Dang RV

The Blog for Full-Time RVers and Those Who Can Dream

March 26th, 2007

NEWSFLASH!…..FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!

The new week started off with a bang tonight and I mean that literally. Details are not in yet but a trailer here in the park caught fire tonight and is a complete loss. I first heard what sounded like rain and then fireworks. When I opened my window blinds to check on the noise, there was a travel trailer several rows away and a truck next to it completely engulfed in flames. The bangs we heard for over an hour were ammunition stored in the trailer going off. The truck had also just caught the slideout of a second trailer on fire.

     

Police responded quickly followed by the fire department.  Inhabitants of both trailers were awakened and got out unhurt. Propane tanks were removed safely from the first trailer. Both trailers are too damaged for repair. The truck is also a loss but a motorcycle was saved and possibly another vehicle.

Many of the park residents were awakened and gathered in the cold to watch and make sure other nearby rigs were safe. We now know what everyone sleeps in. I’m a pajama person myself. I expect to see a lot of people with colds this week, particularly the guy in nothing but shorts.

On a positive note, we were supposed to have high winds tonight but they did not come. That saved the trees, fence, and freeway behind the trailer. It likely saved other nearby trailers and motohomes.

Cause of the fire is not yet known but bets are on smoking or an electric space heater. Other trailer fires in the park over the years were caused by smokers and a defective refrigerator which had been recalled but not repaired. There is currently another recall out for Dometic refrigerators from 1997-1999.

March 26th, 2007

Breakdowns and Breakdowns

What a week in my RV life! Both equipment and personal breakdowns.

It started with my refrigerator dying. Darn thing would not stay on and when it was, it was not that cold. Lost a little food but not much. That necessitated putting my entire home in the RV repair place which is thankfully right next to the RV park. Yes, I was homeless for a day.

The upside was that I needed the annual repacking of the hub bearings done anyway and I wanted to add a Tornado black water tank cleaning system, so I got those all done at the same time. See, you can make lemonade from lemons. ;-) All seems to be working fine now. They did a great job.

The refrigerator repair is being paid by the Good Sam CSP warranty I bought right after I bought the trailer “just in case”. The shop called them with their diagnosis and got a quick authorization from them for the $1400 repairs. I just have to pay my deductible so that helps the sting. I guess I should state the shop was Broadmoor RV on St. Thomas Drive in Pasco, WA to throw them some free advertising here. I should also mention that I went back over to Broadmoor the next day and they had a free barbecue going on with barbecued spare ribs and beans. Yummy!

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