Dead batteries and a botched service attempt

It got really cold here last weekend and Shad and I were both overloaded with work so we had left the rig plugged in for a few days.  When we went out to start it on Tuesday our batteries were completely zapped by the cold.  We tried to jump off each battery one at a time and were getting a little juice, but the Honda's battery was just not cutting it.  We ended up calling an RV technician on Wednesday and juiced the batteries with his chargers for about half a day and we were running again!

We were able to get out and drive around a bit and enjoy the rig for the first time just the two of us.  It was a fun ride and we even stopped and parked at Walmart and ran in for some "doggie crack" aka Beggin' Strips.  

Every day is going to be a learning experience for us and yesterday we learned a big lesson... Watch out for trees with low branches!  We managed to damage the grate area on the side of one of our AC units; it's a bummer, but it could have been much worse.

We had called around last week looking for a place to get the rig in and get a once over of the engine, fluids, etc.  After many calls we were referred to our local Buick dealership.  Shad called the service department and the assured him that they could look at our engine.  We found our way through construction areas to the service area (Shad is getting good at this driving thing..) and were told to wedge our 40' beast into a small area leading to a service bay.  Shad nervously made his way to the bay and then we were turned away because the technician said he didn't realize we had a Detroit diesel engine.  He referred us to a big-rig place outside of town.   Greeaaat...  So for the first time Shad got to guide the beast through a maze of new cars in reverse.   The whole time he was thinking our insurance was going to LOVE us if he swiped a row of new trucks.  He handled it like a pro and I stood behind and guided him and it all turned out okay.  We both agree we need to get the backup camera installed asap!  

Today we checked all of the plugs and they are all functional.  So far the only things we have found that aren't working are the bus horn, and two lighting fixtures.  Hopefully those will be easy fixes.  We also measured the bed frame and it looks like we can replace the mattress with a residential queen..  this made us very happy!

We cleaned all of the surfaces and exposed areas today and it wasn't too dirty.  We still need to attack the kitchen floor, fridge, ice maker, and bathroom, but the most of it is done.  I start a four night work stretch tonight so the rest is going to have to wait until next week.   Hopefully we can get it into the shop and find out more about the engine next week as well.  

Thanks for reading!  

We finally have it! Yay!

The last week has been nothing but ups and downs with the seller and there were a few times we were very close to walking away.

He wasn't happy with our offer, despite the fact that we had found it listed for our exact offer online.  We aren't sure if that is what started the weirdness, but things were just a little bit sketchy last week. 

We showed up to see the rig with his guy so he could show us all of the systems and his guy never came.  We waited over an hour and called the seller who told us that he had forgotten to tell his guy he was meeting us... Huh?  He told us that he would call us over the weekend to set up another time.  When that call never happened Shad finally gave him a call on Monday and we were to meet with his guy today. 

The initial deal was we were to go over the systems then go to the bank and complete the transaction.  Well, we showed up today and evidently the seller had decided we needed to pay for the unit before we could get a demo of the systems. He was quite rude about it and had we not already seen all of the vital systems in action we would have absolutely walked away.  We decided to go ahead and do it, went to the bank, met with the mechanic, and the bus now sits in front of our house.

We are quite happy with the bus and it handled just fine on the way home in the rain and Shad managed to get it home without popping any curbs.  We are glad to be done with the seller and to be moving forward with our new project.  It's really surreal to be looking out the front door and see a bus, our bus!

It appears there is a manual for every single appliance that is on board so I figure that will come in handy and give me lots of reading to do!  Tomorrow when there is some sunlight I will go out and take tons of pictures and get them posted. 

I'm so excited.. it's REALLY here! 

Things are going slower than expected...

We were expecting all of the financial exchange to go through yesterday and we could take possession of the bus.. Well...

The holidays have set us back a bit and we aren't going to be able to make the exchange until Monday at the latest.  Boo..  Thank goodness for an understanding seller that was cool enough to take a deposit on the balance.  It will be ours, just not until Monday. :(

This afternoon we will be meeting with the seller and he is going to go over all of the systems with us.  I am thinking about bringing a video camera just so we don't forget anything.  

We "came out" on Facebook four days ago and the responses have been very positive.  We've also had amazing responses from members of the RV-Dreams forum since we started thinking seriously about this purchase.  It's all becoming very, very real.  I'm both excited and nervous at the same time.  It's going to take  a lot of work to get the house ready to go on the market and remodel the RV and make it ours, but I know that we will get there.  :)

I normally work weekend nights, Friday - Sunday.  If we have nothing going on that will free me up 4 days (nights, whatever!) to work on getting things done and for us to take small trips and test out the rig.   Unfortunately we didn't know we were buying a rig and I have picked up several extra shifts and made a few doctors appointments this month... plus I have jury duty, ugh!   There is just not time for any trips in January..

 I had taken off a week in February and we had planned on attending an RV show in Houston, TX.  Since we are no longer searching for an RV we are thinking of that being the week of our first trip.   We are pretty sure we will be heading to Austin for a couple of days to visit  family and then head to the coast.  I need some warm weather!  We just can't decide between Galveston or Corpus for our sunny destination.

We also have signed up to attend the RV-Dreams rally in Elephant Butte, NM in March.  We visited this area last year and spent two fun and interesting days at a hot springs place in nearby Truth or Consequences.  We are really excited about this!

I will post more pictures later today.. thanks for reading!

Tracie

Pictures from the ad