We have new TOYS and will start RVing again soon. Check it out and see all the photos at end.

It has been a while since we have been posting on our blog and we apologize for that. But that’s all going to change now.

Someone told us that we don’t let the grass grow under our feet. They are probably correct, because if we did we would probably miss something, so we love to wander and explore. The last post was when we purchased a home in Star Valley Ranch, after having sold our 2020 Tiffin Phaeton 40IH (which contrary to our highest expectations turned out to be a huge disappointment. Nothing seemed to work on it and the paintwork had over 150 issues on it, so much so that the Paint Manager of Warranty admitted that it should never had left the factory in that condition. A few months later we found out why the drop in QC at Tiffin, when it was announced that Bob Tiffin had sold his business to THOR (of all people). Apparently Thor’s reputation was so bad that they needed a high quality brand name like Tiffin to pull them up. Unfortunately that just drags Tiffin down, so Bob Tiffin never would even acknowledge us, much less agree to talk to us about all our problems. Then, since the economy had taken a turn to the point that due to Covid production of RVs, (as well as cars and everything else) had taken a nose-dive, new RVs were hard to find and thus were more expensive; so Bill researched the option of selling the Tiffin back to La Mesa RV (who we bought it from) and was able to get them to offer us $3,000 more than we had paid for it 10 months earlier. So we sold it.

Unfortunately, at that time we were still in the Tiffin Warranty Service Center in Red Bay, Alabama, and La Mesa wanted the RV badly, so much so that they sent a driver there to pick it up in Red Bay. So, then we were truly HOMELESS… no RV, no house, not even a vacant lot to pitch a tent on. So, we bought a 7 cu. ft. chest freezer at Walmart (for all the frozen food in the RV freezer) and rented a 6’ x 12’ U-Haul cargo trailer and packed it to the gills with all our stuff from the RV. 

During this time we had to look desperately for an existing house to buy in Star Valley Ranch, as we would not be able to build one that quick. There were only about 4-5 houses for sale in Star Valley Ranch, and the one we found at an acceptable price was purely from what we could see online. So we contacted our Realtor friend in SVR who went to preview the house for us and walked around it with his phone sending us video. Well, the ground was covered with snow as most of the house exterior, but given our situation we went ahead and bought it. However, closing could not take place until April 24, 2021, but at least we would have a home to go to in a month.

Then we drove from Red Bay
AL to Star Valley Ranch WY (normally a 1,695 mile trip) made longer by having to circumvent a really bad storm system coming at us. We ended up having to turn at Little Rock AR, head down to Houston, TX across to Tucson, AZ and then on to Star Valley Ranch WY… a 2,770-mile trip. Roxy had been having a spell of (the stuff that Pepto Bismol is associated with), so we didn’t dare stay at a hotel/motel, so we took turns driving ‘Edith’ (the F150) and just pulled over at a Flying J or such, to sleep in the car for the night, with the truck running to keep the heat on, because it was quite cold, but what doesn’t kill us,, makes us stronger. 

In Star Valley Ranch we were able to rent a room in a cabin at the Wolf’s Den (55 County Rd 115, Etna WY) for a very modest price for a month (even with Roxy) if we accepted housekeeping our own room during the week and provided our own linen. Having just come from an RV, we had all that and were used to doing our own housekeeping, so it worked out well for everyone. Thank you, Cory Wolfley, for accommodating us in our hour of need.

Thankfully, the day to close finally came. Unfortunately, that’s when we started seeing all the conditions that are going to need repair or updating. So, we opted to fix the house and bring it back to it’s former glory; then sell it in two years, to satisfy not having to pay Capital Gains. During this time we also discovered that Roxy was not at all fond of being on a golf course. Golfers swinging golf clubs just petrified her and she would run and hide. We can only imagine that she was abused with someone hitting her.

So, since this house is directly on a golf course, and our other vacant lot is also on a golf course, we decided to market the other lot for sale (now sold) and later in 2023 also sell our house. Fortune smiled on us when a neighbor asked if we were planning to sell our other lot, because he has a friend in California who wants to build a home in SVR. He called and asked what we wanted for the lot, and Bill said we should not take any less than $125,000 (as property values will continue to rise here. The gentleman agreed to our price… Cash sale, to close as soon as possible, as he wants to start to build a house on it, to establish Residency in Wyoming. We’re telling you, California is getting really B-A-D.   

Anyhow, that brings us close to the present. One day talking about everything, we both came to the conclusion that we are not comfortable with never RV’ing or traveling anymore. We also agreed that once our house is sold as well, we would like to look for getting a few acres in the county (outside of the many restrictions of SVR) and where there is no golf course for Roxy’s sake, and there building a Barn-dominium where we can have a small residential area and a big area for the truck, RV and all the toys. This way, while we are away traveling on an RV, what we leave behind is easily stored.

Now, that on it’s own is not that unusual, BUT… as we were telling our friends, Darren and Roz (also our General Contractor and future builder of our home) what our plans are, they said “That’s what we would like to do, as long as we find a few acres in Wyoming, so we don’t lose our hunting licenses”. So now we told our Realtor and friend, Ed Koontz, to look for 10 acres, instead of just 5. Then another friend mentioned that they too would like to sell their house (just outside of SVR and look for some acreage. We’re not sure WHY they want that since their house already has 5 acres, but IF they are, we are all for it. Imagine having a 15-acre compound of people we get along with and ALL good conservatives, where we cam all look after each other’s things, and if necessary be able to defend our homes together, from the rampant liberals. Thank goodness there aren’t a lot of these around here.  

