I finished getting moved into the Fleetwood Fiesta 26Q! Did a few little modifications, such as getting rid of the TV, to set up a computer work space in the passenger seat. Organizing! Color coordinating! OMG! A few trips to Target, Ross and Marshall's! (On the comments on the grand tour video for my Springdale trailer, one guy said, "It's really girly and I'm a guy". Who says you can't be practical and mobile, ready to "bug out", and not have style? )
This RV is a Fleetwood Fiesta 26Q, 26 ft, no slide, gas. Next week, I need to get my solar transferred, and set up my wind generator. Also, a new radio/back up camera/OnStar set up. (The radio sounds great, but only works when the engine is running? Gotta get it wired into the house, too!)
Very nice, Hina! I'm jealous of your organizational skills!!! Hubby is asleep beside me, so I didn't turn on the audio. It looks like you have a lovely little traveling companion Happy trails. Pat K
SnowGypsy said
01:21 PM May 20, 2013
Very nice! You are certainly resilient! That unit appears to have really been taken care so it is real find. We had a Class C motorhome that we really enjoyed and although we are thinking along the lines of a travel trailer, boy, you got me wanting another motorhome. Everything looks good!
Lucky Mike said
01:37 PM May 20, 2013
I'm so Happy you are almost ready to go again!!!!.......now we just need to get you over that mountain and east bound towards the Atlantic !!!
Everything happens for a reason....every breathe has a purpose!! Life is good!!
Hina said
04:05 PM May 20, 2013
Yes, this unit was taken well care of.... to the extreme! The stickers were still in the sinks and shower, not a nail or screw hole in the wood, not even a paper towel holder, after 9 years! Oh well, I took care of that!
Next, the iPod radio/back up camera/OnStar system, and getting my solar/wind back online!
Getting "over the mountain" and out of this area seems like crawling out of quick sand... I swear, "forces beyond my control" seem to be trying to keep me here. But I'm working on it!
NWescapee said
05:51 PM May 20, 2013
Glad to hear things are progressing, totally understand the quicksand comment.
Penny and Paul said
07:40 PM May 20, 2013
Hina - your 'new' rig is beautiful. I love the way you're using every bit of your space - so creative! And it looks so homey and comfy! We'll be moving into our rig (1999 Fleetwood) in less than a month, and seeing how you organized yours has given me lots of ideas. Thank you so much for sharing!
-- Edited by Penny and Paul on Monday 20th of May 2013 07:42:55 PM
SnowGypsy said
12:23 AM May 21, 2013
Hina: I had my husband watch your little video and he is wondering if that cubby where you have put the printer might get awfully hot if you travel with it like that. I can't remember if you were leaving it in place or putting it somewhere else. If you're leaving it in place, you might be able to add some insulating material to protect it. Also, I'm curious as to what "museum" was it putty is since I haven't heard of that before? Now, we did have an overhead cupboard open in an old Winnebago on a long trip and we had stored the Corelle there which fell and broke or should I say splintered in a zillion pieces or, at least that is how many I counted that I actually got picked out of the carpet. I did see that they sell what looks like spring rods you normally use for curtains to hold items back. Like you, we always rigged up most of our own "additions". Definitely looks like you are using the storage to the max.
Jo And Craig said
01:08 AM May 21, 2013
Hina, YOU GO GIRL!!! I just watched your video and, I tell ya... I've just got to hand it to you. You don't give up! Good for you! I loved taking the tour of your new home and it is so very nice! I am certainly impressed. Safe travels and happy, healthy days ahead.
Hina said
03:07 AM May 21, 2013
Snow Gypsy, good thought about some insulation. The basket and printer can come right out, and I do have some scraps of foam from the bed I could put behind. Museum Putty is something they use in museums to stick down breakables, and it is common here in California in the earth quake supply section of a hardware store. Keeps things in place, but you can still pull them up, and it peels right off, no residue. It's white, plasticky, and is like $5 a pack, which can probably do the whole rig. I wouldn't use it on dinner dishes, though, since you use them all the time. I slip scraps of rubber shelf liner and dish towels between mine.
