Low Tech Solution

[kelpie]

I have been planning and dreaming about my western NP trip for such a long time and now it is less than a month away and I am sooo Excited. Went the other day to check out the rig - hadn't seen her in few months and I missed her. I am now storing her at my MIL's house (FREE, instead of $30/month) and they had to move her about 6 weeks ago because of needing some work done on the garage. Anyway, her maintenance man (at nursing home where she works) volunteered to take the rig to his place and tinker around with her. He restores vintage rigs and is an avid RVer for many many years. He replace hinges on a cabinet door, installed a wall mount for the flat screen TV and then discovered the electrical problem I thought I had. A set of wires including the switch for the water heater run underneath the kitchen countertop, on TOP of the drawers. I keep various utensils in the top drawer. You guessed it - the contents got jumbled and managed to pull apart some wires at the wire nut. We put some water in the tank and turned on the gas, then started up the heater and YAY - it got hot! I asked him how much I owe him and he held out his hand for me to shake!!! I am, however, buying him a gift card for our state parks, where he loves to camp. These "minor" repairs would have cost me at least several hundred dollars at the RV place, maybe more, since I wasn't sure what the electrical issue was and would have to pay for the technician's time while he searched. This great guy, Bob, also showed me a very simple, inexpensive and low-tech solution to a problem some of you may also have. I think I had read this before on some forum, but if I'm not experiencing something at the moment I read it, it's usually quickly forgotten. Anyway, I seem to have problems with the rubber bumper caps and have lost several. The solution: okay, wait for it...drum roll, please...Drill a small hole in the bumper, poke a small hole in the rubber cap and use a 2 cent zip tie to fasten together. Cost about 2 cents, time about 4 minutes. Solution: priceless!

[sharon]

That's great that he was able to find your electrical problem and get your HW hraeater working! There are some mighty strange things in rv's!

[BirdbyBird]

I love the simple things that make life easier....

[AlmostThere]

I'm excited for you, too! Keep us posted every mile of the trip, please.
When you find a great RV repair guy, hang on with both hands!! They are priceless! Glad you got everything fixed and the peace that it was done right.

I noticed today some rust in the corner of one of my outside bins, first one on the passenger side, has some rust starting in the corner. I figure there must be a leak and road splash is coming in. I want my "RV guy" to check it this Fall. I'd rather it was a quick fix now instead of a bank buster later. Should just be some sanding and repaint. I might try tackling it myself.

[Dawn309]

Wow, that was great that he was able to fix all that for you. What a nice person! It will so much nicer for you for your trip.

For your little rust area, could you match the color with maybe a little nail polish until you can get it to your "RV Guy?" I know it sounds odd, but I have used a little nail polish for lots of little jobs and there are so many colors to choose from anymore since the kids all wear such colors now. Would be less expensive if not a big area instead of paint. Dries to a hard shell finish too.

[AlmostThere]

Wow, that was great that he was able to fix all that for you. What a nice person! It will so much nicer for you for your trip.

For your little rust area, could you match the color with maybe a little nail polish until you can get it to your "RV Guy?" I know it sounds odd, but I have used a little nail polish for lots of little jobs and there are so many colors to choose from anymore since the kids all wear such colors now. Would be less expensive if not a big area instead of paint. Dries to a hard shell finish too.

Thanks for the suggestion, but the rust is actually on the inside of the bin on the rim area which is/was painted black. So paint matching won't be a problem. It probably needs cleaned off with a wire brush and repainted, but I also want to find out where the moisture is coming in and a through check if it is deeper than it looks. Looks like the floor area may be affected also. Need to move around some stuff and get a better look.

[Dawn309]

Lenora, sure hope it's not a bad leak.