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12-27-2009, 08:11 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Beautiful State of Washington
Posts: 116
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Hi I'm back
My last visit was in September of this year,That's when my Hubby after 15 yrs.in truck driving got home and announced he was going to retire.He wasn't feeling well so he went to the doctor and that doctor sent him to another doctor.Well after all the poking and prodding and cat scans and mri's it was found he had cancer non curable non operable.What followed was a series of radiation treatments, yeah, after just 2 treatments the tumor was shrinking.They put in a stint so he could breath easier,the cancer was wrapped around his trachea.But as fast as the tumor was shrinking so was his strength to fight and on October 20th he passed away.
I'm not looking for sympathy that just makes me cry and I'm doing enough of that.
What I need to know is how many women are out there living and maintaining their Motorhomes by themselves? I don't consider myself stupid but I sure am when it comes to anything that has to do with my 40 foot home on wheels.
I know this sounds like the last thing I should be thinking about at this time.But my hubby passed away before we could get the propane tank filled,it's empty,and the batteries are dead so can't go and get any and no one will deliver only 40 gallons.After he passed we had a wind storm and a huge Madrona tree fell on the motor home took a week but found some one to remove it.The damage isn't to bad lost the kitchen vent hood and a branch poked a hole about the size of a cake donut in the roof.Don't want to turn it into the insurance because I don't think it will cost that much to fix it and don't want the insurance going up or be canceled cause I made a claim.So am I being unrealistic or is there some hope for me to keep my home and maybe just maybe some day take that trip my hubby and I were so looking forward to. Hugs Peabody
__________________
Enjoy Life....This is not a rehearsal
Wanda
The boss--Whookie(shih tzu)
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12-27-2009, 08:28 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,496
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Hi Wanda,
It sounds like you have been tested to the max. Sorry for your loss but you sound like a strong person and ready to continue pursuing what you love. I have seen various posts from single women on this forum and here is another that I found for you. I understand what you are going through as I went through it with both of my parents. I know a spouse is different but they are both devastating. Time does heal.
Best of luck on your new adventure.
RVing Women - Recreation, Support, Information and Networking for Women RVers
__________________
Del & Lori 2007 Diplomat 40PDQ - 2020 Grand Cherokee TrailHawk Hemi Toad, M&G Brake System, Blue Ox.
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12-27-2009, 08:39 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Manteca, Ca
Posts: 1,373
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Wanda, sorry for your loss and the misfortunes with your M/H.
If I were closer I would be more than happy to lend you a hand in grtting your coach ready for the road. That being said do you belong to FMCA or Good Sam? If you do in the annual FMCA mag (JAN) there is a listing of folks willing to help other members. Good Sam has a similar list, but I don't remember where it is, but you could call there office on Monday. Someone on the forum may be nearby and offer you assistance. I will search around today for any info I can find for your area.
__________________
"Piddln"
2008 Jeep Sahara '4Dr"
Ronnie Bledsoe
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12-27-2009, 08:57 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Appalachian Campers Coastal Campers
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Conway, SC
Posts: 828
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Wanda I am very sorry to hear of your misfortune.
If you are in the Myrtle Beach area, send me a PM and we will get you running and the propane tank filled.
I would get an estimate on the roof repair and then decide on the insurance company.
__________________
2002 Winnebago Ultimate Advantage 40J, Roadmaster InvisiBrake Model 8700
2012 Chevy Captiva
NEVER FORGET
"Everyone Goes Home"
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12-27-2009, 10:09 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lacey, Wa
Posts: 630
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Wanda
Do you have any road side assistance insurance. A call to them will get the motorhome going for you. If u don't call me at 360-791-4689. My name is jack. I live in Lacey, wa.
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12-27-2009, 12:30 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi Wanda,
Please accept my condolences on the passing of your husband.
The trees behind your coach don't look like they are from South Florida, but if you are located in South Florida, PM me here. I'll be glad to help get your coach ready for travel.
Try to get the roof repaired as soon as possible. To get the batteries charged, it might just be that the coach needs to be connected to shore power. If that is possible, try it for several days and see what happens to the batteries.
Please let us know how you are getting along.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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12-27-2009, 12:57 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Melbourne & Marathon, Florida
Posts: 1,537
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Thanks Jack!
__________________
2005 Safari Cheetah 38PDQ - 2009 Ford Flex
Me (Gatogonow), The Boss (DW), Honey Bunny, Maggie May and Mollie Kay (The Gatos)!
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12-27-2009, 04:17 PM
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#8
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,718
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Wanda,
My condolences, too, for your loss. We'll take good care of you, so keep posting any questions/issues you have & someone here will be able to help.
Please check in on the Solo RV'ers Forum here on iRV2. I know there are a number of members there who are single women & they will help you & support you.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Lori-
__________________
Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
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12-27-2009, 05:09 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 185
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Wanda
In response to Jim Stewart's thread (locked) I sent you a pm. If you didn't get it you can reach me through my profile. I am in Olympia.
Jerry
__________________
Jerry & Barb ~ Furbies: Finnegan, Tirzah, Brodie, Boomer
2003 Monaco Camelot 38PST, Cummins 350 ISC, Roadmaster RR8S chassis, 2004 Honda CR-V Toad, FMCA, Olympia, WA K7DKO
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12-27-2009, 05:49 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Beautiful State of Washington
Posts: 116
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Thank-You
I'm almost speechless you guys are so nice.To answer some of the questions No the insurance I have right now is for damage done while in storage it's really inexpensive and seeing how I'm not moving right now it was the sensible way to go one phone call insures it while I go fill the propane tank.
