Ready, Set .... No!

It is time to head out. Items in the motorhome are secure. Hoses and electrical lines have been disconnected. Slideouts need to be brought in. I said, slideouts need to come in. Ahem... What didn't you understand? When I  pushed the switch that magically communicates my desires to the slideout, nothing happened. So, of course I tried again. Nope. Next, begins the hunt for the problem and,  more importantly,  the solution. We pull out manuals.  

Mr. Dreamy checks fuses. He makes phone calls and leaves messages.  Now we wait for answers... and wait... and write a blog post... and talk to a factory mechanic... and test some fuses... and determine we need a new part... so now we wait, again!
We keep telling ourselves there could be worse places to break down. I mean, we are in a nice campground, and the sun is shining. We could be in the driving rain along the side of the road somewhere!
The part has been sent overnight.  We have connected with a mechanic. Now we have nothing to do but wait.

The Roads I've Taken

This time we are not taking the road less traveled by. In fact, we will be on the hated boring Interstate. We are beginning our trek home. It is hard to believe, but we have been on the road for almost 2 months! We will be meeting some friends in Arizona for a get-together next weekend. Then, we will make a turn toward home - at least that is what we are thinking at the moment! 

I created a new page on my site called, "Travel Trails". The page, accessible from the top of the sidebar on the right, shows the maps for our most recent adventures. I keep wondering, since none of this was even in the cards last year at this time, what will the page include next year?

It's amazing what twists and turns your life can take!

Weigh In

Don't step on it.... 

It makes you cry.

That's exactly how I feel.

I have always had issues with my weight and

I don't particularly care for stepping on the scale.

However, weighing the motorhome made me feel much better!

The Sunshine Dog Food factory in Red Bay, Alabama

allows motorhomes to use their scales after hours,

so we took a little side trip while we were having service performed.

This is the weight, in pounds, of just the left side of the motor home!

That readout says 17,640!

I feel like such a lightweight!

We weighed different points of the RV.

Here are the results:

Front end: 9,900 pounds

Back end: 17,640 pounds

Left front: 4,900 pounds

Left rear: 8,820 pounds

Left side: 13,460 pounds

Entire coach: 27,440 pounds

Why, you might ask?

It is important to have a motorhome balanced for smoother travel down the road. If you have too much weight on one side, your vehicle will not handle well. Tire inflation specifications are also based on the weight of the vehicle. We have suspected that some of our handling issues are due to improper inflation. We will make adjustments, now that we know the weight, and see if there is a difference in how we sashay down the highway.

Scene at a Campground: Hamming it Up

I am not kidding!

I took Tucker and Gypsy out for a walk while at the Allegro campground and service center in rural NW Alabama.  Our path went by a large building on the grounds. When I looked in the garage, this is what met my eyes. The fellow who was butchering the hog explained (in the thickest southern accent I have ever heard... so heavy that at first I thought he was speaking a different language) that this luckless porker had escaped his pen, only to run afoul of the owner's pit bulls. Well, at least he was resourceful and will make use of the meat.

On a side note.... when I asked permission to take the picture he agreed, as long as I wasn't going to post it online. I told him it was going on my blog, and asked his name. He grinned, and without batting an eye, gave me the name of his colleague!

Say It Isn't So

Say it isn't so snow....

We are in South Carolina.

It is supposed to be sunny in South Carolina.

It is supposed to be warm in South Carolina.

This is the south....

NOT Colorado!

Coon Dog Cemetery

On a remote forested hillside
The trees whisper stories
Of those who eternally sleep
Blanketed in earth's loam.

Markers of milestones
Memorialize achievements
So all will know
Of their greatness.

Leaves rustle and
Somersault along the ground
From phantom footfalls;
Paws on the trail.

Hair stands as if to salute
The keening calls
That play through branches;
Coon dogs baying.

Bittersweet reminders
Of promises to meet
Those we have loved
At the rainbow bridge.

 Troop

4-1-22

9-4-37

 1976

1989

Track

He wasn't the best

But he was the

best I had.

 Easy Going Sam

4-8-89      9-12-02

Last One on the Wood

 Smith's M. T. Rock

1977 - 1988

 Ch AKC CGH

PK' Kayla's Copperhead Boy

2000-2011
"And though I may call a dozen living
dogs to heel, they shall not growl at him,
or resent his coming. For he is mine
and belongs there."

In memory of

P.R. Blue Kate U.K.C. H284.384

Born 7.29.70

Died 9/3/1978

Owner. Herschel Davis

Tuscumbia, Alabama

Struck by car while running a

raccoon in six years of ownership

treed more than 200

XXX witnessed XXXXXXX

Wilburn Orater

J.T. Bozeman

Hollis Robinson

Leon Davis

P R Uctman's                                                     P R Rackliff's
So. Blue Rocky                                                  Red Rusty "Papa"
Born 2-22-90                     Lassie                       Born 6-27-81
Died 11-14-97        Owner Doug Hampton           Died 3-7-91    

Build-A-Motorhome

So, would you like a motorhome?
Why not build it yourself?
It looks easy....
if you have the space,
the materials,
and the tools....
oh, and 850 workers!
(Over 1500 are needed for outside services as well)

Well, maybe you won't want to build one after all!
Mr. Dreamy & I enjoyed a tour of the
Tiffin plant in Red Bay, AL.
I thought you might enjoy a look inside, too.

A basic chassis is driven to the assembly plant.

Tiffin uses some chassis manufactured elsewhere,

and some they assemble at the factory,
depending on the style of the motorhome.

(Did you know that the plural of chassis is... chassis?!)

 Additional steel is welded to the chassis to support storage bays,
water tanks and the floor.

Up to 3 miles of wire is used in each motorhome. 

Wiring harnesses are created for each model.

Wires are labeled by computers and cut individually.

They are laid out along this board 

and sections are taped together.

One of the wire harnesses is installed along the chassis.

More wire is enclosed in walls and the ceiling at 

other points in the assembly area.

CNC machines cut huge sheets of foam layered with other materials

for the floor and the roof of the motorhome.
Cutouts are made for roof vents, lights and wiring.
This machine zips along and little widgets of foam fly all over.
On a bad static day I wonder if the workers go home looking
like little snowmen?

The tile floor for some models is glued down on sub flooring and

grouted at another location and brought to the factory in one piece.

This 'suction' rig will pick the floor up and lay it on top 

of the precut layered foam sandwich that was mounted on the chassis. 

Cabinets, doors and appliances are assembled,

and are ready to be placed on the flooring.

All cabinetry is built at the factory in a huge cabinet shop.

Walls are put together offsite.

Here is the "Flat Stanley" model of a motorhome.

Once everything is inside the motorhome, the walls are put in place.

The roof is almost ready to be placed on the motorhome.

Notice that all roof-top equipment is in place.

 Slide outs, complete with furniture and window treatments,

are ready to be slid into the openings of the walls.

Here goes the slide out.
Geesh, that worker is strong -
look at him lift that slideout as if it weighs nothing,
and one handed, at that!
;-)

The motorhome moves on, 

getting the front cap, windows,

and doors for the storage bays.

The front cap is fully assembled, with wiring and windshield 

 before it is put into place.

Finally, the motorhome goes to another site for painting.

It will return to the factory for inspection and cleaning,

and for minor repairs.

Looks easy, right?

What factories have you enjoyed visiting?