Archive for category Uncategorized
What’s the Hold Up-Part I
Posted by Deb in Uncategorized on September 7, 2015
After looking at the calendar today I realized that we have been in Elkhart Indiana for seven weeks now. I know that I keep saying, “we are wrapping up”, “looking forward to moving on”, “last project” etc., but it seems like one project keeps leading to another. Since we are in the mecca of RV superstar companies it only seems appropriate to get everything done here.
After we finished up our major roof repairs and upgrades at MasterTech Rv here are the projects we have been working on.
PullRite and Dan’s Service Center
We got a PullRite Super Glide 5th wheel hitch direct from the factory here in Elkhart and took it over to the highly recommended Dan’s Service Center for installation.
PullRite has the Super Glide hitch that is self-adjusting for short bed trucks so that you do not have to get out of the truck and unlatch something in order to make a sharp turn. What that “something” is, I don’t know…but it is VERY important!
The PullRite hitch slides itself in order to accommodate sharp turns. Without the adjustment the front of the RV would crunch into the cab of the truck. This of course all falls into Jeff’s department(if you hadn’t figured that one out) …but I even found this hitch really cool. We are able to make such sharp turns that we accidentally pulled the emergency cord and locks up the brakes while turning around in a parking lot. Rookie mistake!
While installing the hitch at Dan’s we had also researched the importance of air bags to support the truck suspension. So while there we got our airbags/compressor installed too. One press of a button and the truck end raises and lowers depending on the need.
MORryde
Once we were able to pull the RV out of Dan’s shop we headed over to MORryde to have a slide tray and new hitch installed on the RV itself. The hitch is designed to reduce chucking that happens while pulling. The chucking is a bit unnerving, especially when all I can think about is the bouncy fun house that is happening with all my stuff back in the RV.
Word of the wise…”open overhead bins slowing as items may have shifted in flight”!
MORryde is considered the best in the industry for hitching, independence suspensions and disc brakes. They also have 50 amp campsites (although very tight) and the nicest waiting room stocked with cool drinks, hot coffee and snacks…lots and lots of snacks. They even bought us lunch.
We really wanted to install the independent suspension as well, but found out that our “special frame” on the RV would not support MORryde’s axles and IS system, so we would have to stick to Dexter.
This led us to discover that the Dexter axles were completely underrated for the weight of the RV. And while we are in the process of discovery, the tires were underrated as well. They were truck tires that were more designed for the cool factor than supporting an RV.
So guess what? We had to replace the axles, tires, rims and we added disc brakes.
Now, when we installed the PullRite hitch in the 2015 GMC truck (which sits high to begin with) we had no idea how high this raised EVERYTHING! So when we hitched up the 5th wheel it was nose high…really high.
MORryde found out that they could order our Dexter torsion axles at a steeper angle in order the raise the frame. MORryde even engineered a new plate raising us an overall 3 inches. They were able to also lower the RV hitch so that it dropped the front of the RV 3 inches as well. We still ride nose high, but it is a vast improvement.
Good news for sure until we tried to drive the Domani out the shop door. Bad news…the RV was raised so high, that we could not get it out of the garage.
Feeling a bit panicked we were able to let just enough air out of the tires in order to get it through the garage door. We measured our height at 13’ 10” tall. YIKES…the maximum height of a tractor trailer is 14′, which means we will need to be very careful on back road underpasses.
We hung out at MORryde for about 3 weeks total. We developed such a love for MORryde due to the people who work there. Rob and Gary went out of their way to communicate and collaborate with us about our project. One of the Engineers, Eric, even hand delivered some delicious homemade soup one evening! Wow, axles and soup!
We had many laughs with the crew and other customers who were happily hanging out waiting on their projects. MORryde was first class service all the way and we can not recommend them enough!
I’m sure by now you are falling asleep gripped with suspense to know what other projects we have been working on.
So come back soon to read Part II!
The Big Q
Posted by Deb in Uncategorized on January 21, 2015
We are in a bit of shock right now. After 3 ½ weeks in the quiet, picturesque desert of Borrego Springs we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of the largest RV gathering in the country known as Quartzsite.
We are at Quartzsite helping out as an exhibitor. The booth is all set up and ready to receive over 100,000 visitors for the big show geared towards RV’ers and rock collectors. The striking contrast from where we have been to where we are now is been a shock to our system. Oh where is my precious Borrego desert!
Quartzsite started with just 60 exhibitors in 1984 and has grown to a 20 acre facility housing “The Big Tent” with over 200 exhibitors. And Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama adjacent to The Big Tent sells gems and rocks along with every kind of bolt, kitchen utensil, yard art, sunglasses, walking sticks, salsa and cowboy hats. Not to mention cans of beans the size of your head.
You will even find nuts here…screw on, sugar coated and human. We were directed to our RV site by a fifty something gentleman and his dreadlock counterpart sporting a freshly rolled joint…for medicinal purposes of course.
Snugged in our parking lot RV site just steps away from the Big Tent, we are getting cozy with our neighbors who are here to sell their wares. Such a super friendly bunch that all know each other from years past. As people have gotten to know each other through the years they meet up and park next to each other every year. That doesn’t keep them from inviting us new comers into the fold with happy hours and potlucks. I got my first high-five from this group for my backing skills while parking the RV. (I’m surprised by how few women actually drive their RV’s)
Kenny King and his daughter Kim do an amazing job at running Quartzsite. Probably one of the best run shows that we have seen. We received a dinner invitation at their temporary home right on the property for steak and lobster…yes lobster freshly caught by Kim’s fiancé the day before. We ate outside on the porch and watched an amazing sunset over the “Q” painted mountain.
Kenny’s stories of the past were amazing tails of celebrities like Willie Nelson, made and lost fortunes and his own celebrity status in small town of Quartzsite. We all laughed when he told us it is a jar to his ego when he goes back to his home in California as no one cares who he is there. He started in the RV awning business years ago and has been involved with the RV industry ever since.
This is their 32nd year at Quartzsite and it brings a huge economic boost to this small community of 3600. It is estimated that some 750,000-1,000,000 pass through this area for the winter months for the big event, plentiful sunshine and warmth.
Our environment couldn’t be more opposite of our desert solitude of the last few weeks, but the warmth of new friends made all around us couldn’t be more endearing.