How many Northern Lite owners do we have? (revision 2)
Interactive Northern Lite Owners Map If you’d like to be added to the map please send me a PM This is what I've got so far: 1. 2_D_Max-----2011 Northern Lite 9'6" Classic 2. 2 Piece-----2019 Northern Lite 10-2 EX CD SE 3. 811Q-----2018 811Q SE w/dry bath 4. AidenJ -----2010 NORTHERN-LITE 10-2 SPECIAL EDITION 5. Art Schlangen-----2006 10.2 CDSE 6. balbir-----2016 8-11 Q SE 7. Basshole-----2018 Northern Lite 8.11 EX dry bath 8. beachbum2011-----2011 NorthernLite 8'11" classic special edition 9. Beachcampers-----2012 Northern Lite 8'11" Queen Classic 10. Bigf00t-----2010 Northern Lite 10.2RR 11. birddog26-----2006 Northern Lite 10.2 12. BMB -----2016 Northern Lite 10-2 Lite 13. bodacious-----2000 10-2000RR 14. camping54-----2006 Northern Lite, 9.6 Q SE 15. Carter13-----2010 NL 811 16. Caysea-----Northern Lite Ten 2000RD 17. cdill-----2004 Northern Lite 2000RR 18. CMWade-----2016 Northern Lite 10-2 EXCDSE 19. CoastRambler-----2005 Northern Lite Ten-2000RD 20. covered wagon-----Northern Lite 10-2000 21. CTYankee-----2016 NL 8-11 QSE 22. CuriousGeorge-----2017 10-2 EX CD SE 23. D&Sbarnes-----2007 NL 10-2000 CD SE 24. Dave_Diana-----Northern Lite 10 2000 CD 25. desertfox-----2017 10-2 EX CD SE 26. Dewclaw-----2008 Northern Lite 9-6 Q Classic SE 27. dixied-----2006 Northern Lite 9'6" Q SE 28. dlogan-----2002 Northern Lite 9.6 Classic 29. dmax lover-----2006 NL Classic 9.6 30. dockhop-----'02 Northern Lite 10-2000 RR 31. EfonFred-----2013 Northern Lite 811 QSE 32. Escape Pod-----2013 9'6" QSE 33. F350/RR-----NL 10-EX 2000RR 34. fishmanmike-----2004 northern lite 10-2000 35. Fishn101-----2004 Northern Lite 10-2000 RR 36. Fitzbev-----2016 Northern Lite 811 QSE 37. FlaJoe-----2011 Northern Lite 8-11 38. flalawdawg-----Northern Lite 10-2000RD 39. Flash7-----2011 Northern Lite 10-2 CD 40. Flyfisher86----- 2009 Northern Lite 10-2CD Special Edition 41. forever4rd-----2008 10-2000RR 42. fquist-----93 Northern Lite 9'6 43. Furb-----2014 10-2 cdse 44. Gaetan-----2003 northern lite ten 2000 rd 45. GaryT-----2004 Northern Lite CD 10' 2 46. geekbstrd ----- 2004 Northern Lite 9 6 queen 47. GHCreekside-----2001 9'6 Lite 48. goatram-----05 Northern Lite 10.2 RR 49. GoFish-----Northern Lite 10-2000RR 50. goinfishin-----'04 Northern Lite 10-2000 CD 51. Golly-----2006 Queen Custom 9'6" 52. Gray1Ghost-----NL 8'5 Q Classic 53. Haifisch-----2006 9-6 SE 54. HarmsWay-----2014 Northern Lite 10-2 CDSE 55. hedgehopper-----Northern Lite 10-2 CD 56. heymatey-----1996 Northern Lite 9.6 57. Hgreen-----2008 Northern Lite 10-2000RR 58. Hoffer362-----2018 10-2 wet bath 59. Homeless by Choice-----2013 Northern Lite 8-11 Sportsman 60. Horsetrader-----2017 10-2 EX CD SE 61. hot57chev-----2002 8.5 camper 62. izzyvet-----2006 10-2000RR 63. JackG-----2008 Northern Lite 10-2 CD SE 64. JCinAK-----2008 811 queen classic 65. Jetta02-----2005 10-2CD 66. jimanjo-----2017 9.6Q classic 67. johnnyhiker-----8-11 EX 68. JohnnyWagon-----'07 Northern Lite 10.2 CD SE 69. JRJR-----2016 9.6 SE 70. jwally9844-----2019 Northern-lite 9-6 