Full time RVing isn't for everybody. Homes on wheels have the same issues to deal with as homes on foundations. Plumbing, furnace, water heater, air conditioner, drafts and leaks around doors, windows and roofs. Plus issues having to do with the wheels and associated suspension, engine, transmission, etc.
Before we weighed anchor from Ash Meadows the RV battery bank was (over) due for service. The water level was alarmingly low. After adding a half gallon each to both batteries the plates were still high and dry. Almost another full gallon later all cells were finally flooded. They'd apparently boiled dry. My dang. I didn't expect 5-year old batteries to recover. But they did. They don't hold full charge anymore. But they got us up the road for 2+ weeks of spring migration north last month. I see new batteries in the RV's future. But that expense's at least punted down the calendar for now.
While enjoying a week off grid at Camp Hart Mtn in southern OR there was an opportunity to crawl around under the chassis. On the right rear wheel the backing plate for the drum brakes was wet. I suspected brake fluid. Probably a leaky wheel cylinder. The master cylinder reservoir was too low. So we got a pint of brake fluid and topped it off. Leaving Hart we cautiously rolled into Lakeview and found a shop. Turns out the brakes were okay. Whew! The wheel seal was leaking axle lube though. Yikes! Fortunately, they were able to tear it down and replace the seal that afternoon. Double whew. What great service!
The climb up to Little Crater CG in Newberry Volcanic NM was a long, steep grade. Slow speed meant lowest gears which really stressed both aging powertrains. While scouting campsites Loretta spotted a drip under the RV. Turned out the oil filter was leaking. Deja vu. Two years ago in CO the oil filter had loosened and just needed snugging. This time it was still plenty tight as I discovered when my cinch wrench split the canister. Gr! My oil change pan was buried in the back of the truck. We lost an embarrassing puddle of oil in our campsite before catching the rest. So it got another oil change. Plus, we invested in a filter socket. Fool me twice? (blush)
There was another grade to climb in OR on 197 north of Madras. We pulled into the rest area on top. Conventional wisdom says to idle an engine to let it cool down. But without airflow when we stop the temp gauge on the RV goes into the red. The lesson we learned that day was to leave it idling anyway and be more patient. Because while turned off hot coolant in the radiator boiled out of the reservoir overflow. Making a big mess on the parking lot! Some lessons one learns the hard way. (wince) At least we had extra coolant. And no major harm was done.
I share this slice of life on the road. Not to scare anybody straight. Just some unvarnished truth. When we meet people and describe what we do for a living, they often respond similarly. Their faces light up and they share wishes to do the same. Sometimes we romanticize certain things without honestly calibrating fantasy with reality. So I offer some real world experiences. If you agree that these are good problems to have, then you too might just embrace and enjoy the wheel world. If not, no worries. It's all good.
