Author: Dan Harris

First “real” trip:  400 Miles to Minneapolis. This is an Extended Shakedown Cruise.  One with Friendlies (and Parts sources) on the other end.

…

Liz behind the wheel…
Wind in her hair…
Copilot weighing in…
Dan terrified!!

Truck drivers honking at us…
Liz panicking…
thinking she has done
something wrong…
But no,  just saying hello…
COOL RIDE!

Liz and her Co-pilot.

Lots of first,  actually.

First “breakdown.”  The bus sputtered to a stop just outside of Eau Claire.  We managed to pull over safely.  Engine not willing to go another inch.  In the process of attempting to start,  battery getting weak.  NO PROB.  Start the generator.  But it won’t start either.  So,  two breakdowns, actually.

Two possible approaches:

1. Use the “Premier” roadside assistance we have purchased to get towed somewhere a mechanic can examine the issues.
   or
2. GO FOR IT. Become a bit of a mechanic as see what we can figure out.

It is clear that we need to learn to take the first crack at any problem (So, door number 2), if for no other reason than we have more time than money.  Diesel Mechanics cost money,  even if the tow would be free.  How hard can it be?  Fuel plus air == BANG and motion.  Now no bang and no motion…So,  what could be wrong?   Logically,  must be fuel or air…

Truth is,  while Liz was driving,  I had my eye on a gauge that was SQUARELY in the red.  Still trying to figure out what all the gauges do,  and hadn’t gotten to that one yet. Way off to the right..hardly visible from the driver’s seat, so,  it must not be TOO important…   “Racor” is how the gauge is labelled.    What the hell is a “Racor” and why was it in the red.    Not much more information in the manual, though…especially what “RED” means and what to do.     Engine was running…so at that time I figured I would use the Google machine to figure this out when we arrived at our destination.   But now we weren’t progressing towards the destination AND there was no Google Machine.

With us semi-stranded (and NO GOOGLE MACHINE AVAILABLE),  we were forced to reason through the problem:

• Universally,  except at Christmas and during hockey season,

Red is a BAD color!

• On a Baseball player (Such as the St. Louis Cardinals) and
  Especially on any gauge associated even remotely with an engine that is now not running.

I say “Semi” stranded since we have a bed, kitchen, refrigerator and cold ones therein.  That does not rise to the level of “Stranded” in anyone’s book.

Owner’s manual did say the “Racor” is a “Fuel Filter and Fuel-Water Separator.”   Hmmm.  Water and gunk in the fuel would in our estimation cause the engine not to be happy.  There is a drain at the bottom of this “Racor.”   I have an empty Ginger Ale bottle.  Opened the valve and drained OVER 2 L of BLACK UGLY WATER.    This seems like the problem,  since I knew that engines need generally more diesel and less water (and gunk) to run.  But now the second issue:  weak battery and inoperable Generator.

Another problem to work.  With a twist.  The generator compartment is locked and the tool to unlock it is in a bay on the HIGHWAY side of the bus.  So I need to wait for a break in traffic,  RUN to the bay, open it and grab the tool to unlock the generator slide.  All  before air pressure drops (Engine is not running and the generator opens with air pressure).  This so I can get a look at the generator to maybe see why it won’t start.

Fortunately, I was able to retrieve the tool without being killed AND there was enuf air to open the slide. I noticed almost immediately that the “Kill” switch was not in the “RUN” position.  Kinda stuck between “Run and “Kill.”  Probably bumped by some idiot like ME when I was insulating the generator compartment.  Reset the switch  and the generator fired right up and immediately began to recharge batteries.

Once the batteries were charged and the fuel primed,  we turned the engine over a bit.  It sputtered,  then ran a bit.  Then a bit more.  Then again running perfectly.  Just as the engine started,  a Wisconsin State Trooper is knocking on the window.  We know FOR SURE we did not register, much less register too fast on his radar,  and in fact he just wanted to make sure we were OK.  We ‘splain that all was good (at this moment).  He said he would help us pull back out onto the highway and since acceleration even with a CLEAN “Racor” isn’t the best,  and our was still not clean…we were very glad for the assistance.

Finished our trip.  My sister scammed an “Obstruction” permit so we could park outside her house (RVs are illegal to park overnight in Minneapolis).   Her comment:

Yes,  we do.  Because we want to see what else we can break (and fix).  Meanwhile next morning I Immediately bought some new filter elements for the “Racor” (after Google found them on Amazon!) and learned how to swap them out by watching a YouTube video.   I wonder if Google’s much mentioned drone delivery service will ever rescue us by delivering parts to the middle of nowhere?

