It is now Wednesday and we're in Portland, OR, enroute to Pacific City. In my last entry I mentioned that I was trying to install my desktop computer into the rig. My plan went south when I discoved that it was too big to fit through the entry way of the space I was going to use. RV's just don't have much extra space. I decided to leave it at home and just use the laptop.
We got underway at 2:40 on Monday afternoon. Everything went into the rig thanks to Nancy. She's a real whiz about using space efficiently. It was a 200 mile drive into 15 -25 knot winds and up over the Blue Mountains. In other words, into the wind and uphill all the way. Our first night was spent at Wildhorse campground in Pendleton, OR. It was a nice site and we were both tired enough that we only had dinner, took a walk with our dog Bo and went to bed early.
Yesterday, we left around 8:30 am for Camping World in Portland, Once again, we were fighting headwinds, actually quartering headwinds at about 25-35 knots all the way. As we got about 50 miles East of Portland (PDX) it started to spritz. I discovered that I didn't know how to operate the wipers. As a matter of fact, I thought they were inoperative. All I could do was push the washer button and get two swipes. I tried everything that made any sense to me and nothing worked. I spent the last hour of the trip with one hand on the wash button and the other fighting the crosswinds and gusts in the canyons. Not the best drive so far. To add insult to injury, once we got to Camping World, one of the mechanics pointed out that I was trying to turn the wrong knob. Turns out you turn the small knob in the center that I had been pushing as a washer button. You can probably see the glow of my "red face" from where you are reading this. In my defense, I've never seen this arangement before. Oh well. live and learn. At about the same time it started to rain, a warning message came up saying that there was "Water in the Fuel" I decided to see if I could get it fixed at Camping World. We tried to get the "Water in Fuel" message to go out, but $178 later and a phone call to Freightliner, we found out that it's a warranty issue and can only be handled at a dealer. The factory tech said not to worry. I can keep driving and nothing bad will happen. I sure hope so. I'd hate to see it go into a "failure, shutdown mode".
Last night, we stayed at the Fairview RV park, just about a mile west of Camping World. Nice park. We made the reservation when we left Pendleton so we had a reservation. It was raining during hookup and for a couple of hours after. It quit around 7:oo pm. Today, it's overcast and supposed to get 70 degrees. Should be a nice day to finish up our trip. I need to go now so I can get ready to get us on the road. Later
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Final Steps
Here it is Sunday already and it seems like we still have lots to do. My first project today is to attempt to put this computer into the RV. I have a spot for it, and I've also gotten a "wireless" router so I can use the connection from my USB modem and share it with the laptop. I've also just discovered that the 1000 Trails Preserve in Pacific City has marginal cell phone reception and that an external atenna and an amplifier are required. I already have the external antenna and will purchase the amplifier after we get there.
Our Daught, Son In Law and Grandson are coming over this afternoon to see Nancy (it's Mothersday) and check out the new rig. It's too bad I don't have anything really heavy. With all the muscle power we'll have I could pick up a big load.
I'm going to end this for now. Lots to do, so little time!
Our Daught, Son In Law and Grandson are coming over this afternoon to see Nancy (it's Mothersday) and check out the new rig. It's too bad I don't have anything really heavy. With all the muscle power we'll have I could pick up a big load.
I'm going to end this for now. Lots to do, so little time!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Getting Ready
It is now Thursday afternoon and we're leaving on Monday afternoon. We've been busy shopping for groceries and other items for the RV. Sometimes it looks as though we'e going to some remote desert location instead of a small town on the Oregon coast. We also brought the RV home from the dealership and spent some time operating every system on it. We also did a load of laundry.
We found several items that we wanted repaired, nothing serious. The RV is currentlyat the dealer and we were notified today that it's ready to be picked up. I've asked them to keep it there until Saturday morning. I need to explain why.
I talked the storage facility people into letting us park the rig in one of their vacant, individual, indoor, parking structures. They have 19 of them that measure 50'X14'. I figured that I'd see about getting a lower rate for the 10 days or so that I thought we'd need the space. It's like an airplane leaving with empty seats "an opportunity gone forever". They agreed and assigned me unit 16. The only problem is, space 16 is opposite another row of storage saces that are about 50 feet away. There is literally no room to manuver a 39' coach to get it lined up straight into the unit. I managed to do it once, but I'm not going to do it again. I must have ground 5 pounds of rubber off of each front tire trying to back and fill. So much for my great plan.
