Trials and Tribulations

Ten years ago my wife and I decided to buy a fifth wheel and tow vehicle to travel to Alaska when we retired in 2018. We figured it would be paid off by the time we were ready to go. Boy was that a mistake.

We divorced about four years ago and I kept the truck and fifth wheel - along with the payments. I'm still working, so the fifth wheel sits unused for 50 weeks a year. I took it out for a week in January and the awning was dry rotted and the gray water tank split. I got that fixed and a new roof put on and I was going to use it last month and the slides wouldn't extend.

I went to hook it up to take it to the RV repair shop and the engine let go on the truck while it was idling. Apparently the injector stuck open, flooded the cylinder with fuel, and bent valves, pushrods and broke cam followers when it attempted to open the valves with fuel in cylinders.

I had a blown head gasket two years ago and spent $8000 getting the top end of the engine redone and "bulletproofed" and this repair ended up repeating most of those repairs. I had to put $7000 on my credit card, which means I won't be able to save as much for my Alaska trip.

In short - the RV and truck have been in the shop three times since the last time I actually used them. I can't seem to keep up with the repairs and I'm starting to have my doubts that it's going to make it to Alaska in two years. I can't afford to buy a new RV and/or truck and still be able to retire.

If I had waited to buy the RV, I probably wouldn't have purchased the Taj Mahal on wheels. It's nice, but pretty high maintenance. The same could be said for the ex.

I regret not putting the money I've been using for payments in a savings account and waiting to purchase the RV after I retired. Live and learn.