clasic 71. K Mac-----2013 Northern Lite 10'2 72. kbaum-----2013 10secd 73. Keithmaryq-----2016 Northern Lite 10-2 EXRR 74. kennyzzz-----2004 Northern Lite 8.5 75. Kevin 98-Lance 195-----2013 Northern Lite 9.6 Queen Classic SE 76. LA48340-----2006 Northern Lite 10.2 CDSE 77. LannyV-----2017 Northern Lite 10-2 CD EX SE 78. Le routard-----Northern Lite Queen Classic 8.11 SE 79. lillyo-----'06 - 8'5 Classic 80. Los Nomades-----99 NL 9'6" classic 81. luv2skyski-----04 Northern Lite 10-2000RR 82. Lynnsr -----Northern Lite Queen Classic 8.11 SE 83. Mainer1-----2001 Northern-Lite 9.6Q Classic 84. MakerOnTheMove-----2011 9-6 85. maritt3-----'04 Northern Lite Ten 2000RR 86. markchengr-----2008 10'2" CD Special Edition 87. maxum1989-----2011 Northern Lite 8.5 88. mbloof -----2014 NL 9.6QSE 89. mcc272-----2013 Northern Lite 10-2 CD SE 90. MDKram----- 2005 NL ten 2000 CD 91. Melli-----2004 Northern Lite 10-2000 CD 92. middlecalf-----Northern Lite 8.11 Queen Classic 93. mike67-----2006 Northern-lite 10.2 RR 94. mjgcamper-----03 Northern-Lite 10-2000RR 95. mjorg ----- 2010 10-2 CD Special 96. mstiles-----2003 6-10 Northern-Lite 97. MTBob-----2002 Northern Lite 10-2000 RR 98. Murgatroid-----2009 Northern Lite 9.6Q Classic 99. MyPops-----Northern Lite 10-2000 100. Myrtle-----2007 10.2 SE Northern Lite 101. NautiqueFamily-----2014 NL 8-11QSE 102. newportbl-----811 SE 103. NewportNic -----2018 9-6Q SE 104. niknas-----2008 Northern Lite 9.6 Queen SE 105. nitetrain70-----Northern Lite 10-2 EXRR 106. NLinNJ-----2010 Northern Lite 8'11" Queen Classic Special Edition 107. Noelski -----2000 9'6" QB Classic 108. Nordiners-----2006 Northern lite 10-2000RR 109. nord.nord-----2004 10-2000 110. NSP-Biker-----2005 Northern Lite 10.2CD "Special Edition" 111. Old Days-----2017 Northern lite 811 sportsman 112. P Kennedy-----2004 10-2000CD 113. Paoli-----10" 2" CD Special Edition 114. pastorbillv-----2017 Northern-Lite 10'2" EX CD SE 115. Pavoner-----2000 8.5 Q-Lite 116. petersonjrp-----1996 Northern Lite 9'6" Q SE 117. Philip Shantz-----05 Northern Lite 8"11" Queen Classic 118. PhilR-----2016 Northern Lite 8-11 Q Classic Special Edition 119. Phonedude-----2011 Northern Lite 9'6" Q Classic SE 120. Photomike-----1992 9'6" Classic 121. plumrtim -----2005 Ten 2000RD 122. PNWWade-----2009 NL 9.6Q classic special edition 123. pscansetzer-----Northern Lite 9-6 QSE 124. pyarnall-----2005 Northern Lite 8.11 125. Retired Coastie-----2003 NL "Northern" 9' – 6 126. RKB-----2014 9-6 127. rhode trip-----2000 Northern Lite 10-2000cd 128. royaldee-----2004 10-2 CD 129. saltamontes-----06 Northern-Lite 8'11" Q 130. SamB4-----'04 Northern Lite "Northern 8.5" 131. Sasquatch7-----2005 Northern Lite 10'2" CD Special Edition 132. searun-----2008 8-11 133. searundoc-----2008 Northern Lite 8'11" Queen Classic 134. scout4trout-----2017 Northern Lite 8'11"Q Sportsman 135. SideHillSoup -----2018 Northern Lite 8-11 136. sierradiesel-----2017 811 137. Siletzspey-----2018 NL 9'6" QSE 138. skidsteerpilot-----2012 10-2 (grey edition) 139. Sliding-into-home-----2018 Northern Lite 9-6 SE 140. snoboy-----'04 