We will pick up the coach on Saturday morning and bring it to the house for the weekend. That way we can leave on Monday around 2:oo pm. At least that's the plan. I have a commitment at lunch time on Monday, then we're free to go.
I'll spend some more time on this later.
We found several items that we wanted repaired, nothing serious. The RV is currentlyat the dealer and we were notified today that it's ready to be picked up. I've asked them to keep it there until Saturday morning. I need to explain why.
I talked the storage facility people into letting us park the rig in one of their vacant, individual, indoor, parking structures. They have 19 of them that measure 50'X14'. I figured that I'd see about getting a lower rate for the 10 days or so that I thought we'd need the space. It's like an airplane leaving with empty seats "an opportunity gone forever". They agreed and assigned me unit 16. The only problem is, space 16 is opposite another row of storage saces that are about 50 feet away. There is literally no room to manuver a 39' coach to get it lined up straight into the unit. I managed to do it once, but I'm not going to do it again. I must have ground 5 pounds of rubber off of each front tire trying to back and fill. So much for my great plan.
We will pick up the coach on Saturday morning and bring it to the house for the weekend. That way we can leave on Monday around 2:oo pm. At least that's the plan. I have a commitment at lunch time on Monday, then we're free to go.
I'll spend some more time on this later.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Post 1st Trip
When we got in yesterday we first unloaded the rig, took showers and then I sat down and typed up our notes as far as our write-ups.
It was kind of interesting because as we started to leave the park I wanted to dump the holding tanks. I pulled up at the dump station, dug out our new "Rhino-Flex hose and discovered that it doesn't fit up through the hole in the bottom of the compartment. Hummm! I managed to just barely squeeze the hose coupling under the connector and over the lip of the compartment. I was able to drain both tanks, however, since everything had to go about 3 inches before it could travel down the hose, I had a minor mess. Nothing to bad and I was able to hose it out right away. I'm baffled at why any manufacturer would build something as basic as a hole for a sewer drain and not ensure that it was large enough to allow the fitting to enter the compartment. Oh well, mine is not to reason why!!!!
After I got the tanks drained (mostly) the step wouldn't retract. We had to move away from the dump station to allow the next rig in so I parked us over by the ranger station. After looking around and playing with every switch and circuit breaker I could find, I gave up and called the dealership. Fortunately, Bob,(the sales manager) was able to do some quick research and told me about a fuse located outside in a compartment just below the drivers seat area. Sure enough, It was blown, so I replaced it with one I stole from the keyless entry system and got us under way.
We got home with out any further problems except I discovered that the rear camera (#1 camera) is wired so that anything that's on the left side of the coach shows up on the right side of the monitor and vise a versa. It's mind blowing to be in the right lane and watch a car appear to come up from the right rear and look out the side and see him pass on the left. Dangerous stuff. If it were an airplane, I'd ground it. As it is, I took it back into the dealer this morning and won't drive it again untill it's fixed. Other than that, it was a wonderful trip.
Later
It was kind of interesting because as we started to leave the park I wanted to dump the holding tanks. I pulled up at the dump station, dug out our new "Rhino-Flex hose and discovered that it doesn't fit up through the hole in the bottom of the compartment. Hummm! I managed to just barely squeeze the hose coupling under the connector and over the lip of the compartment. I was able to drain both tanks, however, since everything had to go about 3 inches before it could travel down the hose, I had a minor mess. Nothing to bad and I was able to hose it out right away. I'm baffled at why any manufacturer would build something as basic as a hole for a sewer drain and not ensure that it was large enough to allow the fitting to enter the compartment. Oh well, mine is not to reason why!!!!
After I got the tanks drained (mostly) the step wouldn't retract. We had to move away from the dump station to allow the next rig in so I parked us over by the ranger station. After looking around and playing with every switch and circuit breaker I could find, I gave up and called the dealership. Fortunately, Bob,(the sales manager) was able to do some quick research and told me about a fuse located outside in a compartment just below the drivers seat area. Sure enough, It was blown, so I replaced it with one I stole from the keyless entry system and got us under way.
We got home with out any further problems except I discovered that the rear camera (#1 camera) is wired so that anything that's on the left side of the coach shows up on the right side of the monitor and vise a versa. It's mind blowing to be in the right lane and watch a car appear to come up from the right rear and look out the side and see him pass on the left. Dangerous stuff. If it were an airplane, I'd ground it. As it is, I took it back into the dealer this morning and won't drive it again untill it's fixed. Other than that, it was a wonderful trip.
