Maiden Voyage Blues

[Alex_and_Tee]

We left Kissimmee, FL Saturday morning taking our brand new 2022 Tiffin Allegro Open Road on its maiden voyage. We hooked up our dolly with our also new 2021 Chevy Colorado and off we went.

It wasn’t long heading down the FL Turnpike towards our destination of Marathon Key when we hit several swarms of love bugs that completely obliterated our vision. It was an omen. We pulled off in Ft. Pierce to clean the windshield and top off fuel. While cleaning the windshield the drivers side wiper blade fell off. I thought I had it back on but as soon as I tried the wipers it fell off again. Aargh! I snapped it back on the best I could thinking when we get to our destination I’ll put it on right.

But, oh no, the RV gods saw to it that 20 miles down the road it would rain……HARD! So, we took the next exit and pulled in to a CVS parking lot and I fixed the wiper blade in the rain. The wipers now working properly we got back on the turnpike and headed south. Lo and behold, the RV gods were not done. After 5 more miles the drivers side wiper decided it was on strike. It wiped completely left, off the windshield and wedged itself in my side view mirror. I quickly turned the wipers off and carefully drove to the next exit.

We pulled in to a 7-11 and, thinking the wiper arm slipped on the shaft, I tried to loosen it and reset it. After 3 failed attempts I said screw it, we’re driving the rest of the way with no wipers.

We arrived at Jolly Roger RV Park just after 7 PM, got set up and was looking forward to a nice hot shower. I had turned the Truma Aqua Hot on before leaving so I figured I would be all set. HA!!! No hot water!!!! I looked and the light on the control was blinking not solid like it should. Multiple attempts to turn it off both outside and inside was to no avail. I could hear the igniter clicking but it wouldn’t light. Tank is full and valve is open.

After two days of no hot water I finally got Truma on the line as well as Tiffin and La Mesa service. Long story long, we will be leaving here early and going back to Kissimmee on Wednesday so the LaMesa mobile service can come help us. No qualified mobile tech here in the Keys.

Today is my wife’s birthday. She gets to celebrate with another cold shower. Sigh…

[hohenwald48]

I've never heard of the propane valve on a class A having the same issues when opening quickly as a trailer using OPD's on portable bottles.

I think DOT cylinders used on trailers are completely different from ASME tanks used on motorhomes. I doubt the speed you opened the valves caused any problem at all. But I could be mistaken.

[Alex_and_Tee]

The regulator needs to be replaced. Coming out on Monday. Perhaps that was the issue when I opened the valve I didn’t do it slowly. Had no idea.

[shannon62]

just thought i would mention for future, open your propane valve slowly or your regulator will snap shut and no flow! don't know how new class a is but my pull behind did that. im sure you got it resolved by now.

[Alex_and_Tee]

Yes we are in pretty good spirits. As they say, a bad day camping is better than a good day at work. Hopefully they can fix everything without issue and all will be well.

[valhalla360]

As you have found, new doesn't mean trouble free. On the positive side, these sound mostly like nuisance issues that can easily be fixed.

Give it some time and it likely will become a funny story.

The difference between adventure and ordeal is attitude.

[schlep1967]

You should have been told this by now. Close all of your gas bottles and then open the valve slowly. If you open them too quickly the safety system senses a leak and shuts the gas down.
Also, spend a few buck for some rain-x washer fluid. Drain all of the old fluid out of the system and use the Rain-x often for the first trip. Then when your wipers fail, you will still be able to see.

[stickdog]

A hot shower should always be part of the walk through.

[winnietrey]

Alex and Tee wrote:
Seems like we have some type of gas issue as the stove won’t light either. Both things worked at orientation. The only thing that changed was I shut the valve off whole in storage and opened it back up day of departure.

Have you tried turning the burners on, and letting them flow for say 10 seconds, and then tried to light them? If the propane has not been used for a while you have to clear the lines to get the gas up. Possible could also explain your lack of hot water.

[C20]

I think I want to buy a brand new one. No one I know has been trouble free with a new one. Our dynasty gave us some problems but I expect that on a used one. Not a new one! I’d be very frustrated.

[Alex_and_Tee]

Seems like we have some type of gas issue as the stove won’t light either. Both things worked at orientation. The only thing that changed was I shut the valve off whole in storage and opened it back up day of departure.

[Tom_Barb]

It is nip and tuck which is worse, a new coach or an old one.

[Lwiddis]

X2, bumpy.

[rexlion]

Happy birthday to your wife! Offer her a big hug to warm her up.

[mountainkowboy]

Sometimes your the windshield.....sometimes the bug. Our first outing in the Holiday Rambler never happened. We had to be towed due to a blown axle seal, that was however the only time she left us stranded. That was 14 years and 3 RV's ago.