Northern-Lite 10-2 CD 141. Spott-----2005 Northern Lite 10-2000CD 142. srfade-----2019 Northern-Lite 10.2 EX CD SE 143. StrumminBass-----2012 811 QSE 144. Swando----- 2002 8.5 Q Lite 145. tcguy-----2018 NL 8-11 QC SE 146. TCINTN-----Northern Lite 811 147. thackpack-----2016 Northern-Lite 10-2 148. Tizi-----2004 10-2000CD 149. travelbuff-----04 NorthernLite Ten2000RD 150. traveler1002000---Northern Lite 10-2000 RR 151. trouthog-----2004 Northern Lite 10-2000RD 152. troybilt-----Northern Lite 10-2000 153. TWinNY-----2018 10-2 EX CD SE 154. ukoner-----2011 10-2CDSE 155. umbrellajive-----2010 Northern Lite 8'11 Q Classic 156. Viper79-----1991 9ft Northern Lite 157. Wallpepper-----2007 Northern Lite 10.2 CD Special Edition 158. Wardster-----2016 Northern Lite 8'11" Q Classic Special Edition 159. wasilla rod-----2000 9'6" Northern Lite Classic 160. wauchope-----2011 Northern Lite 9-6 161. WestCoast1969 -----2011 Notherlite 9-6 162. whaleya-----2010 10-2 CD SE 163. wldbill-----2011 Northern Lite 10'2" CDSE 164. wuli959-----2013 Northern Lite 8'11' 165. WyoBull-----2017 QC 8.11 SE 166. XA4AV8R-----'99 Northern-Lite Ten 2000CD 167. Yukon Tom-----2012 Northern Lite 9-6 Classic Totals: 10-2000: 83 9-6: 39 8-11: 44 6-10: 1 Anyone else? Dave.
Ordered Host Mammoth
A couple weeks ago I phoned in an order. (After a few weeks of negotiating) My wife and I have been in a few of them. This will be out 3rd TC and our 8th RV. 4 MH 24, 34, 40 and 45 ft. 2 other TC and a 5th wheel. We always have a MH and a TC at the same time. Now it is a 5th wheel and TC. They get used for diff things. Didn't get a lot of options. I feel I can do a better job with the batts, inverter, and the TV's. Ordered, double couch, leather or what passes for leather on both. 3 slides are now standard, no choice, thats what I was told. micro/convection sealed burner top upgraded escape hatch 9k btu AC gas electric hot water swing out brackets, they should be standard. power awning. It is prob diff from what most people would order but we have ben camping traveling for a long time. I will add 4 or 6 6v batts and a 3k inverter. I also have a pair of honda 2 k gen. I will only carry 1. I don;t think they have started the build. I was told it would be in around the end of Jan. Looking forward to it.
What did you do to your Camper Today?
After a good washing yesterday I got up early (while the camper is in the shade and the temp has not exceeded 100--yet) to put a good coat of Meguiar's Marine/RV one step Cleaner Wax on. I'm a huge fan of Aerospace 303 and use that in-between full waxes. I think it has made a huge difference in keeping the gel coat shiny. Here's a pic of my nose cap half waxed and half not waxed. Where its parked during non-use the Nose Cap and roof gets the most sunlight. I was pleased with the contamination that came off the gel coat. I still have some strong bug marks but overall it looks great - all finished and polished! The decals are showing their age! In the heat of the hot summers I get small ripples at the top of the cap. Anyone seen that before?
