[jonrjen]

What was it, maybe six months ago we got the bug and purchased the new motorhome? Then Summer came and we had the grandsons for most of the summer, toss in parental visitation every other week, and the Texas heat the motorhome never got used. Oh, it got moved, but only in the driveway.

So now with school in session we began the clean up, purchase of new foo foo stuff, loading up kitchenware and such. Today was checking out the plumbing along with some newly added foo foo items. Is there supposed to be water draining out from under the motorhome? Now where would that drain valve be located? I already found 2 drain valves, only 1 to go I guess.

Both of us are now at a loss trying to remember how to turn on the refrigerator/freezer.

Then it will be more of the same trying to recall how to turn on the water heater...let's see, if I recall correctly there are 3 different switches that need to be turned on. One on the water heater outside, one on the wall in the master bath, and I believe there is one on the electronic touch pad in the hallway.

I did get the air conditioners to operate independently from one another....of course in the process I started the furnace. Didn't need a furnace, after all the temperature was already 116 degrees in the motorhome.

Oh yea, had to check the tires. Aired them up to approx. 103 pounds of pressure. Should be an easy job so you would think. Only thing is that my air compressor pumps up to a max pressure of 130psi then shuts off. It doesn't restart until the tank pressure is down to 85psi. So somewhere around 95 psi in the tires I have to stop adding air, go pull the pressure release on the air tank and let the tank pressure drop down to 85 and restart allowing me adding pressure to fill the tires up to the 103psi mark. Amazing how much air and how slow the filling process is on those big 22.5 truck tires.

I giving strong consideration to making reservations at a Holiday Inn Express so I can take a break and recover.

 

[RonPT24/7]

Those manufactures should make built in air compressors on those motorhomes . One in the front and one in the back so you would always have air available ! But just think , afterwards when you drive to a campsite and hook up to relax you'll enjoy it all and rest . Been wondering why no update has come after deciding hard enough what veh. to get to pull behind the MH ??

 

[kschilk]

You might need to play with the air pressure for awhile to get it comfortable. A 22.5 is a tubeless 20" and for the weight of the MH, 103 might be a li'l hard, especially in the front. Max pressure is usually 120 psi for those but unless you're grossin' 70,000-80,000 lbs, you prob'ly won't wanna' go that high. I used to take care of a fleet that hauled plastic pipe so even a full load was a bit on the light side, usually around 50,000-60,000 lbs tops. We ran 105 in the rear and 90 in the front for a better ride and slower tire wear.

 

[jonrjen]

Those manufactures should make built in air compressors on those motorhomes . One in the front and one in the back so you would always have air available ! But just think , afterwards when you drive to a campsite and hook up to relax you'll enjoy it all and rest . Been wondering why no update has come after deciding hard enough what veh. to get to pull behind the MH ??

Actually it does have a on board air supply that can be tapped into. I didn't want to take the time to raise the leveling jacks and fill the suspension with air first....boy was that a mistake in hindsight.

 

[jonrjen]

You might need to play with the air pressure for awhile to get it comfortable. A 22.5 is a tubeless 20" and for the weight of the MH, 103 might be a li'l hard, especially in the front. Max pressure is usually 120 psi for those but unless you're grossin' 70,000-80,000 lbs, you prob'ly won't wanna' go that high. I used to take care of a fleet that hauled plastic pipe so even a full load was a bit on the light side, usually around 50,000-60,000 lbs tops. We ran 105 in the rear and 90 in the front for a better ride and slower tire wear.

I know to do it right I would take it to the scale and get a front weight and rear weight. Better yet get each individual tire and wheel location weight and adjust accordingly. Max psi on the tires are 110psi at full load. I'm sure that I am far from maxing out the gross weight, and since I don't travel with full tanks (fresh/grey/black) I know that I have plenty of adjustment to make. When I checked the weight as delivered from the dealership it was at 80psi which seems low. I'll take it one day at a time and adjust down towards 90 on the front axle and stay around the 100 to 95psi on the rear.

 

[jonrjen]

Hope to pull out of here no later than Monday depending on if we will get to have the grandkids over the weekend. Not sure what direction we will head, but it will be in search of cooler weather for sure!!!