Now,  we are entertaining family and friends in our “Home.”  Out goes the awning and the aforementioned Cold Ones.  Ice maker not yet working.  A problem to work tomorrow.

Lessons learned:

• Being a diesel mechanic (even a Google-and-YouTube taught one) is going to be important for life on the road.  It seems likely that there will be some event on each and every voyage.  These are best viewed   as part of the adventure.  The Bus’s systems are simple enuf that some logical thinking and persistence (and Google) is enuf to fix a lot of stuff.  Which is good when you have more time than money.
• When Trucks honk at you and Cops knock on the Window, more often than not,  they are in a FRIENDLY MOOD,  which the bus seems to encourage.
• The bus is a big old Faraday Cage, which effectively blocks all WiFi signals (and most Cell Signals). So,  I write this with my computer next to an open window facing my sister’s WiFi Router.  Clearly,  we will need a WiFi Repeater to bring signal into the bus, where the coffee is.    Does anyone know a good IT Guy to help us with this?  Mine retired!!!
• Being in a hurry is NOT COMPATIBLE with this lifestyle. We were 2+ hours delayed by the water-is-not-fuel    WHO CARES.  Retirement Rule #1: If you don’t have to be anywhere at a certain time,  you cannot be late.

Next installment:  Improvements and repairs we have made to the ride and therefore our overall living situation while on the road.

Consisted of driving the RV about 20 miles to Liz’s Folks’ place in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.  There we have spent a couple weeks “fixing” all sorts of things.  Along the way,  we have learned some things,  as well.   First what we have learned:

I have learned that when presented with two options:  1)  Replace a part or 2) Replace an entire assembly,  ALWAYS choose Door #2  on a 30-year-old vehicle.  The likelihood is you will end up (sooner, probably,  not later) replacing the assembly anyway.  Example:  the toilet needed a new valve.  No prob.  $45.  In the process of installing that valve (in a completely inaccessible location…see next point), I discovered that the aged, brittle plastic toilet had failed in an invisible spot.  Thus,  the new valve sprayed water all around the bathroom.    I thought for a moment about telling Liz this was a FEATURE,  like those fancy Japanese Toilets that clean and refresh your whole body… but she would NEVER fall for that!  Replacement toilet $165 (+ the $45 spent on the valve that I should NOT have repaired).

Another learning opportunity:  I have learned (always suspected) that I am far more  persistent than skilled.  This is especially true around RV systems,  and has helped with our retirement budget.  Basically,  all RV systems are just like home systems EXCEPT they are wedged into small and inaccessible places with many sharp edges.  This means that, notwithstanding skinned knuckles and bruises,  I can make almost any repair “above the floor” (leaving engine, transmission, brakes, etc. – below the floor —  to the professionals).    Example:  The above toilet repair  would have cost approx. $23,467 (considering our mechanic’s labor rate of $118/hr).  Instead, it was self-performed for only  $165 (replacement toilet),  a couple of days squeezing into small places and an occasional BandAid.  So far no transfusions required.

We have also learned that the Bluebird is a MAJOR conversation starter.  While parked in Twin Lakes,  MANY total strangers drove by, honked and “thumbs-up.”  A few less than many (but still quite a few) stopped and talked to us at length and were grateful for a tour.   I think we will not be lonely travelling in this style.

What we have fixed (and will soon fix):

• We cleaned the carpet and upholstery
• We deployed the leveling jacks and verified this system operates
• We sterilized the holding tank and all the fixtures that are involved in potable water
• We now have 100% working plumbing.
• We opened the awnings and found them to be in perfect condition
• and,  we Lived in the Bus for almost a week (albeit showering inside).

Next I tackle the propane system (stove, furnaces, fridge, etc.).  There is also a connector for a Gas grill (though we don’t yet own one that will fit in the storage bays).    I don’t expect problems,  but if you hear a “BOOM” coming from the general direction of Twin Lakes Wisconsin,  you will know that we are having a bad day!

Actually,  now that I think about it…it seems to me that the next items to address will be the Blender and Ice maker…which together should make all the rest of the repairs more palatable (Margaritas, anyone?).

We are truly close to being able to travel for real in this bus.  All vital systems are or will shortly be functional.  Stay tuned for our first “Real” road entry on our travel blog.

June 13, 2015!

We made it all the way to Chicago from S. Louis (about 300 miles altogether) with Liz driving a chase car just behind me.  She reports that we did not leave an obvious trail of parts,  though maybe we did leave a trail of crumbling grey engine/generator insulating foam.  Anyway,  we have to remove all that foam,  so no worries there!

