On the road -- finally

We began our first blog on September 23rd.  Check the dates to see previous blogs listed below this one.

We were going to leave on Thursday.   We took the FULLY LOADED, VERY MUCH LOADED trailer trailer on a test run.   We weren't too pleased with the results and the white knuckles not only from the side roads but I-75 too.   The wind was giving the trailer the "wiggles."  After a brief discussion, Sheryl and I decided to look on craigslist for a Hensley or ProPride hitch.  They are guaranteed to stabilize the trailer - any trailer, any load configuration.   Some searching led to a trip to Clarkston and after some negotiation with Rick, we became the owners of a used Hensley hitch.  I got it home and installed it.

It's big, orange and ugly.   BUT WHAT A difference..  WOW!!   I can't say enough about the positive qualities of the hitch.  I'm glad we spent the money.  It was worth it.

We have a lot of stuff with us.   Not only in the trailer but in the truck too.   Some of it will be left in Florida.

Friday became the BIG DAY..  We left around 5 p.m. and got as far as Fenton when I realized we hadn't set the motion detector in the house.   After a trip back home, we passed Fenton again an hour later.

This is a common occurance.   8-10 miles per gallon on a good day.  The winds have been fierce.  25-35 miles per hour.   The hitch got a mighty test but passed with flying colors.  The rig rolls down the road straight and true.

We are eating our way through the food that was in our basement freezer from home.  We've had some great meals from some things that we had forgotten were in it.

This is our 2nd night at a Walmart.   Tonight, we're parked in Lock Have, Pa.  We've asked permission both times and the management has been very helpful.  

Not much color in the leaves in Pennsylvania, unless you are into mostly yellow and green.   Nothing very vivid.   Tomorrow we will decide whether or not to make the break to Bar Harbor or head for Boston, and then Bar Harbor.   Either way, it will be a great trip.

Can't believe it's Monday already!

Wow!  We've gotten so much done..  as they say in the experimental aircraft business, 90% done, 90% to go.   That's how we feel right now..  But we're hoping to get on the road either Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.  Got the calls made, keys to good friends who are going to watch the place along with a couple of other gizmos that know how to "dial us up" when something is amiss at the homestead.  We know that Dave, Carl, and Cliff will watch over things for us.   Jan will make sure the yard looks good.

I was totally pleased to find out that our new stereo...  no, it's an ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM from Sabre.  It not only has an HDMI  output from the DVD player , but it will blue-tooth to our phones.   Yessiree-bob and Yippy Skippy.  Hands-free talking inside the travel trailer.   Thanks to Gary at Sabre for making that happen.

Maybe some pics tomorrow.   Been so busy, I haven't had time nor the energy to shoot anything, unless it would be all the stuff all over the garage floor that has to be sorted, boxed, and put away in the truck.

 

I'm so excited BUT it has to be done before we go.  Sheryl's Malibu is going in the garage for the winter.

busy, busy, busy

I know...  no new blog all week.. well, it's been a little crazy around the Allen household.   We got ready for the garage sale that started this morning.   I finished up some more stuff in the TT to make boon docking a little easier.  I had to run the Silverado in to Patsy Lou Williamson Chevy to have a couple of minor warranty items taken care of.   And, we're about to cut the cord with Comcast and go "over the air" only.  Yes, I climbed to the top to install the rotor and the antenna..  it was a nice view.

My replacement phone came.  It works GREAT!   It's nice to be able to use all the letters on the virtual keyboard again.

AT& T's lineman that came out last weekend to wire up a land line decided that we needed to have a "buried cable" instead of overhead.   What a blessing.  The troops came and punched it through today.   AT&T will be out to wire it up and it will never come down again - what's that you say.   I didn't mean to yank it down with the travel trailer. :)

The motorcycle, tote tank and motorcycle ramp are all in place on the back of the trailer.  

Garage sale again tomorrow.

 

We will eventually make it out of Michigan.

OH NO! It's in the water.

I watched this morning in horror as my Omnia II Smartphone decided to become an aquanaut.   It jumped right out of the pouch on my sweatshirt into the sump.  Wish I had a picture of it staring up at me through 6 inches of clear water.   I was kneeling at the sump trying to figure out how to install a 2nd pump in the pit.

I immediately reached down, grabbed the phone, pried off the back and removed the battery.  The phone was placed on the counter with the hair dryer blowing at it.

The Omnia is our highway to the internet while we're traveling.   I rely on it for texting and our contact list.   It has both of our gmail accounts available and I have enjoyed using it.

After 90 minutes of hot air, the battery was placed back in the phone and the "on switch" depressed.   I became un-depressed as the phone started it's start-up cycle.  The phone "booted up" (it's a windows phone) and everything looked normal until I tried to send a text.   I couldn't press the letters on the far left side of the screen on the virtual keyboard.  I tried everything I could think of.  Nothing worked.   A call went to our Auto Owners insurance agent.  I had "listed" the phone on our home owners policy and after a chat, I ordered a new one on Amazon..  and no deductible from the insurance company.  And all my special programs are on the "card" on the phone so I will be able to put the card in the new phone and reinstall them... I hope.   I was thanking God for the way things turned out.