Finally Getting Started: New Garage With RV Bay
I've been talking and thinking about doing this for 3-4 years now. Two days ago we finally took the first "ground breaking" step toward making it a reality. The garage on my house started out as a flat-roof, open-sided carport when the the house was built 40 years ago. Some previous owner put sides on it, but no garage doors. When I bought the place 15 years ago, the flat roof was leaking badly, and the front wall where the two openings are was rotted badly enough that I had to rebuild it before having garage doors installed. While the house foundation is sound, the garage foundation has had numerous problems from cracking and movement. I've always planned to one day tear it down to the ground and start over. My original plan was to just rebuild a two-bay garage of the same size, but with a peaked roof. Eventually, I realized that by making use of the slope, a tall RV bay could be added without ending up with a roof-line taller than the rest of the house. Discussing the project with the DW resulted in further "scope creep", such that we'll also be adding a fair amount of square footage to the living area of the house as well. My garage/RV bay/man-cave has ballooned considerably since I first started dreaming, but this is what we've settled on. The old garage is about 28' deep, and 24' wide. The new garage will be 30' deep and 60' wide. The RV bay will have one wide door, rather than the two narrow doors shown. I was planning to allow 14' of vertical clearance, but I'm not sure I really need to go that high. Twelve feet would be plenty for my camper, the garage depth and driveway approach will never accommodate an RV much longer than mine. About 10 years ago I had an asphalt driveway paved down behind the house, and then had a Jamar RV shed constructed over it where I'm currently parking my truck and camper. It's sitting right where my new garage RV bay will be, so it'll have to be moved. That's what we've started, which doesn't sound too difficult. Except......... My property is on the side of a hill. There's no naturally level ground anywhere, so a pad will have to be constructed. Also, about a year ago (anticipating the loss of my garage and the storage space inside it) I constructed a 12'x20' storage building right next to the house to hold all of my man-stuff while the garage is being built. Once the garage is built, the storage building will be taken apart and moved farther away from the house. So that's two level pads to construct. I also have a ton of trees on my property, mostly white oak, some of them pretty big, and pretty close to the house. Of course, there are trees in the way of everything I want to do. So, Wednesday morning, bright and early, the tree cutting pro's got started. The weather was gray and gloomy that day. This is where my metal RV shed will be moved. I'm going to reduce it's height a little and use it to park other equipment under. Getting the boom truck setup for another tree. They were having fun maneuvering that 2WD boom truck around on my slope. This tree was hanging over my RV shed. My storage building. They dropped a big limb on it's roof, but it doesn't appear to have suffered any damage. My truck and camper out of harms way in the front yard. Wish I had one of those trucks to play with. Pulling one down close to the power lines. I'm saving these for another project. I'll add more as we make progress. :):)
Our Camping History 1963 to 1975
What is it that propels us to travel and camp? Is it something that resides in our itchy bones or is it something instilled by early experience? Maybe some of both, I don't know. My wife has the same itch as I do. She spent time with her family in the boundary waters if Minnesota. I grew up fishing and hunting with my father in the Colorado Mountains. The desert reached into my soul when we lived in Gallup, New Mexico during 1941 and 1942. We lived on the east edge of town while my dad worked on Ft Wingate as an engineer. I was an only child, and I amused myself by playing in the arroyos carved into a sagebrush hill. Our family camping began in 1963. We had two children, Sarah 6 and Martha 4yrs. Son John would arrive later. We had a new 1963 Ford wagon and decided to take the kids camping. 1963 Margot fixing lunch on the Ford tailgate. We had a borrowed tent, which unknown to us was bomb primed to go off. Margot and I had camped with our parents as kids so we were not totally ignorant. The tent was a device made in hell. By the time we got the interior steel rod frame to work we were near a divorce. 1965 The tent thing had to be exterminated so I bought a 1965 Dodge A100 Sportsman van, and I built bunks in it. Lotus Creek CG Colorado. 