Community Forums

Big Dan · 11-15-2009, 07:32 AM

No, really; I'm utterly clueless. I'm Dan, my wife is Patti, and we're from the tiny little town of Twin Lakes in extreme Southern Wisconsin. It's only a mile and a quarter from our driveway to the Illinois state line, and we're about 30 miles off of Lake Michigan.

My late father left me his motorhome, and I have no experience with them whatsoever. It's a Class A, 2000 35' Damon Challenger 330, single slide-out, on a Workhorse chassis with a 454 Chevy for power. We intend to use it fairly regularly.

I'm retired, and Patti gets about 5 weeks off per year, all told. We plan on getting out of these horrible winters a few times each year for a week or so at a time.

Now I'm off to read, read, read the forums before I start with the questions. Thanks for having me.

Route 66 · 11-15-2009, 07:38 AM

Welcome to iRV2.

As you note, there is more info here than you could imagine, and we have the most helpfful members to answer any questions you might have..

Corvette Man · 11-15-2009, 07:42 AM

Had a Damon Intruder and I recommend you read the owners manual several times in the coach to learn about it. Look at each item it is talking about and see how it works. That is the way I still learn about my coach. No question is bad because you don't know the answer. This forum will be a great help. Have fun RVing and you will love it.

Roger L. · 11-15-2009, 07:49 AM

Welcome Dan, I lived in Kenosha until 1985, used to fish the lakes there, loved the area, then moved to Oxford, Michigan.
I alos retired in Dec 2007. Like you, I don't want to spend another winter in Michigan, so the wife and I just bought a 36ft Alpine Motor Coach and are planning to leave here ASAP.
These forums are a good way to get help from all it's great members. They have helped me alot and their very quick to get an answer back to you.

hardy1000 · 11-15-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dan

No, really; I'm utterly clueless. I'm Dan, my wife is Patti, and we're from the tiny little town of Twin Lakes in extreme Southern Wisconsin. It's only a mile and a quarter from our driveway to the Illinois state line, and we're about 30 miles off of Lake Michigan.

My late father left me his motorhome, and I have no experience with them whatsoever. It's a Class A, 2000 35' Damon Challenger 330, single slide-out, on a Workhorse chassis with a 454 Chevy for power. We intend to use it fairly regularly.

I'm retired, and Patti gets about 5 weeks off per year, all told. We plan on getting out of these horrible winters a few times each year for a week or so at a time.

Now I'm off to read, read, read the forums before I start with the questions. Thanks for having me.

Welcome Dan and Patti, you can look forward to great adventures and meet the nicest people RV'ing. I also reccomend that you read the owners manual and get familar with it. One nice thing about this forum is that there are plenty of people willing to help.

Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43' · 11-15-2009, 08:09 AM

Welcome...read the owners manual and do it! You will experience joy and frustration in equal amounts at the beginning. It goes uphill from there. I don't do under 40 degrees myself so I understand getting out of the cold.

Shellback1 · 11-15-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dan

No, really; I'm utterly clueless. I'm Dan, my wife is Patti, and we're from the tiny little town of Twin Lakes in extreme Southern Wisconsin. It's only a mile and a quarter from our driveway to the Illinois state line, and we're about 30 miles off of Lake Michigan.

My late father left me his motorhome, and I have no experience with them whatsoever. It's a Class A, 2000 35' Damon Challenger 330, single slide-out, on a Workhorse chassis with a 454 Chevy for power. We intend to use it fairly regularly.

I'm retired, and Patti gets about 5 weeks off per year, all told. We plan on getting out of these horrible winters a few times each year for a week or so at a time.

Now I'm off to read, read, read the forums before I start with the questions. Thanks for having me.

Dan guess what? Most of us are clueless when we first start and it is always an experence, some good and some bad, but all in all it is fun.

I retired in 06, bought my Damon and only drove it about 3 miles before heading out to CA from NH. I never drove one before but I can say I love it now.

If you want to learn things, or need help with anything this is the site to get all the info you ever will need.

Have fun!

Ron

Superslif · 11-15-2009, 10:07 AM

Welcome aboard....We live just south of Cleveland...Yesterday I had the task of winterizing the RV and putting her to sleep for the winter. It took me about 45 minutes to blow all the water lines out and add some RV antifreeze. We got out last weekend to some nice weather. Was thinking of going out again this weekend, but for once I wanted to do the winterizing on a nice day. If your thinking about using your coach during a few winter outings to go down south, your going to have to know how to winterize it. Do you have it "winterized now"?.....

dajudge · 11-15-2009, 03:07 PM

Welcome, DAn. Most of us are clueless when we jump in. I just purchased my third motorhome, and i had to re learn the controls. Welcome and post often. There are no stupid questions, just unanswered ones.

Spikester · 11-15-2009, 03:18 PM

Welcome Dan, most of us were in the position you are now in, take your time read, and work your way through things. As has been stated there is a wealth of knowledge on these forums, so do not be afraid to ask. Before you know it you will be offering up suggestions of your own to all of us. Enjoy your motorhome and do take as much advantage of the opportunity it presents to get to some good weather during the long, cold Wisconsin winter months.

Spike

desertrv · 11-16-2009, 12:13 AM

Welcome, the books to the rig is a great place to start. It would be good if you have someone locally to give you ideas and tips. My friend and I are always comparing notes and have saved each other a lot of fretting over things.

JMonroe · 11-16-2009, 05:42 PM

Hey Dan, welcome aboard! My wife and I aren't too far from you, in Lake Mills. I went to high school and college in Walworth County and am sure I've been through Twin Lakes, but not recently enough to describe it.

We've been RV'ing for almost 30 years, currently in a motor home of about the same size as yours. This forum is an invaluable resource. You can also feel free to email me directly with any questions about the RV, or places to take it.

We're not yet retired, but working on it. If all goes well, I hope to do so next summer. Peggy will work another couple years while I work on selling two homes, the one in Lake Mills, and another up north.

Your adventures are just beginning. Enjoy!

Lorna · 11-17-2009, 08:03 PM

How about The Idiot's Guide to RVing??? My daughter got that one after seeing it on the movie RV. She found it soooo funny. But she has also been camping (pop-up) since she was in diapers. Lots of good info in it for newbies too.

The Escapees forum is a good place as well! IRV2 & Escapees are probably the two best forums on the internet.

Big Dan · 11-18-2009, 07:08 AM

Thank you all for the welcomes. I've been reading like mad, and have already learned that I've done some stuff wrong; luckily, though, I haven't done any harm as yet. To connect or disconnect from shore power, I've been just plugging in the cord, or unplugging it. I didn't know to trip the breaker or anything. I've only plugged into 110v, and everything seems to still work, so I'm guessing (hoping) that all is well.

Jay, if you can decribe Twin Lakes 20 years ago, you can pretty much describe it today. Not much has changed, I don't think, other than a few new homes being built outside the Village proper. We love it here. Were it not for the winters, we'd stay here forever.

Back to my reading...