Thetford Toilet Repair

Last fall we detected a problem with the Thetford toilet. The following video describes it, how it was a minor fresh water supply line leak and how it was repaired. Having TFE paste and the proper tools were a necessity.

Spring Startup - Oh, Oh, the slide has jammed

We have a long term plan. That includes shorter term components.

We took the RT out of winter storage and moved it to the location we decided upon last summer.

My experiences with a camper van includes two peak periods. One is prepping it for the winter storage and the other is taking it out of winter storage. After that, we enjoy.

Now. I admit I'm new to this. So there are always mini-adventures in taking the RT out of storage. Was anything damaged by the winter freeze? Did anything break or fail? Was my "winterizing" regimen successful?

So, when we power up the RT we check everything and look for issues or problems. As I like to tell my friends, this is like powering up one's home each spring after hibernating for the winter.

This year, we did encounter a problem which I would put in the "show stopper" category.

I check most of the major systems in the fall, make preparations for the winter and then recheck in the spring. I also took the RT to the Chevrolet dealer for the 15,000 mile service, which includes new wipers, replacing the engine oil with new Mobile One synthetic, rotating the tires and a good general check of the entire vehicle. After a clean bill of health by Haggerty Chevrolet in Wheaton, we drove to the location of the RT for the next six months.

Setup was uneventful. But on the morning after, the large slide-out would not open. This is a "show stopper" as opening this slide-out is essential for dumping the grey and black water tanks. Of course, if we can't open this slide-out we can't get to the BBQ, or the lawn chairs and firewood, either!

I was successful in solving this problem. The following video indicates how, and some other spring preparation:

Our "Tiny Cabin on Wheels" - Class B versus Larger

Different strokes for different folks is the old saying. Recently, there was an internet discussion about the pros and cons of the widebody class B's. I provided my opinion.

Our "Cabin on Wheels" home until November

We looked at a “widebody” Pleasure Way before our purchase decision. The XL is a “widebody” class B with a length of 22 ft 9 inches, about a foot longer than the Roadtrek 210P.

We never looked at a Class A. We're into "living a life of moderation while supporting the infrastructure."  That means paying taxes to support schools, roads and so on and trekking. I'm not practicing or promoting a life of tax avoidance while trekking the U.S.

There are trade-offs in all Class B’s. For example, we decided against a Roadtrek 190 because it was simply too small for our intended use. That’s a critical factor when making a purchase decision; what is the intended use? I would also say that our purchase decision was a compromise of features and dimensions. Our ideal vehicle would have the interior and storage capacity of the 210P in a 190. Ha-ha! I can also say, we’ve had 190 owners come over and look at the 210P and sigh. Yes, they too would like the larger interior, storage and refrigerator. However, they also like the "park it in any any all space" convenience of the 190.

Here's an example. Last year, we drove to the upper level of the Capulin Volcano National Monument in our 210P.  That road was built in 1925 and is narrower than current standards. According to the National Park Service "Large vehicles, such as tour buses and motor homes, struggle to navigate the tight S curves and narrow lanes without encroaching on the opposing lane of traffic. As a result, in 1994 the National Park Service implemented policies that restricted the length and width of vehicles safely able to negotiate the Volcano Road alone. To ensure safety, Capulin Volcano National Monument instituted traffic control protocols. Rangers control traffic at both the base and rim of the volcano. Traffic is altered from two-way traffic to one-way traffic to ensure the safe passage of oversized vehicles."

We read the warning signs on entering the monument and stopped at the visitor center. After we explained what we were driving we were told we could simply drive up to the top in our RT, and we did. There were no Class A's or B+s at the summit parking.

Our first class B experience was in the fall of 2013. We rented a Sprinter camper-van and took it to three of the National Parks in Utah. We also spent a night at a very large RV park in Nevada and a dealer had brought in several larger class B’s including a Pleasure Way with the murphy bed, etc. So we did have an opportunity to compare it to what we were renting. After seriously looking at a variety of Class B’s including Roadtreks we ultimately purchased a 210P.

We've had some interesting conversations with dealers. One of the purported advantages of the Pleasure Way version of a “widebody” class B was the larger interior; particularly the bath area. According to one dealer many buyers loved the class A’s but didn't like them on the road and preferred the larger interior of the XL. Again, it is about intended purpose and making a compromise. Many of the Class A users we have met tell us that they move the vehicle once or twice a year. They then park it for extended periods and it is their "large cabin on intermittent wheels.”

Our use is different and we move the RT more often, sometimes each day when travelling from one National Park or scenic area to another. However, this year we’re “storing” it in a campground on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan for 6 months. We’ll be using it frequently as a warm weather cabin and we'll then move it to the southwestern U.S. for the winter. That’s the plan, anyway.

In other words, it is our “tiny cabin on wheels” which we use when not in our larger 1320 sq. ft. condominium, with the 50 gallon hot water tank, larger kitchen, two offices, bedroom, deck and so on. When we do decide to live in our RT for extended periods, we stay at places with lots of facilities and so our RT is primarily for sleeping, cooking  and privacy; somewhat like a deluxe motel room with kitchen. No bedbugs or noisy neighbors, either!

However, I've set a goal to figure out how to make my cinnamon buns in the Roadtrek. It's got a convection oven and sufficient kitchen space. That will be one of my challenges for this summer.

