I'm doing it again???

I'm thoroughly convinced that to be happy I need a hobby(s) like I've been doing lately. I've got to stay busy, be active physically and mentally, not just sit around and die like too many retirees do. Or some go back to work, or never quit because they don't have other interests/hobbies. My father was one of them. He worked until he was 70. His final year he got a new boss and kicked him out. This new boss was a real jerk, my father generated millions in business for his company.
But when he retired he didn't have any hobbies. He did go thru 3 RV's like who?
I'm on my 4th if I include the ones my mother in law had, and I maintained.
I really like this one, our best. Oh by the way I've been looking at what other ones cost versus ours. Most are $10-50k more. Just saw a 1993 38' Diesel on Craigslist he wanted $38,500 for! We paid $28,500 for our '05!
Ok back on subject: In order to be happy, to have a hobby it involves money. So far $3500 in everything to get it like we want. And again I'll say I wasn't going to do as much to this one as the last 16 footer Class "B", BUT we're up to 200 mods and fixes. Most don't show, like adding another closet rod, shelves, anti-rattle fixes, handles, lubrication, painting, touching up, converting backup lights to stop lights ( we never drive at night) and many more. I found a website for making mods to RVs, so I got many more ideas. Like covering up any holes with screening to keep critters out. The last RV had 5 pounds of wasp mud underneath.
And yes I have not added any aerodynamic aids to this one YET. How can I make a giant box less boxy? Bet my RV has more drag than the SR-71 Black Bird in the pic. But I get better gas mileage... at 50 mph...
So why did I write this? You'll find out...

What a difference 1 day can make

I slept better so today....
A loose wire on the wind direction indicator fixed it.
Went to Pepboys and found valve stems for the brown Suzuki that went right in and remounted the tire easily. Got a spare stem now. No leak, I hope, now.
Found a screwdriver in Lowell's black Suzuki's carb holding the throttle open. 45 minutes later I had it out in the driveway, put it in gear, let out the clutch and it didn't move. The clutch is gone now. Luckily it's here and not at his house. Ordered parts today. That's Rudy's Suzuki but is exactly like Lowell's.
Figured out a different way to hook up the "lights on buzzer" on the RV. The second fuse box is under the dash but in a bad place so I moved it. It was mounted with 3" long screws, idiots, 3/4" would have been long enough.
We got in 4 boxes of things ordered, shipped via FedEx and USPS today. No MLK day.
My ScanGauge I ordered arrived. Got it for $131 vs. $160 retail at most places but did not come in a box, I would have thrown away anyways. It has about 40 functions to read the RV and car's computer and gives mpg/mph/rpm/$per mile and much more. It is my birthday present from Linda.
My Credit Card bill was $25 less than I thought.
I got a $10 rebate check today.
It was 62 outside, no jacket needed.
No one tailgated me today, life's WONDERFUL....

Very Frustrating Day

My wind direction indicator I made quit working, Again. I just worked on it yesterday.
I started on some shelves for a RV bedroom closet and didn't finish them
Lowell came over with his Suzuki. It was running rough and stalling at low RPMs. We had many irritating moments trying to get it back together. I could not get my carb synchonizing tool to work. We could not get it to run smoothly until we took most everything apart.
He had 2 new ties put on it. He got his 2nd bolt in the rear tire in 3-4000 miles. Both about $150, each tire. They installed the front turning backwards. My back up synch tool would not work either.
We finally got it to run smoother by just guessing at the idle settings.
He got down to I-10 and then it decided to start racing at full throttle.
I was just starting a shower when he called.
We had to hook up the trailer to the RV and go get him.
The brown Suzuki kept leaking air in the front tire. Found the valve stem was ready to pop. If it had I would have been stranded. I ordered a new valve stem. When I tried to put it on today it was too big.
I was MLK day and I'm expecting a package. But there's no mail today.........

Maybe tomorrow will be better?

No pic, guess why......

Read the previous post first...

