I thought I would be posting this afternoon or evening from the parking lot camp ground of the rv dealer that has been working on my Winnebago. I am, however, posting from home. And the Winnebago is home – her name is Wild Thing…because she moves me…
When we left this story, just yesterday in the telling, although Saturday in actuality, Karl and I had made the trip to Missoula in the Jeep to pick up WT. Her steps had been replaced and body work done. But, the steps – they went in and out just fine. There is, though, a step off/on switch just inside the door. When in the off position, the steps stay out. When in the on position, the steps extend when the door is open and retract when the door is closed. There is another feature…no matter what position the switch is in, when the ignition is on, the steps retract – a safety/convenience/stupidity avoidance mechanism to prevent an operator from driving off with the steps extended. The problem on Saturday was that the on/off switch was operating in reverse – on kept the steps out and off extended/retracted with the door open/close.
Saturday…there was a tech available, but not the one who did the installation. But surely, this was a simple “wire cross”. Mais, non! And I should have known as I was present, holding the flashlight, when the damaged steps were removed. 4 bolts and a wiring harness – in reverse for install, i.e. no wiring need be done by the installer. Heads were scratched and it was decided that input from the manufacturer was needed so Karl and I came home as documented in the previous post.
And…I told the dealer to take their time considering the condition of my road and drive.
I received a call fairly early on Monday that things were fixed. A number of calls back and forth because I was dumbfounded that it was so “easy” and in the back and forth a feeling that I was getting the run around. And there is that loss of confidence that happens when you don’t feel like you are getting accurate information. Enter my insurance agent who seriously went to bat for me with the dealer and suddenly, they cannot do enough for me – things like a wash, wax, something from their rv shop…
I decide that it would be best to get to Missoula ASAP, make sure all is truly well and bring WT home, while the entire fiasco is fresh in all minds. So I shuffle meetings and committments in order to drive down this afternoon, stay the night, and back Wednesday afternoon before the weather changes to winter again as forecast. The dealer phones this morning – a Kalispell customer has a locked up motorhome, a tech is driving up to deal with that…he could drive my motorhome, towing a car, i.e. they want to know if I’m open to them delivering the motorhome to me in Kalispell. YES, I say! All goes well, I meet the tech not far from my house. He unhooks his tow, I hook up my Jeep and off we go. The step was operating correctly.
I turn on to my road in the nick of time…
It looked like snow, threatening clouds over the mountains, but all held off..
Karl rode shotgun. My road was clear, my driveway was icy. A decision had to be made whether to drop the Jeep and come in motorhome only with no tow. I was tired, I wanted it over, I left the Jeep on and drove like I meant it. 21000 pounds of motorhome pulling 3800 pounds of Jeep did not hesitate.
In, turned around, backed up, parked and plugged in. All are home.
Wow Ann, whatta story! I was exhausted just reading about your ‘adventures’. I do love that last picture though … well deserved after such a day!
Glad to hear you made it home safe. And more great pictures.
Ohhh, I love that first “storm on the horizon” picture. Impending storms excite the senses and that “I’m ALIVE!” feeling for me. Glad you were able to retrieve Wild Thing (clever name!) before the storm hit. Isn’t that great how God worked out a shorter RT for you? And you are lucky to have an insurance agent who goes to bat for you.
I have such a dream of travelling around Canada and the USA in one of these, it would be so cool. WT is such a beauty!
I can feel the whole experience. Now, all are home safely, everything is working, the wine is chilling properly and we can simply wait for the snow. Thanks so much for sharing. I almost felt I was there.
Wow! Looks like “Wild Thing’s” driver was ready to be finished with this deal and was “Born to Be Wild”! I can just see and feel your determination in the 2nd pic.
Glad you made it in safe and sound!
I would hate to think what I would have demolished backing WT … you are …Good…Ann!
Love your stories and Love LOVE the pics.
If I could take the cold, I would move out there.
This southern girl would FREEZE!!lol
Good on your insurance agent… the results were truly remarkable. Washing and waxing an RV is a MAJOR task (don’t ask how I know…), let alone the delivery!
I’m glad you’re in place, safe and sound. And I love the name, too… because she moves you! LOL! There’s a generational reference if I ever heard one… ;)
Whew! I love the wine bottle in the snow. Glad you made it home. We are getting lots of rain
so you should be getting more snow. Global warming????
“her name is Wild Thing…because she moves me…” Unfortunately, I was drinking red wine when I read that! Luckily, my computer survived the bath. Glad all is well at your house. It was near 50 in Breck today – lottsa snowmelt, though the forecast is for a storm here, too.
Oh, I forgot…they ended up not waxing the motorhome, but shampooed the carpet instead. I was still happy as it is easier to find people to wax than a carpet guy willing to do an rv. But, it IS a lot of work – last time I had it done, 2 men nearly 8 hours, but they did the roof, which I won’t do again. Anyway, the delivery made me plenty happy and the carpet was a bonus.
Oh, Barb! – I’ve done the same thing…glad all survived! We didn’t get to 50 but were in the low 40’s. A lot of melt, but would really like a couple more days of it before the next round.