Our First RV Trip

Glad it was only minor problems for you on your first RV Trip. Our experience for our first RV trip was a bit different. Remember the old saying you get what you pay for?

We bought a 86 Class A Mallard for our first RV Trip. One hour into our 1500 mile trip the alternator went out. Pulled into a service plaza before the battery died. We had Allstate RV roadside service. They were zero help. They had no clue how to handle a RV so called for a tow on my own dime. Couldn't ride in the tow truck so had to call for a cab to take us to the RV Shop. Spent all day there waiting for repairs.

We ended up driving to a nearby KOA to spend the night. The next day upon leaving I forget to unplug from electric. Considering I was rather stressed out didn't help matters. We start driving through the campground and I see a guy on a KOA golf cart chasing me. I was dragging 30 feet of power cord behind me. Luckily no damage to KOA or the MH.

Half way there drivers side windshield wiper falls off in a blinding rainstorm. Little while later our stairs drop down and demolish themselves while were driving. Nothing like hearing a screeching sound and seeing sparks in the mirror while driving down the interstate. I had to use a hammer to knock what was left of the stairs off the frame.

We get to our destination and of the roof starts leaking into the overhead lighting. Plus we now have a water heater propane leak. Luckily the Propane was leaking to the outside as we were driving. Off to the repair shop we go again.

On the way back home we spend a night in a campground in WI. Overnight the temps drop into the 20s. And of course our heater doesn't work either and our water hose is froze solid.

Coming back home we start losing power going through the Mountains of TN. We barely made it climbing over the mountains to get to our next repair shop. This time it was a possible fuel filter problem. Repair shop changed out fuel filter and we are on our way again.

We don't get far and start having problems again. Pull into a Fastfood parking lot and engine will not start again. Called a service tech who came out and thought we had a carp problem. No, not the carb. bad coil was the problem. Engine starts up and we are on our way again.

Get a little further and we start losing power again. By this time the wife want to just leave the rig on the side of the road and fly home. I said lets just go for it and now stop again once we filled up with enough gas to make it the rest of the way home. We made it back home by building up speed on downhill stretches and were able to get enough momentum to make it over the next hill all the way home.

Slate CM wrote:
Good to hear you enjoyed your trip. Did you come through my part of the Oregon coast, Brookings-Harbor area?

There may not be an issue with your AC. I don't know what you have, but mine is 13.5K on a 28 footer. I was in Washington for 4th of July with temps in the high 90's. It would cool down to around 80 inside. I read somewhere that is pretty much normal.

X2 I have a 15K AC and I try not to go camping around here in the DFW area in the months of July or August.

Also, when I do have to go during those times, I try to limit other electrical draws, ie run the water heater on propane, shut stuff off when DW want to run the hair dryer and clothing iron.

Glad you enjoyed your trip, I'm jealous, I would love to make that long of a trip!

Good to hear you enjoyed your trip. Did you come through my part of the Oregon coast, Brookings-Harbor area?

There may not be an issue with your AC. I don't know what you have, but mine is 13.5K on a 28 footer. I was in Washington for 4th of July with temps in the high 90's. It would cool down to around 80 inside. I read somewhere that is pretty much normal.

Good report and great attitude. The issues you are reporting would have some ranting non stop about how horrible everything was and how they were totally ripped off by everyone from the maker to the dealer, by CG's, gas stations, and some CW somewhere. You're going to be fine.

Good for you......sounds like it was a blast.

Repost if you determine the case of the USB mishap. Mine work fine but it would be good for future reference. Fuse?

Glad you had a good trip with no serious problems. Now be prepared...you will soon be subject to a condition known as hitch itch. Only one known, though temporary, remedy.

Sounds like you learned the most important thing - go with the flow and don't sweat the small stuff!

Sounds like you had a great time and learned alot. I hope you and your family will have many more safe and happy adventures!

Great report and good to see you had a good time. You'll be a pro after 2 or 3 more times out!