When I got all battened down and ready to leave Plomosa Road camp I had a list of things to getter done in Quartzsite. You can find all things RV in Quartzsite, and many things not. Top of my list and first stop would be Solar Bill to ask questions, get answers, and hopefully get more solar power added, or at least an appointment. As I climbed into the driver’s seat I noticed the camper pulling even more apart at the front corner, the tie-down dangling, and figured it had to do with the whole camper sliding back out of the bed of the truck. Damn it! It’s always something isn’t it. No matter if your house is stationary or on wheels. I fretted the entire 30-minute drive vacillating back and forth, repair or replace. Should I bother adding more solar if the entire camper is going to shit? What to do? Who to talk to?
I’ve never experienced Quartzsite so quiet, but am sure it’s even more so during the high heat of summer. I lucked out being the second customer of the day and spent over an hour sitting outside, masked, talking with Solar Bill himself. He started solar on RVs back in the 1970s wiring a big heavy panel on his father’s RV roof with coat hangers. The rest is history. What a kick of a guy.
Six hours (1.45 hrs labor) and $550 later I had another panel on the roof, 190 watts added to 100 watts already there, that will actually charge the house/camper battery to full over six hours on most sunny winter days. A 12v plug can charge my phone quickly and will see how long the laptop can run/charge through an inverter. I’ll be watching the controller as explained not to run the house/camper battery too low. The selling point if I did have to switch RVs, Solar Bill would remove and reinstall.
While that work was going on they called a local repair man, also Bill, who came to their lot to assess the camper problem. First issue is lift the camper enough to back the truck back under. The camper jacks all work yet concern would be if the front corners (yes both sides) were solid enough to hold weight. Added support would be needed. Then to think about stopping that from happening again.
We had a couple days to research that which I did while plugged in at Shady Lane, with heat for a couple nights below 40°, a long shower, dump and fill tanks. After reading and watching videos about the front breakage I know it’s way more repair rebuilding than is going to happen. Maybe with a combination of liquid nails, expando-foam, and silicone it might look better and not leak because that would make it worse. To stop the camper sliding, a friend suggested bolting it to the truck bed. I’m hoping I already blogged about setting boards between the 5th-wheel hitch brackets in the bed of the truck to make a flat surface for the camper. If I did, I can’t find it.
Another solar employee said he knew someone who might buy it and asked how much. When I said $3000 he laughed. Hey the appliances work and the roof don’t leak. I looked later at the NADA value of this 1996 Weekender with a low retail (that’s a dealer price) $4100. REALLY?? Don’t tell anybody I didn’t pay that much six years ago. But then I would need another RV so I have a place to live. This is a good town for selling and buying RVs, but not until January when the RV businesses roll in. And I’m told they are hurting for merchandise.
While in the RV park I spent much time online fighting with government websites, Federal and State(s). Surfing off into the cyber yonder and processing photos occupied more than a bit of time. Being plugged in meant no chance to test the new solar, but its time would come.
Waking Friday morning to 32°F made me thankful the camper appointment wasn’t until noon. Back to Solar Bill’s with the truck parked on level cement and time to crank down the jacks. Being it was questionable if the two front camper jacks would hold in possibly rotten wood, a backup plan was used taking even longer to jack the entire camper up, moving around and around until finally lifted off the truck bed. The rear slid piece of plywood was moved back in place and super glued to the truck bed with additional dabs between it and the camper bottom. Ever so slowly, backed the truck about 6-8 inches and let the camper back down. Again, round and round cranking the jacks back down. Bill was mostly able to use a drill on the jacks instead of cranking by hand. Took about 3 1/2 hours and doesn’t fix the front corners that are pulling apart. To be done correctly that would require the camper off the truck, peal back the aluminum and basically rebuild by replacing all rotten wood. The previously described fix would be purely cosmetic. Everybody’s recommendation is to stay off rough roads. WHAT? I couldn’t live like I do without some gravel. I don’t take it 4x4ing as the truck isn’t 4×4.
Another little yet important fix on breaking plastic around the refrigerator door hinge. I asked about a method Jim and Diana used and instead this was much simpler. A putty that works soft when warmed with fingers then hardens when cool. It may not be pretty, but, seems a lot of my little home on wheels is rather glued together.
I spent one more night at Shady Lane then time for chores and be done in Quartzsite before testing the solar while boondocking in the desert.
before
after
If you’re looking for solar power for your RV I’d say getter done in Quartzsite if you’re in the area look up Solar Bill, and tell him the Geogypsy sent you.
Hopefully that fridge door holds for you, Gaelyn. Same with the front of the camper! That little post of ours on fixing the hinge has gotten a lot of traffic; a window into how big of a problem those hinges are.
