Tag Archives: Winnebago

RVing Mishaps Along the Way

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“You don’t have to tell people about this,” Jody said. I agreed.

No one needed to know that we drove into a car wash knocking our air conditioner off its frame. Our 29 ft. Class A motorhome didn’t fit. This was something Jody and I were never going to do—drive into a car wash with our RV. Immediately, we knew we made a mistake when we heard a loud “Clunk”. After we both screamed, I slowly backed out of the car wash. Jody inspected the ceiling of our RV and could see daylight. This was not going to be an easy fix.

Belonging to well over 20 RV websites: RV Lifestyle, RV Maintenance – Repair & Remodeling Group, RVing with Dogs, RV Traveling with Cats, Winnebago Motorhome Repair, 50 and Over RV’ers, 60 and Over RV’ers, Full Time RV Living, RV Group for Beginners, RV Owners Helping RV Owners and many more, we were knowledgeable and aware of the hazards. We discussed horror stories.

For gosh sakes, we had even gone to a weeklong RV class.

There was a sign at the car wash that said RV WASH. We didn’t look closely enough to see that the arrow was pointing to the OUTSIDE of the bay.

There have been other mishaps.

I trust my mirrors. They don’t lie. I don’t need to see directly behind our RV. I use my side mirrors effectively. Backing all 29 ft. into my cousin’s driveway with him guiding me, I forgot that we had our E-bikes on the hitch. I dented the right corner of his car with the E-bikes. Ooops.

Jody and I have learned that she should be on the phone directing me with her shrieks and yells while I am driving out of or into parking spots. My cousin’s “STOP” is so much more mellow than Jody’s. I know her nuances, her breathing, her certain shrillness.

Jody’s role is to be the fixer. She handled getting the air conditioner repaired. When an exterior storage compartment was damaged due to an object flying off a semi on the freeway, she ordered the part from Winnebago and will oversee the replacement. She diagnosed a leak in our bathroom shower and ran after an RV serviceman in a KOA to get it repaired. Our backup camera is now working because of her efforts.

My role is to clean the grey and black waste tanks weekly.

It’s been three months since we’ve left Minnesota in our RV. We’ve learned that we can live together in a tight space. And, if something breaks or gets damaged, we will fix it same as if you fall over in a chair, you don’t stay down. You get up, find the humor, and carry on.

We Can Do This … the Saying of Yes

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Jody and BethOne month ago, Jody and I flew to Texas for a weeklong RV Fundamentals course. We don’t own an RV. Our goal was to learn the intricacies of RVs and how to maintain a motorhome before buying. Our chance of success would increase, and we’d have much less frustration.

Class A motorhomes look like a large bus, Class B a van, and a Class C has a sleeping area over the cab.

On two occasions we had rented an RV for travel. A 31ft. Class C for a trip to the Grand Canyon and a 30ft. Class C for a trip to Mount Rainier. We learned that we had no idea what the sensors were indicating, where the fuse box was and what to look for if the refrigerator stopped working. We punted. We asked questions of other RVers, found the operator’s manual, and bought a cooler and ice to keep food cold.

After landing in Dallas, we picked up our rented 24ft. Class C. This would be our home for ten days while we attended classes at the National RV Training Academy (NRVTA) in Athens. The program prepares individuals to apply basic technical knowledge and skills to build, test, inspect, repair, service and maintain recreational vehicles, systems, and interior and exterior components. At the end of the week there was an optional RV Service Technician exam.

Back of ClassWe didn’t sign up for the test. We hid in the back of the class.

At first, our goal was to listen to the lectures, and be active in the labs. Absorb the teachings and feel more competent as yet-to-be RV owners.

We were intrigued to learn being an RVer could lead to a business opportunity.

During the week we attended small business developmental training before the technical training started. The Stepping into Business Success course was compelling. Jody and I could see our way to owning a small business. Our new RV could be a work vehicle and become a tax write-off. Graduates of the school were in business as RV Techs, Inspectors, and some had branched off to other specialties such as air conditioners, refrigerators, generators and solar.

We just needed to find our niche.

Where we landed was the deep cleaning of grey and black tanks. Ms. and Ms. Poo if you must.

Jody certificatesAt week’s end, Jody and I received an RV Fundamentals Training certificate. In addition, Jody studied for and passed the RV Service Technician exam and became certified.

Still, we didn’t own an RV. Our intention was to buy one from a private owner or dealership while on vacation in Florida in the coming six weeks. Our retirement snapshot was summer at our home in Minnesota and winter in Florida living in an RV.

During one of our breakout lab sessions, Jody and I mentioned that we were looking to purchase an RV. A classmate had an aunt who lived in Farmersville, Texas selling a 2020 Class A 28ft. Winnebago Intent with less than 10,000 miles. Having spent a week crawling into a corner bed and bruising our elbows and shins from the tight space of a 24ft., owning a much larger RV was very appealing. We had never considered a Class A. I kept returning to the fact that we had previous experience with a 30 and 31ft RV. This was just a different style, and the length was only 28ft!

Jody and I drove 1 ½ hours to Farmersville, met the owners, and test drove the Class A. The owners were delightful. It was a motorhome we could be proud of. We signed a bill of sale. Named her Flo.

Back home in Minnesota Jody and I registered two businesses with the State: tankrefreshrv (grey and black tank maintenance) and dogGo (Jody’s dog walking business).

Class A photoWhile we were on a roll, we researched becoming Workampers. Workampers are people who have chosen a lifestyle that combines work with RV camping. RVers are provided a campsite in exchange for service.

During our vacation in Florida, Jody and I secured part-time positions for the coming winter season at an RV resort as activity directors. We will also oversee our small business on the side.

Jody and I have signed up for additional online training to be poo specialists.

We are no longer saying, “We can do this,” we are saying, “We ARE doing this.”

It’s been one month since our RV Fundamentals class. Following the flow, the saying of yes, brought us to this point. The only thing missing is Flo herself. She’s still in Farmersville, Texas. Mid-March, after our vacation in Florida, we’ll fly to Texas to bring her home.

Can’t wait to get to know her.