My name is Kris, I live in central California, am 61 years old, and bought my (new to me) 1996 Class C Fleetwood Jamboree Searcher (29') about a month ago.
I have been dreaming of RV travel for 30 years, or since my daughter was four years old. I was working with a lady who was also a single parent and the summer before she had driven a truck with camper all around the US with her ten year old daughter. She had taught her the history of the United States by taking her historic places and giving her what amounted to hands-on experience. When she told me she parked alongside the Mississippi River and read Tom Sawyer to her daughter, I was hooked. I began dreaming of the RV lifestyle, and never stopped.
Thirty years passed in the blink of an eye. DD and I did a lot of tent camping along the California coast, and when grandchildren came, we learned about California missions, the gold rush, and so on while camping in tents as well. But I never was able to buy an RV -- until now.
My father passed away earlier this year, and I inherited enough money to finally make my dream come true. I bought (through Craig's List, of course) the vehicle I described above. It had 12,787 miles on it, new tires, new batteries, had been stored under cover, and was a pretty darn good deal at $10,500.
After I brought Jeannie home (as in "I dream of...), when I turned off the key I realized something: I had absolutely no idea what I was doing! I had spent so much time dreaming that I hadn't thought to learn how to operate the systems, how to work within my physical disabilities, or even where to find things in the coach etc.
For example, I have a bad back and getting to the gray and black water hookups require me to get down on my back under the coach. I can't. I will have to pay someone to do that for me.
I read all the manuals and learned how some of the things work, but I was not prepared for things like a nonfunctioning propane system. I filled the tank before my first (weekend) trip, but the system does not work. I read up on it, and it may be the regulator, may be the leak detector, or maybe something else entirely.
As well, the electricity only works on shore power, and I know there were two new 6 volt batteries installed a few months ago. (Receipt.) But I can't find them.
I should mention that just after my Dad passed away, and after I bought the coach, I lost my job of 25 years. I may end up living in Jeannie in the not-so-distant future. Obviously, without a job there is no money to fix anything. So for now there is no such thing as boondocking for me. Dang it ! CGs are $$$$ !
I am relatively capable as far as home repairs are concerned...so maybe I will be able to translate some of that to the RV -- if I can figure it out.
I am feeling overwhelmed. I don't know what I am doing !!! I don't have anyone to show me what to do. I had counted on my Dad for that.
So, I have joined this forum in the hopes my newbieness won't be too off-putting and I can learn from the experts. And hopefully the experts will use small words and speak slowly! LOL.
I am going to keep reading existing posts in the hopes I can find simple, easy to understand solutions. If I can't, I will just ask!
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