Where to even put it all

Since the new year came around, it has been what seems a non stop sprint planning and working towards our new goal.

Things will be sorted out/clear up with a little more time. For the time being though, I'll give a brief outline of whats been going on

We paid for the rv and took all the paper work we had to the check cashing/tag place in Phoenix, Az to get things going. Not much time at all and no luck either because of some paper work dispute, we left. My new bill of sale gives me 30 days to drive to get everything done in Florida, since that is where our permanent residence is.

We go back and pick up our motorhome and drove not too far of a distance to a Discount Tire, where we price matched new tires the nights before. While waiting I walked over to another tag place a few stores down from the tire shop to give it another shot at a different place. No paper work issue, BUT now there is an issue with the VIN. Too many digits is the problem. Walk over to the door tag and match it to the title and previous registration, all 18 digits match. ??? Another time since it is a Saturday and everything we need through a DMV is closed.

New tires all around, well except for the spare. Budgeting for the time being since it looks good, holds air, and there are dually tires. We should make it the 400 miles home without a dilemma. So I drive out of the parking lot and on to the main road with Michelle in the civic following.

Approximately 100 feet later a quick right into a gas station to top off the 35 gallon tank with diesel. My first diesel.... Back on the road with 399.9 miles to go, new tires, fluids topped off and a full tank of gas. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeee we go.

Not the greatest ride ever but this thing drives really easy to me. Especially without those flat spotted tires thumping against the asphalt/concrete every rotation anymore.

After Many hours and a few border stops later we get to a high wind possibility area. HIGH winds indeed, as speeds were decreasing to rates of 10mph on I-8

The roof was stripped down to the aluminum framing and new wood, flashing, screws, staples, rubber roof, Fan-tastic roof vents, refrigerator vent, Cyclone holding tank vents, aluminum trim etc..... made their way on top of Alexxa.

On the chassis, all the fluids and filters have been changed on the 3.9 liter isuzu turbo diesel. As of now the generator has 34.9 hours on it. The oil "looks" new. We added 5 gallon to the LP tank to test out the appliances, and sure enough the gen was humming along with very minor tinkering. After having the gen warm up for a few minutes, I went inside to the breaker panel and flipped the breakers on one at a time. Taking a lamp from inside the house I went to each and every outlet on the rv and tested them. All is good and the microwave light has been flashing away the whole time.

On to the refrigerator. Plugged in? Check. Gas valve on? Check. Flip the switch to auto and the power switch to high humidity, nothing. The engine battery has been charged, but the marine batteries in it are no good and I want some six volt amp hours. Off to Costco. and four new golf cart batteries later for "me" and a slice of cheese pizza for Michelle and we're back home.

More to come. It's late and the bed is calling

Wheeling & Dealing

 

  We've decided to go ahead and purchase Alexxa. She needs all new tires,  a part of the roof replaced, and the whole thing may as well be resealed. We're told the generator and appliances work. Since there's no propane in it, we won't know until after she gets her new shoes and we take her somewhere to get topped off and checked over. We're getting her at a great price and decided that even if they don't work, she's still worth the investment. We're pretty confident they will though. The generator only has 35 hours on it, never before lived in, and she's only had one owner couple. The engine sounds great, breaks are good, transmission okay.

My job on the RV is to design it, make the curtains, & cover the upholstery. Today I went into my local SewPro to trade 2 broken sewing machines (one I bought at a garage sale for $25 the other was free) for a solid, lightweight, sewing machine.  The older gentleman I spoke with was all into RV'ing and what we're doing. He said he used to teach and that him and his wife would travel all summer in their RV and collect antiques. Sometimes they'd buy so much they had to rent a motel room to sleep in at night. So when I told him why I was trading these for a new one, his eyes lit up and he said he had the perfect machine for me. A shiny, new looking, white, Singer Featherweight II. He showed me how to thread it, how to set up the bobbin, how to use the 16 different stitches. It's perfect for me. It even has an auto threader for when I'm sewing on the road, lol. J/k. Maybe. After some bargaining I bought it for $90 plus my broken trades. When I got home, read its reviews and found out what it retails for, I found out he gave me a great deal. The deal gods are shining upon us. 

So now we're price shopping tires, tow hitches, oil and fluid change, break systems a tow hitch and wires for lights for my car when its in tow, roofing materials, WVO Conversion, solar panels, the list goes on... there's so much we're learning.

 

RV Shopping

We're on our way from San Diego, CA to Phoenix, AZ to look at a 1991 28' Alexxa Diesel Motorhome. Will she be the one?