As to an RV to travel in, we both agreed that we did not want another motorhome (gas or diesel). We have had 4 of them and the only good one was the Fleetwood Discovery 40E, which we regret having sold and they don’t make the floorplan we like anymore. So it would have to be a bumper-pull or a fifth wheel. The purpose of the RV is too be able to travel mostly during the winter months, going to AZ, or TX or FL or so, and returning in May to WY. So, a trailer pull would not be as desirable as a 5th Wheel. but a Fiver would require something bigger than a Ford F150 XLT (half-ton). So as the first step we traded our silver 2017 F150 XLT 4x4 (‘Edith2’) for a 2018 F350 Lariat (1 ton super duty) with a 6.7L diesel 4x4. We are thrilled with it, in spite of diesel being so expensive. That will change in two years when the GOP Takes America Back. Next step… finding the right 5^th wheel.

We looked and looked at RV Trader, RVT, private sellers, etc. and went to view some of the ones that looked best. ALL a big BUST. It’s hard to believe that people who want to sell an RV show it in such bad shape and so dirty… BUT they do. Fed up with it all, we finally found a brand new 2021 Montana 3120RL at an excellent price in Ashland VA. Unfortunately, it would cost us $6,000 to transport it to WY. So we said NO! Instead we can get a better RV, even if for a few thousand more, but locally. We found the RV in Camping World (Pocatello, ID) but called Gavin James at the Idaho Falls ID Camping World because we go to Idaho Falls more often, so they dealer traded and sold it there. You would think that having given them a sale that they would not have otherwise had, they could at least have given us a sewer hose and/or a hose to go with our new RV... or at the very least have detailed it. They did none of that, as has been done with every other motorhome we have ever bought. 

Our salesman, Gavin James (above) is a very personable young man (younger than us anyway) and a good salesman who is not pushy but informative and a hard worker. However, like most salesmen he's more motivated by his end of month numbers than his customers' needs. For example, he wanted to deliver the our RV on the 31st of March and because he had two RVs to deliver that day, instead of taking the time to go over the RV with us to insure we were satisfied, he had it parked out in the parking lot ready to hook up and pull out, without our having a chance to check it out again and insure that the issues we had pointed out to him were taken care of. Well, they weren't. As it turned out several of the items that needed to be done... weren't, and when I called him up on it he said that the items were ordered, and expected us to take it back to him at a later date, (92 miles away, each way) AFTER his RVs were all delivered on that last day of the month. Now I know why I have never bought an RV at Camping World, and why I will never buy another one there again.  

Here are some of the 'ISSUES' that were supposed to be fixed but weren't:

* The bathroom door rubs on the valance over the window across from it. The door cannot be shortened because then it would leave a gap in the frame. The valance would have to be shortened as to its distance from the wall. A simple fix really, so we cannot imagine why Keystone would not have noticed that and fixed it in their design. We wonder how many other 3812MS units have the same issue. As many as were made no doubt. (see photos and video)

* The bathroom door handle gets scratched from rubbing against another door handle when it is fully opened. Again, Keystone should have picked up on this, as it will be an issue for every other 3812MS made. (see photos and video)

* The floor tiles are all covered in glue or adhesive, where apparently someone walked on it and spread it (at the factory, no doubt)... but past QC. We don't know what we can use to clean it without voiding the warranty on the tiles.

* Water Leak from the rear A/C down into the Livingroom, through the driver-side A/C vent, after a rain shower. (see photos and video)

* Front Door is bowed/warped. The top and bottom corners touch the frame, but the middle sticks out about 3/8"-1/2", which makes it necessary for one to slam the door. Also the striker plate is off center (or something) so that the door is very difficult if at all possible to lock. (see photos and video) 

The dilemma for the RV was that Mary wanted the larger size freezer of a French Door Refrigerator (you know how she loves to cook) but with the power flexibility of an electric/propane RV refrigerator. Nothing seemed to satisfy all needs, until we found a brand new 2021 (left over) Keystone Montana 3812MS, which is the same size as our previous motorhomes, but a 5^th wheel  and has not 1… not 2… but actually 3 full-sized wardrobe closets in the bedroom (yes its’s a big bedroom). One closet is for the washer & dryer. In one of the other 2 Mary, can put our 7cu ft chest freezer in it (as it even already has a 110v outlet in it) and in the kitchen is a 12 cu ft RV electric/propane refrigerator. So now Mama is happy, because as we all know “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody gonna be happy.”  

We probably won’t start traveling in it until around July or August for short trips to get used to it, because we still have work to do on the house to prepare it for sale in 2023. In the meantime, we still have things to do to get it ready for travel. We wanted to put an Onan 5500 generator in it, but one just cannot get one ANYWHERE. The soonest one can be had is 16-24 weeks away, shipped directly from the factory. So we bought two Firman 4000w peak/3200w running and a parallel kit to get a total of 8000/6400 watts, if needed when boondocking, as mostly we will be at a campground with electric service with our Thousand Trails / Encore or Passport  memberships, but we also want to be able to boondock.

So, that’ll catch you up to where we are and what we’re up to. Below are photos of our new (to us) 2018 Ford F350 Lariat 4x4 tow truck and of our brand new 2021 Keystone Montana 3812MS 5^th wheel. We hope to catch up with our friends on the road again, in the future.

The TRUCK:

The RV:

Sewer Hose is kept below, freeing up space

 in compartments and keeping odors OUT.

We hope you enjoyed the tour of our new RV until you can see it in person.

Happy Trails!!