Not Overweight!!!!

[Dawn309]

I was weighed this morning and I am not overweight at all. I need to shift 400 lbs off the right back axle. If I move 200 lbs to the left front axle, I will even up that axle and still be under my max weight there. I stow probably 75-100 lbs of kitchen gear with a full bag of dog food like I have now under the kitchen table. I can move that to the other side of the rig. I am going to empty the bins over the back axle tomorrow and trade places with heavier and lighter items as much as I can shifting some to the left front axle. They said they would reweigh me tomorrow but I don't know if I can get it all done in time. I was so happy to hear I was not overweight. I had been so concerned about it.

It has been a very stressful day and I am tired! Right after I got weighed, I had my driving lesson. That was really good for me. Gave me quite a bit more confidence. I learned I was starting my turns too soon and am now better able to judge when to turn so I will not run over curbs, etc. I did find out that I am very good at keeping myself centered in my lane. I guess that comes from the years of pulling the pontoon boat. It was wider than our Tacoma PU that I towed it with so I had to always be aware of where it was in the lane. The teacher said I was a safe driver. He said I made good decisions and started thinking about upcoming things before I got there to make my adjustments. I have always driven like that so no difference there. Chuck used to say I let the whole world in front of me. Used to drive him nuts. It's a guy thing. He hated for anyone to get ahead of him. I don't care. Come on around. I will back off to where I want to be again. I like space between me and the vehicle in front of me. Always have. I definitely need to practice backing up, but after he adjusted my mirrors for me, that got easier. Also will have to learn to compensate for a small lack of peripheral vision in right eye. I don't see how close trees and bushes are to me on the right side because I just don't see them. Will have to learn to turn my head a little when coming up on either. Left over effects of an MS episode of optic neuritis. Also my depth perception in that eye is not as good as it was before. These are minor things now. They used to be a lot worse. He said I will learn to compensate for this in the rig just like I did in my car.

All in all, it has been a really good day. Wish they had pizza delivery here though.

[rvgrammy1953]

Yeah!!!!Doing the Happy Dance for you.... No more purging for now and with a little relocation of stuff you'll be all set!!!! The Sultan & I are so Proud of YOU!!!!!!!

[grammynmaggie]

Good for you Dawn...so glad you are doing
good with your learning...I need to find a
"bootcamp" !

[avalen]

you should be very proud of yourself, your a natural

[Bethers]

Great news. And you were already thinking about what to get rid of. Now you can keep it and make that decision down the road - like if you really aren't using it, then it would be great to donate. But it'll be YOUR decision.

Also great news on your driving lesson. I'm sure you feel so much more comfortable and confident after getting that assessment.

[Redwahine]

Yeah!!! So glad your weight is good. Now you don't have to get rid of stuff unless you want to. We were so nervous about our weigh in. Our 5er was way under weight and was balanced. We are very marginal on the king pin weight. So no more weight to the truck. But we are ok for now. How was Paul's weigh in? Glad the driving lessons went well. Wish we could have had the lessons as well. Maybe next time.

[Dawn309]

Red, Paul's weigh in was way different. He was OK on weight, but his tag was not listed anywhere. They had to call in Mark to come look. Everyone crawled in and under his rig. There is not one. What Paul found out was back when his Tiffin was made, they took and cut a truck chassis to add the tag. He was told he would have to call Tiffin to find out what the weight load for it was. They estimated based on his back axle. What they did find out in all that climbing under his rig was that his tag tires were 11 years old and had lots of cuts in the sidewalls on the inside. They did not know how he had not had a blow out just getting here. He has ordered 2 new tires for the front. He will move those tires to the tag axle. All his other tires are 4 years old, and in OK shape so he has at least a year to save for more tires. We are going to leave on Friday now. I will have to call and change our reservations changed at Fairfield Lake.

We were all so worried about the weigh in and we all did OK. Whew!

[longdog2]

Woohoo for all the good news. Actually Paul's news was good too because he found out about the tires being not only old but bad too. So much better than having a blowout with all the accompanying damage. You can all feel good about your upcoming travels now.

[Dawn309]

So true Colleen!

[asirimarco]

Sounds like you had an interesting day. Now you can relax - won't have to get rid of anything and much more confident behind the wheel.

[Redwahine]

Aren't you glad you went to Boot Camp? Never would have looked on the inside of those tires if we hadn't learned so much about the importance of tire age, condition, and the weigh team. etc. Now you both have so much more information and confidence to go boldly where no man has gone before Actually where many have gone before, but you three are going to get there safe!!!

[Dawn309]

Yes Ma'am I am. We did learn so much. Still have so much to process in my brain. When we get to Fairfield Lake, I plan on putting all my notes and info from the handouts into a notebook on my computer. Want to have everything in one place to refer back to. Then can throw the paper away. I think that will help me in remembering everything. So much info so fast. Having George, the RV Driving School owner as my teacher helped today. He went back over what he had talked about in the class, but this time with me doing the action. That was wonderful. He went over my rig from top to bottom checking everything out. We talked again about the systems, etc. before we ever started the engine. This time it was with my rig as the example. Really helped. He also gave me additional info on full timing as we drove along. So worth the cost of the driving course.

[VickieP]

Good job Dawn! Now the question is how much underweight were you? Will you be weighing everything going in the door to your rig like Mitch does?

[Dawn309]

680 lbs on the front axle and 1,050 lbs on the back axle. Have some wiggle room.

[VickieP]

680 lbs on the front axle and 1,050 lbs on the back axle. Have some wiggle room.

Wow, so you really did good!