The Wanderlodge gets a lot of attention everywhere we go.  At the truckstop,  it took me an extra 15 minutes to fill because people kept coming up to gawk and talk.  It’s not a chore…we love meeting and talking to people,  and the bus seems to be a people-magnet!!!!

Speaking of “Fill” that tank is BIG (and the mileage not so much).  It will take awhile to get over the shock of those bills!

Learning all the systems is going to be challenging and fun!  The Mechanic was VERY helpful, but only  to a point.  I think he got me up to speed on basic operating systems (and I still have to transfer that basic knowledge to Liz).   I still feel like he pushed me out into the stream without telling me how to do much more than start the engine and where it is!!!!  I try not to explore buttons and lights while driving since the most important thing is to keep it on the road.  But there is a lot of exploring to do.

As to driving,  it being “BIG.”  is surely does not drive like a minivan.  But it is also not difficult to drive and in fact I found it quite easy to maneuver backing up etc.  That was a very pleasant surprise.  It will not go faster than 65mph (except down hill) but who would want to.  It is also quite loud inside…which may improve somewhat when we replace the aforementioned insulating foam.  My guess is this is another use for the Bose headsets we have for long flights.

As of now,  almost everything is working, and the bus is very driveable and usable.  There is a short list of things to be fixed “urgently”

• There is a “Headlight Warning” Light and buzzer that sounds if lights are NOT ON when engine is running.  It did not do this until after the first rest stop.  No prob…. just leave the lights on when driving (probably safer anyway) but this is not referenced in the owner’s manual so I will need to figure out what it is telling me.  Maybe just that there is a bad bulb (could we be that lucky?)
• There are several significant air leaks.  No prob when engine is running,  but very shortly thereafter there is no air for the door step or the generator slide ( or for anything else).  Finding and fixing these probably just means listening for “hisssssss” and then finding the source and fixing.  The mechanic said we will probably be doing some form of this forever!!!  He recommended a small electric air compressor be piped in.  An easy and cheap convenience to recover air pressure without firing up the engine!!!
• Speaking of the door step…the actuator leaks air badly (one of the above leaks?) and it is often not powerful enough to retract the step.  The mechanic said these can often be disassembled and repaired…perhaps a bad o-ring or something.
• Several gauges seem non functional or intermittent (air pressure, generator water temp, etc.),  Several others need recalibrating (DC voltage reads 4v high at all times).  Others work magnificently!  For example aircraft altimeter and compass are extremely accurate (never mind that both are obsolete having been replaced by free phone apps)
• The LP Gas leak detector/safety valve in the LP Valve Compartment itself leaks!  Easy to replace,  important to replace (or quite possible the bus goes boom when we fill the LP tank and start using the stove).

Its stuff like that!   All stuff I can do (saves $$$).  Liz and I are going to spend a couple full days each week working on it…me mostly under and Liz mostly inside I would think!

All the of the above is the long-winded way of describing that we are already enjoying the vehicle.  Proof in these pics:

Looks like we might be driving down to St. Louis to pick up our BB soon. Maybe as soon as the 3-4th of June.

Bus is basically operational. Title has been received in St. Louis. Unfortunately, our main contact is out of town this week. He mailed to the actual owner (his father-in-law, George) and George COULD easily sign title over to us and mail. Which means we COULD come to have it in our hands by the end of this week so we can buy plates. Or, George could sit on the title or just not rush to forward. None of which implies a problem, just logistics and priorities.

Our first trip will be to attempt to get it from St. Louis to Antioch, Il. (Wisconsin Border) where we intend to store it and work on it. That is an AMBITIOUS 5-hour drive!! We are QUITE nervous about it. We will do it in a caravan and we will have a newly-purchased roadside assistance policy at the ready.

All of the above could easily get pushed to the following week (about 8-12 June).. In fact that may prove to be the best scenario as we need to be in MPLS on 5 June…we might just do a three-legged trip. Chicago—Minneapoils—St.Louis—Chicago(Antioch).

Once in Antioch, we intend to park and LEARN about it. Push buttons and wait for noises (good or bad). And possibly replace/repair a few coach-things. For example, skylights/vents are cracked. I have researched this problem…there is a special “High-Velocity-Bluebird-Repair-Tape” for temporary repair to prevent leaks (AKA Duct Tape). Liz wants assurance that this special tape will not become permanent 😉

I am sure the carpet will be replaced pretty soon, as well (some of you may remember this was a particular item of emphasis for Liz…)

We THINK our first “actual” trip might be to Minnesota around the 4th of July.