Month: July 2008

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Put It on the View Screen, Lieutenant

Miranda’s only fault is that she doesn’t come with a back up/rearview camera system. I can barely back up with a car and I won’t have any help in guiding me into tight spots. So, I couldn’t imagine hitting the road without this device.

Finding one to purchase was quite tough. The electronics stores I visited sold components for the systems, but not whole ones, and the staff wasn’t very knowledgeable about these things. I don’t have much experience or knowledge of electronic systems, so I didn’t want to go the piecemeal route. Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire have complete systems, but they are cheap and not well rated, as well as wireless, which wouldn’t work on a 31’+ rig.

Googling, I found some sites offering systems for prices ranging from 350$ to several thousand dollars.

Finally, I went to the Escapees forum I belong to (and where people have been inordinately patient with all my questions!). Someone recommended an eBay seller he’s personally dealt with and who has excellent feedback. The cheapest system was 250$ (plus 30$ shipping to Quebec) and seemed very good–weatherproof camera and cable, all the hardware needed, colour monitor, and more. So, I added one more ‘officialism’ to my list and purchased the system.

The seller also offers side cameras. Since the monitor I purchased can be hooked up to three cameras total, I had a flash of my adding two side cameras to give me a 360 degree view around my coach… not unlike the view screen on the Enterprise!

Installing the camera seems easy enough, all things considered, except, of course, for the part that involves climbing up onto the roof. 🙂

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First Purchases for Miranda!

I had a lovely time in upstate New York yesterday and picked up a few items for my RV (ignore all prices on the websites, I only picked up stuff on sale!!!):

–Garmin Nuvi 260 GPS (how, praytell, have I traveled all this time without a GPS?!);

–APS 750V battery back-up system (UPS) and surge protector, for my computer set up of course;

–Black & Decker Pet Series hand vac, which they claim is specifically engineered to pick up pet hair (the reviews support this);

–Corelle Sandstone dinnerware–I decided after a lot of hemming and hawing to get a plain colour because the RV was going to look ‘busy’ enough;

–Stanley Stud Sensor, because I want to make as few holes as possible in my coach (and got quite the lesson in the mobile house);

–collapsible over the sink strainer;

–collapsible measuring cups (and matching spoons);

and, finally, let’s not forget my

–Wonder Wash, which was a gift.

The trip was well worth the time and gas I expended… especially since gas is so much cheaper in the US. When I bought two gallons worth at the last gas station before the border, the attendant took my ten bucks and laughed, saying that it’s easy to spot Canadians these days–they’re the ones topping off their almost full tanks before going home!

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Inspection Results

First off, let me say that the RV is just as beautiful and spacious as I remembered it. I’m surprised!

So, the inspection.

The RV is in perfect condition. It’s not just in good condition for its age. It’s in perfect condition. Other than a really nitpicky item, I need to do absolutely nothing. The tires are just about new, I don’t need to even think about the brakes for another 50K km, the fridge runs perfectly, the engine’s good, the suspension is outstanding and doesn’t even present a hint of a noted flaw in some of these types of chassis, there has been no water infiltration whatsoever (not even the kind that was fixed) and so on and so on and so on. All I can expect to need to do in the next two years at least are routine things like oil changes. The inspector says that he has never, in the dozens if not hundreds, of RVs he’s seen, inspected one that was in that good of a condition. That it’s a 1997 is further astounding.

The nitpicky item is that the automatic starter for the stove doesn’t work. He can fix that for me if I want, but it’s a couple hundred bucks, so I’ll just stick to lighting the burners myself for now since an automatic starter is solidly in my list of luxury items.

So, well, wow. This was obviously the RV I was meant to find.

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Inspection Tonight!

Yesterday, I got a call from the mechanic who will be inspecting the RV. He’s the step-father of one of my best friends and I’ve known him a long time, so he has a bit of a fatherly interest in my endeavour. He wanted to confirm that the coach was delivered on schedule and that the owner will be away till the rest of the week. He then suggested that we try to coordinate our schedules so I can be present for the inspection. 4:30 TONIGHT worked for both of us, yay!!! I cannot wait to be able to go through the rig again on my own. He’s pretty much an RV expert (with RV inspection experience and certifications up the yazoo), so I know I’m in good hands.