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Topic: From Finger Lakes to Mothership (long) (Read 6 times) previous topic - next topic
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From Finger Lakes to Mothership (long)
Yahoo Message Number: 49854
Greetings Everyone.
 Karen and I just returned from a visit to sunny California and Nevada.
Returned to post blizzard conditions in NY and long waits at JFK airport. Oh well, it was still faster than driving and we could live in Boston where they are showing houses on TV encased in ice.

As usual, the advice from this group was on the mark.  Visit the mothership and you will change your preconceived ideas about what you want.  In our case we went to look at the 30' TB (actually saw the IB) but came away with a different point of view.  We spent a good 6+ hours climbing around the various rigs and talking with Ed.  Climbing around and poking into corners is something that you feel funny about doing when visiting someone you just met in the campground.  We also got to see the LDs without skin as they were being built.

Anyway, we learned that we will be looking for a 26 or 23 ft Rear Bath, most likely the 26'.  Why?  Well it was the shower.  Karen has a bad back and in the 30IB and 26MB as well as many others, the midship bath has the shower floor higher than the coach floor.  This means that when you step out of the shower, there is a slight torque to the back.  We experienced this in a mobile home we had when we were first married and know that sometimes when your feet are wet this can be very uncomfortable.
 If we were to order today, it would be a 26RB with the barrel chairs and folding table.  Yes I know that double couches give you more storage but Karen insists that the chairs fit her back better and give a nice place to watch TV etc. (We had a SOB in previous years with one chair and it was a competition to see who would have the chair for the evening.) Carpet color is another potential issue.  We've made the mistake of having a light brown carpet in a high traffic area before and don't what to make it again.  So the blue or the teal are more likely than the brown.  I like the red exterior but I am not sure that the blue or teal interior would work well with it.  Suprisingly, the factory colors for other interior matierals were not an issue for us.
Options would include: electric steps, 1 solar panel, upgraded shocks, t-fitting for water filter, and extra blocking next to the door for a folding, oversized assist handle on the outside. (I bought one for a modest amount that Ed had in his office and Steve took digital pictures of where it go and made notes on the modifications to be made.) The rest of the selections were fairly routine and have been discussed at length before.

Ah... but our calendar is too tight.  If we ordered one now, we would have to specify delivery in late July or August.  Ed is willing to work with us on that but I am not sure it would work.  Another couple of years and we can make our schedule fit whatever.  So, it is likely that we will first look for a 26RB (2000 or newer) that meets the major requirements above during the next two years. (If the chairs were not an issue, there are two nice ones in the Files.)  If we are not successful, we will probably buy one new in the summer of 2007 or thereafter. Comments or suggestions regarding what we may have overlooked would be appreciated.
 The rest of the trip was fine.  Karen visited the "Road to California" quilt show.  My brother's wedding went off without a problem.  We got 10 days of sunshine and warm temperatures away from the NY winter.

Greg and Karen, Finger Lakes Wannabees
Re: From Finger Lakes to Mothership (long)
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49870
"Anyway, we learned that we will be looking for a 26 or 23 ft Rear Bath, most likely the 26'. Why? Well it was the shower."

Greg and Karen
 The shower and bath, in our 23.5' Fl, is the same as the MB. It is my wife's favorite part of our LD.
We feel it is the best bath/shower arrangement of any of the LD floorplans.
 "If we were to order today, it would be a 26RB with the barrel chairs and folding table. Yes I know that double couches give you more storage but Karen insists that the chairs fit her back better and give a nice place to watch TV etc."
 The chairs are a love them or hate them kind of thing. We have owned two Front Lounge models, both with the barrel chairs, and we are in the `love em' camp. I almost never use the couch because it hurts my back, YMMV.
Visiting the Factory is the best move you could have made.
BTW, there is a lot of available storage behind the barrel chairs.
See the link below to see how we have made use of it. The folding table also has potential storage space, hidden inside the table (23.5' Front Lounge, I do not know about the MB)).
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lw5315us/album?.dir=8d16&.src=ph&store=& prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lw5315us/my_photos Or http://tinyurl.com/4q36u

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lw5315us/album?.dir=74ba&.src=ph&store=& prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lw5315us/my_photos Or http://tinyurl.com/4ccrb

"We've made the mistake of having a light brown carpet in a high traffic area before and don't what to make it again. So the blue or the teal are more likely than the brown."
 The blue carpeting shows dirt very quickly. You will probably end up using throw rugs, most of us do.
We bought two rugs at the local bath store and made a custom fitted throw rug that covers all of the carpet in the Lounge area. The next owner will get to enjoy the Factory carpet :-).

I hope the weather improves; you folks in the Finger Lakes area can sure get hammered by the lake effect snow.
My sister-in-law has a house in Upstate near Cooperstown, NY. We always enjoyed our winter trips there, especially when it snows, but we have never had the ammount of snow and cold that you have been experiencing.
I have also enjoyed getting on the plane and flying home to the warmth of So Cal, after a week or two of the cold. We are such wimps.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: From Finger Lakes to Mothership
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49874
At 06:21 PM 1/25/2005 +0000, you wrote:

Quote
BTW, there is a lot of available storage behind the barrel chairs.
See the link below to see how we have made use of it. The folding table also has potential storage space, hidden inside the table (23.5' Front Lounge, I do not know about the MB)).
Wow! I am impressed! We had a FL for ten years, and never thought of doing any of this. It's a terrific idea, very well executed. Now I have to start thinking of ways to improve the kitchen storage in our new (to us) rear kitchen model. I've already transferred all the goods from the old unit to the new one, and really miss the storage areas in the FL kitchen.
 Thanks for sharing these pictures. The projects are really inspiring.

Sonsie
 
Re: From Finger Lakes to Mothership (long) - WINE
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 49877
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lw5315us/album?.dir=8d16&.src=ph&store=&
 
Quote
prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lw5315us/my_photos Or http://tinyurl.com/4q36u
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lw5315us/album?.dir=74ba&.src=ph&store=&

Quote
prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lw5315us/my_photos Or http://tinyurl.com/4ccrb

Larry
Hmmmmm, you must remove all of that wine and set it in a hiding spot just before entering state and national parks 'cause we all know there is no booze in the parks. Tehehehe   ;-)

Dave

Ruby the red 04 RK - whose picture of her humans at their first LD
dinner in the Grand Canyon has wine glasses on the table - oh but
that's just water!!   ;-)
Dave

2017 TK