1966 Sand Dunes National Monument, CO. We had many good times in the van. Sarah was 9 yrs, Martha was 7. I was passing a Ford dealer in Littleton CO when I spied this baby. Hmmm, a new baby was on the way and a truck camper looks like a better venue. The dealer was selling a truck and camper package, which was a 1966 F250 4X2 and the 8ft.Open Road Balboa Model. The package cost was $5109.09 ($36,174 at today's dollar). I made it work by working two jobs. Notice the very questionable mounting hooks. It stayed on the truck, and I didn't know any better. John was 5 weeks old when we went to Bandelier at Thanksgiving 1966. As he grew older up he would not sleep in anything but a sleeping bag. It was cozy but it did the job. Notice the gas light fixture. We never used it. There were a couple if 12v lamps. Our first trip to canyon DeChelly on the same vacation. I took it down moderate jeep roads. Derby Creek Colorado. The camper survived the rough roads. 1967 Margot detests mud. The road to Buford was greasy for sure. Monument Valley 1967. On this trip I met Harry Goulding and talked with him for an quite a while. He told he and his wife Mike brought sheep and lived in tents several places in the valley during the 1920s. When they found the best place for water and least wind he leased a school section and eventually was able to buy it. Goulding's trading post at it looked in 2005. Near Goulding's lodge. 1967 Looking for more room for a family of five. I went to the Mitchell and Sons factory to Commerce City, CO. I was impressed by the quality and design of Mitchell units. The 10 ft. with a large front dinette was my choice. The campers we sold only factory direct. From this point I'll devote much of the story to our history with the Mitchell organization and family. This was the start of a long relationship with the Mitchell family. My business as a commercial photographer fit with their needs for brochures and ads. We took a trip to the Teton country in Wyoming with Bud and Mary Jane in 1967. Son John was relegated to toddler jail when hyper active. Now at 46 yrs old he is contemplating abuse charges when he sees this picture. The big dinette would handle three children for sleeping. Mom and pop slept in the cab-over east/west. The kids road in the camper with the ability to come through the boot for time in the cab. We never thought about the risk element. A lunch stop on the way. Bud and Mary Jane Mitchell had lots of kids and needed a lot of room. The company sold mostly truck campers, but Bud was probably the driving force behind big "Chassis Mounts". The name Motor Home was not generally used. This is from a Kodachrome slide. The photos I made for commercial purposes were made on large format 4x5 film. I have none remaining because the old Ektachrome has faded into oblivion. I convinced Bud to take some campers to Monument Valley for photography after showing him pictures of the red "land of standing rocks". Pictures are what Harry Goulding used to bring Hollywood director John Ford to the valley in 1938. Mick and Rita Mitchell posing for a photo. This 35mm slide suffers from age. This 1968 black and white is the only photo I have of our first brochure cover shot. The color image is long gone due to dye molecule fade. After we finished photo work, I took the group up Comb Wash to explore some canyons. We setup camp along the road leaving room for ranchers to get by. Bud with his Honda 90 trail bike and my Kawasaki. Crossing fish Creek at the mouth of the canyon. We visited some Anasazi ruins which led to an enduring interest if these ancient peoples. 1969 another desert trip with Mitchell clan. Camping in Butler Wash. My new 1968 Yamaha DT1 at Squaw Flat. How about the riding uniform? 1969 Squaw Flats before the campground was developed. Night shot brings memories of desert evenings with kids scampering around the fire. Fall1969 at Chaco, Ron, Martha, John, Sarah, and Margot 1969 Ron dismounting a 4x5 view camera while overlooking Pueblo Bonito. 1970 the Mitchell group gathers at Sand Island near Bluff, UT. 1970 Arch Canyon became a favorite trip 1970 We had stopped at this point and someone noticed a ruin high up the canyon wall. High up the canyon wall is a small cave with a stick structure in it. One wonders what it was used for. 1970 Running up Fish Creek canyon Mick had a bit of a problem. Winching was the answer. Mick Mitchell in the early morning. I In 1970 I bought a Red Chevrolet one-ton Longhorn pickup. It had 9 foot bed. To fit the Mitchell 10ft so that we could have boot to the cab modification was needed. Much to the horror of the Chevy body shop I had them cut off the tail lamps and fender to the 8ft dimension. I had the camper bolted down to the bed. Strange as it may seem it worked out well. The Chevy had much more power and handled better that the '66 Ford. Of course, I had to sell the rig as one unit. Pretty stupid as I look back. The photo was taken at Alta Mines near Telluride on a misty morning.. Winter 1970. My family and I took a large unit to a ski area for a few shots. 