I wired an extra set of taillights today on the motorcycle rack as the bike blocks the right light.  The ones I installed are the lower ones.  I even took the picture with the phone that went in the water.

 In order to route the cabling and hook up the lights, I discovered an area in the rear of the Sabre I had never seen, once an inspection panel was removed.  I really don't care if I see it again. :)  

The Sabre Travel Trailer Company, a division of Palomino byForest River has been great to work with.  I called them a couple of months ago about the AM/FM radio in entertainment center (radio - DVD player - etc).   The receiver didn't pick up much.   Gary offered to send me a newer replacement if I could be patient cause the newer radios were on back order.   I said:  "NO problem."  The new radio arrived and I installed it and got it working correctly today.   The countdown to leaving on the big trip continues.   It's major garage sale time this weekend.   Anybody wanna buy a riding mower?  Chuckle..

Continued first-time stuff

Had a great day.  Went to church at New Covenant in Clio and said goodbye to some friends.  Took Sheryl to Taco Bell - $1 menu and free senior beverages.  Sheryl had to be to work at 1 so I dropped her off and headed home.

I decided against trying to fix the old, tired blue tote tank.   A guy had one on sale on Craig's list and after some negotiations via Verizon text, we settled on a price.   I added pneumatic tires to it so I could tow it behind the pickup (at a very slow speed). 

I even rigged up a dump valve to lessen the excitement of dumping the thing.  There are parts of the movie "RV" that every RV'er ought to watch and laugh and wait - cause it will happen to you.. :)

I was putting the finishing touches on the new shelves in the kitchen along with putting hinges on the furnace inspection cover so it would open like a door.  A slide-out rack was mounted on top of the furnace (yes- I checked to make sure the self-tappers wouldn't puncture something inside the furnace - it's only taken 50 years to begin doing that)..

I wanted to look at something behind the furnace so I stuck my arms and upper body through the smaller opening.   I went in just fine.   But backing out became a real problem.   I couldn't reach my cell phone and I thought I was going to be there until Sheryl got home from work.   Fortunately, I was able to "suck it in enough" to wiggle back out.   Thank you Lord!!!

Here's the finished product.  It's an open storage on the top and the bottom opens.

I think the motorcycle cover we ordered from Great Lakes Power Sports is the wrong one.   Won't know until Tuesday as they are closed Monday.  Speaking of Monday, I've got more stuff to do to get ready to make the big trip.  We think we're going to head to Maine and then down the East Coast to Lakeland - Lakeland by Thanksgiving for sure.  Turkey with family at the Golden Corral.

Gettin' Ready

I got to thinkin':   Why don't I wait until it gets colder and rains all day to keep working on the Sabre..  Okay, it's a joke.   I have been finishing up some things.   I re-bolted the motorcycle rack back on after painting it.   I insulated the storage compartment since our bed is right above it and the cold comes right through the paneling when the temperature drops.  

I heard something today about why some trailer manufacturers don't make better use of the space in a trailer.  They evidently don't expect the owners to travel in the rv for a long period of time..  evidently, only weekends or for a couple of weeks.   So why make use of every nook and cranny.   The upper rectangular open space was covered by a piece of paneling and the larger opening below it has a vented access panel that was screwed on.   The upper opening will have a shelf from the front to back and will be open.  The lower opening will have a pull-out storage unit and the access panel will be on hinges.   I wish I could turn in my suggestions to the Sabre factory for prizes or something :)  .   I think it's gonna' be nice when I get it done.

 

In order to cut the pieces for the shelves, I set up the ShopSmith outside under the 12x12 shelter we plan on  traveling with to stave off the rain.   I also use my share of Harbor Freight tools.   Home Depot had some smaller pieces of birch veneer - I brought one home, stained it golden pecan and after drying, cut the shelving pieces out.   They are going to work wonderfully.  

 

I decided that I was going to store the sewer drain hose under the trailer - NOT in the bumper.    Four inch PVC and some end cap stuff did the trick.   My amateur radio antenna parts are going in the bumper - more on that later.

We have been promised sunshine tomorrow in the the great State of Michigan.  I'm hoping to figure out the best way to mount one of our Honda 2000 watt generators in the rear storage compartment so that it will be convenient to hook up the "shore power".  But that's tomorrow..  Time to relax for the evening.

More work on the RV so we can boondock

Today I set out to accomplish the installation of the nifty toolbox I picked up at TSC stores (from a suggestion from another blogger) and the attempted repair of a Thetford Tote Tank that got dragged down a gravel road on the way to a dump station.  But that's another story.  The repair is real.  Like everything else, it took more time than I thought it would.  But the projects are coming along nicely.

The toolbox is going to add GREATLY to the amount of storage space in the Sabre travel trailer.  Speaking of the Sabre, we really have appreciated working with Phillips Camper Sales in Mount Morris, Michigan.  Randy and his crew have bent over backwards to give us great customer service after the sale. 

And in the interest of repair sanity, the SPECIAL kit that is designed to repair these tanks that I purchased from a local RV parts supplier.......  it didn't work..  oh well..  I'm trying J&B Weld with fiberglass mesh.