Make a List......or Not

 

"We live in a abundance."

~Matt and Gina~

 

"We live in abundance" is our mantra. We used to say, "There's always enough." That turned out to be self-limiting. We declare to the universe nearly every day that we have all we need, and then some.

What does that have to do with RV life? I'll tell you. While we live our lives declaring our abundance, we're fully aware that, as of now, we aren't Elon Musk or Bill Gates. Therefore, while declaring our abundance, we're also cognizant of the fact we are to be good stewards of what we have. Our abundance is how we ended up with a motor home. Our stewardship is how we ended up with a 25 year old motor home and a 23 year old Jeep toad.

But, I digress. Preparing to RV comes with a list. It should, anyway. You'll definitely want a basic list of all those things you'll need to live comfortably on the road. Eventually, those items morph their way in to a permanent spot on the rig, thereby reducing those things you have to load and unload for every trip. For us, we're getting that fairly close to a list of perishable foods and clothes. We're still forgetting some stuff (maybe we should make a list), but we're new. We're getting there.

Ok, ok. I'm still digressing. The list that really matters is the list of items that need addressed with a 25 year old motor home to make it ours and make it road-worthy. Let me be clear. You will never...never eliminate all the things that can introduce challenges to your trip, but if you're smart, you'll at least attempt to minimize those possibilities.

So, if you're going to buy a pre-owned RV of any kind from an individual or dealer, it's best you be, at the very least, marginally mechanically inclined. Why? Because dealers and RV techs are backed up for months during peak season and their shop rates start at about $175 per hour on the low end. I'm finding a handful of Facebook groups to be handy for discovering tips about our RV, and YouTube is our best friend.

The drive-train on our RV is solid, so getting down the road isn't an issue. That said, here is a list of things I did to "bring her up to code," so to speak:

1. Replaced missing lenses on running lights.

2. Replaced broken front turn signal assemblies.

3. Greased the chassis and changed oil. This is a big stewardship item. Our Cat Diesel takes about 5 gallons of oil. Not 5 quarts...gallons. If you take your RV somewhere for an oil change, especially a diesel, you'll spend at least $500 and that can easily approach $1,000. I changed ours myself for around $100. It's not unlike changing the oil in your car, but you're going to need a bigger oil pan.

4. Changed the fuel filter. 

5. Changed oil in the generator.

6. Tested and topped off the antifreeze. This is a big one. Do it!

7. Lubricated and adjusted the latch on every outside storage door.

8. Replaced the gas strut shocks on the engine compartment door and most of the outside storage cabinets.

9. Redid all the plumbing for the outside shower and low-point drains.  This was a phenomenal pain in the ass.

10. Replaced the kitchen and bathroom sink faucet. Wasn't needed, but it looks and operates better.

11. Had a Blue Ox towing system installed. (That one was with a technician).

While on the road this last time, the rear AC unit was leaking into our bedroom. Turns out our setup wasn't allowing condensation to drain off the roof as it should, so that was an easy fix. But, while I was investigating that leak, I discovered a place on the roof that needed attention. It wasn't leaking...yet, but it was going to eventually. So, I fixed it.

Look, RV life isn't for the faint of heart. You'll have to slow down, practice some mechanical skills, and expect that there are things that will happen on the road. Just go with the flow. RV's aren't made like your house. Basically, they're crap construction on wheels and many of them were made on Friday or Monday. You can live in your RV, but they aren't built to be lived in with constant use. You will have repairs and things to maintain. That's part of the fun of RV life.

Oh, if you think buying a brand new one will help you avoid all this, you're only partially correct. So far, in our limited travels, we've talked to way more people who have had issues with their new rig. Almost 100% of people we visit with wish they'd bought used so that bugs have been worked out and depreciation has be accrued. Buying new isn't necessarily the answer. And there are those long waits at the dealership, even for warranty work.

There were some things I knew I wanted to address before we even took Bertha on a maiden voyage. But before we took her on a longer trip, we took two weekend excursions to develop two lists and become familiar with our house on wheels. Those lists are:

1. Oh crap, I'd better fix that before next time, and....

2. Oh crap, we should remember to take that next time.

We highly recommend you do the same. It'll save you some grief for a long haul.

I didn't forget about the Jeep. Gracie is also an older, yet  low-mileage, vehicle, so needed some updates. Minor cosmetic stuff, mostly.

Here's our recommendation on owning a motor home. Do it. Buy what you can afford, and you can afford more than you think. Live in abundance. We sold some things to purchase the opportunity to experience life. You can, too!

Namaste,

Matt and Gina