Thanks everyone for the compliments! All I have to say is, color coordination, and measurements! Go to Ross, Marshall's, Pier 1, and World Market with your tape measure, and take a little time getting some pretty, practical stuff!
I took the Fiesta into the shop for an oil change and safety check today, and the steering seemed loose, and sure enough, there is a worn out part. But the mechanic said it would only be a few hundred, not thousands. So, overall, it's A-OK. Psyching up to get going, and overcome the "powers that be" that seem to want to keep me here!
Lucky Mike said
04:07 PM May 21, 2013
they make big ones that go up front.......I have 3 that have the spring coil in them that you twist to make them fold up one large for the windshield and 2 for the sides...they are silver on one side to cool and black on the other to heat.....I like them there quick to install and fast to put away also work good so far!!
-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Tuesday 21st of May 2013 04:08:32 PM
SnowGypsy said
06:04 PM May 21, 2013
Hina: A better choice for insulation from the heat might be styrofoam, like from a box. I always save the stryofoam because it makes great inserts in cupboards to with the cutouts it generally has from whatever it packaged in its former life. I have a glass bowl that I like to use for everything and I found the perfect piece that fit in the cabinet with a circle cut out for the bowl. Glass isn't good in an RV but I'm not a fan of plastic.
Lucky Mike said
07:05 PM May 21, 2013
Cheap manageable insulation would be the silver blister type sold at most hardware stores and walmart.....very thin and has a decent R-factor ..........if you have a fixation of popping bubble wrap this might not be for you!!!.....LOL
SnowGypsy said
08:13 PM May 21, 2013
We have used the Reflectix and the other brand which is better but I don't remember the name to line the windows in our pop-up and in our TT we had used it in cupboards, etc. because we always encounter "unseasonably" cold, hot, wet, icy for some reason. We have a hard time finding it locally since we live in the sticks! Thank goodness for the internet! If anyone isn't familiar with this, it is like those silver window sunshields they have for auto windows but comes in rolls and is very pliable, silver aluminum sandwich with bubble wrap in the center.
Hina said
10:50 PM May 21, 2013
That's giving me ideas... the big, bright, front driver windows are lovely, but in the afternoon, it's been getting hot, making the whole rig hot. If I move to the deserts, it will be worse. Maybe I should get some of that stuff, and make a window shield. Or do they make big, RV sized metallic window shields?
Hina said
03:13 AM May 23, 2013
Well, a little bad news... I took the Fiesta to get the oil changed, and a general check up, and the steering seemed kinda loose. They checked it, and the "ball arms" (??) are worn out. They called with an estimate, $2,600.
I did get the owner's manual, and it specifically says, no jack included, don't try changing the tire yourself. So the OnStar idea is still a go, along with the radio upgrade and back up camera, rough estimate of that, $2,000.
Good thing State Farm was generous, and I still have that much left over to work with!
Lonney Wade said
08:21 AM May 23, 2013
Boy oh boy, before I would pay out all that money, I would get another estimate, when they see a single girl like you, they like to stick it to you, ball joints or ball arms should not cost that much, you should have another shop look at it, all I can say is be very careful. Oh by the way very nice Fleetwood Fiesta class A, you did good.
God Bless
Lonney
Lonney Wade said
11:57 AM May 23, 2013
Hina, just thought of something, the Power Steering Gear box could be a little lose needs adjusting, that will give you play in the steering, you said it only 14,000 miles on it, the steering would not wear out at 14,000 miles maybe at 140,000 some steering gear boxes can be adjusted, to hear that from a shop just makes me mad, I can't help it, I have worked on cars, trucks and race cars for a long time, let me know if you need more help.
Lonney
WestWardHo said
03:33 PM May 23, 2013
Jane, you continue to impress me with your resourcefulness! You go Girl.
Sherry
PIEERE said
03:57 PM May 23, 2013
Jane: Lonney is correct; with 14,000 miles; unless they drove through potholed streets or went 4-wheeling there is no way the ball joints would wear out; or an idler arm. I have worked on heavy trucks and buses since I was 19 yrs. old. Wish you were close i would check it for you!! Check a few more shops as their estimate is way over the top. Average labor shoulkd be no more then $100.00 per hour. A good shop should be able to do that job in less than 5 hours. Get the gearbox play checked first!!!
