Bill and I will be using the truck camper at his son’s house near Salt Lake City over the holiday and we’re almost ready to go camping for Christmas.
I’ve had a water leak on the 5th-wheel since setting up in Kanab a month ago. First it was a cracked valve right by the water heater which I paid to have fixed. But a week later I had icicles. I suspected the hot water tank itself might be leaking but there are other hoses and junctions I couldn’t really see. So I spent a week experimenting.
First I turned off valves to bypass the tank. The dripping slowed down but was still there. Could be residual. Then drained the tank and after two days barely a drip. Damn, I didn’t want to spend $400 on a new tank. But what else could I do and have hot water. It does look a little cruddy and you don’t even want to know what came out with the water so I’ve learned a lesson about replacing the anode tube—slows down corrosion inside the tank—annually. The new tank is scheduled to be here Tuesday. So hopefully will be put back in Wednesday and I’ll be back to having hot water.
Also been waiting for a window of relatively warm temperatures to put the slide-in camper back on the truck. Sunday was the chance with a high of 48F. Had to rearrange the bed of the truck to make it flat and even with the 5th-wheel hitch out there is a 1 1/4 inch high bracket. Originally there were 2x4s and 4x4s arranged in the bed but it wasn’t completely flat and I noticed a buckle on an inside wall. Looked into removing the bracket but the bolts under the truck are very difficult to get to. So I bought two pieces of 3/4 inch plywood and had them cut into three pieces to fit around the brackets. Then screwed them together.
Well it took almost 4 hours to crank up the four corner jacks high enough to get the truck under—that’s slow with 5-10 cranks on each corner at a time round and round—line things up and get the camper back on.
There is little margin for error when sliding the camper in between the wheel wells. Two metal tie downs were removed from the truck bedrail. Finally the tie downs which caused me confusion until I remembered the camper now sits at least 2 inches closer to the truck. I can’t thank Bill enough for helping me with this chore and his patience at my frustrations.
Just in time, as this is what I woke up to this morning and more predicted throughout the day. Partly sunny tomorrow with a high of 34F, nighttime temps are approaching single digits when 3 electric heaters only keep the living room at about 60F, that really at the desk where I spend the most time indoors with 2 heaters pointed right at me dressed in layers, wrapped in a blanket, wearing a hat and finger-less gloves. For typing you know. And making photos through my Imax windows. What a view!
We’ll be taking off early next week towards Provo, Utah to spend Christmas with Bill’s son and DIL plus other family members to the count of 20+ so it will be really nice to have the camper in their drive for our own room to sleep and run away to if needed. Be able to plug in to 110 power so can warm the bed with electric blanket and hopefully keep warm with one electric heater. Or propane if we’re feeling desperate. Not easy to keep us desert rats warm. Note to self: remember to winterize the 5th-wheel before leaving to go camping for Christmas.
Although I don’t like to be cold I can appreciate the look of this red rock Utah winter wonderland.
Have a great trip and Christmas in Provo.
I am sure you will be heading South soon.
Working on a southern, kind of, plan for January.
The snow looks beautiful but glad we aren’t in it!
Hope you have a great Christmas with Bill and family. I would be a little nervous at the thought of meeting all those relatives! Looks like you’ll have to be on your best behavior 😉
I am nervous! Bonus to have my own space to hide in. Sure you don’t want any of this snow? 😉
Sounds like an ordeal getting the 5th wheel in order.
Hope you have a safe trip and a wonderful Christmas.
A home always seems to need maintenance and repairs.
Merry Christmas to you!
Unseasonably warm at 66 degrees today in northern Maryland! Stay warm and enjoy those gorgeous – if not frozen – views!
I’m jealous.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful view:) Nothing prettier than snow covered trees and mountains and a blanket of white! I’m glad I can enjoy it through your window and not be there:) Stay warm! Safe travels as you travel.
I’d rather enjoy the snow in photos also.
Literally I can fix almost anything but it takes about the same amount of time, all day. I spent all day Saturday replacing a water inlet valve on the dishwasher. Taking everything apart to find the problem. Researching the internet to find the part. Finding a place to go get it, and then taking the washer out and getting the old part out and the new part in. This all reminds me of your water tank.
I used to be a corrosion engineer in another life. I installed passive and active anodes on everything from offshore production platforms to pipelines, oil and salt water tanks, and pipelines. They work.
Sorry you are so cold.
