MECHANICAL PROBLEMS SOLVED AND SOLAR!

It has been a lazy day here in Quartzsite. Again, John worked on the inverter, fixed our lunch and hard boiled some eggs.                                                                      I used The Solution to remove the bugs from the front of our Tiffin Allegro Bus and walked the dogs.                                                                                           That is the extent of our day. 

This morning, we called the Tiffin service department in Red Bay, Alabama.  John talked to our go-to service advisor, Stanley, and received some helpful advice.  

First, Stanley suggested old batteries.  Our response was that the batteries were new when we purchased our Allegro Bus almost two years ago.  

Second, he had two more things for John to check out.  Nada, zip, nuttin Honey.  Now what?  

Susan Thompson, a snowbird from Minnesota suggested we get in touch with Brian Boone and that is just what we did.  He came out to our part of the desert and voila...."your batteries are the problem!"  

"What? Those batteries were new when we purchased our new to us Tiffin Allegro Bus!"  At lease we assumed they were new since they were so clean when we looked in the battery bay.  And someone tested them as we were sitting in Red Bay awaiting completion of work on the coach.  The someone was not a representative of Tiffin Service.  His gauge must be wrong.  

Lesson?  .....  Never assume anything when purchasing a previously owned motorhome, car, boat...anything.  We looked at the dates on the tires.  Why didn't we think to look at the date on the batteries?  

The batteries were about ten years old!  Brian could not believe that they had lasted this long!  Off to Discount Solar here in Quartzsite.  

Ahhh, four new Interstate Batteries.  Now we will be in tip top shape.  And here we thought it was the inverter.  

Wait, there's more!  The batteries were not the only problem. After Brian installed the new batteries, the solution was not there.  Brian declared the inverter was dead, very dead.  

So now, we have a new inverter in our home on wheels. NOW, everything is working as it should. 

But, there is still more!  We have made the decision to have Brian fit us with solar power.  We have spent days researching and gathering prices and Monday, we will have our first installment of of two solar panels with two more in the plan for next year.  

We are pleased with our decision.  The solar panels make up for the disappointment of not having our booth dining area removed and replaced with table and chair.  This too will happen, just not this year.  

If you are in Quartzsite in winter months and need work performed on your trailer, 5th wheel, class C, B, or A motorhome, Brian is the man to call.  His fees are extremely reasonable.  

Brian is a very  honest young man that has for the last eleven years migrated in the winter from Montana to Quartzsite to work on our rigs.  Previously, he worked for another solar dealership, but has now started his own business.  We wish Brian God speed in his new business.  

Thank you for coming to our blog today and a double thanks for clicking on our Amazon link at the top right of this page.  I know, it's not the end of the year, but I am having a difficult time changing the link.  Can anyone help?  

Tonight, I close with sunset photos.                                                                                                                                                                                                There is nothing like an Arizona desert sunset!  

 Until next time, God Bless!  

                                                                     

WESTWARD HO? NO! A ROADRUNNER AND STEALTH R Ving

After four days of non-stop travel, John finally decided he had had enough.  We stopped at the RV park directly behind the Shell station at the I-10 and I-8 junction near Gila Bend, Arizona.  

John's legs were swelling, a danger sign for one who was in the hospital just over a year ago with congestive heart failure. This is how he spent most of our time there. He also walked in order to increase circulation in his legs.  It worked and he is better today.  

This RV park is an Escapees fifty percent off park, so we stayed for just over $13.00.  To put it mildly, we thought this was not going to be a pleasant experience.  But we were mildly surprised.  We had full hook-up, WIFI and very little noise from the interstate.  We slept very soundly, but John had maxed out his energy and I decided that a second night was needed.  

I did laundry, fixed some good vegan meals, walked dogs and just chilled.  It was a good rest.  

We had a visitor this morning.   He was running around just trying my patience.                                             I needed to use the telephoto setting to get these pictures.        But get them, I did!                                      He was on his way to  visit another unique  RV.    At least I think one could call it an RV.  It actually was a fifty-six foot trailer pulled by a huge tractor!  

This trailer has a fold down "deck".  They climb a set of stairs to get to the deck and enter from a double sliding glass patio door!  There is also a garage door in the back for their un-toad. Even with the car in the rear, just think of the room and storage they have inside!  I keep wondering if it had a split level inside since the trailer is so tall.  

The paint was stealth black.  It had no decorative "swooshes" on the sides.  What I would have given to been able to see inside. The license plates indicated North Dakota. Have any of you seen it? 

This morning, we  made the short run from Gila Bend to Quartzsite and all is well.  Well, kind of.  

OK you master-mechanics, we have a problem.  The inverter is not working properly.  There seems to be a loose wire someplace in the inverter.  John wiggles the wires and sometimes the it starts working, sometimes not.  

Tomorrow, Monday, we head into Quartzsite to find someone (any suggestions?) to look at the wiring and fix it.  This puts a damper on boondocking since we need electricity for the refrigerator.  

That is all of our exciting day of full time travel.  Some days are great, some......well......are a challenge.  

Thank you for joining us today and again, thank you so much for shopping Amazon through the link at the top, right of the page.  

God bless you in your travels...