Hina said
04:42 PM May 23, 2013
Thanks for the comments. I will look into having it checked elsewhere. I took it to the shop the previous owners used, they do the Workhorse chassis stuff, but I'll see if there is another shop that can do these. The guys did seem surprised the ball arms were that worn, and at first, they thought I was just an inexperienced RV driver. They said they came with sub par parts to begins with. I'll get onto researching other shops.
Pieere, "average labor" here in Northern California is "no less" than $100 per hour, more like $125-$135. They are charging $130, so that is within the local average. BTW, just to get by here with renting a simple apartment, and driving a used car, you need to bring in at least $25 an hour. Studio apartments go for $750-1,000+ a month.
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
01:16 AM May 24, 2013
Jane, to give you an idea, most ball joints for a truck style chassis, Class A, C and every delivery truck you see, are in the $200 range each. They can be replaced in 3-4 hours per side including breaks for lunch, etc. The "Book" will allow them to bill 12 hours when it actually took 8.
Hina said
03:43 AM May 24, 2013
I spoke with another RV mechanic, and he said that is totally possible, because the ball arm joints (?) are lubricated with a Teflon based stuff, and with only 14,000 miles in 9 years, it has probably been sitting for years, and that Teflon stuff tends to get gritty when it sits, soooo, when I started driving it around, it acted like sand paper. Thus, the unusual failure.
Some good news, I got my solar panels up!
Hina said
06:44 PM May 24, 2013
OK, I had a mobile mechanic come out and look, and he thought their diagnosis was probably correct. I also called a dealership about parts pricing; the bell cranks would be $370 each X 2 = $740 + the lower ball joints and arms = $1,000+. The guy in the parts department confirmed the stock bell cranks wore out quickly (50,000 not 14,000! But sitting with dried out lubricant added to it) and the better quality ones would never wear out. So, at rates of $130 hour X 8+ hours = $1040, plus more than $1,000 in parts, plus an alignment, the $2,600 estimate seems accurate. I don't think I want to have a back yard mechanic do this, so, I'm glad State Farm was generous!
SnowGypsy said
12:32 AM May 25, 2013
You remind me of those little cars my brother used to have where I think you either wound them up or got the wheels reved up and it took off high speed, ran into an obstacle, turned itself around and went again and this continued until he ran out of juice and took a rest. It never gave up as long as it had the slightest energy left to go. Well, at least you won't have to worry about this going wrong for a long, long while again.
Hina said
04:36 PM May 25, 2013
I certainly hope nothing else goes wrong for a while, and I hope I don't keep crashing into walls! (Already did that once this month!) Looking for a straight shot outa here!
Ckerr said
04:46 PM May 25, 2013
Even new units have their bumps.. generally covered by warranty, but then that was paid for with a much higher purchase price!
I'm thinking more of the energizer bunny than the little crash cars... Just keep going!
Hina said
11:36 PM May 25, 2013
Keep moving, or stagnate, the only way to go is up!
I finished getting moved into the Fleetwood Fiesta 26Q! Did a few little modifications, such as getting rid of the TV, to set up a computer work space in the passenger seat. Organizing! Color coordinating! OMG! A few trips to Target, Ross and Marshall's! (On the comments on the grand tour video for my Springdale trailer, one guy said, "It's really girly and I'm a guy". Who says you can't be practical and mobile, ready to "bug out", and not have style? )
This RV is a Fleetwood Fiesta 26Q, 26 ft, no slide, gas. Next week, I need to get my solar transferred, and set up my wind generator. Also, a new radio/back up camera/OnStar set up. (The radio sounds great, but only works when the engine is running? Gotta get it wired into the house, too!)
This video runs about 14 minutes.
http://youtu.be/Gqdm06ps-3k
Everything happens for a reason....every breathe has a purpose!!
Life is good!!
Yes, this unit was taken well care of.... to the extreme! The stickers were still in the sinks and shower, not a nail or screw hole in the wood, not even a paper towel holder, after 9 years!
