HELP- borrowed rv from friends lots of questions

[norty1]

In post #8, I commentated she was a brave person. Not to sure about the owner. LOL

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by norty1

In post #8, I commentated she was a brave person. Not to sure about the owner. LOL

I wouldn't loan my WHawk to myself. There are things that if they go kaput, you want to be the one who did it. As we all know, things go sideways with RVs all too often. Everyone is a rookie and many never advance. Along the way we all have done stupid things. There is a thread that has been running for months where people fess up to their dumbest stuff. I would hate to make some of my screw-ups on someone elses RV.

Good luck on the long trip. You will either love RV'ing or never do it again.

[hoppers4]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Surprised that this thread has gone on so far without anyone bringing the sanity of the owner into question. Loaning a practically new MH to a rookie taking 6 teenagers on a cross country trip is clearly something that no sane owner would ever do. Does this guy like you or hate you? He may be hoping you will total it and never bring it back OR that you will love it and offer to buy it. Either way you are now responsible for a fairly expensive road wagon and are allowing 6 teens to tag along who short of duct tape will not sit still for long once on the road. Between the cost of fuel and the bill at McD's you may have to turn around half way across the country. If the teens are excited at the site of a farm, hang on to your hat when you drive a few hundred miles out west and see nothing but sage grass and tumbleweeds.

Good luck and good sense. Is it your goal to return home with all 6 of the teens?

Well said! Can't wrap my head around somebody loaning out a fairly new MH to somebody that has absolutely no clue. Much less taking off on an extended tour with no knowledge of MH systems. Way too many things to go wrong.

[pconroy]

we don't know the circumstances.

I wish her much luck and fun on her adventure!

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by pconroy

we don't know the circumstances.

I wish her much luck and fun on her adventure!

Wish them good fortune on the trip too, but "circumstances"?? Short of fleeing a flesh eating virus attacking the NE, from a personal point of view this odessy is something I would never consider doing myself. When our family made its first long trip [Disney Fla I think] we already had dozens of weekend outings to local state parks under our belt. Since then we have Rv'ed to Colorado, the Grand Canyon, UP Michigan, upstate NY, and many more; but those early short runs taught us the ins and outs along with the care and feeding of kids on an RV road trip. What an adventure they are taking. Too bad they can't park the "devices" for 24 hours and just look out the windows. Wife and I just returned from a 10 day vacation meeting up with family on Orcus Island NW of Seattle. Our small rental cottage had no cell service and no Sat or Cable TV. I'm a tv addict with sat receivers in the houseboat, Whawk, and all over our house. Last week was the 1st time in 20 years I've gone more than 48 hours without TV. It was an eye opening experience and I didn't go crazy. That last nite in a motel waiting for a morning flight home gave me my first fix in over a week. Only basic cable but wow, quickly learned that a lot hadn't changed in the world.

[kbouressa]

They guy owns it to rent out for money and sells it every couple years and gets a new one. He pretty much could not really answer detailed questions about how things function. Thank goodness for this forum. We made it to mt Rushmore and now heading to Yellowstone- luckily the kids appreciate the changing scenery and the stuff we stop and do and are content being comfortable and in their phones for long rides

[kbouressa]

They are actually really good about the devices they like taking pix of scenery and we have a family blog kids take turns writing each day and posting in Facebook with over 1,000 followers. Kids also updating on Snapchat that their friends all follow - lots of sections we have had no service they don't care because the love playing board games or cards. We camp all the time in tents so they are living rv life much easier!!

[kbouressa]

So far loving it thanks to this site that helped me figure out so much

[norty1]

Sounds like you are sold on the RV'ing lifestyle.

Hope the trip continues to be a memory maker and very enjoyable. I know the kids and you will remember this trip forever!

[kbouressa]

I am already dreading ever going back to rent camping - we all love the rv

[pconroy]

Originally Posted by kbouressa

So far loving it thanks to this site that helped me figure out so much

I'm glad you're having a blast!

[kbouressa]

Ok so next question our ac is not working - fan works but ac shuts off as soon as we turn it on - any easy fixes we are missing or should we find someone to service

[Dustdevil]

Depends on the problem causing the shutdown. Likely, it's low voltage in whatever electrical system you are plugged into, but no way to tell without a test. Some campgrounds are notorious for low voltage, especially during summer when many RVs are running AC. The demand is high, and voltage drops considerably. Your compressor motor may be overheating as a result, and tripping the thermal overload.

[Dustdevil]

You would need either a simple voltmeter, or there are some plug-in test units you can get at any RV store that will display actual voltage. IF this is the problem (emphasis on "IF"), there is no way to actually pinpoint how much voltage is too low. The lower the voltage, the hotter the motor will run, and the sooner it will trip the overload. Could be a circuit breaker, but that would likely shut down the fan motor, too. When I had problems with low voltage, the campground voltage read 104 volts, which is extremely low. Turning on the AC would trip the main breaker for the motorhome.

[kbouressa]

We have voltage meter and that appears to be exactly the problem thank you again. We are having an amazing time - loving the rv life style really think my kids will need therapy when we go back to tent camping- made it to Las Vegas - these New England people are hating this heat- Hoover dam today very hot off to the casinos for ac thanks again

[pconroy]

Originally Posted by kbouressa

made it to Las Vegas - these New England people are hating this heat

Everyone hates that heat!

[kbouressa]

Hi crew so far so good. We made it all the way to Vegas and are now heading back east. The six kids love the rv and even when we caught up with our family that has been staying in fancy hotels the kids always pick the rv to sleep in. Sometimes when we are setting up the auto leveling buttons do not seem to be getting power. Key is off e brake on. Shore power on any ideas or am I missing something ?

[Dustdevil]

Leave the engine running while you are using the leveling system, park brake on. Even if it works without the engine running, it's very hard on the batteries alone to handle the very large demand by themselves.

[kbouressa]

Anybody have any suggestions for campground near st Louis -preferably off i70 East
Of city also looking for stuff to do in the city tonight and any ideas and campgrounds
For Indiana tomorrow.

[Sundancer330]

If the weather is nice you may want to check out https://whoazonewhihala.com, its a one acre water park on Lake Michigan just opened this year in Whiting, IN. Looks like several campgrounds in the area.