Later
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Our first trip
We are now into our fourth day with the new rig. We'll be going back to Boise in a couple of hours and I wanted to jot down some thoughts about the journey so far.
We both , absolutly love this rig. It's everything we wanted and a little bit more. As with every new RV, there are a few things That need to be repaired. the primary problem is both furnaces. It has gotten down to freezing or below each night. I have set both thermostats at 55 to 60 degrees F and each funace has cycle all night long in what appears to be a proper response to the thermostat. As soon as we get up in the morning and set them to a higher setting. 68-72 degrees, they both start to light, then shut down, then light, then shut down, etc. They don't actually produce any usable heat.
The other items are minor, draperies that need to be re-strung, shades that need to be retensioned, etc.
I'll do a further report after we get back to Boise.
We both , absolutly love this rig. It's everything we wanted and a little bit more. As with every new RV, there are a few things That need to be repaired. the primary problem is both furnaces. It has gotten down to freezing or below each night. I have set both thermostats at 55 to 60 degrees F and each funace has cycle all night long in what appears to be a proper response to the thermostat. As soon as we get up in the morning and set them to a higher setting. 68-72 degrees, they both start to light, then shut down, then light, then shut down, etc. They don't actually produce any usable heat.
The other items are minor, draperies that need to be re-strung, shades that need to be retensioned, etc.
I'll do a further report after we get back to Boise.
Friday, April 25, 2008
We finally got it!!!!!
Well here we are, sitting in our new rig. We finally picked it up yesterday (Thursday) at about 11:30. We were supposed to pick it up on April 11th, then on April 18th, then on the 22nd, then the 23, and finally the 24th. It's been an interesting ride. The folks at Dennis Dillon have been good to work with, however they were stymied because parts hadn't come in, etc. We've tried to stay on an even keel about the delays and my only concern has been that we have reservations at Three Island Park stating on the 24th (yesterday. In addition, I had a VA hearing test scheduled for 1:00 pm on Thursday as well. Our plan was to leave home, with the RV, right after I finished the hearing test.
To simplifiy everything, yesterday, we went to Dillon's at 0800 am gave them our old rig (we'll miss it) and started the checkout process on the new rig. What a beautiful coach. Tony (the tech who did the dealer prep on the coach) took us through the checkout. It was a little anti-climatic after all of studiing I've been doing. The best part of the checkout was actually getting get my hands on the various system controls and to operate them after the reading process. Everything came togeather just like I had hoped it would. It really is much like checking out in a new airplane. I alway start out by reading the manual cover to cover, then go to ground school, then to systems proceedures training, then to the simulator, then to the airplane. Of course you get tested at every phase of training for the airplane. Here the only test is how much your billfold can handle after you break something. It does make sense to study the systems and pay attention at the checkout. I'm sure I won't remember everything, however I know where to find the information now.
We got home with the coach at about 12:15 pm and I just had time to unhook the car and tow dolly and hop in the car to get to my hearing appointment. I got there exactly at 1:00 pm. How's that for timing? After the test, (I need hearing aids) I went home and Nancy and I finished packing and left Boise around 5:00 pm. Probably not the most auspicious time of day to start driving a new rig through city traffic. We really had no difficulty getting down here to Three Island Park. This is a beautiful setting. We were here almost exactly a year ago with our then ,new, fifth wheel. It's been an interesting year, full of new ideas, new people and a major change in our lifestyles. It's been fun for the most part. We only got a little discouraged when we were in the Thousand Trails Palm Springs resort in January. We just couldn't imagine sitting there all winter. We brightened up when we both realized that we could move on and see something new.
Today is a day of trying out everything we can in the new rig. We want to exercise every system and work out any bugs. We'll need to get everything fixed before we leave for Pacific City Thousand Trails on May 11th. We have some friends stopping by for lunch today. Stan and Rose are an older couple that we know form church and we've become very fond of them and truth be told, I think it's reciprical.
I'm going to finish up for now. Later!
