First Outing Blues

[Mo_Mike]

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

Just a note to anyone camping in the Branson area, due to over 20 campgrounds in the area there are a number of mobile tech services and several that are 24 hour. Also in town is a large class A repair facility that includes detailing as well as working on tour busses. They are also a factory Aqua Hot service center. Springfield is home to Reliable RV a very large Thor dealer and service center.

So, if in the area you can usually get help fairly quickly

Any good detailing companies you know of down there (or Springfield)? Just in case we get tired of polishing and waxing....

[Chucke]

Originally Posted by neoshocoach

Made it to Branson for our first outing. After the addition of a rear sway bar and steering stabilizer the 29M handled like a dream.

Learned a valuable lesson right off the bat, that is to travel with multiple lengths of fresh water hoses. Set up, plugged in, discovered the hose was too short. Tore down, backed up, set up again, only to discover the hose was still too short. Thanks to friendly neighbors we overcame the problem and made a note to buy additional hoses.

Just after starting to run some water in the sink we heard a knock at the door and my wife and I both thought we had REALLY friendly neighbors. In camp, for 30 minutes, and already the welcoming party was at our door! I was sure they were there to share their baked goods! NOT. Instead the caring neighbor told us to shut off our water, like NOW!, and come outside. So we did. ooops...a technician had forgotten to connect the grey water hose to the grey water tank.

Branson has a lot to offer but no where in the brochures did it include a cascading waterfall from underneath your wall slide! Called my friendly neighborhood salesman who told me if I wanted a mobile repairman it would go against my MPP deductible, or, I had the option of gaining additional experience driving the coach, into service, and hour away.

Seeing that we had few options for an enjoyable weekend without water, we pronounced the trip 30 minutes after arrival and headed back home.

Our optimism remains high that our coach will only sit in service for weeks, not months, that service will fix our short list of problems, and that many more positive outings are ahead.

Hello neoshocoach, Just remember the best of plans go bad. Crap has happened to all of us and still does. My wife Donna and I look back at some of the crazy stuff that has happened to us along the way and have a good laugh. Then we look at each other and say what do you suppose will happen along the way on this trip!

[neoshocoach]

Great way to approach it Chucke! We find a little piece of humor in most things in life. It's all about making memories right??

[VetPartTimer]

Originally Posted by neoshocoach

Made it to Branson for our first outing. After the addition of a rear sway bar and steering stabilizer the 29M handled like a dream.

Learned a valuable lesson right off the bat, that is to travel with multiple lengths of fresh water hoses. Set up, plugged in, discovered the hose was too short. Tore down, backed up, set up again, only to discover the hose was still too short. Thanks to friendly neighbors we overcame the problem and made a note to buy additional hoses.

Just after starting to run some water in the sink we heard a knock at the door and my wife and I both thought we had REALLY friendly neighbors. In camp, for 30 minutes, and already the welcoming party was at our door! I was sure they were there to share their baked goods! NOT. Instead the caring neighbor told us to shut off our water, like NOW!, and come outside. So we did. ooops...a technician had forgotten to connect the grey water hose to the grey water tank.

Branson has a lot to offer but no where in the brochures did it include a cascading waterfall from underneath your wall slide! Called my friendly neighborhood salesman who told me if I wanted a mobile repairman it would go against my MPP deductible, or, I had the option of gaining additional experience driving the coach, into service, and hour away.

Seeing that we had few options for an enjoyable weekend without water, we pronounced the trip 30 minutes after arrival and headed back home.

Our optimism remains high that our coach will only sit in service for weeks, not months, that service will fix our short list of problems, and that many more positive outings are ahead.

Sorry to hear about your trip troubles, that’s a real bummer for sure. Some good ideas from from the peeps also, i’ll keep them in mind when I run into a similar situation - and I know it’s only a matter of WHEN.

I’m curious to hear the specifics of your sway bar and steering stabilizer as I also have a 29M.

I did the chf front and rear and it definitely does tighten up the body roll and help the steering. But it also harshens up the ride a lot.

So I’m curious what brand of sway bar and steering stabilizer you had installed. Are those installed in conjunction with doing the chf?

I’m somewhat inclined to want to do add the sway bar and steering stabilizer as well, but then undo the chf to see if it will remain stabile (or even be better that with the chf) but also soften up the ride a little. The bumps are just SO harsh after doing the chf.

Thanks for any info and good luck in the remainder of your shakedown trips!

[Fish and Dear]

Originally Posted by neoshocoach

Had no idea about the excess of mobile repair companies in Branson. I bought my coach at Reliable. Very good people pre-sale. They are being tested for their after the sale aptitude.

Hey neighbors!! Arkansas here. I assume, given the screen name, you are from Neosho. Have you ever heard of Keltoi Vineyards in Oronogo? We recently returned from a 2 week trip out west. We stayed at several Harvest Hosts locations along the way, and Keltoi Vineyards was our last stop before getting home. If you like interesting wines you might check them out. And I can verify you can get a 29M (and toad) in there and turned around.

Anyway...hate your first outing became a mess, but once the kinks are worked out that 29M is a fabulous coach. Safe and pleasant travels!!

[TurnerFam]

this whole discussion is one that brings to light the saying that

"your first outing should not be an important or far-away one, make it your driveway or the local walmart parking lot"

I'd rather have problems close to home, than on my first 'trip'...

[RodTX]

We bought our Thor at RV Specialists in Alvarado TX. They have covered sites on their lot and let you spend the night before you take possession. We checked out everything and had a short list of things to repair. After we took possession, our first trip was just a weekend close to home so we made sure we wouldn't have any surprises later.

[DogLovers]

Thor performs great work at the factory service facility. You just have to watch them, be there to keep them off their butts and working, remind them NOT to drill holes in your shower walls, starve because there is no place to eat, read a book because you can only watch reruns of Family Feud so many times on the waiting room TV, and my number one favorite book your warranty issues about 6 months in advance.

[neoshocoach]

I used Road Master rear anti sway and front steering stabilizer. It helped the ride a lot. I still notice some push and pull when a semi passes me but overall feel more comfortable driving the coach. I have not done the CHF up front as I'm concerned about any negative consequences. I likely will spend the money on a separate front anti sway bar at some point in time and may also look for a rear track bar.

The most difficult part of the self install was getting the existing nuts broken free. Once that was done it was fairly simple to navigate.

[neoshocoach]

Ive lived in the area, first moving to Joplin, in 1984 and I cant say that I have ever heard about the vineyards. But I'll ask around a little and see what I can find out! Safe travels!

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by TurnerFam

this whole discussion is one that brings to light the saying that "your first outing should not be an important or far-away one, make it your driveway or the local Walmart parking lot"
I'd rather have problems close to home, than on my first 'trip'...

Even better, choose a RV dealer that has a delivery barn and will let you spend a couple nights in your RV next to the maintenance supervisors office. We did and have never had to go back to a dealer in three years.