Drip, Drip, Drip - A Sound I Hate
An erratic metronome of water droplets assaults my ears as soon as I move back into the RV. The flush button on the toilet is leaking again. This has got to STOP! Storm has repaired this delicate electronic part before and I remember the “cuss”tom fit he employed working upside down and backward in this confined plumbing space.
Since Storm had made this repair before, I know who to call to assist me. The folks at Headhunter have a tech department to help troubleshoot problems and order parts. I even call them back after I receive the part to ask for detailed installation instructions. For some bizarre reason they don’t ship directions with the parts. Even though the tech forgets to tell me how to get the old valve out, he does help me understand how to hook up the new quick connect lines.
Using fingers, toes, mouth, forehead and elbows I tackle the weeping flush button. Storm made holding a mirror, a flashlight, tools and parts simultaneously look tricky. It is – no wonder he fussed so much about it!!!
Every time I place the mirror so I can see what I am working on, my hands get in the way and I cannot see what I am doing. I finally learn to look with the mirror, then memorize the layout. Once I have a pretty good idea where everything is, I use both hands to try the braille method of repair.
A Family Affair
As a precaution before I begin this repair/potential disaster, I ask my sister Valerie to please come watch me at least until I get the old part out. As usual, her calm evaluation of the situation saves me when after 30 minutes I exhaust any ideas for removing the old valve. She serenely assumes the position over the commode and quickly decides to just unscrew the old trim. Eureka! That was the answer! Also thanks to my brother-in-law, Weldon for siliconing the pushbutton back on the toilet for me. After re-connecting and leak-testing my repair, that last detail is more than I can handle.
A Preview of My Future Plans
It may seem as though I plan to remain parked at my sister’s working on the RV for the rest of my life. With luck, I truly hope to get this rolling catastrophe competition on the road soon. Below I have listed my proposed travel plans. I hope that my RV friends will reach out to me if they may be near my proposed travel routes. Traveling together or just meeting along the way to share a Jeep adventure (on road or off road – you chose), a meal, or a toast to Storm will be so appreciated by me!
- Mid-October – I head to Florida to start a volunteer job at a National Wildlife Refuge. I will be there until the end of January. My sister plans to ride down with me, but I am open to joining a caravan of friends if anyone else is going that way.
- February 1 – I need to work my way to Benson, AZ. I would love to find others headed this way so we can travel together. I plan to stay in Benson until the first week in April.
- Mid-April thru Mid-May – I will be in Moab, Utah. Hoping to find someone to join me on the ride up from Arizona. I am also open to guests while in Moab. Come help me test the jeep on the trails here!
- Summer 2020 – I hope to find a scenic and cool (but NOT cold) volunteer opportunity. I have been given some great suggestions from my volunteer friends and would love to find a place where I can join some of those friends for the summer.
Storm would be so proud of you, we sure are. Hang in there, you have the ability to fix anything you have put your mind to. Might take you longer than most the first time, but amazing how that experience will branch into other things that constantly need fixing on an RV. Keep up the good work, and remember if it ain’t working now, HOW CAN YOU HURT IT. ;>)))) If you break it even more that it is, the repair man will have an easy time figuring it out and take care of it. :>))) But you might find that you don’t really need a repair man at all. :>)))))) Loves ya kid. GOD BLESS
JD/.SD
Jim & Sandy
I would like to think that I can’t make things any worse, but I know that I have special skills in the “making it worse” area. I think Storm is probably getting a good laugh about now 🙂
Love you too!
Good job! Looking forward to seeing you in FL!
I can hardly wait to see you and Matt!
If the retirement gig does not work out, it appears you have RV repair to fall back on!
It would be nice to think that, but I am afraid my own rig is a full-time job for me!
Happy to see Benson is still on your itinerary. We look forward to seeing you. You might be interested to attend FMCA spring rally that will be in Tucson. They usually have good seminars and technical folks around.
Sounds like you are handling repairs even if it’s adirty job. We don’t have these high tech gadgets so we wouldn’t be much help.
In response to earlier conversation, we have a Roadmaster Falcon towbar that we purchased 15 years ago.
Thanks for the info, Jane. The rally sounds good. Maybe I can meet some of the folks who help me on the phone! Look forward to seeing you guys too.