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Three months in...and the adventure continues!
This is my first post on this forum. I thought I'd share some of the adventures that I've had since going full-time in late July for both your amusement and perhaps you can learn something from my errors! This is the first installment, so there's more to come! I wouldn't want to burden you too much at one time!
As a single guy, I had nothing to keep me from going full-time, so I went for it! I own a windshield repair business, and figured I could do that just about anywhere, so it travels with me.
I sold my home in Thornton, CO and the VAST majority of my possessions I've spent 54 years accumulating. Somewhat surprising how refreshing it is to be rid of stuff! I purchased a 2008 Ford F-350 (srw) and a 2008 40' Fusion toy-hauler. The trailer had to be a toy-hauler to accommodate my 2002 Honda Goldwing motorcycle. A bit heavy for the truck, so hence mistake number one: I should have been a bit more patient and found a dually. It would have been an easier pull with the trailer.
I stayed in the Denver area to spend time with family and take care of some details before leaving the state. While there, I installed a washer/dryer combo; best purchase yet! I love being able to do my laundry without having to use a laundromat. That baby is worth every penny! Since my trailer was already piped for the unit, all I had to do was cut a hole in the side for the vent. Nerve-wracking, for sure, but worth the effort.
While in route between campsites, my 108,000-mile engine in the truck popped and started pouring smoke out the exhaust, leaving me stranded on I-25 north of Denver. After using the Good Sam roadside assistance, I found my trailer parked behind carwash in Johnson's Corner while the truck was towed to the Ford dealer in Loveland.
What I'd hoped was a blown turbo turned out to be a burned piston. I'd purchased a warranty on the truck, but it took them 4 weeks to approve and replace the engine. In the meantime, I found a park in Loveland, and, with a $100 bill, got one of the occupants to come down and bring my trailer back to the park.
While waiting for the truck to be returned (and cursing my luck), I spent the time getting settled in my trailer. The decals on the exterior were completely trashed, so I stripped them, removed the adhesive, buffed the oxidation off and waxed the entire exterior. This is NOT a job I'd recommend to anyone! That was tough, but worth it. Now, the trailer is very generic in appearance, with only my company decals on the nose and on the ramp door.
I also began weeding out more stuff that I thought I absolutely had to keep but didn't really need. I'm a tool guy, so I kept a lot of tools...I mean a LOT of tools. Most of them went by the wayside, donated to the maintenance guys at the park.
Here's a few things I learned in my first month:
*There's no sense keeping tools that don't fit anything you no longer have. I lost almost 300 lbs giving those up!
*Glass dishes bounce when rolling down the road. When they bounce, they break. That's a mess to clean up!
*Make sure nothing is between the slide and the counter. The slide will win.
*Always have some water in the tank...even when you don't plan to boondock it. You never know when you'll need it!
*The refrigerator door latch clicks closed for a reason. It, too, bounces when you roll down the highway...and it's way more messy than the glass dishes!
*Four straps on a 1000lb motorcycle are not sufficient. I trusted the previous owner's tie-downs and ripped three of them out, allowing the bike to tip and damage the mirror against the side of the trailer. Now, I have e-tracks and multiple tie-down locations.
I pulled out of Denver and headed for Iowa to visit some dear friends on October 3rd. We'll save that trip for the next installment!
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Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang! 
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