May 30, 2023
Usually, a few days after returning home from my winter season exodus I schedule an appointment with my nearby Sioux Falls Camping World to give my motorhome the usual checkup and make repairs months in advance of my return to the highway.
I accept the regular service needs of my motorhome as those of my previous homes; when the roof, and exterior siding needs to be treated or replaced. As well as repaint interior walls and ceilings, window replacements, annual professional cleaning of hardwood, and ceramic tile floors. The lawn mowing, grass beside driveways and sidewalks edged; the driveway, deck and patio stained and/or power washed and shoveling snow. Not only were these constant home and property maintenance tasks expensive; they were time-consuming and exhausting. However, my lifestyle as a 30-foot motorhome dweller is so much better, less expensive with the occasional replacement of big-ticket item such as Cummings generator replacement which I have replaced twice.
Currently, my motorhome is six years old. And there are so many interior things that irritates me and needs to be repaired that I began to keep notes with the intent of sharing my list with camping world when I take my motorhome in for its annual return home repairs. It’s crazy as I think of it now. If I weren’t forced to move into an apartment due to climate change weather conditions, my dog and I would be living at My Place Hotel which is my favorite place. After selling my Maryland home and moving to Sioux Falls as a new resident, this hotel was my home for two months until I decided to buy a motorhome and become a full-time traveler.
Since I am constantly on the highway travelling from place to place, things inside my motorhome always need to be repaired or screws tightened. As a result, I carry replacement screws and rolls of Gorilla Tape to hold things together until I return home. Meanwhile I have noticed my repair list is getting shorter. When I first bought this motorhome as a new RV, I had so many serious things that were wrong I considered returning it to the dealer; because I was constantly travel from place to place to secure warranty repair services until the warranties expired. Then repairs became an out-of-pocket expense for me.
As a result, I get repairs done as soon as possible; like I used to do when I was a home owner. So, repairs aren’t as bad as they used to be. I am scheduled to dropping my motorhome off at Camping World on May 10, 2023 for the following repairs:
(1) Replace broken vent garnish in bathroom, (2) Pull driving pit rug up, and tuck electric wire under rug. (3) Kitchen drawers slide open when driving. Removed all drawers and rebuilt replace glides. Also locks and latches were installed on all drawers. (4) Slide-out does not fully extend. Discovered broken wheel which was replaced. (5) Cabinet door above couch – hinge broken. Hinge was replaced. (6) Strut replaced on motorhome side entrance door. (7) None of the three tv’s works. Problem diagnosed and resolved. (8) Vinyl on counter top near couch and counter top edge near closet needs to be reattached . Also, and counter top was re-attached. (9) The faucet sink needs to be remounted to the counter and faucet needs to be tightened and secured to stay in place. (10) All four-leveling jacks drag while driving into or exiting shopping malls and service stations with aprons. They were removed two-years ago, but sensors still flash and beep like jacks are still attached and dropping to level motorhome. Beeping identified and resolved. (11) LED interior lighting installed two-years ago flashing was identified and corrected. Everything under the hood was checked and fluids topped-off.
Okie Dokie; I am glad these repairs are done. I am ready to roll out of Sioux Falls in October 2023. Prior to retrieving my motorhome from Camping World, I found and paid $150, for a five-month storage space for my motorhome. So, I drove it from Camping World to its new storage space. Secured everything, covered the tires and windows, made sure every outside compartment was locked, with the intent of returning to check on the motorhome; start the engine and let the motorhome run for 30 or more minutes twice a month.