Does seem the way repairs go. This one dragging on a bit more than a day. I get it with the anode, I didn’t know.
Bummer about the water heater. Hope things go smoothly for the install and winterizing and that it is warm in Provo. Thanks so much for your beautiful snow pictures. I always love snow for Winter Solstice but not in an RV.
Only the second water heater replaced in 20+ years of RVing. Guess that’s not too bad but never comes at a good time. Not keen on snow anytime anywhere.
Sitting here in the deep South with temps in the 70’s today, I find your snow pictures to be beautiful. Can’t imagine sitting in a trailer with three heaters going. Replaced our water heater a few years ago. Like you, quickly learned about those anodes. Great that you will have a “getaway” in the driveway. We love our large family gatherings, but are always glad to get home to some peace and quiet.
Oh stop! I want the 70s. Good lesson learned on the anode. Oh so glad to have our own ‘space’ for this large to me family gathering.
I’m like you & do not like being cold. Not even a little bit. I think this spate of cold weather is contributing to our lack of interest for heading out somewhere with the rig. Yarnell sure looked mighty pretty this morning as Pheebs & I did a drive through looking for a few snow photos. Turned around in your old driveway & took a photo.
Next year South Africa for sure. I’m ready to head somewhere warm with the rig, like Mexico. So they got snow in Yarnell. Berta is now living in the little house on that property.
Those winter wonderland photos are beautiful – but that’s easy to say sitting here on the hot, drought-stricken, South African high-veld 🙂
Have a great Christmas trip and I really hope we can meet up next time you visit SA.
Sue
Glad you like the snowy pics. I’d rather be where you are and also hope we meet there in the future. Thinking next year.
I know you don’t like the cold, but that sure sounds like fun. I also enjoy seeing your crystal hanging with a ‘different’ view.
I’m sure to have every piece of warm clothes I own with me. 😉
Several attempts on the same repair is so frustrating (still no steps here), hope that new water heater is the final one! Didn’t think of an electric blanket – that’s a great idea when it’s so cold inside. It would be a good addition to our winter “arsenal” 🙂 Watching the frost melting off the truck in the next site this morning, looking forward to getting further south in a few hours!
Hope so too as I’m tired of being without hot water. I love my electric blanket! Good luck staying warm.
What a beautiful winter wonderland though we don’t “do” cold very well either. Very impressed with your fix it skills, and Bill’s patience and help. We’ll soon be out boondocking in Anza Borrego. Hope we meet up. Happy holidays!
I often know how to fix something but lack of physical strength frequently stops me. Thank goodness Bill is so patient. Hope to see you at AB sometime this winter.
We are getting tired of the constant repair required for the Roadtrek so I sympathize.
2016 will be the end of our camping days. Age (ours not the Roadtrek) is a factor as well. We’ll miss camping and having that traveling guest room was convenient as well.
Repairs come with owning a home, rolling or not.
Your description of that job stymies me. I think my Bob could help with it though – he’s pretty good at fixing things. (Luckily, because I’m not, though I do have patience, just not skill.) I had to smile thinking that your “neighbors” are colder than you are… I know you don’t like cold, so I hope it’s warmer in Provo. It’s very cold here – minus 15 windchill which only warmed to minus 1 when we finally went out on the cross country skis. However, the sun was out, so I didn’t mind it as much as yesterday. Safe travels to you.
I expect and will be prepared for the cold in Provo unless it’s minus anything.
I have always wondered what Kanab looked like in winter. It is gorgeous. Although, I am glad I am not there. We are still planning on a trip to Vegas before the North Rim opens in 2016. Can’t wait to see you there.
Also, it’s not just RV’s that have leaky hot water tanks. Last year, we hired a HVAC guy to install a whole house humidifier on our heat pump. When he went under the house, he found a leak that had been going on for some time. Turned out to be our water heater, so we had to replace it. At least now we have a new water heater. The only thing we need to replace now is the roof, but that won’t happen until a storm comes through here. It’s not leaking so no hurry.
Have a joyous holiday, and don’t be askeered of Bill’s family. I don’t think you have ever met a stranger, you’ll do fine. And before I forget, PM me your address. I have something for you.
The contrast of the red rock and snow is beautiful but it’s bloody COLD! Every home requires maintenance and repairs. I’ve been pretty lucky with this unit. If the family Christmas gets to be too much I can go hide in the camper, or drive away probably with Bill along.