So why will I work on the 33', 15k lb, big everything RV?
1. It's a challenge, never worked on anything this big before.
2. Familiarity: It's not a whole lot different than working on a car, so the principles are the same.
3. It's new to me.
4. I saves me a bundle doing it myself.
5. Chassis (engine-suspension-frame) parts are accessible, I can even sit up under it, it does not need to be lifted up so I can get underneath.
6. It has 40 major systems, 140 total components, that need to be checked periodically, I can fix/replace.
7. I have the tools, knowledge and the time.
8. I look for potential problems before they get out of hand or get expensive.
9. It get's me out of El Paso. I can take a bike so I can ride on less familiar roads.
10. It's a potential: get rid of the expensive house, costing $10k per year to maintain. And yes the RV is even more expensive to maintain/operate.
11. It keeps me busy. I have 20-30 male friends but do you think I can get anyone to ride during the week?
12. I now have every service manual for all of the 40 major systems on either paper or .pdf files.
There is a copy in the RV.
13. Linda likes RV'g too. We will be going to Garland, IL, WI, MN and Nat. Parks this summer. Our daughter in law is due her first child in June.
14. It's a moving house, large enough to live in, get's decent gas mileage, won't have to listen to neighbor's dogs, or look at the same view once the non-moving house is gone.
15. We can bring it back to El Paso for family and medical for in network reduced rates.

IS THAT ENOUGH REASONS I would rather work on the RV over a CAR?

DIY

Yesterday Linda's mother car, a GM product, a 2000 Lumina, had the check engine light on. I think you all know what I think of GM "junk" products....
We brought it back to our house. I put a OBD II code reader on it. 2 codes came up. One was the EGR valve was not functioning. The 2nd was more important, it was the temperature gauge was none functioning also. I'm more knowledgeable than most on cars. If the temperature is not high enough the EGR won't function too. These 2 will turn on the Check Engine Light.
I hate working on cars anymore. The engines are in so tight and so many of the parts to be replaced you have to remove several other parts to get to them. Then these other parts get destroyed leading to more problems. And this was the case on the coolant temperature sensor that was bad after just 73k miles/10 years.
The OBD II code reader was $100. I've used it on 4? cars now. Shops charge about$50 to read the codes. So I'm now about $50 ahead.
It's a license to steal if you don't have one. Take it to a shop and say " The Check Engine Light is On, fix what's wrong" and they will soak you. Take it to a shop and say " replace the coolant temperature sensor only" and that's all they will can do.
It was $150 including a oil change. I figured at our local Firestone service center it would be $2-300!
I've been doing this type of thing for 45 years. I try to do all my own work. I don't do transmissions, roofs, floors, engine overhauls, etc. anymore. I'm sure it have saved me $100k by now.
I bought a Honda Accord Jan 07. To date it has been in the shop "0" (ZERO!) times. It has needed oil changes and tire rotations only. Why would I work on someone else's car when I don't want to work on my own car? Also there's not enough Thank You's or money (I don't need) for the time spent, cussing, busted knuckles, hurt shoulders and back leaning over. Wrong parts at the auto parts counter is another bitch I have. And there's always the potential for a accident or doing it wrong and having to start over...
Advice I will give... I will show you how to do it. I'm a good teacher/supervisor.
But working on the big A** RV is another thing, go figure....

Oliver Lee

Friday we left with Boloraa's parents Ganbold and Damaa in the RV. As soon as I got in NM I let Ganbold drive. I think he loved it. He is very helpful and intelligent. Catches on to everything immediately. I just had to point and he did it. I think he learned a lot about large RV's.
We went hiking up the Sacramento Mtns on Friday afternoon. Late Sat. He and Damaa went even further up, maybe 1000'. It is very rough, rocky and steep in places.
Sat. he and I rode the Venture to a farm and ranch store, Pistachio nut store, up to Cloudcroft and looked at the missiles at the Space museum. Gone 4 hours.
Helen and Mildred came up at noon but Milly has not felt good for a few days so they didn't stay long.
It got down into the high 20's at night. Had to run 2 heaters all night. RV's with all the windows have almost no insulation.
I brought out the telescope so they could see Jupiter, and Mars. Sat. evening we looked at the moon too.
Sunday we played badminton, talked more with our neighbors from Missouri. We left at 1:15 Sunday and came home about 3:45. No rush to get home, drove just 50 mph. Averaging 9.2 mpg. Oliver Lee State Park is just 85 miles one way.
Damaa and Ganbold are fun to be with. Too bad we can't converse more. One word sentences are hard to get a longer point/idea across. Finger pointing and gestures make up most of the conversation. Damaa wanted both Linda and Chuck to go back to their house so that we could take their car to our house, so Linda could pick up Boloraa at the airport, so Boloraa could drop off Linda at our house, so Boloraa could just go on home. It wasn't 15 seconds of English/Mongolian before we all had her idea.