The Art of RV maintenance (humor)

[Lakota Wolf]

Before a long trip and after a long trip, or even a medium short trip,

it is always a good thing to check the bearings and brakes.

Its almost garranteed that 80% that, most RV's will some what over load their

RV, or trailer. The extra added weight is usually the result of extra shoes, or

extra tools. Of course, guys can never have enough tools.

A typical small collection of tools will consist of at least 3 of each tool

and quite possibly 4, depending on the amount of shiney chrome is on said tool.

Ok back to the brakes and wheels. By the way, your going to get dirty, so put on

some regular Levi's and that prized mustard stained T-shirt from that 1976 blow

out BBQ.

So you drag out the 60 ton hydrolic bottle jack,, possibly acquiring a double

hurnia.. You push and scrape it along the ground under the trailer to center

under the axle. (if you have double axles, your going to do this 4 times).After

pulling several muscles getting the jack under the axle, You realize you forgot

the handle. You crawl back out from under the trailer and get up to go search

for it. This is about the time you realize,, you most definitely think you have

a double or possibly a triple Hurnia.

You wonder around for a few minutes hunting down the jack handle and thinking to

yourself,, That you should have bought the 4 ton or maybe the 6 ton hydrolic

jack instead,, or one with wheels. (which by the way DO NOT work on gravel,,

just an F.Y.I.).You find the handle, where its not supposed to be and head back

under the trailer. You put the handle in the slot and are pumping away,,,

anytime now,, the trailer will slowly lift.

After about 10 minutes, you realize,, you didn't close the valve. You grumble

and mumble at your over sight. You tighten the valve closed and go back to

pumping the handle,, all righty,,, its on its way up, slow and steady. You

glance at the tire and its a good inch or so off the ground.

You sigh a relief and crawl back out from under the trailer,, Lets get this

wheel off and get busy. (If you have serviced your brakes or bearings before on

your trailer, You will, right about now, understand the situation). If your NEW

to doing this,,, get your paper out and a crayon and take notes. The dilemma

that we face is,, the tire is off the ground, and your thinking,, that's a good

thing. Its really not. In order to remove the tire,, the lug nuts needed to have

been loosened BEFORE jacking the wheel off the ground. Now there is 2 choices

here on what to do. You can crawl back under the trailer and lower the tire back

down, Or the most logical choice. Throw your hands up, and head back inside and

have a cold one,,,, plus theres a good foot ball game on,, and the weather

is,,A- to hot, B- to cold. I opted for option C- I got frustrated and need to

tend to this triple hurnia and relax. Plus look on line for a lighter hydrolic

jack

[True North]

Funny stuff. And informative for a newbie.  Thanks! 

[David Blankenship]

Does anyone know how to replace the hinges on the roof of a Santana. One of mine is loose and I was thinking about trying to replace both of them.

[Russell E Johnson]

And this is so much more fun with a motorhome as everything is heavier and harder to get to. I started with an 8 ton jack, and soon found out that it was not enough jack to lift even one of the front tires off the ground so I moved up to a 50 ton monster and am working on the double hernia.

Another thing that is a problem are RV gremlins, It is my belief that the handle to jack will never remain with the jack because the gremlins intentionally move the it to another part of the RV just to watch the RVer check every possible location in trying to locate it. Gremlins are know for their sadistic sense of humor.

I think your idea of having a cold one because of the temperature is the correct course of action, have to be careful when dealing with RV maintenance in temperatures outside a specific range. Know your limits and strictly adhere to them.

Just as an FYI to anyone attempting this, do not leave the jack under the axle when you go inside, the trailer will not be level and you will be forever staggering around while walking because of the uneven floor and your other half will accuse you of having too many cold ones.

Thanks Lakota, this was a wonderful bit of humor.

[So ska noname]

Lol