Things break. A lot. Even if they are brand new.
It was understood on my part that there would be such trials and tribulations, but my lack of ingenuity regarding electrical wiring and a less than 0 tolerance for electrocution have not helped my scenario.
Steve had a short run with mild success.
He tempted me with his plug & play demeanor. He teased me with functioning electrical applications. Only to wait until the perfect moment just far enough away from free assistance, pretty much at exactly 2,000 miles away, he decided to stop working.
I can only fathom that Steve has some wires crossed.
You see, shortly after departing from Florida, Steve has been slowly taking away all of the fancy amenities one by one.
It all started with the refrigerator. A fuse blew, and then subsequently blew three more. Sparks abounded. Fine, I surmised to myself, I don’t need a fridge anyways.
Next, an outlet wasn’t working, the microwave, then some overheating issues and lastly, you got shocked anytime you touched the outside of the camper.
That was enough for me to press into the manufacturer to help me figure this thing out.
After many phone calls to anyone and everyone that had a hand in Steve’s creation, I landed a shop that could fit me in that week.
Lee’s Family RV laid behind a tall barbed-wire fence with a tiny gate. I was imperceptibly impressed with the way they were able to cram so many campers into a seemingly small lot.
Steve was now in good hands, or so I thought.
“Pinched wire and replaced the converter,” Randy the toothless Forman informed me 3 hours later. “So everything works?!”, I couldn’t believe my fortune. “Yup, everything works.”, Randy looked me square in the eye, “you are all good to go.”
Randy lied. I had trusted Randy, and that’s my bad, but jeez Randy, why bold face lie to sweet old me?
After the 2-hour drive back, it occurred to me I should have made Randy prove his allegations to me, that the camper indeed was functioning correctly, but I was still hopeful that amiss the lack of incisors, he was being honest.
After the long drive back, and the fun process of fitting Steve back into his rocky, wooded parking spot, it didn’t take long to find out that indeed nothing was fixed. It was Friday night, so I would have to save my upset, yet affirmative voice for Monday.
Monday came, I called them back, used my angry voice, (which was easy to do when they implied that they did fix it so I must have done something) and got Steve another visit to the hospital scheduled for Thursday. “What’s another 2-hour drive, I’ll take some time to myself in Portland.”, I surmised to myself. Always best to attempt the glass half full thing if you know what I mean.
Thursday came, so off Steve and I and traveled back to Windham, ME (wherever that is).
I got there early and knew right where to go this time. Right back to the service front desk with my ‘take no prisoners’ RBF in full swing. Apologies and promises of restitution greeted me. “You better get your shit together and make this right!” I screamed at the grey haired pudge who trembled in his grease-stained shirt. Just kidding, that didn’t happen, only in my mind, for now…
I smiled and asked for them to let me know as soon as anything came to light on Steve’s issues, that I was off to Portland to enjoy some city life for the afternoon.
Three hours, two tree climbers, one compliment from a park bum (I’ve got the body of a Venus, an no way he’s never used that line before) and 1 Baxter beer later, Steve was reported to be in good health.
The camper had been fixed 10 minutes after I had driven away…why they chose not to call me, who knows.
I got Steve back to his little wooded home in Roxbury, Maine. Plugged in, and have power without consequences (insert massive knocking on wood here). All covered under warranty, and only cost me $80 in gas, and copious amounts of my pride (don’t worry, it grows back).
For anyone with camper issues, here is the breakdown of my problem & solution:
No power to fridge, blade fuse blown, arced when attempted to replace. Outlet near front door stopped working, then microwave was not getting constant power. Touching the outside of camper metal areas resulted in small shock. First attempt, replace converter and internal wire (see work order #1), still same issue minus grounding out outside of the camper. Second visit, found chaffed wire on furnace wiring (furnace and fridge are on same circuit). Wiring replaced, all seems well!
Long story short, it’s OK not knowing what the hell is wrong with the camper, it might even lead to a lovely day in a park with some bums. Trial by fire is undoubtedly the quickest way to obtain knowledge, as frustrating as it may be. ‘It’s all about attitude’, just like the poster featuring a terrified cat in a tree stated in fifth grade. I am just grateful to have power in this box once again, even if it reminds me how much easier it is to live in a truck. Being out here in less-than-comfortable situations is what makes this journey one of lessons, not just of experiences. If it were easy, everyone would do it… right?
Cheers! xx Katie
