New Coach - First adventures

[Jill]

Morning all...
Picked up our FIRST coach last night. Safari Cheetah, '03, 36 ft. Drove it the 90 miles home without anyone getting injured. (good omen) Stopped at a rest area to "revel" in the new adventure. Only two issues...put the slides out but the jacks wouldn't go down. And...couldn't illuminate some of the interior lights. Other than that...it was GREAT.
We shall join the vagabond society next week for a three month trip.
Jill, Steve and Max (who really runs the show)

[Jill]

Hi All...
It's 4:26 AM...this was to be our last night sleeping at the house before our FIRST three month trip in the coach. All the paraphernalia is neatly stacked in the garage awaiting the Safari with it's brand new tires. Last night we discovered that the Falcon tow bar that the coach came with has to have auto tow plates individually made. So...after shutting off TV, forwarding phone and telling all our friends we'd be gone, we now have to wait for the plate to be manufactured. I sure hope this is not an indication of how our RVing will go.
Quick question while I can't sleep...when we pull into the campground, we shut everything off..does that mean the batteries in the basement get the knob turned to red and the toggle switch goes down? (I know that ques. seems silly but we really don't know)
Thanks,
Jill and Steve
Safari Cheetah '03
VW Beetle

[JFC]

Have fun with the new coach. You'll probably find at least one item a day you have questions on, or are new to you each day for the first few weeks. I'm not sure what you mean by "turn everything off" when you get to the CG. When we're traveling, we pull into the CG and let the engine idle for awhile, then shut it down. Other than that, we register, pull into the space, connect the utilities and enjoy.

[Jill]

How to test your relationship...buy a diesel pusher when neither of you knows the first thing about it...have new tires installed...offer mutual support at the cost of the large rubber disks and attempt to go camping.
No problem backing into the spot. Two and a half hrs. later, figured out how to connect the shore power. Actually, there were TWO connections..one to the pole and the other to another plug in the cellar. Anyway..now to tackle the air conditioning, et al....Pouring rain. 91 degrees according to the state of the art temp guage...time to hook up the water. I prepare to wash the dishes the previous owner generously left...Steve comes in and states: "There is no hose under there." This is the juncture where the Hail Mary and Our Father come in...we were in 1) camping world 2) wal-mart 3) home depot... you never thought to buy a hose????
The saga continues...this is only day one
Jill and Steve
Safari Cheetah 03
VW Beetle

[1oleman]

Ain't camping a blast?

[Monaco38]

Every time out make a list of the items you discover you need that you didn't bring with you. Over time the list gets shorter, but you will always have a list. When you think you have everything you will ever need with you...you'll discover that a mouse has eaten a hole in the bread sack and you have to drive 20 miles to the nearest store for a mouse trap! True story. Especially don't forget the wine bottle opener, (did that)...or the wine! (never forgot the wine) Enjoy the adventure, and welcome to RVing, and iRV2.

[Jill]

We left our mortgage payment connected to shore power and drove the 1.5 miles homelast night. No hose for water hook-up. (sheesh)
Today will be LONG...cleaning and more digestion of info from the 2,000 page manual.
Steve left early to stop for coffee...he's not been privy to me adding decaf to the "full roast" coffee can, so we'll be attacking this RV thing with him fueled by caffeine.
Thank you again for all your help...REALLY appreciate it.

[GG1]

Hey Jill recognize this dog?

[GENECOP]

Everything you describe is just part of the great adventure, be the reed bending in the wind, have fun, Gene

[Jill]

And so...day 2. The temp reads 94 which probably twins the humidity. We empty the bays to be happily surprised at all the paraphernalia the previous owner left us.
Finally got the hose to get water into the rig. Steve turns the valve on the low point potable water connection. The plastic knob is dry, brittle and/or Steve is too strong. Knob breaks and water runs out of tank. No way to plug it and not able to close it off with tools...we call a mobile RV repair and he's vowed to be at the site Monday at 9am...and so we STILL have no water.
Infinite optimism keep us hobbling along the camping path.

Jill and Steve
Safari Cheetah 03 36ft
VW Beetle
FMCA 415541

[nodine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jill And so...day 2. The temp reads 94 which probably twins the humidity. We empty the bays to be happily surprised at all the paraphernalia the previous owner left us. Finally got the hose to get water into the rig. Steve turns the valve on the low point potable water connection. The plastic knob is dry, brittle and/or Steve is too strong. Knob breaks and water runs out of tank. No way to plug it and not able to close it off with tools...we call a mobile RV repair and he's vowed to be at the site Monday at 9am...and so we STILL have no water. Infinite optimism keep us hobbling along the camping path. Jill and Steve Safari Cheetah 03 36ft VW Beetle FMCA 415541

You should keep notes. You have the start of a good humor book on Rving. Sounds to me like you can't swim, don't have a life jacket, and still jumped in the deep end!

Bob

[H. Miller]

NOTE to prospective new owners...........
Never plan on taking delivery of an RV (especially a used motorhome) and starting a long trip in a couple of days! It takes that long just to read the operating manual.

[Jill]

Hi All,
Day three and we haven't slept in any bed other than home. We're paying for the campsite, working all day on the coach, and hanging our heads in shame for the 1.5 miles to the gated community we call home. Our 36' is not welcomed here and it's like leaving a puppy who just wants to establish a relationship with it's new owner.
Still no H2O after we broke the knob off the low point tank. Can't plug it, so can't sleep there.
Learned several things this morning: 1)when backing up; if you don't have a walkie talkie then you need a lozenger 2) leaving the radio on drains the battery and the jacks don't retract 3) if you think you can manage the 800 systems on a motorcoach, why can't you figure out how to shut off the radio? 4) if you read the manual you CAN operate the A/C. 5) there is a clip that holds the awning in place...can't get just pull it down (Steve=The Hulk)

The Cheetah was basically in perfect condition. We broke so many things, it's going to cost us a pension payment.
We were told to Follow Our Dreams...I think however, you need a three-digit IQ first!

Jill, Steve and Max
Safari Cheetah 03 36'
VW toad

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

A boat is a hole in the water you throw money into...a motorhome is a pot-hole in the road you throw money into! I wouldn't have it any other way. I've been RV'ing since 1978 and learn something new with each outing and as Monaco-Momma says you never finish the list. Sit back and enjoy at least your close to the stick house.