Oh well, I took care of that! 
Next, the iPod radio/back up camera/OnStar system, and getting my solar/wind back online!
Getting "over the mountain" and out of this area seems like crawling out of quick sand... I swear, "forces beyond my control" seem to be trying to keep me here.
But I'm working on it!
Hina - your 'new' rig is beautiful. I love the way you're using every bit of your space - so creative! And it looks so homey and comfy! We'll be moving into our rig (1999 Fleetwood) in less than a month, and seeing how you organized yours has given me lots of ideas. Thank you so much for sharing!
-- Edited by Penny and Paul on Monday 20th of May 2013 07:42:55 PM
Hina, YOU GO GIRL!!! I just watched your video and, I tell ya... I've just got to hand it to you. You don't give up! Good for you! I loved taking the tour of your new home and it is so very nice! I am certainly impressed. Safe travels and happy, healthy days ahead.
Snow Gypsy, good thought about some insulation. The basket and printer can come right out, and I do have some scraps of foam from the bed I could put behind. Museum Putty is something they use in museums to stick down breakables, and it is common here in California in the earth quake supply section of a hardware store. Keeps things in place, but you can still pull them up, and it peels right off, no residue. It's white, plasticky, and is like $5 a pack, which can probably do the whole rig. I wouldn't use it on dinner dishes, though, since you use them all the time. I slip scraps of rubber shelf liner and dish towels between mine.
Thanks everyone for the compliments! All I have to say is, color coordination, and measurements! Go to Ross, Marshall's, Pier 1, and World Market with your tape measure, and take a little time getting some pretty, practical stuff!
I took the Fiesta into the shop for an oil change and safety check today, and the steering seemed loose, and sure enough, there is a worn out part. But the mechanic said it would only be a few hundred, not thousands. So, overall, it's A-OK. Psyching up to get going, and overcome the "powers that be" that seem to want to keep me here!
they make big ones that go up front.......I have 3 that have the spring coil in them that you twist to make them fold up one large for the windshield and 2 for the sides...they are silver on one side to cool and black on the other to heat.....I like them there quick to install and fast to put away also work good so far!!
-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Tuesday 21st of May 2013 04:08:32 PM
Well, a little bad news... I took the Fiesta to get the oil changed, and a general check up, and the steering seemed kinda loose. They checked it, and the "ball arms" (??) are worn out. They called with an estimate, $2,600.
I did get the owner's manual, and it specifically says, no jack included, don't try changing the tire yourself. So the OnStar idea is still a go, along with the radio upgrade and back up camera, rough estimate of that, $2,000.
Good thing State Farm was generous, and I still have that much left over to work with!
Boy oh boy, before I would pay out all that money, I would get another estimate, when they see a single girl like you, they like to stick it to you, ball joints or ball arms should not cost that much, you should have another shop look at it, all I can say is be very careful. Oh by the way very nice Fleetwood Fiesta class A, you did good.
God Bless
Lonney
Hina, just thought of something, the Power Steering Gear box could be a little lose needs adjusting, that will give you play in the steering, you said it only 14,000 miles on it, the steering would not wear out at 14,000 miles maybe at 140,000 some steering gear boxes can be adjusted, to hear that from a shop just makes me mad, I can't help it, I have worked on cars, trucks and race cars for a long time, let me know if you need more help.
Lonney
Sherry
Pieere, "average labor" here in Northern California is "no less" than $100 per hour, more like $125-$135. They are charging $130, so that is within the local average. BTW, just to get by here with renting a simple apartment, and driving a used car, you need to bring in at least $25 an hour. Studio apartments go for $750-1,000+ a month.
I spoke with another RV mechanic, and he said that is totally possible, because the ball arm joints (?) are lubricated with a Teflon based stuff, and with only 14,000 miles in 9 years, it has probably been sitting for years, and that Teflon stuff tends to get gritty when it sits, soooo, when I started driving it around, it acted like sand paper.
Thus, the unusual failure.
Some good news, I got my solar panels up!
I'm thinking more of the energizer bunny than the little crash cars... Just keep going!