To simplifiy everything, yesterday, we went to Dillon's at 0800 am gave them our old rig (we'll miss it) and started the checkout process on the new rig. What a beautiful coach. Tony (the tech who did the dealer prep on the coach) took us through the checkout. It was a little anti-climatic after all of studiing I've been doing. The best part of the checkout was actually getting get my hands on the various system controls and to operate them after the reading process. Everything came togeather just like I had hoped it would. It really is much like checking out in a new airplane. I alway start out by reading the manual cover to cover, then go to ground school, then to systems proceedures training, then to the simulator, then to the airplane. Of course you get tested at every phase of training for the airplane. Here the only test is how much your billfold can handle after you break something. It does make sense to study the systems and pay attention at the checkout. I'm sure I won't remember everything, however I know where to find the information now.
We got home with the coach at about 12:15 pm and I just had time to unhook the car and tow dolly and hop in the car to get to my hearing appointment. I got there exactly at 1:00 pm. How's that for timing? After the test, (I need hearing aids) I went home and Nancy and I finished packing and left Boise around 5:00 pm. Probably not the most auspicious time of day to start driving a new rig through city traffic. We really had no difficulty getting down here to Three Island Park. This is a beautiful setting. We were here almost exactly a year ago with our then ,new, fifth wheel. It's been an interesting year, full of new ideas, new people and a major change in our lifestyles. It's been fun for the most part. We only got a little discouraged when we were in the Thousand Trails Palm Springs resort in January. We just couldn't imagine sitting there all winter. We brightened up when we both realized that we could move on and see something new.
Today is a day of trying out everything we can in the new rig. We want to exercise every system and work out any bugs. We'll need to get everything fixed before we leave for Pacific City Thousand Trails on May 11th. We have some friends stopping by for lunch today. Stan and Rose are an older couple that we know form church and we've become very fond of them and truth be told, I think it's reciprical.
I'm going to finish up for now. Later!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Some clarifying & an update
Yesterday, Nancy, my better half, realized that I had not explained that the RV we purchased was actually down in California at the factory when we puchased it up here in Boise. The RV we looked at was a sister coach and was equipped exactly as we wanted our coach. Obviously, some things were different such as the dinette instead of a table with free standing chairs, ours only had two tv's and we wanted recliners instead of the second couch and a satellite.That's why it's taking so long to get our coach ready.
I went to the dealership today and spent some time with the RV tech who's doing the work. We took the new tv out of it's box and put in in it's place, mid coach. It should work out very well.
I'm still doubtful about their ablilityto deliver the coach tomorrow. They still have to finish the dinette removal, finish the tv installation, do a fair amount of cosmetic woodwork, patch several places in the carpet where they've removed things, and install the sleepcomfort bed. They also have to wash and clean the coach for delivery. Oh yeah, they also have to assemble the tow dolly.
I forgo to talk about the "TOAD. We will be towing Nancy's 1998 Ford Contour. We bought it new in 1998 and it's in excellent condition. It only has about 40,000 miles on it and we just can't justify replacing it. The probem with it is that according to Ford and other resources, you can't flat tow a 1998 Ford Contour. Henceforth, the tow dolly. I really don't like the idea of hastling with it when it comes to storage, either at the storage facility that we use or at the campground. We'll try it for awhile and see if it irritates me enough to cough up the extra money to replace it.
I continue to study the manuels for the new coach. I,m spending as much time reading about this thing as I did learning how to fly a new jetliner. Of course, I'll own this. On the other hand, no one is paying me to drive it. Ahaaaa, the way's of the world!
I went to the dealership today and spent some time with the RV tech who's doing the work. We took the new tv out of it's box and put in in it's place, mid coach. It should work out very well.
I'm still doubtful about their ablilityto deliver the coach tomorrow. They still have to finish the dinette removal, finish the tv installation, do a fair amount of cosmetic woodwork, patch several places in the carpet where they've removed things, and install the sleepcomfort bed. They also have to wash and clean the coach for delivery. Oh yeah, they also have to assemble the tow dolly.
I forgo to talk about the "TOAD. We will be towing Nancy's 1998 Ford Contour. We bought it new in 1998 and it's in excellent condition. It only has about 40,000 miles on it and we just can't justify replacing it. The probem with it is that according to Ford and other resources, you can't flat tow a 1998 Ford Contour. Henceforth, the tow dolly. I really don't like the idea of hastling with it when it comes to storage, either at the storage facility that we use or at the campground. We'll try it for awhile and see if it irritates me enough to cough up the extra money to replace it.
I continue to study the manuels for the new coach. I,m spending as much time reading about this thing as I did learning how to fly a new jetliner. Of course, I'll own this. On the other hand, no one is paying me to drive it. Ahaaaa, the way's of the world!
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