time and not sure about the $$ and it just put me over the top with the motor, transmission service and playing catchup with work.  Disappointing but part of the RV thing. 

“Wild Thing”…spending the night away from home…

Motorhome

Endless Summer

Usually there is some sadness here in Northwestern Montana as summer comes to an end – this year, though, we are all not only ready for it to be over but praying for that first heavy snow – at the very least some good rain and a hard frost!  Between record heat, record fires and wasps/hornets/yellow jackets it has been a summer to remember although hardly with fondness.

 On the good news front, the fire near Glacier (Skyland) and west of Whitefish (Brush Creek) have calmed a bit – or at least they seem to have a handle on the fronts nearest homes, ranches and structure.  Seeley Lake (Jocko Lakes) allowed some evac’d residents home.  Tomorrow will be pivotal as a cold front – a REAL cold front is due to whoosh through with wind at the start and possibly strong to severe thunderstorms following.  The storms are supposed to be “wet” and next week’s forecast is for a fall-type scenario with much cooler temps and real RAIN. 

The bad news and a bit ironic – I returned from Missoula on Monday 8/14.  Yesterday at approximately 2:15 a fire (Black Cat) started just a few miles from Jim n Mary’s RV park and additionally closed route 93 for some time.  Homeowner’s were evacuated with less than an hour’s notice.  Scary stuff and that kind of thing is a possibilty throughout Montana and probably a lot of the west until we get significant moisture.

So – VERY glad to be home – but glad to have gone… the little trip broke the anxiety, even given the continued high fire danger.  Local fire departments have been given funds to keep manpower and equipment staged and ready to quickly knock down any new starts.  My own volunteer district is now “manned” (and PAID!) 24/7 with 2 of 7 engines out of the halls and at strategic points of the district.

Karl and Bob are glad to be home and back in their routine – off leash and in their own space.  Always funny – the first night back they are both very snuggly – Karl, who on rare occasions will come on the bed ALWAYS joins Bob and I when we return home.  My boys – they are excellent company at home or on the road….

Karl and Bob

RV Transmission – Part 3

10:45 Monday morning – we are at the shop, the part is here!!! – so just waiting for the service tech to finish whatever.  I have power and internet so “life” continues – Bob and Karl napping as usual.

 It is not quite as smoky this morning as last night but smoke is supposed to drop and thicken so I don’t expect much improvement here or on the way home.

 3:40 – Home!  Transmission fixed very quickly – wasn’t as much “stuff” in the way as anticipated, trans serviced with fresh fluid and filter (yep, Al 25K!) and trip home was easy.

 It is VERY smoky and ash falling but still good to be home – nice break in the anxiety.  Will leave the motorhome mostly loaded and ready to roll but I think we’ll be ok for the duration. 

Repair and service details:  The internal F Solenoid had an electrical short causing the transmission failure warning and not allowing Reverse after the failure warning.  The failure warning disappeared on engine shut down – reappeared after shifting into 2nd gear at approx 28-30 mph.  Once the failure warning was on, Reverse was not available and the “range inhibit” light came on if Reverse was attempted.  D1,D2,D3 all available.  Reverse was available on a fresh engine start.

 The wiring harness for the F Solenoid was also replaced.  The original harness looked fine, but a new harness had been ordered “in case” so all new parts was the decision.

 The pan was dropped and trans fluid drained to do the solenoid/harness replacement so fresh fluid as well as a new filter were installed (mileage = 26214).  The Allison tech recommended 25K change of trans fluid and filter and it turns out that this is a quick and easy service on this coach.

After service we took a 15 mile round trip test drive which included a short but moderately steep pull up Evaro Hill.  No bells, whistles or warnings and shifting was smooth and normal.  Trans fluid was at the proper level on return.