Wish I was in Florida I'd be warm,lol. I'm connected to my daughters house so only 30amps, we were going to set up a pole for the motor home but was just one of those things that didn't get done.I personally believe I need new batteries they won't hold a charge for more than a day.I hate feeling so helpless just got to teach myself with some help from you guys whats what.I know a few basics how the water heater is started,how to turn on the generator,finally learned how to turn on the fan in the kitchen and now it's broke,lol, simple things like that.Not sure where to take it for repairs on the fiber glass we have a few places within a 50mile radius I can call.
I have to say again you guys are the nicest bunch of people and Thank-You.Hugs Peabody
__________________
Enjoy Life....This is not a rehearsal
Wanda
The boss--Whookie(shih tzu)
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12-27-2009, 06:10 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lacey, Wa
Posts: 630
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Wanda
Call Coumbs RV in olympia wa, ask for john. He runs the repair shop, (and is the owner). did right by me on repairs I had done. 360-357-6506
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12-27-2009, 07:43 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Melbourne & Marathon, Florida
Posts: 1,537
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Wanda, depending on how old the batteries are and if they will take but not hold the charge, it more than likely is the batteries. Check to see if they have water in them. There are two sets of batteries in a MH one set is to start the engine and usually have no removable caps to pull to fill the water. The other set are 6 volt batteries wired to provide 12 volt to the house. These have caps that you can remove to fill with distilled water if low.
Many things in a MH need 12 volt to operate correctly even if plugged into 110 Electric. First check the water level and if low, use a turkey baster in a gallon of distilled water to fill them to the ring you see just below the cap. Then try charging again. If they still do not hold the charge then you may need to replace.
Take a digital camera and take pictures of all of the wires and positive and negative terminals (posts). Label each one in the picture with a number. Then take sticky labels and label each cable and post with the same number as in the picture. Somewhere in the compartment with the batteries is a battery shut off switch. It is usually a rotary switch that you rotate to turn off. Turn that off and then remove the batteries and take one to a Costco or Walmart and tell them you want the same type replacement (Amp Hour, Size and Voltage). Bring them back and reinstalled per your labels and pictures making sure that the orientation of the posts are the same, then recharge.
This is something that a woman can do easily if she can lift the batteries. If you need help, get another Lady or someone to help you. It's not that hard. If you can take a picture of the battery compartment and post it here, many of us can guide you through the procedure should you elect to do it yourself. My DW gets immense satisfaction in doing one of the "Mans" jobs! Being able to do some of those things yourself gives you the self reliance you need to follow through on the dream with a greater level of confidence.
__________________
2005 Safari Cheetah 38PDQ - 2009 Ford Flex
Me (Gatogonow), The Boss (DW), Honey Bunny, Maggie May and Mollie Kay (The Gatos)!
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12-28-2009, 04:33 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: DFW Area, TX
Posts: 2,040
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Wanda, we, too, are sorry for your loss. While I understand your feelings as a women about how overwhelming things can seem, all of us have gone through that, too. I was totally intimidated by our diesel when we first bought it and I had already been maintaining our passenger vehicles myself for 30+ years.
You've gotten great advice but please allow me to offer a little more:
1. It is important that you at least cover that hole in the roof as soon as you can. You won't want water to get down inside and make matters worse.
2. The suggestion to contact a local RV dealership that has a good reputation is a good one. While I do understand that one person can have success with a business and someone else can be taken for a ride by the same business, you need some expert advice who can physically see what you are dealing with.
3. Get binder and a set of index tabs. Start collecting notes for the individual appliances and stuff on the chassis. What you want is one place with easy access for all the information that you collect. You can read this and the RV.NET form, searching for specific topics. If you search "water heater" for example, you can read a lot of stuff about it, more than just how to turn it on. While much of it will seem like Greek at first, the more you read, the easier it will become. Take notes and move to another topic. You would be surprised at how many times any question that you will ever have about an RV has been answered on the forums. The key is getting good a searches for the information. After a little bit, you will be able to ask specific questions yourself. I did exactly as I'm suggesting that you do. I took a new subject each week and spent a couple of hours each day reading about it, taking notes. In 6 weeks, I knew a lot more about many things than I did when I started. It sounds like making yourself comfortable with driving the RV might be a good place to start. There are lots of good posts about driving techniques. Of course, you will have to work through the battery problem first. That is why I think you need some expert help to get you started.
Best of luck and be sure to come back often. There are lots of folks on IRV2 who can give you lots of sound advice.
Charlie
__________________
2000 Georgie Boy Landau 36' DP
2018 Equinox toad
KF5-NJY
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12-28-2009, 05:09 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi Wanda,
If moving the coach to a repair facility is not possible, consider this as a temporary repair. Go to EternaBond | RV Repair Products. The Eternabond product will last over 10 years. Get a piece of exterior grade plywood to cover the hole. Then put the Eternabond over the plywood and a good distance onto the roof. Clean the area of the roof the Eternabond will make contact with. For me, I would trust this repair, until I can get the job done correctly. If you run the Eternabond well onto the roof, there should be no problem driving the coach. Overlap the Eternabond by 1/3 its' width. No rain or anything else gets through Eternabond.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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