In yesterday's Blog, we listed the pros and cons of keeping The Scampy Team. At first, we included several pro items incorrectly in the con list. Then Reader Tom Pawka commented about that error.
We then edited the con list and moved the incorrectly placed con items to the to the pro list. Wow! Our Scampy decision was now sooooo clear!
Scampy and Tránsito stay!
The Scampy Team enjoying life!
8:20 am:
Tránsito's Front Axle
Before we head out from the Ponderay/Sandpoint Idaho area, it might be best to have Tránsito's leaking front axle boot repaired.
We are going to Six Star Automotive tomorrow morning to have them take a look. I've been told that Six Star is able to do the work this week.
Tránsito's leaking front axle boot
10:46 am:
Scampy's Water Heater
The igniter for Scampy's Atwood water heater stopped working! We went to Lake RV in the City of Ponderay Idaho for service.
The technician tried replacing the unit's circuit board and the heater
fired right up!
One thing that is a necessity for an RVer is lubrication. An RVer must be lubricated with $money$.
In the water heater's case, $251 worth of lubrication.
2:30 pm:
Lake Pend Oreille
We have gone exploring! Following the east shore of Lake Pend Oreille for a few miles, we have made an Afternoon Camp in a pull-out next to the water.
This is a beautiful viewpoint!
Our Afternoon Camp at Lake Pend Oreille
Our plan is to spend a little time washing road crud from Scampy and Transito. It's amazing how fast that crud reappears!
2:45 pm:
Chinese Food
I just heated up a little of the lunch that I brought back from the Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant in Ponderay Idaho a couple of hours ago.
The sweet and sour pork got even crunchier after a warm-up!
5:04 pm:
Leaving The Lake
There are a zillion No Camping signs posted on the lakeside road. We are leaving the lake now. We don't wish to offend the neighbors around here with our presence!
There is no T-Mobile service out here and we are no longer able to latch on to the AT&T service that has a strong signal near the lake. We used to be able to use Data Roaming to latch on to AT&T. But T-Mobile sent a message today that we had used up all of our Data Roaming allotment!!
Rant Note:
I wonder if our Data Roaming allotment even costs T-Mobile 1-cent? Do you remember back in the old Ma Bell days when AT&T charged a fortune to subscribers for long distance! What happened to long distance?
Wow! Little iPhone captured this pic of
Lake Pend Oreille on the road leaving the lake.
7:21 pm:
Using Notes
There is no T-Mobile signal out at the lake. So, we prepared our 2:30 pm,
2:45 pm and 5:04 pm Blog posts using Apple Notes. We even loaded our edited pics into Notes!
When we came to where we are right now, and a good T-Mobile signal popped up on Little iPhone, we made an Evening Camp. Then copied/pasted from Notes into Blogger.
Montana
Later this week when we travel into Montana, we expect it may be spotty at best to get on the Net! We will continue to use Apple Notes in order to prepare our Blog posts. Then when we get a net connection again, we will publish those Notes created Blog posts using Blogger!
.
I wonder if it would help Tránsito's traction if you put more of the cargo weight in the front. You could adjust the cargo ahead of the rear axle to accomplish this. Remeber that it is not only the tongue weight to think about...need to also consider the cargo weight. With a low tongue weight, the cargo weight and placement is a factor. Maybe a huge factor.
ReplyDeleteAlso a factor is the kind of tires you have...pure summer tires may not have as much grip as good all-season tires would have.
Good luck, my friend!
Hi Kent,
DeleteMister Ed advised to weigh Tránsito's front and back axles separately. Then we may get a grasp of the challenge facing us.
I'll publish those weights on my Blog for you to read.
George
PS: The best thing for The Scampy Team to do is stay off unpaved roads!
George
.
As RV owners we understand that statement! But what fun times over the years.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandy,
DeleteYou mean lubricating our RV journey with $money$ ? 😎
George
.
Some say you live on less RVing but when they tally up their monthly expenses it's about the same as my monthly expenses. I don't RV. I have a home. I like to travel but not everyday for months on end.
ReplyDeleteHi Rita,
DeleteYes! I have experienced RV expenses as you describe!
George
.
"One thing that is a necessity for an RVer is lubrication. An RVer must be lubricated with $money$.
ReplyDeleteIn the water heater's case, $251 worth of lubrication."
Vagabond Supreme and funny too. I thought only Mr. Ed made me smile on this blog.
Hi Bob,
DeleteThank you! Sometimes I have my moments!
George
.
With enough lube, you can accomplish anything.
ReplyDeleteHi Anon!
DeleteIt would be polite for you to get yourself a Google name.
Whatta yah think, fella?
George
.
Another $100 you could replace the whole thing,, new
ReplyDeleteLooks like you'll have to lubricate ($boondock$ ) more to save up...and stop paying the high $$$ price RV parks are staying in
Did you ever think of swapping the truck the RV for a Houseboat
Yeah we could call you skiper George. 😎🛶
Hi Ed,
DeleteI believe that it will be required to replace the front axle.
$$$ ?? I just ask Vanguard to send me some!
George
.
The photo that you have of the cut CV boot when they put the boot together at the factory they put about a half a cup the grease in there that's the grease that you see as it slung out around the underbody
ReplyDeleteHi Ed,
DeleteYes! What a greasy mess! But, could be worse.
George
.
Hi George... yes, an RV costs money to maintain. Although I am generally against govt interference, it would be nice to have manufacturers be required to place a maintenance estimated cost for various potential repairs. Fortunately we had the resources to cover about $40k of both ordinary items like tires, oil changes etc and more unusual expenses as having to have a slideout gear machined for our 2001 Monaco Class A with about 120,000 miles on it. I realize this is likely impossible. Maybe the publications in the industry could bring this to readers' attention. We would buy again anyway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing your blog all these years. It is truly a great resource.
Hi Ernie,
DeleteThank you sooooo much for your:
"Thanks for writing your blog all these years. It is truly a great resource."
Very good compliment!
George
.
I've had two thoughts as I've read you pondering your desires over the last few days George. One is that when looking at YouTube there are a few videos of front wheel drive Ford Transit Connect vehicles going into some pretty interesting places. Second there are a ton of videos of people turning them into full blown camping vehicles in their own right.
ReplyDeleteSo perhaps there is some way to enhance the ability of the Ford Transit Connect to go off road a bit. (For example VW Bugs were only driven by one axle) or maybe for those scant few nights a year, the Transit without Scampy could be set up in a car camping scenario perhaps with an easy up tent and air mattress.
Hi Gallo,
DeleteMaybe? But a Ford Transit like mine pulling a trailer in the forest on an unpaved roads?
When driving on a slight incline on such a road and It might be only minutes before calling for a tow truck.
George
.
"One thing that is a necessity for an RVer is lubrication. An RVer must be lubricated with $money$.
ReplyDeleteIn the water heater's case, $251 worth of lubrication." You are not kidding here, George...I've "lubricated" both my RV, AND my car (which I occasionally tow behind my MoHo) soooo much this year, it's not even funny! And it's only June!
Hi Cindy,
DeleteAll Rvers experience the same thing.
If you don't have the $dough$, you really shouldn't go.
George
.
Agreed. I see so many broken down RVs around here (AZ)....knowing the people inside are living in them. It's sad... living that hand-to-mouth existence.
ReplyDelete