needabreak
New Member
Hello Everyone!
I am a new member and this is my first post. To put a smile on your face, I must tell you of our experience with this our first RV trip. In late 2018 my wife and I purchased an old class C 1995 Itasca Spirit built by Winnebago.
We were so excited leaving out on our first trip. The destination was Edisto Beach, SC. It was night when passing through Columbia SC in heavy rain as we approached a large junction of interstate 26 to interstate 20, I realized too late the long curving string of tail lights on the junction exit, as seen through the down pour, were actually stopped vehicles. During the minimum 150 foot slide/skid/hydroplane, with brakes fully locked up, I had visions of our RV being towed to a local junk yard. When we finally came to a complete stop, there may have been at the most 6 or 7 inches between their bumper and ours. Even from our elevated seated positions all we could see was part of their upper trunk and their complete rear window with two rear seat passengers partly turned around with what appeared in our headlights to be very large and wide open eyes. We were close enough to tell their pupils were not dilated. That's OK, it proved our brakes and tires worked well and our headlights capable of illuminating facial features through rain and glass.
One hour later it got rather windy and gusty on I-95. I was going about 65 MPH on the interstate when we heard what sounded like an explosion. I thought maybe a tire had blown but everything seemed normal so we continued on. Hours later when we arrived at the campground, we found we had lost a 5 foot section of delaminated outside Filon material from the front upper right side. Oh, previous explosion sound now solved. That's OK, that's what a couple of commercial size black trash bags and a roll of duct tape are for. In 15 minutes we were prepared for more rain due that night at our campsite.
At 1 AM we woke to roof rain water dipping on us in our bed. We also found rain water dripping from the overhead AC unit in Kitchen and multiple leaks around the long front window of the overhead sleep cab, which then soaked onto the cushions. When we removed the wet cushions we found the whole overhead cab wood was rotted. That's OK. That's what buckets and towels are for. All that was needed now was to set our alarm for each hour to get up and empty buckets and wring out the towels. We found the sound of water dripping into the buckets rather relaxing and soothed us back to sleep each time between bucket changes.
After a wonderful nights rest I hooked up the RV to the provided outside water source. What is that hissing sound? Could it have something to do with that water flowing out from under the kitchen cabinet? Yes, a split/cracked metal faucet that must not have been winterized. That's OK. How blessed we were to already have towels and buckets at our fingertips from the night adventure! Well, so much for inside plumbing on this trip. Who needs inside pluming anyway? That's OK, that's what the campground bathrooms are for. We made sure we recouped what we paid for full hookup by, I guess you could say, really giving them our full business.
The forecast was calling for more rain and since it was now daylight, I decided to roll out the awning. What is that terrible ripping and flapping sound? Oh, that is the entire sun rotted awning material detaching from the RV and then flapping round and round the spring loaded end boom. That snapping sound? Oh that is the aluminum joints as the whole structure heads to the ground. That's OK, that's what rope is for, to lash all the rolled up material, boom, rails supports etc. into one big bundle and place on top of the roof for the return trip home. Tacky looking? Well, yes, but certainly not as bad as in National Lampoon?s Vacation 1985 movie where Chevy Chase transports deceased Aunt Edna by tying her wrapped body to the station wagon roof.
With our weekend getaway at its end and all issues now behind us, we started our return trip home with a sense of pride in how we had handled adversity. Within a few minutes the cruise control died, never to return. That's OK, that's why you have two feet, rest one, use one, and then switch every 20 min. This leg movement also helps prevents deep vein thrombosis. I was just so thankful I had checked the air pressures of our beautiful Michelin tires that had almost perfect tread. Who knew they were 14 years old? Not me, but the hot interstate road surface knew! Boom! Bang-bang-bang-bang as the right rear inside dually tire morphed into a rubber and steel thrashing machine, beating the tire well into a modern art piece of aluminum housing, entire rear tire flap and its frame, tire steel belts, rubber and nylon strands, and even traces of the almost square foot of inside wood and vinyl flooring now missing. That's OK, that's what a spare tire is for. Oh, but wait, "that is the original spare from 1995" said the man they sent us after our call to Good Sam's roadside assistance. ?I will not put that time bomb on your RV, however, I will sell you a trusty used tire?. That's OK, that's what Visa debit cards are for.
As we eventually pulled into our blessed home driveway, I felt my dear wife's hand slip over mine and with a gentle squeeze she softly made two statements, "I still love my RV" ( she does! )??"We were just making memories" ( we did! ). Oh my goodness did we ever!
Hope you enjoyed our story.
Obviously we are in need of 7 tires (includes the spare laugh out loud). I would so appreciate knowing where I should go on this site to glean information and experience of other Class C owners as to tire brands, ACTUAL millage experienced, high end like Michelin Defender XLT vs Hercules HTS as a lower end, age out vs wear out, tire pressure monitors, can you really feel differences in handling and traction, etc. I welcome any and all who wish to direct me to proper forum or respond directly to me with their experience. The only tire size listed on door plate is LT22575R16 LOAD E 10 PLY Thank you one and all! Bruce and Kathy
I am a new member and this is my first post. To put a smile on your face, I must tell you of our experience with this our first RV trip. In late 2018 my wife and I purchased an old class C 1995 Itasca Spirit built by Winnebago.