1970 summer trip up Derby Creek to Bailey Lake. The '63 Jeep with Mom, Pop, and three kids was a load. I had converted the engine to a Buick V6 and it ran well. The Mitchell developed a customer club called the Bighorn Caravan. Mick, in his memoirs, says Bud decided to invite all the local customers to a steak -fry after a good year in the 1960s. The response was "overwhelming" according to Mick. Bud was inspired by the Airstream Caravan, and selected the name Bighorn Caravan. The whole thing became so popular that it got out hand. The Mitchells hired Bill Jackson to run it . He was a great manager. The Caravan grew to up to hundreds of attendees. The caravan developed 14 sub groups each having their own events. Mitchell Campers sponsored two events a year, a Steak Fry and a Kokanee Snag. Some 300 to 500 owners would come for fun and fellowship. This was a Steak Fry in South Park east of Jefferson, CO. There were games and a trap shooting contest. Mick recalls the Bill Jackson invited Art Rouse, publisher of RV magazines, to come to a Steak Fry. The result of the visit was Art starting the Good Sam Club. He later Hired Bill Jackson to lead the caravans. I would guess that Mitchell and Sons was perhaps the largest manufacturer of truck campers in the country in the 1970s. 1971 Bud and his son Charlie. Both have passed away . 1971 Mick ( Harry B. Mitchell) in Arch Canyon, UT. 1971 Arch canyon, Ron and son John 1998 John and Madeline Alice at the mouth of Arch Canyon. 1971 The Blacksmith in Blanding, UT. While in Arch Canyon, one of the group driving an International Scout broke the front spring u-bolts on one side. The Scout could not be driven out so we headed to Blanding for help. Parts were not available, but it was suggested we go to the local blacksmith. We showed him the u-bolts . He measured and cut a piece of steel rod, threaded it and then heated it. He formed it over a pipe and produced a perfect copy. He made two for $3.00. Those days we will never see again. 1971 camping off road near Halls Crossing. 1972 back to the cottonwoods at Arch canyon. The red Bronco on the right was my new 4x4. It was a lot more roomy than the CJ5. It was a 1971 that was a left-over in 1972 inventory. It listed for $4768 and I paid $3733 ($19,207 today) 1972 Using creek water for hair washing at the Arch Canyon mouth. We had no camper shower. 1972 Mitchell had a compact trailer with slides. Mitchell never applied the idea to truck campers 1972 the Squaw Flat CG had become paved. 1973 I bought a small Mitchell Chassis Mount. The Chevy truck was untold grief. it would suddenly stop running and be totally flooded. It turned out to be a fuel pump that was severely over pressure. Mick had a Chevy truck leak gas and near Salt Lake and the rig burned to the ground. 1973 My new rig with '71 Bronco 1973 spring. This was a real adventure. The old road from Blanding to Halls Crossing was a dirt trail that could be a mud nightmare. We were headed to Lake Powell and ran into a snow and rain storm that tried to stop us. The Mitchell were never discouraged or upset. It was an entertaining challenge. We had to chain two or three 4x4s to the big rigs to drag them over the gooey hills. The old road was 140 miles long and the new road is about 95 miles. It took 10 hours to reach the marina. 1973 Buddy Mitchell showing off a fish he caught. He got tired of fishing and chucked his rod and reel overboard. Oh well, that's how it goes sometimes. Bud frying the delicious fish. When fishing with Bud, John and I caught 3 or 4 fish while Bud caught a cooler full. He didn't need Buddy's help. The drive out featured another stormy sea of mud. We had spent a week with chains on. I had used full dually chains, very messy to remove. Bud showed me it was better to just chain the outside dual. 1973. Having nine children and lots stuff, Bud and Mary Jane needed a really big outfit. 1973 A camp somewhere in Canada, our last trip in the Chassis Mount. A bad economy and the Arab embargo oil problem forced a change in direction. I sold the camper and bought a 1973 Chevy K2500 Suburban. I needed it for a work truck besides camping. 