We experienced some problems with the RV (MS Daisy) and Tow
vehicle Chevy HHR (Daisy Bug) last year. In preparation of our pilgrimage to Texas I had new tires
installed on both the RV and the HHR, The HHR had worn tread that told me we
needed to have them replaced. I took the RV a 2010 Coachman Concord a Class C
Ford chassis to have a alignment performed because of cupping on the front
tires. When I investigated the date code I found the tires were 5 years old and
upon inspection I could detect some age cracking on the sidewalls. So all six
tires were replaced on the RV.
We drove
from Indiana on I 65 to Nashville Tn and then turned onto I 40 west towards
Memphis. Somewhere in this distance I noticed when filling up with fuel that
the right rear hubcap (wheel simulator) had been lost.
I have to assume it wasn’t
installed correctly at the tire change. I also noticed the left rear tire looked
low on air pressure. After testing the pressure the outside dually had the
recommended 85 psi but the inside dually had about 20 psi. I couldn’t refill at
this station and so had find a station two refill as I assumed we had a slow
leak. Anyway upon each fuel refill from then on I had to keep refilling the
inside dually. When we arrived at Lagoons RV park we set up and took the weight
off the tires with the levelers. I knew we had to get this tire fixed before
returning to Indiana.
We were
driving the HHR to Port Aransas to visit with Sherry’s sister’s family when I
must have hit a bolt and punctured the left rear tire. This tire immediately
deflated and I had to put on the donut spare. We returned to to Rockport to
Craigs Tire service and while it took most of the day, they were able to
install a new tire. However it wasn’t the same brand as the tires I had just
installed in Indiana. I later took the RV to this same center to have the inside
dually repaired, they found and metal object in the tread and were able to
install a patch on the inside of the tire.
While we
were shopping at a local souvenir shop when we returned to the HHR it wouldn’t
start. It wasn’t turning over so I suspected a dead battery and sure enough
when the head lights were turned on it confirmed no power was available. We
used our Good Sam Roadside service and after about a hour of wait time we got a
jump to get the HHR back to the RV park. I knew if it didn’t start the next morning
I would be able to get a jump off of one of the park residents. The next morning
we took the HHR to Walmart and had a new battery installed the old battery was
original about 9 years old. No wonder it failed at this time. I can only hope
the new battery gives good service as I know we won’t have this car for another
9 years.
I have had reoccurring
roof problems with the RV especially on the right front where the roof connects
to the fiberglass front cap. I have cut out and replaced the caulking with
Dicor self leveling roof caulk twice. We developed another leak while parked at
Lagoons and this time it was severe enough it delaminate the front cabinet. I made a temporary repair when at Bettys RV park in Abbyville LA.
This was going to be a pretty major repair that I
couldn’t perform until we returned to Indiana. We left Texas and I was in a
foul mood, because all the problems. I once more, after we were out of rain
long enough to make roof repairs cut out and replaced the caulking at this
junction. Later in the summer I went on the roof and installed a strip of
eternal bond tape across the junction of the roof to fiberglass. Time will tell
if this is a more permanent fix. I make annual inspections and repair any problem
that I find. I have replaced two of the three roof vent covers because of sun
deterioration, and installed Max air covers over the roof vents.
The cabinet
was completely removed and rebuilt with plywood instead of the pressed
fiberboard the manufacturer used and is very susceptible to water damage.
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