I’ve had those hinges go before, junk plastic. But then if is 24 years old. Still just praying on the camper corners.
The solar power seems a big advantage. well done for getting that sorted out. I remember even when we saw the camper van you had a small problem with it moving so you have done well to last this long without a fix. Hope you have now sorted the problem. Take care and enjoy the week. Diane and Nigel.
Solar is working well. I’ve had the camper moved before. Gotta’ make it four more months.
Wow. Nothing is easy, moving or stationary homes, as you say. All the best!
It’s true, but the rolling homes jiggle and rock and roll down the road, so…
Wow! That was a LOT of Stuff!! Such a bummer about the corners and I do hope that you can manage to sell the camper if that is what you decide for an actually respectable and fair price. And that you can find something else that works well for you. Always something I guess. I think a lot of bloggers have talked about Solar Bill. If we ever went solar we would know where to go. We just aren’t out boondocking long enough to need it. 4 or 5 days is out limit anyway with our tanks so we haven’t bothered. Batteries and generator handle it for now. Who knows. Maybe someday. We will see. Maybe if we had solar we would spend more time in the desert. I can’t wait to see just how many people are in the southland in February. If the pools aren’t open at Catalina we for sure will cancel our reservation. I guess it is all just a crap shoot at the moment and who knows how things will be in February. Take care. We are off to the beach again.
I rather like this big ole camper, not just sure how much she’s worth investing in. Solar is the way to go over the long run, but maybe not worth the investment for your needs. I made it last winter with less but am liking more. I do not want a generator. Looking forward to more beach from you two. Have fun.
Oh my! As you know, I know just exactly how you feel and what you’re going through. Glad you got the extra solar but sure hope you can continue to boondock in your truck camper. You can probably sell yours in the Quartzsite season but can you buy another one if inventory is really low. I am so with you and all the things that go wrong and need to be fixed. Sending you huge wishes for very good luck in all of this and the money to afford whatever you need.
Would help if I knew what I need.
Nice to have more solar for your preferred boondocking! So hard to make that “repair or replace” decision about big things like your RV. No matter what, there’s always a reason why the other choice would have been “better”. Glad they took good care of you in Q.
Solar is working great. Other decisions on hold.
The solar looks great. I hope the fine folks in Quartzite can come up with a solution for the camper too. They should be good at thinking ‘outside the box’.
I am happy with the solar. Still working on the camper.
Good on the Solar. As stated before I use about a 400-watt array and lithium batteries to good effect for boon docking. .
The damage to the camper is extensive. Apparently due to compression and tension and some lateral forces.
I used to professionally design Campers, serious off road 4×4 chassis mounted motor homes, Travel trailers, Mobile homes, and Modular homes for several Seattle area manufactures so have an extensive knowledge of construction regimes and problem areas from poorly designed construction and cause and effect and how to ameliorate those problems through good design and repairs aimed at preventing a recurrence of the problem. So if you want I can write up and email covering your situation.
Presently I would probably wait until you are not using the camper to get the repairs done.
It should also be noted that ‘side’ rail jacks should be used to remove camper for repair. Any good repair shop should have a pair or two. Regarding camper jacks. For various reasons, I never used mounted telescoping jacks unless they were de-mounted for travel. And, I eventually eliminated them altogether and just carried side rail jacks if I planned to drop the camper. The weight of those jacks and the road forces they develop can have a deleterious effect on the corner construction causing leaks leading to rot and catastrophic failure. My designs for the corners incorporated hardwood wrapped in copper sheet an angle iron under the skin for the front corners and stainless steel angle on the outside for the rear corners both using stainless fasteners. This proved to be a very durable construction, especially for those campers taken off pavement onto logging and BLM roads or doing back country rough roads and Jeep trails.
I am happy with the solar. Instead of email on how to fix just come and do it, please. In theory, I agree with all of what you say. But seriously, it’s not going to happen, especially right now, if ever by me.
You gotta be tough to be an RV’er your style. Most people I know get a new rig every few years. Your way is a lot cheaper and sustainable. I love how you got your solar jacked up. I looked at solar power for the house. $30K and it would save about $100 a month. Not worth it now.
You have to go credit for a new rig frequently and they do not hold value. Not in my budget. I think a house has to be built with solar in mind rather than convert completely. Mine will pay for itself in just a few months.
I feel for you. Bill (yet another one) is already making repairs and changes to the tiny trailer we bought last Spring. But we don’t live in it.
Would be easier to fix if I didn’t live in it.
Sounds like you are having fun with your truck camper. Nice to know if you need to replace it that Solar Bills will move it all over to the knew one. Good Luck. Hope everything works out for you.
I am loving the solar.