It finally happened. Twice.

[widowson1968]

We have gone along for several years without either of these "facts of RV life" happening to us. Might as well "fess up" here and hopefully find other travelers along this familiar road.
Last month we took our 2007 Fleetwood Revolution 42N LE to Charleston, Sc for our "maiden" voyage. Just a 7 or so hour trip for us and a good opportunity to shake her down so to speak. In Ravenell, about 10-15 miles south of Charleston we pulled in to tank up at a BP station. We, well actually me, Jack, thought we had plenty of clearence at the diesel island and as it turns out we, I, now have a nice yellow racing stripe on the starboard side that extends about three feet or so down that side. So much for certainty one, our first major ding.
Certainty two was the shut down of cooling on AC #1 after three days or so. Turns out to be a capacitor which is on order as this is written. This was our first significant breakdown since RVing for several years, just overdue I guess.
The bright side, and there is one, turns out that our selling dealer has authorization to do the AC repair on Fleetwood. They assurred us that we would be waranteed on this unit. How refreshing, something we were told turns out to be true.
We cannot say enough good things about the folks at Sun Coast RV in Lake Park, Ga. They have been as good as their word. Somewhat of a rarity in todays climate.

Best to all...Jack&Rita

[Wayne M]

Well,
Don't feel to bad - it happens to almost everyone. How do I know? Well, we were evacuating from hurricane Ike. It was night time (I hate driving at night nowadays) and my wife was following me in her car. The MH was new and this was the maiden voyage. about 20 miles from the CG we were going to she phoned me and told me she was stopping for gas.

I knew the CG and what I would have to do to be able to back into our spot was go to the end where the turn-around was. I did. As I went around the turnaround, swinging wide, I encountered a pick-up truck parked in the through-way. So, I had to back up to reposition so I could get by. Now it is dark, and it is raining. The backup camera showed everthing to be clear - and it was, behind me. As I start forward again the repositioning did not give me clearance for the curb side regarding a 3 inch pipe filled with cement and cemented with a ball of cement into the ground. Thud bump, as the tires rolled over it. The ground was soft and the MH knoced the pipe over, but not before putting the same color yellow streak on the bottom of my bay door, along with a dent. That was one year ago and it is till not fixed. I'm leaving it as my wife suggested as a reminder for awhile.

Always, alway, get out and check at night time before making any unfamiliar changes.

I never use the auto side of a gas station with the DP. I always use the trucker's side. To many of those gas stations just are to tight, or someone will block you way and you have to wait for them. I don't know why they have to put the auto side diesel pump in the far tight end of the area.

Hopefully I'll learn from my mistakes and those of others.