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Topic: Getting an education. (Read 912 times) previous topic - next topic

Getting an education.

I knew I was going to learn alot when we decided to purchase our coach and full-time - But I had no idea.  Electrical, hydraulics, engine, trans, suspension not to mention plumbing and whatever else I haven't mentioned.  This website and all who contribute are fantastic.  ^.^d    I find the experience challenging and stimulating - keeping my mind working.  NICE.  :D
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #1 –
At the going rate of labor, it is quite beneficial to learn what you can about the various systems in the coach.  A lot of this stuff was completely intimidating at the beginning, but once you start finding the right answers (generally from folks here), it begins to make sense.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #2 –
That it does Sir.  One thing at a time.  Just about every system that I have worked on/with was/is intimidating.  thanks for your help. 
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Carol & Scott –
I knew I was going to learn alot when we decided to purchase our coach and full-time - But I had no idea.  Electrical, hydraulics, engine, trans, suspension not to mention plumbing and whatever else I haven't mentioned.  This website and all who contribute are fantastic.  ^.^d    I find the experience challenging and stimulating - keeping my mind working.  NICE.  :D

That's great Carol, so what has Scott been doing with his spare time?

Just kidding Scott.
Michael j
Livermore, Ca for now

1987  Grand Villa 2900 Rear Bath Front 460 Gas Engine.

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #4 –
Eating Bon Bons, taking naps and jest generally being a vagabond.  ^.^d
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #5 –
Scott & Carol  ----  You really have to enjoy your MH, (or anything else), before you really get into the maintenance and repair yourself.  You folks apparently do.  Some folks are fortunate enough to be in a position to just throw money at something and get it fixed.  Frankly I think they are missing out alot on getting to know the machine and being a part of it, or having it be a part of you.  Keep on getting that education and enjoy the process.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #6 –
Thanks Fritz.  ^.^d
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #7 –
Quote from: fkjohns6083 –
Scott & Carol  ----  You really have to enjoy your MH, (or anything else), before you really get into the maintenance and repair yourself.  You folks apparently do.  Some folks are fortunate enough to be in a position to just throw money at something and get it fixed.  Frankly I think they are missing out alot on getting to know the machine and being a part of it, or having it be a part of you.  Keep on getting that education and enjoy the process.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Even if one is that fortunate, sometimes you still cannot just throw money at something to get it fixed.  Like when you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and a problem rears its ugly head.  Even worse if you are in a cell phone dead zone.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #8 –
I personally would rather have a root canal than to do plumbing on my knees bent over leaning in  and looking straight up.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #9 –
I think the key is to know your limits, or talents, and act accordingly.  I've found - after spending endless hours trying to tackle one particular coach problem - that it was well worth it to pay a good shop to fix it in one hour.

However...I do aspire to be as handy as many of you on here!  I guess it's good to have high goals.

Chris
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #10 –
Quote from: bogeygolfer –
  I've found - after spending endless hours trying to tackle one particular coach problem - that it was well worth it to pay a good shop to fix it in one hour.
 
My son, the truck driver, was trying to drill 4 little holes in his stainless steel truck bumper.  He didn't want to pay a shop $50 for such a "little" task.  After breaking about 6 drill bits, spending about 7 hours of his down time on the project and getting only one hole drilled, he gave up.  Then he found a shop that said "sure, we can do that for $40."  After getting that firm price, they proceeded to break 3 bits of their own and two people spent about 2 hours getting the other three holes drilled.  Pretty cheap labor, it turned out. 
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #11 –
Quote from: bogeygolfer –
I think the key is to know your limits, or talents, and act accordingly.  I've found - after spending endless hours trying to tackle one particular coach problem - that it was well worth it to pay a good shop to fix it in one hour.

However...I do aspire to be as handy as many of you on here!  I guess it's good to have high goals.

Chris

We proudly represent the people who do almost NOTHING but the very simplest things to our coach ourselves.  We have assessed our talents and we know our strong points.  Our best tools are a credit card and a telephone. 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Brad & Christine Slaughter –
Even if one is that fortunate, sometimes you still cannot just throw money at something to get it fixed.  Like when you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and a problem rears its ugly head.  Even worse if you are in a cell phone dead zone.

We have been in the cell phone dead zone.  You just unhitch and drive 'till you get a signal.  Then, you call Good Sam with the GPS coordinates. 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #13 –
Carol - I would love to be like you and Jeff.  Maybe some day.  Until then I will continue on our path.  ^.^d
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #14 –
Ha, Carol!  It sounds like we may be kindred spirits, no matter how much I try to evolve to a craftier version of myself!
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #15 –

My Coach has been a learning curve all the way, Hahahahahahaha, Good Grief, What did I get myself into this time,

Fortunately I can do most of the work on my Coach by myself, Barring Electrics,

Thats the Forbidden Zone for me, There's Biteys in there, Hahahahaha

This is a very big country with nothing in it, You cant fix your coach on the side of the road, your in big trouble,

Spare vehicle on the back is great, But due to the distances involved in our remote area's, Its extremely expensive for

repairs onsite, or towage, It would have to be Floated to the nearest place that can fix it, 2 to 300 hundred miles

away,  In a lot of places, even further,


But working on my Coach here, I am getting to learn and understand what all the different systems do,

So by the time I do start to live in it permanently and start my tour around OZ, I will be able to fix most things out in

 the scrub, I Have a travelling workshop with me, all my tools and spares, No, they dont weigh a ton, Hahahahahaha

But with out the Marvellous People on here with all their help, I would still be sitting here, Scratching my head, In

wonder, With out a clue, But it sure is getting easier,







Cheers,
Brian,

Toys, 1989 Grand Villa, 36 foot, ORED with 300 Hp Cat. 2002 Gemini 34 foot Sailing Catamaran, 2006 Honda Super Blackbird 1100XX, 2002 ZR7 750 Kawasaki,
25 HP Chinese tractor and Backhoe,

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #16 –
put your tools, etc. up where the genny used to be!
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #17 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
put your tools, etc. up where the genny used to be!
Thats where their going, The tin in there as a liner is pretty tatty, so I will replace that with sheet steel, It will stiffen up the  Genny frame as well, It has a definite lean towards the front, Hahahaha

I will weld the sheet in and put a full floor in it, Lovely toolbox,

Its the only locker I can really use, as the doors open in front of the other suitable lockers, and the Best Locker is now full of gas bottles,
Cheers,
Brian,

Toys, 1989 Grand Villa, 36 foot, ORED with 300 Hp Cat. 2002 Gemini 34 foot Sailing Catamaran, 2006 Honda Super Blackbird 1100XX, 2002 ZR7 750 Kawasaki,
25 HP Chinese tractor and Backhoe,
 

Re: Getting an education.

Reply #18 –
An important aspect of doing alot for yourself is getting to know what is normal for the coach.  You dont have to be handy at fixing things, but it does help.  We listen for noises that change, watch for fluid levels that are changing, performance changes, normal instrument readings, etc. so that we can determine if something is going South on us and we can get it under control so that we dont get stranded out there some where.  Knowing the machine and its normal signature is a key to staying on the road and enjoying the trip.  It can become part of the start up and shutdown checks and just being aware while under way.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'