1974 trip to Capitol Reef. Margot, Sarah and John slept in the truck while Martha and I had the backpack tent. 1975 Martha waits to leave. We were ready to drive this Mitchell Class C to Sand Island, UT for Photos and Easter Holliday. 1975 Class Cs on van chassis were becoming popular. The Mitchell factory devoted one of their six manufacturing buildings to Class C production. 1975 The usual night shot. 1975 A cold night at Chaco. We went for Thanksgiving and the weather changed. Margot fixed dinner we had at near zero which brought her to tears. Over night it dropped to -5 below zero. Not much fun. Martha's dog, Mac, stayed in the little tent with Martha and I. Mac got between the down bags. Margot and Sarah slept in the cold truck. Our friends had a Mitchell trailer where John was able to sleep. Where was our camper when we needed it. The Suburban got modified. I had a big roof rack made and 2 saddle tanks installed. The total fuel capacity was 75 gallons. The truck served us for 260,000 miles. 1976 brought a disaster to Mitchell and Sons. March 15 after closing time fire broke out and Mick and Rita got a call that the factory was on fire. When Mick arrived four of the six manufacturing building were an inferno. Two other buildings and the office were saved. The brothers tried to keep things going on limited scale. The Class C building was operational. They struggled until 1980 when they shifted to modular buildings manufacturing. Eventually Margot and I came back to truck campers. But that's another story. Satchel Paige warned, "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." I notice age changes one's life, but looking back is worth it. New adventures await us. When the subject of old times comes up, I can say, "Hell, I was there!" (taken from the title of Elmer Keith's biography). The misty planet is such a beautiful place. Ron and Margot
What mistakes have you made that might help others...?
There is another thread going about a member who shared with us his misfortune on his camper. In it, was a very informative discussion as to how best resolve the problem. But more subtle was the message for me to take some extra time when loading/ unloading my TC. I applaud that member for sharing. There were other members who were sharing their mistakes. And it got me thinking... can we post here what things you would like to take back (regarding TC's) that will help others by learning from mistakes. I will read posts about putting gas in their diesel trucks on other forums. Every time I read problems like this it reminds me to take the extra time in order to not be "that guy." Whenever I read of others misfortune I vicariously learn through that person's mistakes. I learned the hard way to make sure to pull the truck WAY OUT OF THE WAY once it is free from the camper. I once pulled out "just enough" and though it was enough space for the camper to be lowered. I recall kicking myself when upon lowering the camper did I realize the front portion of the overhead part (where it just starts to turn horizontal) had caught the rear part of the truck bed above the tail light. Jeez! only another 3" and it would have cleared just fine. Uhg! It dented the metal of the camper but did not puncture the skin. But now I make sure now that I pull the truck forward MORE than enough to insure room so it does not ever happen again. Upon inspection pre-purchase of another past camper I noticed a clear outline of the end profile of a gutter. Yea, the kind on a house. When pointing it out to the owner they said yep, the TC was too close to the house when raising it (it was a pop-up TC.) I bought the camper and treated that dent as if I did it myself... The camper was in otherwise perfect condition except for this dent and it too was not punctured. I have been lucky in my mistakes and no one was ever injured and these are very minor. What can you share (and perhaps laugh at) about your misfortunes that may help me and other to perhaps take away a learning lesson from your mishaps.The S&S/Red Restore/Update/Repair Thread
Today started the "make it ours" portion of our new to us 1990 S&S 11 SCB. I started by replacing cheap plastic Therford toilet that was in the wetbath with an oval lid porcelain Therford toilet. What a pain that was, not only was it gross under the old unit, but the convertion of the water supply line was a pain to. Next I tore all the drapes out, along with all the upolstery. Then I vacumed every nook and cranny out, removed all the drawers and vacumed in there too. The short list of parts so far is; NEW BATTERY CO/PROPANE ALARM REBUILD KITS FOR JACKS MATERIAL FOR DRAPES SHOWER CURTAIN WALL MOUNT BRACKET FOR FLAT SCREEN NEW RADIO AND SPEAKERS LOTSA CAULK AND SILICONE Pics to follow worked till dark.