 

[DeltaBravoKS]

I look at the hundreds of thousands of dollars people spend on motorhomes, and I think to myself I can stay at a whole lot of Marriott hotels for my lifetime and beyond for what one of those would cost. I've got friends who do the motorhome (and travel trailer) thing, and it just don't seem like much of a vacation for their wives. The wife still has to maintain a household (cook, clean, shop). I can't believe they buy in to all the work. To your title "sure is a lot of work just to go relax" I can only add, sure is a lot of work AND MONEY to go relax.

To each his own.

 

[Jake3501]

My inlaws had motor homes, and yes, they can be a "B." Just as bad to own were Mountain get-a-ways, beach houses and lake cabins.

Everyone who owned one was always working on them every trip just to maintain them. I do like the RV idea because you can travel where ever you want, and not feel like you have to go only to a property you invested heavily in. My friend with a ranch, a three hour drive away, spends a fortune maintaining it, has a ranch hand. The ranch is 60 miles south of San Angelo, so you can imagine what it costs to get a plumber, HVAC tech or electrician out to do repairs.

Me, I like the idea of how many nice hotel rooms I can stay in and not have to own any thing or place for recreation that I have to maintain.

 

[TonyC2639]

My inlaws had motor homes, and yes, they can be a "B." Just as bad to own were Mountain get-a-ways, beach houses and lake cabins.

Everyone who owned one was always working on them every trip just to maintain them. I do like the RV idea because you can travel where ever you want, and not feel like you have to go only to a property you invested heavily in. My friend with a ranch, a three hour drive away, spends a fortune maintaining it, has a ranch hand. The ranch is 60 miles south of San Angelo, so you can imagine what it costs to get a plumber, HVAC tech or electrician out to do repairs.

Me, I like the idea of how many nice hotel rooms I can stay in and not have to own any thing or place for recreation that I have to maintain.

Amen to that. Nine years ago we bought a house at the beach. For twenty years we rented for a week in spring and again in fall. Seven days of fun, fun, fun. Well after nine years I still have to work on it every trip. Not that there isn't some fun in there but it's largely a chore. On the plus side we bought during a local real estate crash and it's turned out to be the single best investment I ever made. After I croak my wife should do very well!

 

[winnsman]

Hope to pull out of here no later than Monday depending on if we will get to have the grandkids over the weekend. Not sure what direction we will head, but it will be in search of cooler weather for sure!!!

Well Duluth ,MN is 49 degrees today. That cool enough?

 

[Jake3501]

Our last four long annual vacations, we have had as many as 16 family members meet up and rented an airb&b or whatever you call it. Thankfully the last three vacations have only had three groups for a total of eight people, which Keystone Co. Last year only came to $133.33 for each group, and this year we went to Jackson Hole Wy., and stayed at a really nice place in Driggs, Idaho for a nightly cost to all of $100. I would much rather do that than stay in a hotel.

I just hope next year, they pick someplace within 600 miles of Lubbock, I prefer the mountains in the summer, dang beaches are too hot and are a sunny beach as far as I am concerned.

 

[Rickenbacher39]

Those manufactures should make built in air compressors on those motorhomes . One in the front and one in the back so you would always have air available ! But just think , afterwards when you drive to a campsite and hook up to relax you'll enjoy it all and rest . Been wondering why no update has come after deciding hard enough what veh. to get to pull behind the MH ??

Quite a few of them do.
Ours has two fittings at the front and back of the coach tied into the air braking system.
I just carried a 30 foot air hose and gauge at all times.

jonrjen:
As far as always being ready for a trip it just takes time to develop habits and a system.
We bought our first motorhome in 1978.
30 odd years and a half a dozen rv's later we finally have a system to keep from going insane.
It also takes a while to find the bells, whistles, switches and all 5 water drains.
It's always fully stocked with everything except for food. That includes clothes and more importantly, rum.
It takes only a hour or two pack up and leave if we want to.
It's kept warm and dry in the rv garage so doing that in the winter is really no problem.
However; the first few years my wife and I resembled 3 legged monkeys trying to pack it up and get it ready.
Remember: it's an adventure..............