RV Rebuild Website - Online soon - Input?

[BobsYourUncle]

Hi everyone.

Years ago I had my own website to illustrate and describe the process of rebuilding an old TT from the frame up. It was very popular and I got a lot of great feedback from people all over the US and Canada.
I took the site down a dozen or so years ago for reasons beyond my control.

I posted a thread a few days ago asking about a website vs a blog.

I decided to go for it. I bought a Domain, signed up for a Wix account and started. Easier to use a WYSIWYG site than try to code it on my own.

I have launched the preliminary part of the site, one page with what will be the basis of my Home Page on the new site, with Under Construction and stuff on it, and a little explanation at the bottom.

I'd like to know how it looks to users with various different devices. What looks great on my 17" laptop may not necessarily look OK on your phone or ipad. There is a place in the Wix software to format it for a mobile device. It'll take some trial and error to get it right. I will likely post from time to time asking for users to critique it and let me know of any issues they can see.

When I am all done, I'm hoping it can be a useful resource for the RV community.

It's going to take some careful planning to make it useful for everyone, I have to organize the tabs and try to make it all easy to navigate. I'm a little rusty, it has been 15-16 years since I built a website so bear with me.

Another thought I have is to dedicate a section for tech tips and little articles or something. I'll consider that. I have written lots of little tech articles over the years. It would be nice to have a resource location for all of it.

It will have no ads, and no commercial side to it. I am paying for everything myself. There will be a place where users can contact me.

Anyhow, check it out, let me know what you think of my venture. I put a link in my sig too.

RV-Rebuild.com

[BobsYourUncle]

Thanks, I can't believe it either! :B

I look back at it and have to wonder why I rebuilt such an obviously rotten old heap.

But looking back now, even though it had its moments, I did enjoy the overall experience.

There actually was one little reason that I got my back up about it and said I'm going to do it anyways. It's a strange story, and I may share it one day, but not now.

[2_many_2]

I remember reading at work every morning for updates.

I would show the other guys and they couldn't believe it.

I still can't believe it. When it is up and running, I think everyone will be very surprised at the detail and the intense loyalty involved in this project.

[BobsYourUncle]

2 many 2 wrote:
Whoo Hooo!:B

My biggest cheerleader!! :B:B

[2_many_2]

Whoo Hooo!:B

[BobsYourUncle]

July 15 update:
I've been putting in a lot of hours putting my site together, I'm not ignoring it.

It is taking me so much longer than I originally thought it would. And being an amateur doesnt help.

I have 7 pages complete and optimized for mobile. Making it so it can be viewed on a phone has taken a lot of extra time - stuff gets a little scrambled and I have to re- arrange it.

I have 3 more pages substantially complete, but not yet optimized for mobile. Then 3 more partially built, then 2 simple ones to do, about me and contact.

I spend a little time almost every evening on it.

When finished it will be offered up as a free resource to help others. No advertising, no commercial connection, no monetary gain, just a free resource to help anyone doing structural repairs.

For those following it, it is coming!

[BobsYourUncle]

Another update:

I have been seriously working on my site over the past while, after not touching it for a few weeks.
I am spending 2-3 hours about 5 evenings a week and have also put in entire days on some weekends.

It is definitely a huge pile of work for sure. It takes a while to organize everything, write little descriptions for each picture, and to also post them in some meaningful sequence.

I have it broken down into sections, starting at the beginning of course, and establishing a progression of the work. I currently have 9 pages. That could change.

I have also learned that I can have a blog as 1 of my pages too. I'll likely do that later after launching the site.

The whole thing will have no glitz and razzle dazzle. It is plain, simple and factual.

Wix has a provision for formatting it for portable devices. That's a whole other pile of work to do too once I get it built for desktop computers. What looks good on a desktop can be a mess on a mobile.

I would say I have the bulk of it about 75% done.
I really didn't think it would be this much work.

But the site is way more elaborate and detailed than my original one from 15 years ago was.

And I'm sure that once its launched, I will get feedback that this or that does not display properly.

I am a novice, but eager to learn. I enjoy the work a lot.

[2_many_2]

Thanks for the update, looking forward to seeing all the pics of the old re-build. It used to be the topic of conversation every morning over coffee at work, while checking on the progress everyday.

[BobsYourUncle]

Thought I'd throw in an update:

I was so busy with work commitments that this project slid backwards in favor of the never ending list of priorities. I originally thought it would be online by the beginning of April.

After not touching it for 5 or 6 weeks, I got back at it again. I have been commiting a lot of hours in the past week or so, determined to get it going. Do something every day, keep at it and it will get done.

It has been a huge task, taking a lot more than I thought. And it is way more elaborate than my original site. I'm probably posting more pics tha needed and yapping too much, but hey, you can always just skim it. I have a habit of doing that. Why take 25 words to say something when 125 will do? :B

Anyways, it's coming along, it's about half done.

I appreciate all the support and kind words of encouragement.

[2_many_2]

I have been watching and waiting, thank you for the update.

[BobsYourUncle]

Thanks for the input.
I thought I would have my site complete by now but I'm not even close. Havent had a lot of time to work on it lately.nwork has been crazy busy.

[AsheGuy]

I have created websites and have a blog.

For what you are trying to do, a blog is the better choice as far as effort required, multiplatform viewing, cost etc. Plus the blog has built in options at the bottom of each post for comments and responses.

I use the Google Blogger for our travel blog (see link in signature at bottom of this post). Blogger is free and works well on PC or phone, etc. without any effort on the part of the owner. There are also several options for the viewer to navigate your posts, i.e. the pull down menu at left top of the window (try "flipcard" for an interesting view of content).

A website such as one I created and am webmaster for (Annual Class B Rally) takes way more effort, is not free and does not present well on different platforms without extra effort.

Just my two cents worth.

[BobsYourUncle]

deltabravo wrote:

NatParkJunkie wrote:
you might want to try out a wordpress blog site too. wordpress simplifies most of the html code behind the scenes.

Ditto.

Wordpress is awesome.

Your current site looks like it was something from the 90s.

As mentioned, I am using Wix. I'm not about to change over and start with another company. It was recommended to me so I got it. I have already paid for Wix, and my domain.

I'm not looking for all kinds of razzle dazzle, I just want to put the information forward in a basic, simple, easy to read style. I don't want stuff that jumps around and moves all over the place with clouds rolling by in the background. It's distracting and annoying.
And I started with a blank page, no template or theme.

Is Wordpress better? Could be, I don't know. I didn't try it. I have a couple other website ideas later. I may look at Wordpress for those and compare.

But do keep in mind that this is only an intro page, something I whipped up in a hurry to have my site started so everyone would know something is coming.

You haven't seen the real thing yet.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by something from the 90'S. I look seriously at all comments to see how I can improve it. I am open to all suggestions for any aspect of the pages. I am a novice at this.

Thanks! I appreciate any and all comments.

[deltabravo]

NatParkJunkie wrote:
you might want to try out a wordpress blog site too. wordpress simplifies most of the html code behind the scenes.

Ditto.

Wordpress is awesome.

Your current site looks like it was something from the 90s.

[robatthelake]

I’m a fan,

[MrWizard]

Darryl&Rita wrote:
Pulls up fine on Android phone. The device determines the page layout,.

No Not so
Your browser settings will attempt to contain the page layout & fonts to your choices when using a pc

Font size only when using android device, what a mobile device will do is attempt to fit things into a vertical portrait mode, when holding the device that way,
I have found it better for me, to use my Android phone and tablet in landscape mode when using the Chrome browser and visiting websites