Winnebago View | Art On The Run

You’re invited

2017-12-052017-12-05

We invite you to tag along with us as we knock about the country and beyond in an RV named MOBI. You wont see much Interstate or major highway travel here. I try to stick to two lane roads, small towns or wide open spaces.

While we are on the road enjoying our nomadic life, I try not to plan too far ahead unless I absolutely must when necessity dictates to check an item off my bucket list. The usual modus operandi is to investigate our next landing spot the day before leaving our current one. While I enjoy this ad-hoc travel planning for the most part, there are times I wish the dog could read a map and assist with deciding which way to go next. This is an area where you can help. Suggestions are always welcome.

Oh, and I most certainly will take advantage of a driveway or nice flat parking lot to settle in for the night if it is convenient and I’m not going to reach the next destination that day. Wally World is just fine for a night. And speaking of reaching destinations, I try to limit my travel to 300 miles or less (way less if possible) each day. We’ve had days where we drove 37 miles and then days that seemed like marathons. 100 to 200 miles is just about perfect when one is driving at 50 mph or less. And I do try to keep the speed down to a comfortable viewing level.

For much of my travel I am without internet. When I land somewhere that I can connect to the world wide web I post some updates. If I have moderate cell coverage (rare at times) I will at least post a picture or two from my smart phone and make a quick update.

We wander and look for places to see and photograph. So, please join us and feel free to comment.

Cheers

Paul and the Puppy

If you’d like to help out with expenses, please click the PayPal link below.

Fine tuning things before the next great adventure.

2016-04-01

Over the next couple weeks I’ll be double checking systems and tweaking them if necessary.

Over the past few days I’ve left several coach lights on around the clock with “shore power” disconnected but with the 100w solar panel connected and pointed toward the sun. Half of yesterday was overcast so we didn’t have optimum sunshine. This morning I checked the coach batteries (I usually call them house batteries) and they are sitting at 12.6 with the lights on (under a slight load). They’re at or above 80% charged. Since I don’t use a whole lot of power when boondocking this has been a good test of the solar charging system.

Well, I don’t use a whole lot of power unless it’s cold and I turn the furnace on that is. The fans on the furnace are big electricity users (compared to burning a few LED lights). I know it will get chilly at night on the high plains and in the desert and mountains. I’ll use the furnace. Hopefully I can cover up while I sleep and just use it in the morning when I get up.

So, the solar system is checked out and passes muster. Let me see what’s next on my list…

Cheers

Paul and Heyleigh the Wonder Dog.

Another project completed

2015-12-06

I’ve been struggling with how. How to get everything I need to go and exhibit at an art show into MOBI (Winnebago View) and still be able to live in it without climbing over boxes of stuff just to get from one end to the other.

The latest challenge has been finding a collapasable crate or box to put on my collapasable cart to hold my framed work so I can transport it to wherever I’ve been directed to set up. By the way, my cart can hold 300 lbs, has large tires which can roll over rough terrain and soggy ground and collapses to a nice compact unit. When using my old truck or my car and a trailer I use a couple large tubs. And, they work fine. However, if I bring tubs along in the RV, they would end up living on the floor while I travel. I guess I could drop the dinette table, converting it into a bed and set the tubs there. But then I’d have no place to sit and eat or watch a movie or read a book. Kind of destroys the concept of using the RV to do art shows, huh?

I searched online several times for collapasable boxes or crates and found nothing that would meet my exact needs. So, I went over to my neighbor’s and we brainstormed it awhile. He is an excellent wood worker and in short order we came up with a design.

Here is the finished project. If you’d like something similar, drop me a line. We’ll talk

Quick escape to the Nantahala Forest

2015-11-07

After spending the past couple months on a project which has kept our feet on the ground, I reached a major milestone and found some time to disappear for a few days.

The dog and I went to Standing Indian Camp Ground near Franklin N.C. This is a wonderfully natural area at the head waters of the Nantahala River. While the camp has great showers and bathrooms with running water, there are no individual hook-ups for RV’s. I learned some time ago that I like these sort of campgrounds. They’re a bit more natural and peaceful than those where convenience is a must!

Confluence at the head waters of the Nantahala River

The Crack of Dusk

2015-08-27

The dog and I drove the motorhome up to Brasstown Bald a couple days ago to catch sunset. It was a good uphill test of the transmission fluid temperature because it is one heck of a steep road for about 4 miles. It peaked at 208 degrees which interestingly enough was also the max temperature I saw on the trip home after I purchased it.

Oh yeah, back to business. Brasstown Bald is the highest elevation in the state of Georgia at around 4600 feet.

Here is the sunset from the parking lot.

What was Mercedes Benz thinking?

2015-08-24

I’ve had an opportunity to climb around the new (2008) Winnebago View now and everything appears to be in great shape.

