New Full Timers As Of Tomorrow

[rkw]

Not only that we just got married on 10/7. Bought an '88 Dolphin 900 a couple days ago after considering things for a few weeks. We found a fair deal and while it needs work we're good with that. It has about 77k miles and drives nicely.

We're spending 3-4 weeks locally before our new rental is ready so it will be living in the RV while working out the kinky parts...I mean the RV not the, well you know the honeymooner thing...

I've rebuilt two mobile homes from the bones up so other than the electrical the rest has seemed the same.

Next summer we plan on a cross country meander from here near Santa Barbara, CA to the Carolinas...looking for that perfect place to settle. My beautiful bride has never been able to travel, I have traveled the country far too much so it will be fun this time through new eyes. She is also JAZZED about our new "place" as she calls it...she is a real trooper who is not afraid to get dirty...plus she loves fishing!!

So tomorrow is moving a few remaining things to storage then off to local RV park for the break in period and learning curve (not to worry we have been living together for almost a year so that isn't new and we are never too far apart anyway.

OK on to the Dolphin. My lovely found a folder with ALL the original doco & manuals tucked away into a cabinet. So once schedule permits I'll scan them for sharing. Including that elusive '88 Dolphin Owner's Manual...

I pretty much looked for structural issues, tested the electric 110v connection and put 3-gallons of propane in the tank. That's all. When connected to city power everything works. Haven't done more than leak test the propane connections around the coach.

I know we're weird for this sort of feet-first thing but why not? It's all about the adventure and since El Nino is gonna drown California so we might as well start the adventure now, right?

We spent the day cleaning dust and such. I have a hole on the outside shower wall to patch up, have tested the roof AC on 110v electric as does the fridge. No testing of propane side of anything yet. Need to add a coach battery and will post over in the correct sub-forums for advice.

I will be leaning on the forum and the Yahoo group for electrical help, I HATE electrical worse than black water.

I actually have been wanting to do this sort of wandering most of my life. Drive until tired then stop and smell the roses for a week or twenty. Now I have someone who actually asked me to stop being a perfectly good bachelor AND asked if I would want to do exactly what we are intending.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi and thanks already for all the good advice I've read here. Expect some questions that might make you question if I should even be allowed to sit in the thing let alone fix stuff, not to worry I learned long ago to laugh at myself when I bugger something.

We have a 16yr old to consider so we can't leave right away, hence needing a new stick-built place for the next 18-months give or take...but after that we are OTR. In the mean time we can get in plenty of weekend getaway and perhaps "sell the boy" to fund some of the updates needed.

[mustrmrk]

rkw,

You sound like you're really looking forward to your new lives together. Have fun and enjoy yourselves. My wife and I have found this forum to be a great resource during our transition to full time RVing . And everyone here seems to enjoy "paying it forward", so ask away.

[Guest Dolly]

We too have an 88 Dolphin 500. We have been married 30 years and all of them fulltimer/boondockers. Workcampers. We don't like rv parks. Freedom of the road does not exist anymore. Everything and almost everywhere costs something now days. Personal safety is paramount. Don't ignore your surroundings. Enjoy but don't be stupid and don't tread on other RVer's space. In other words don't park two feet off someone's bumper and then fire up your generator. Go solar if you can and get used to being VERY CLOSE with your mate. LOL