The theme of the past several days has been RV Upgrade and Repair.
First - while in Lincoln Rock State Park in Wenatchee I installed a new
and improved toilet in the Monty.
Most of the finish in the RV is mid-range at best, and subject to needing repairs
sooner than should be necessary.
Our toilet was already starting to show signs of malfunctioning and rather than
risking the need to replace it in the middle of the Yukon I decided to be proactive and
install a new high quality unit now.
While doing that I added an in-line water shutoff for the toilet so that any future
maintenance would not require my shutting off water to the entire RV.
It was a simple job and both were accomplished in about an hour.
Then yesterday around noon our refrigerator started beeping and flashing
and error code. A quick check of the service manual (I have all that stuff
downloaded as pdf's on the computer) showed an open high temperature cutoff.
Long story short - I was able to install a temporary jumper in the circuit to bypass
the cutoff and keep the fridge running while I scrambled to find a new part.
(I knew the fridge was not running over temp - it was a bad relay)
A few phone calls later I found my part in Spokane and we jumped into the truck
to go fetch it. By 4pm the fridge was back running with the new relay installed.
The RV Store gave me the part for free!
I love it when I can solve a problem with a minimum of fuss!
With all systems back in order, today we drove about 250 miles from
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho to West Glacier, Montana.
It is here - in the shadow of Glacier National Park - that our friends
Ron & Maxine in their Party Bus, and John & Dave in Johns Montana
will join us and stage for our departure to Alaska.
The snow on the mountains is only about 400' higher elevation than
where we are and serves as a reminder that winter here was not very long ago.
While here we will try and see some of the sights in Glacier NP.
Going to the Sun Road - the highlight of the park - will of course still be
closed as it usually is not plowed clear of snow till mid/late June.
Ron & Maxine will arrive on Tuesday and John & Dave a day or two after that.
Our plan is to hit the road north on Saturday.
In between then and now I hope to get some nice photos of the high peaks
and lakes to share in an upcoming post.
Lets keep our fingers crossed for some clear weather.
I wanted a full report on how the new toilet works!!! The original one is soooooo NOT a quality item. Can't wait to try YOURS!
ReplyDeletexoxo Kristi & Jim
What makes 'high quality'? Does absorb oders? Please tell us!
ReplyDeleteIts kinda like this Dave...
ReplyDeleteWhen you sit in a VW Bug and then Strap on a Porsche you know the difference... if not the why.
The new Superflush 2000 Ultra is the latest and greatest in driving experiences.
Quality toilets should be at the top of the list! Glad you got the "kinks" worked out before heading to Alaska. Looking forward to those pics!
ReplyDeleteAmber
What a potty mouth! Here is some interesting info about S.H.I.T.
ReplyDeleteManure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be Transported by ship and it was also before the invention of commercial Fertilizers, so large shipments of manure were quite common. It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when Wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, not only did it become heavier, But the process of fermentation began again, of which a byproduct is Methane gas of course. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles You can see what could (and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came Below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined Just what was happening
After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the Instruction ' Stow high in transit ' on them, which meant for the Sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water That came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start The production of methane.
Thus evolved the term ' S.H.I.T ' , (Stow High In Transit) which has Come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day. You probably did not know the true history of this word. Neither did I. I had always thought it was a golf term
Yes, we've cycled Glacier and the Sun Road! Some man saw me ascend and asked if I'd like a job baling hay!
How nice to be so handy. Bill says we don't need tools, just a phone to call a repairman.
ReplyDelete