It's Always Something!

I wrote in my book that buying and enjoying a RV was a lot like buying and living in an old-house. There was always something to work on, some project, something that needed attention. I've had some folks write me and tell me I was wrong. My original statement was clearly "tolerance" based. I want my RV to function as it should - no work-arounds, bandaids or blinders.

My wife and I spent a wonderful week in Red River, NM. What an amazing place - we love it. One morning, my wife woke me up and informed me the RV was freezing. OK, it wasn't freezing - but it was 52 degrees inside. Quick check of the thermostat - set to 66, hummm. I got up and around and started investigating. After using about half the tools (first picture) at my disposal, I found that the LP regulator was not switching tanks as it was supposed to. Bummer - bad regulator - manually swapped tanks and now we would have heat until Amazon delivers the new regulator.

The next morning, my wife noticed that the front bathroom was really cold. Out of bed again, checked and yup, it was 15 degrees colder than the rest of the coach. This time, I had to empty the basement, remove a wall and crawl in to the belly of the RV to get to the heater box. Immediately, I noticed that the heater hose to the front bathroom register had fallen from its mount and in doing so, basically folded in half. Quick fix, heat to the front bathroom.

We left Red River early this morning - because we had some errands to run and wanted to be back in town shortly after lunch. Lightening strike!!! Third strike!!! Do NOT PASS GO!!! For all you diesel owners, you know that sickening feeling you get when your turbo seems starved for air, there's a small explosion under the hood and your engine derates to walking speed??? That happened to us - out in the middle of NO-WHERE. Of course we're up in the mountains on rugged two lane road with virtually no options to pull the rig off the road. As luck would have it, there was a short turn out approaching and I guided the Silverado and our 43 foot trailer into it. A quick check of the engine (second picture) shows the HORRIBLY STUPID DESIGN General Motors used on the turbo intercooler pipe. It had split apart like a cheap Prom dress. No worries - I have tools and spare clamps. OH WAIT - this stupid hose has a machine stamped-compressed clamp on one end with no way to use a traditional clamp. PERFECT! Well, long story short, we used our Good Sam Roadside Assistance and after getting them to understand that we were in NEW Mexico, not OLD Mexico, help was dispatched with a replacement hose, with OLD FASHIONED CLAMPS!!! Get a clue GM! emerald green homecoming dresses

So, while we really can't complain about our day (it could have been much worse), we didn't make it back in time for the errands we wanted to run but we did get to spend some more quality time together - and that's what its all about.

Our trip - while absolutely wonderful, made me wonder - what kinds of spare parts do you all carry with you on the road? Alternators? LP regulator? Tow vehicle hoses? Spare sewer hose? Fresh water hose? What???

Would love to hear from you all!!! Safe travels...