I can say that my spouse liked the larger bath of the Pleasure Way. However, one big draw-back was the lack of living “zones.” If the bed was down, most of the living space was taken up. We’ve encountered that in many class C’s, too. Of course, the Murphy bed does easily go into hiding. But then, we would have one couch with table to share, or two larger chairs with table. There is no opportunity for one to stretch out to read while the other works on a PC. If G wants to sleep in, I can make coffee and go to the front of the Roadtrek and do my emails, make phone calls, or whatever. I can also exit and she has privacy in the rear. And I can do that without seriously disturbing her. Of course, if one leaves the bed down during the day, then the Pleasure Way XL is basically a bedroom with a kitchenette at the foot of the bed and bathroom. For comfort, the Pleasure Way included a furnace and an air conditioner. But I wanted a heat pump/AC/furnace because of my intended 3-1/2 seasons of travel. I wanted the ability to use a heat pump at 47F rather than using the propane furnace. Electricity, even at 10 cents per kWhr is less costly than propane.

Ultimately we decided against a Sprinter because of 1) the narrow width of the standard unit and 2) that large sliding side door. We also had some concerns about “only” 200 dealers in the U.S. As for the side door, open that door in a storm and you’ve opened half of the vehicle to nature and you will lose all AC cooling or heat in an instant. That was a real consideration. In that respect the Pleasure Way is a real improvement over the basic Sprinter.

We decided on a 210P for a variety of reasons. 1) Overall dimensions, 2) possibility of 3-1/2 season use, 3) wider interior than a standard Sprinter or a 190, 4) more storage inside and outside; IMHO for anyone taking multi-week treks with serious temperature changes, storage is a necessity. 5) Two living zones separated by the kitchen/bath area, 6) larger kitchen area, refrigerator and microwave-convection oven not on the floor, 7) Heat pump/AC/furnace available, 8) three seats up front (5 seatbelts total) and 9) pretty good gas mileage (our experience = typically 18+ MPG at 55-65 MPH).

All in all, the smaller bath of the 210P has not been a big deal. In reality, with a smaller hot water heater, one soon discovers that there is insufficient hot water for a luxurious shower. For that, we use the facilities at the camp ground or resort. The commode with a sink is the major bathroom use and much appreciated in bad weather and at night. In fact, yesterday I preferred shaving in the RT bathroom because of the hot water. The campground had only cold water available at the sinks.

Now, some of our friends don’t understand us at all, but then they never will.

Riding the Rails

While on an Alaska trek we were able to catch the White Pass Yukon Railway. This narrow gauge railway was built in 1898, 14 years before the ill-fated Titanic sank in the Atlantic. There are a number of excursions available. Ours passed the original Klondike Trail.

Riding this railroad into British Columbia, Canada is a trek worth taking. The trip will climb 3,000 feet in 20 miles. We ended with a view of the sawtooth range.

I've included a video which provides some of the experience of riding the rails. There was a surprise at 13:00.

In a tunnel

Sawtooth Range

Trestle, 1898

America's Cup Challenge - Some Things Require Sails

Some things can't be done on the land. On a December 27, we found ourselves participating in a race between three 12-meter sailboats which had been built for the America's Cup.

I've always enjoyed the water.  I learned to swim at a YMCA and have enjoyed the water ever since. I learned to water ski on Biscayne Bay, sailed on Lake Michigan and Kentucky Lake, snorkeled in the Keys.

While I really enjoy roadtrekking, I also enjoy water trekking and backpacking.

This post includes a short video of this race.

Rounding the Mark

Three boats contesting the lead

I could almost reach out and touch their jib

Canada takes the lead

Skipper for a moment

Video - Interior of Sprinter

First Published December 2013
I'm re-posting this blog post. The Sprinter trek was the one that convinced us that Yep, we want to own a camper van and do this again, and again, and again.  I've also added the label "video" to posts which contain an embedded video segment.  Doing this allows the viewer to arrange all posts that contain videos.

December 24, 2013
How large or how small is the interior of a "19 foot" Sprinter camper van? This video provides a brief view. It was taken by my spouse during our October trek (Trek 1).

As you can see, it is essential to use every square inch of the space provided. For example, during the daytime we put the pillows for sleeping into large plastic trash bags and then placed them in an overhead storage bin, above the driver's and navigator's positions. Our coats were usually draped over these seats when we were "camping" and at that time we placed the backpacks on these seats. In this van the front seats did not swivel and so it seemed practical to use them for storage.  Hiking boots when removed could be placed in the area adjacent to these seats, or in the slot that was created when the side door was closed. The large bench seats in the rear provided ample seating space for two.

When stationary we would use a portion of the rear area of the bench seats as an area to place things. The dining table was only put into position when it was needed. The cooler was our overflow pantry. It was more convenient than some of the other storage as it was easier to spot things quickly. One thing about living in a new space is that it is helpful to be consistent when putting things away for temporary storage.

Tying the cooler to the rear door handles with a sliding strap was clever, but in Zion National Park this created a problem. Parking in Zion is at a premium and people don't always stay within the lines. On return from a walk, we found a car pulled against our right side and ditto for the left. It was very, very difficult to get into the vehicle. The driver's door was impossible to open and so I used the slide door on the passenger side. Of course, I could have simply used the rear door, but I had tied the cooler to it! Thereafter when parking in potential crowded situations I released the cooler prior to leaving the vehicle. At Arches we parked at the welcome center and a truck camper pulled next to us. That too was a bit tight, however Zion was the most crowded situation.

Our experience was a very positive one. The Sprinter was a lot of fun and we adapted very quickly to the interior space.

Capulin Volcano - Going in Circles

I could have titled this "one of our volcanoes is missing, " or "GPS Circular Adventure."

Last year we decided to take a side trek to the Calulin Volcanic Monument. We had a few laughs and some frustration when our GPS not only couldn't find it, but after circling and with the volcano in sight, the GPS yet again insisted we again turn around.

I've put together a short video.