I removed enough “stuff” the other day to inspect the fuel filter. It was a great practice run because I really couldn’t determine if it has ever been replaced. Mercedes says pitch it every 10,000 miles and since bad diesel fuel can cause a world of expensive problems, why not? I ordered one!

While waiting for it to be delivered, I searched the Internet and read volumes of information regarding changing it. I also read lots of scary stories regarding a little plastic clip that is very easy to break. It is on a tube that connects to a WIF (water in fuel) sensor in the top of the filter and which allows one to drain water from the filter.

Water! The nemesis of diesel fuel injectors. It’s amazing how violently steam can explode in the tip of a fuel injector. Which by the way, will leave a much larger hole than designed and cause too much fuel to be injected into said cylinder and generally smoke (not to mention cause lots of other problems).

I delicately placed a thumb nail under each prong of this plastic clip and tried my best to remove the fitting. Of course, it broke. Believe me, I was extremely careful and gentle. I read where some guy put his back together with one side of the clip broken (just like mine is now) and before long it was spraying fuel all over the engine.

This fitting is permanently attached to a hose that will withstand a fair amount heat and which snakes about and ends up connected to a small valve placed in a convenient place from which you can drain water. I looked it over and couldn’t begin to figure how to dismantle all the stuff that hose goes through before it reaches its terminus.

Crap!

Back to the internet I went. The more I read, the more I realized that odds are great that anyone removing this fitting is going to break the clip. I learned that that “other” end of the hose has a small valve that unscrews to allow the water to drain. What a coincidence!!! This little valve will screw into the top of the fuel filter (where the fitting with the broken clip lives), thereby eliminating any chance of a leak. Ha! I even read where some sprinter mechanics are saying that Mercedes has had such a big problem with these clips that they are recommending making this change if a clip breaks. How about that. Rob Peter to pay Paul.

So, I immediately took enough stuff apart to get to the top of the filter. Then I reached over to the drain and unscrewed the little valve. Then. . . . And then. . . . A A AND THEN , I began to laugh.

You see, the filter I bought was manufactured by Mann, a well known name in quality filters. When I opened the box, in addition to the filter and two O rings for the sensor tube, was this exact valve. The valve which is located at the other end of the hose that connects to the sensor on the filter. The valve which really has nothing to do with changing the fuel filter. My god! They are psychic! They knew I was going to brake the clip.

Obviously this darn clip is so delicate and breaks so often and is so difficult to replace that Mann just tosses a valve identical to the one that certain Mercedes dealers are recommending you move to the filter once you break the clip, into the box. I think they know you’re going to be needing it.

So, I can update my service records indicating it has a new fuel filter.

Done!

08-16-2015: Today’s Most Excellent RV Adventure

2015-08-16

Today I thought it would be wise to do some exploring. Under the hood that is. The factory specs call for replacing the fuel filter 10 times as often as the air filter! Now how’s that for being 180 degrees from what we’re used to??

Since this is a diesel engine and the diesel fuel is the life blood of the vehicle, I probably should know where the fuel filter lives. Besides, I can’t tell for sure when it was last changed. The seller claimed he just changed the oil. Though, I can’t tell for certain. It’s black as coal and stinks like old engine oil. It doesn’t taste very good either. Why not find it and assure myself I’ll be able to change it?

After doing some research and reading, I dismantled all that stuff on the top of the engine beneath which the fuel filter lives. It is nested down in the valley between the 2 cylinder banks under the air cleaner and an engine shroud/cover.

Found it!

I think I have identified which fuel filter it uses (there are several) and hopefully ordered the proper one. I also ordered an oil filter while I was at it. I think I can pick 2 gallons of motor oil locally. I will change oil and filters once they arrive.

Cheers and stay tuned for the next Most Excellent RV Adventure.

Paul and Heyleigh The Wonder Dog.

You know the drill

2015-08-11

Now that I have the RV home, it is time to go through it and bring everything up to standard. I spent several months doing this with the T.O.A.D. I think tires are first on the list. And getting 6 of them will certainly put a dent in my pocketbook.

Oh, and I’ve ordered a transmission dipstick. This is yet amount her vehicle where the factory decided you. Ever meet to look at transmission fluid. I personally like to service the transmission sooner than later!

Cheers.

Of course I’ll use the return trip for a…

2015-07-29

So if things go according to plan, I will go to the top of Vermont in the next couple weeks to pick up the new RV. Just as I did with the last one, I will drag my feet and take some time getting familiar with it on the way home.

I think I will avoid New England this trip. Only because I’m planning our next official Road Tour up that way and I don’t want to spoil it. Perhaps I’ll spend a little time in Kentucky. I have never been there and it might be the perfect way to enjoy a lazy trip back home.