October was full of friends and family, but was also a tough month. First the refrigerator died. Then I did something really stupid.
Dometic is the appliance manufacture Airstream uses, and many other RV manufactures rely on. RVs/trailers are basically boxes filled with appliances and other stuff made by other companies. Airstream and Dometic won’t sell directly to owners; you must go through a dealer. I got incredibly lucky that Dometic had 12 refrigerators in stock. After Chris (the Airstream parts guy) was on hold trying to talk to someone at Dometic he confirmed it was the correct model and could be shipped.
I lost all my good recent Trader Joe’s purchases in addition to the cost of a new fridge, $1500.
Plus, $60 to the mobile RV repair guy who helped me pull the old fridge out. There was a gaping hole where the fridge used to be for a week.
I drove 30 minutes to the dump only to be told they don’t take appliances; wish they would have answered their phone. Maybe they were on their cell phone on important call. I doubt it.
We all know, service is not a great American quality. Haven’t we all experienced the retail clerk talking on their personal cell phone, while waiting for them to serve us.? Why is it okay to conduct personal business or just gossip while on duty? A topic for another day.
I did drive another 45 minutes to a scrap yard, where I dumped the old fridge myself and was offered $1.40 for it. They weighed us going in, and apparently the lack of fridge weight equaled $1.40. Keep the change.
Back to the fridge or lack thereof…
YouTube.
I love YouTube, you can learn to do just about anything. Replacing an RV fridge requires three connections. Propane, AC and DC electric. RV refrigerators run on both electric and propane. After watching several videos, I was ready.
The only part I couldn’t do myself was lifting it out and loading the new one in. Good thing there is always a guy in the campground around who will help. Steve the KOA Denver East owner was happy to help me load it in.
New fridge installed, I was off to meet-up with sister Kerry and brother-in-law Buzz in Buena Vista, CO. We used to tent camp together in Alaska, so I was really looking forward to our first-class camping together. They have Sprinter, we look great side-by-side. All the comforts of home mattresses and sheets, microwave, heater and air conditioning, toilet and shower. Now that is camping!
ALWAYS DO A WALK AROUND, ALWAYS!
Leaving Buena Vista all hooked-up and ready to go, I was doing my walk around. A woman across the campground yelled, “I love your trailer”. We started shouting out together, and I lost track of my walk-around. Sh*t.
Jumped in the truck, Kerry and Buss ahead, and I hear a noise. Yep, I forgot to lift the trailer hitch foot, which I would have seen if I hadn’t engaged in yelling about how I love my trailer.
The foot was bent, a tool I don’t carry is a Sawzall. Thankfully, the campground staff are helpful and usually have tools you need.
I drove another hour to pick-up my new electric tongue lift. Best, of all brother-in-law Buzz was here to install, and I only helped. I had replaced the electric hitch two years ago, when the one the trailer came with died.
Scout is a 2014 Airstream, so 7 years of rough riding one must assume there will be repairs.
The people who give up on full-time RVing complain about the maintenance, among other things. I figure a 7-year-old house would have maintenance issues too. I prefer the Road2Reinvention, then sticks and bricks.
Oh Sh*t, the Toyota Tundra engine light just came on! What now? Thankfully, it was just fire pressure.
Kerry, Buzz and I had. Family reunion with cousin Karen in Gallup, NM. I am camping with them for two days in Winslow, AZ before heading south to Tucson and some golf.
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Next post will be from Tuscon, AZ! Stay tuned.
