Getting Ready To Roll

Sadly, our time visiting our Missouri granddaughters is at an end, tomorrow we leave to begin our trip to the Winnebago Factory in Forest City, Iowa.  About 450 miles.  And, contrary to our usual way  of driving, we’re going to stretch the trip out into three days. Hopefully, I don’t disappoint my PDD Driving Club fans.  I just want to make sure to arrive at the factory service center on time without any problems, I had to make this appointment a couple of months ago and if I had to reschedule, at this time of year, it would likely be the end of summer before I could get another appointment.

A few items, a new driver’s side windshield, a new inverter, repair of that pesky slide leak, a check of the bedroom slide seal (sometimes we get a damp spot on the carpet in the corner of the slide after a prolonged heavy rain) and a couple of odds and ends.  Much of the work will be covered under our extended warranty and RV insurance policy, so hopefully the left over costs won’t be too bad on our budget. 

Why the factory service center?  I don’t think there is any better place to get the work done than by the very people that built the Journey in the first place.  Plus, they have the parts on hand, so we won’t be waiting for something to be shipped.  Best of all, they have free hookups for us to use after hours.  The preliminary estimate for the repairs is two days.  We’ll take the factory tour, of course and peak at some new models, but we have no intention of buying a new motorhome, we’re very pleased with our Journey after seven years of owning it.

Along with the usual pre-trip checks I do, I checked my tire pressures.  If you remember, I just had four new tires installed on the Journey’s rear axle.  I asked the installers to set the tires to my preferred pressure, 105 psi.  When I checked them this morning, a couple were at 100 psi.  Not a big thing, but I am a bit anal about tires so I dug out my air hose and tire pressure fill attachment.

I don’t have to carry a portable air compressor because the Journey has a fitting that taps into its air pressure system.  It uses the air brake compressor on the engine.  I do have to run the engine, but it only takes a few minutes to complete the job.

It’s a good thing having the installed air compressor fitting, because I don’t know where I’d carry a portable compressor.  When you’re a full timer, everything you have goes with you and you have to tuck everything away when you roll.

Amazing how you can squeeze everything in.  :c)

Tonight, we have one last visit with DIL Amber and the girls. Ryan is already underway on his cutter for a week long or so trip up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers checking, repairing and replacing the navigational buoys.

It’s been a great visit and it was wonderful to welcome little Charlie (Charlotte) to the family.  We hope to get back and see them soon.

Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.