We were so excited leaving out on our first trip. The destination was Edisto Beach, SC. It was night when passing through Columbia SC in heavy rain as we approached a large junction of interstate 26 to interstate 20, I realized too late the long curving string of tail lights on the junction exit, as seen through the down pour, were actually stopped vehicles. During the minimum 150 foot slide/skid/hydroplane, with brakes fully locked up, I had visions of our RV being towed to a local junk yard. When we finally came to a complete stop, there may have been at the most 6 or 7 inches between their bumper and ours. Even from our elevated seated positions all we could see was part of their upper trunk and their complete rear window with two rear seat passengers partly turned around with what appeared in our headlights to be very large and wide open eyes. We were close enough to tell their pupils were not dilated. That's OK, it proved our brakes and tires worked well and our headlights capable of illuminating facial features through rain and glass.
One hour later it got rather windy and gusty on I-95. I was going about 65 MPH on the interstate when we heard what sounded like an explosion. I thought maybe a tire had blown but everything seemed normal so we continued on. Hours later when we arrived at the campground, we found we had lost a 5 foot section of delaminated outside Filon material from the front upper right side. Oh, previous explosion sound now solved. That's OK, that's what a couple of commercial size black trash bags and a roll of duct tape are for. In 15 minutes we were prepared for more rain due that night at our campsite.
At 1 AM we woke to roof rain water dipping on us in our bed. We also found rain water dripping from the overhead AC unit in Kitchen and multiple leaks around the long front window of the overhead sleep cab, which then soaked onto the cushions. When we removed the wet cushions we found the whole overhead cab wood was rotted. That's OK. That's what buckets and towels are for. All that was needed now was to set our alarm for each hour to get up and empty buckets and wring out the towels. We found the sound of water dripping into the buckets rather relaxing and soothed us back to sleep each time between bucket changes.
After a wonderful nights rest I hooked up the RV to the provided outside water source. What is that hissing sound? Could it have something to do with that water flowing out from under the kitchen cabinet? Yes, a split/cracked metal faucet that must not have been winterized. That's OK. How blessed we were to already have towels and buckets at our fingertips from the night adventure! Well, so much for inside plumbing on this trip. Who needs inside pluming anyway? That's OK, that's what the campground bathrooms are for. We made sure we recouped what we paid for full hookup by, I guess you could say, really giving them our full business.
The forecast was calling for more rain and since it was now daylight, I decided to roll out the awning. What is that terrible ripping and flapping sound? Oh, that is the entire sun rotted awning material detaching from the RV and then flapping round and round the spring loaded end boom. That snapping sound? Oh that is the aluminum joints as the whole structure heads to the ground. That's OK, that's what rope is for, to lash all the rolled up material, boom, rails supports etc. into one big bundle and place on top of the roof for the return trip home. Tacky looking? Well, yes, but certainly not as bad as in National Lampoon?s Vacation 1985 movie where Chevy Chase transports deceased Aunt Edna by tying her wrapped body to the station wagon roof.
With our weekend getaway at its end and all issues now behind us, we started our return trip home with a sense of pride in how we had handled adversity. Within a few minutes the cruise control died, never to return. That's OK, that's why you have two feet, rest one, use one, and then switch every 20 min. This leg movement also helps prevents deep vein thrombosis. I was just so thankful I had checked the air pressures of our beautiful Michelin tires that had almost perfect tread. Who knew they were 14 years old? Not me, but the hot interstate road surface knew! Boom! Bang-bang-bang-bang as the right rear inside dually tire morphed into a rubber and steel thrashing machine, beating the tire well into a modern art piece of aluminum housing, entire rear tire flap and its frame, tire steel belts, rubber and nylon strands, and even traces of the almost square foot of inside wood and vinyl flooring now missing. That's OK, that's what a spare tire is for. Oh, but wait, "that is the original spare from 1995" said the man they sent us after our call to Good Sam's roadside assistance. ?I will not put that time bomb on your RV, however, I will sell you a trusty used tire?. That's OK, that's what Visa debit cards are for.
As we eventually pulled into our blessed home driveway, I felt my dear wife's hand slip over mine and with a gentle squeeze she softly made two statements, "I still love my RV" ( she does! )??"We were just making memories" ( we did! ). Oh my goodness did we ever!
Hope you enjoyed our story.
Obviously we are in need of 7 tires (includes the spare laugh out loud). I would so appreciate knowing where I should go on this site to glean information and experience of other Class C owners as to tire brands, ACTUAL millage experienced, high end like Michelin Defender XLT vs Hercules HTS as a lower end, age out vs wear out, tire pressure monitors, can you really feel differences in handling and traction, etc. I welcome any and all who wish to direct me to proper forum or respond directly to me with their experience. The only tire size listed on door plate is LT22575R16 LOAD E 10 PLY Thank you one and all! Bruce and Kathy
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