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Comment by Kevin F Smith on January 1, 2019 at 8:13pm

We got a LOT done today for the move-in transfer to our new home.

Patti steadily kept moving stuff we are definitely going to keep to the new RV all day, while I worked on projects.

The first thing I did today, after my coffee, was to disconnect our 2 newest deep cycle batteries from our system in the HR, and cleaned them thoroughly with baking soda...and install them in the Itasca. I rewired the batteries in the HR so the new owner would still have 4 batteries working perfectly. I installed the new 2 batteries and watered them, and checked the starting battery in the coach, which didn't need any water.

I then exchanged all the LED bulbs we had on the HR to the Itasca, and put the incandescent bulbs from the Itasca back into the HR. We still need quite a few more LED bulbs for the Itasca, but we are good for now.

I then installed the clean vent covers that I took off the HR yesterday and all the hardware onto the Itasca.

Next I exchanged the very expensive AGM starting battery that I JUST bought for the HR, with the 10 year old Optima battery that was in the Jeep...and had to rebuild the positive post on the Jeep, since it broke when trying to put it back together.

And I took off our "Smith" name plate from the HR, and put it on the Itasca (which Patti is going to caulk tomorrow, since I STILL, no matter how hard I try, suck at caulking). It actually matches the Itasca theme decals pretty closely, with a similar pine tree motive.

I changed the wiper blades out as well, with the new ones I found in a compartment.

I also tightened an antenna that was flapping loose on the driver's side, and added another screw to the front fairing, because either one of those was making an annoying clacky sound when we drove the rig to this RV park.

And that was it for today!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Kev

Comment by Rich Thomas on January 1, 2019 at 3:30pm

Sounds like you are well into it Kevin.I hope you and DW have a super new years day! 

Comment by Kevin F Smith on December 31, 2018 at 7:28pm

I'm also going to replace all four headlights before we leave, since the two on the driver's side are burnt out...but as soon as we can, I'm replacing them with the LED headlights like we have on the Jeep. SUPER bright...just in case we get stuck driving at night.

And at the end of the day, I went down to the local convenience store and bought a bottle of Andre blush champagne, to open tonight at midnight. It is cheap stuff, but Patti likes it!

Patti spent the day cleaning in the new RV, chasing down minor evidence of mice residency, and prepping for the move-in.

Kev

Comment by Kevin F Smith on December 31, 2018 at 7:27pm

So I got a few things done today in the "moving to a new rig" process.

I took our MaxAir vent covers off the Holiday Rambler and thoroughly washed them, and will be installing them on the roof vents of the Itasca on the next day we have that isn't raining. I also transfered our Flagpole Buddy from the HR to the Itasca, and Old Glory is flying over our new home!

I found out directly from Winnebago Industries that the roof of the Itasca is fiberglass, but decided to NOT put the heavy Canadian Solar solar panels on the pristine roof....and put them up for sale on Craigslist. We will be going with a smaller (around 250 watt) portable system that I can aim at the sun later on, using the charge controller we have now.

I measured the battery compartment, and we can easily fit the 2 newest of our Interstate Golf Cart batteries, so I'll be installing those before we leave. I will later on replace them with the very best, highest amp hour deep cycle pair of batteries I can find.

I found a truck tire place just three miles down the road that will only charge me 25 bucks a tire to mount/dismount, and then 15.00 to bean bag balance the two that are going in the Itasca, 130.00 total, so we'll be doing that after New Years Day. I couldn't get the two nuts off the chrome covers, and the local hardware store doesn't have any sockets big enough for those, or for the lug nut wrench...and because the lug nut wrench measured out at 43mm, the rims sure as heck aren't compatible with the P30 rims. (although I will look closely at the spare tomorrow, which hangs on a cable winch system under the front end...if I shimmy under there, I should be able to get an accurate confirmation of the size of the lug holes). I'm going to have the tire guys check the rear tire pressures and air them up, since they are duellys, and don't have extensions (yet) to easily check and air up the inner tires, even if they charge me a bit more. I'll get good extensions later.

I also looked at the box of 6 quarts of transmission fluid I bought, and it is Valvoline Dex/Merc, and it says it is compatible with Dexron III, which is compatible with Dexron II, so we are all set. I topped off the power steering reservoir, which was just under a quart low to bring it back the the full mark. I checked the engine oil, and it is clean and topped off already. The air filter indicator indicates that the air filter is at about half life, so that is good enough to get us to Arizona. I'll check the Allison transmission fluid when we go do the tires, since it needs to be warm and in neutral to check, and it also takes Dexron II, so if it is low, we have 5 more quarts to play with...lol!

I also checked the brake fluid, which needs to be topped off, but isn't too low. Even though the brake fluid reservoir (which is HUGE) is under the wheel well like every other RV we have owned, and there isn't a trap door...they are CLEAR and you can see the level at a glance! And they have screw tops and easy to reach! So I'll top them off before we leave. It takes Dot 3.

I also found brand new wiper blades in a compartment...BONUS!!! I'll be installing them as well before we leave.

Going over the Oshkosh chassis manual, there aren't that many grease fittings, but there are grease fittings on the front wheel bearings. SWEET!!! I'll be greasing all the fittings before we leave as well...and will check and top off, if necessary, the gear oil in the monstrously huge Rockwell rear differential.

Kev

Comment by Kevin F Smith on December 30, 2018 at 8:15pm

Thanks Rich!  God bless, and have a very awesome Happy New Year!!!

Comment by Rich Thomas on December 30, 2018 at 7:46pm

Good on you Kevin. it was probably hard to give up the bike and the carrier but you have your priority's in check. I'm really happy you was able to turn this whole thing into a positive outcome. and the old rig will live on. very cool. The donation thing was just an idea and after reading up on it it's not something that could of happened in your time frame anyway. Hope all goes well on the change over. Thanks for sharing this whole adventure it has a way of restoring peoples faith in each other. Have a good day!

Comment by Kevin F Smith on December 30, 2018 at 7:01pm

Not yet Jimco! We want to drive it out to Arizona to get a feel for its personality, and name it then...lol!

Kev

Comment by Jimco_W001 on December 30, 2018 at 4:17pm

Kevin, have you named your new rig?

Comment by Kevin F Smith on December 30, 2018 at 2:21pm

And the awesome thing is that the guy that bought the RV wants to put another transmission in it and use it...so The Nautilus will live on and not end up in a junk yard.  Woohoo!!!

Comment by Kevin F Smith on December 30, 2018 at 2:20pm

So we just sold the motorcycle and carrier for 900.00, and someone came by today and bought the Holiday Rambler for a 1000.00.  Gotta love Craigslist!  Now we'll have enough to get us to Arizona, with a bit of a buffer for any emergencies that might come up until we get back to work.

The guy who bought the motorcycle and carrier came by first thing this morning, and we loaded the bike up on his van.  Then another guy came by and wants the RV, but knows it will take us a few more days to transfer everything to our new motorhome, so he gave us 500.00 down, and is coming back in a few days with another 500.00 and a tow truck.  

This nightmare has become a dream thanks to all of you!  Thank you all so much!

Kev and Patti 

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