Adventure of a Lifetime

[Mykedynamics]

Hello! My name is Eric Brown and I'm a 29 yr old musician. I just bought my first RV. A 1975 Lazy Daze on a Dodge Chassis. She 19' and her name is Dazy...I got her for $150! I'll be heading out into our vast country in October to tour the music I have finished over the last two years! My dog Norman, Dazy and I will be doing this alone..self booked and financed.. And will be documenting it the entire way..I plan to make a documentary about what it takes to make a dream real.

I'll be surviving on $25 a day...gas included..which I will earn from Busking in the streets and selling merch and Cd's..
DIY to the max!!

I love waiting tables but it's not what I was sent here to do. Time to spend my days doing what I love instead of just surviving. I will find a way to stay alive...

I start this forum as a way for you to keep in the loop..if the story sounds fun and you'd like to send any advice or help my way it would mean the world, I'm new to thus and i. Sure I will run into my fair share of problems... Thanks in advance for bailing me out,

Check me out at www.youtube.com/easyfriendforever

[Bordercollie]

There should be a thermocouple thing that clips to the freezer part of the fridge. You may be able to adjust cooling by moving that thing. Somebody may chime in about this.Can you give the brand and model number of your fridge, that may help get info on adjusting cooling.


Check to see if you have a working propane gas leak detector alarm. If not, you should get one for your safety, also get a smoke alarm.

Go here, your fridge's thermistor device may be bad, simple to replace:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwuYp24B8Dk

[Mykedynamics]

Bordercollie and rambleon thank you for the wonderful advice! There have been some set backs with the furnace:( went to fire it up when Albuquerque temps got sub freezing and.........had a horrible gas leak! Plugged the line and got a great space heater..the gennie runs it great! Fridge is too cold...guess there are worse things then crispy veggies 🙂 could probably use some maintenance. Great tip on the brake lines and security light too! Coolmom I will most definitely be doing that from now on.. It's been ok so far..surprisingly Costco has decent veggies! Lots of beans and lentils for this little Mexi! As always we have such a wonderful community here at rv.net! Next stop Dallas

Eb

[RambleOnNW]

Looking at the busy urban venues where you are parking near I'd be concerned about security of your rig. I assume your dog is standing guard when you are not around however you might consider something like this:



12V motion detector LED light, and flashes a green LED during the night and blue during the day. Folks not familiar with it may think it is some kind of alarm system. PPl Motorhomes in Houston carries this.

[coolmom42]

A belated reply to your question about fruits/veggies---check on the web for farmer's markets in/near the town where you are. Many of them have Facebook pages, too.

[Bordercollie]

PS: When you are hooked up to 110vac camp power, a small electric heater will save on propane and take chill off inside. I have a Honeywell heater with thermostat that works surprisingly well.

http://www.target.com/p/honeywell-comfort-ceramic-core-heater/-/A-13509646#prodSlot=medium_1_11&tempterm=honeywell+heaters

[RambleOnNW]

Mykedynamics wrote:
Hey everyone! The trip is moving right along and the old Lazy Daze is kickin' butt! In Lubbock, Texas right now and Tuesday morning I'm off to Abilene. If you want to check out more specific fun and videos check www.easyfriendforever.com. Having a blast sharing my music and meetin' new friends. Also, I've been making my daily $25 easy! If you're around the area lets grab a beer and talk RV!

Eric EasyFriend Brown

Good to hear a road update Rvin' Eric...

Thought I'd hear some rving specific tunes like:

"Under a 1/4 Tank and No Gas Stations In Sight Blues"
"Ballad of 40 MPH wind and steering wheel at 10 O'clock all day"
"Below Freezing tonight and Reflectix is my friend"
etc.

Ram

[Bordercollie]

If it hasn't been done recently, have brake fluid flushed and changed. It collects water and causes brake fade on long grades. If front flexible brake lines have not been replaced in many years, replace them they can rupture inside causing sudden pull to right or left. Get to know your house battery charger/converter and house battery setup. Have a multi-meter and check voltage plugged into "shore" power or RV generator running, and with engine running. Check and replenish battery electrolyte levels with distilled water as needed. With good brakes, good tires ( no side-wall cracks) good cooling system and furnace and fridge that work properly, you should be safe and comfortable.
Keep speed under control on twisty mountain roads, downshifting when needed to save brakes, etc.

[Mykedynamics]

Hey everyone! The trip is moving right along and the old Lazy Daze is kickin' butt! In Lubbock, Texas right now and Tuesday morning I'm off to Abilene. If you want to check out more specific fun and videos check www.easyfriendforever.com. Having a blast sharing my music and meetin' new friends. Also, I've been making my daily $25 easy! If you're around the area lets grab a beer and talk RV!

Eric EasyFriend Brown

[Mykedynamics]

Thanks for such positive energy Tito! Checked out your site...Top notch! I'll be learning lots from you over the next few months! You have captured my sentiments exactly and your advice at the end goes right to my heart! My intent is to give back as much as I can while I'm out because the world is giving me everything I've ever dreamed of!

eb

[RVWithTito]

What an awesome experience this will be for you. You'll experience and learn so much touring around while keeping Dazy afloat. The indie music scene is all about connecting with people. What better way to grow as a musician and create a following than to get in front of people and create fans. Best of luck on your tour and music. Be humble, gracious and real and the world will respond. I'll be following.

[Mykedynamics]

Ps... If that start needs some strummin' you know who to call! Best wishes to you and your babe!

[Mykedynamics]

Aerbus32 thanks for the advice my friend! I have a business degree from UC Riverside but don't plan on falling back on it. The world is a much different place now for musicians.. We are allowed to treat our crafts like small businesses because of access to our market. Everyone has the internet which makes them much easier to reach. In the past 50,000 records sold was a failure but Industry stand point but now that would put my kids through college. With ingenuity and hard work any artist can hammer out a decent living and never give up on their dream. It's a beautiful world for artists now! In the end it boils down to each their own. It's definitely not going to be easy but that's what makes it worth it!

Eb

[aerbus32]

About a year ago I pulled into a small state/county park in the San Bernardino Mountains in So Cal. Struck up a conversation with the young (to me) attendant. Seems he was an aspiring rock star who, now in his mid-40's, still occasionally got called into LA for studio work, etc. He collected entrance fees and basically kept an eye on things. He was paid essentially minimum wage. Had a rent free hook-up site. When the season ended, he received unemployment. He suggested that were I interested, the campground right up the road was looking for a host.
His story really resonated with me. In the days of my youth, I was considered to be a very talented musician/songwriter. Opted out of that craziness & took the college path instead. Great career later, our monthly retirement is likely more than this young man's yearly income. He followed his dreams. I didn't. But I wouldn't trade places even for a second. You're young. Enjoy it. But look 2 steps ahead. I enjoyed being a kid with a guitar. But I chose to grow up. Now I truly enjoy traveling down the road in a big beautiful motorhome knowing that '57 Strat (a very valuable guitar I'm told) is stored away with all the memories of my past lives. Now I'm making even better memories with the love of my life in the seat next to me. Sometimes the best road is the road most traveled.

[Mykedynamics]

That's what you get from a free website!! Thanks for the good wishes and thanks for checking out the story.

Eb