Pick-Up Report (Semi-long) June 18, 2009, 09:33:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103416We made the big leap last week: after 7 years in our 2002 Front Lounge, we moved up to a 2005 Rear Bath. We spotted it on the LWALDRV Group's For Sale list back in early April while on our way home after our winter's sojourn down south. I emailed the seller with a couple of questions, just to see whether it was worth more serious consideration. His answers back to me were what we were looking for in an RB: two sofas and no entertainment center. So after Liz and I chewed that around a bit, I made that fateful call. We talked quite a while and Joseph, the seller, was able to answer all my questions. We made the deal right then and there, sight unseen.The LD was .located in New Mexico and Joseph offered to deliver it to us in MA free of charge, if we could wait until early June. A bit later he asked if we could meet him in Rochester NY for delivery, to which we readily agreed. So on the 8th of June, bright and early, we headed west to Rochester in a rental van loaded with a bunch of stuff for the rig. We met Joseph and went over the rig and the operation of some features with which I was not familiar, such as the Kwikee levelers. We signed all the papers, handed over a check, and we were on our way.We spent almost a week driving it back to MA, no surprise to those of you familiar with our not-so-rapid pace of travel. Not too much of a difference in driving it versus the FL; I do have to remember the slighter longer rear overhang and it's wider swing when turning, but it wasn't hard getting used to that. Coming through the Berkshire Hills of western MA, I had a chance to try out the tow/haul transmission. Boy, what a difference on the downhills - hardly had to touch the brake pedal at all.Although I doubt that I would spring for levelers on a rig, this one came with them, and I must admit that they're pretty nifty to have. Press a couple of buttons and presto, level and solid.This LD came pretty well equipped: the afore-mentioned levelers, manual roof-top satellite TV dish, Pro-Fill system for the house batteries, and Tireman valves. Also, totally unexpected, a complete Blue Ox tow-bar system (minus the toad's base plate) and a Brake Buddy were also included. We still have no plans to tow, however, so I may put them up for sale. It was lacking the better mirrors with the larger convex mirrors, but I'll soon take care of that. It also has no vent covers on any of the roof-vents - we find that a necessity in rainy weather, so I'll have to order a couple of the MaxAir II's.The rig is in pretty good condition, just as advertised by the seller. A very few minor scratches, but that's it. He had kept it well-polished and had the interior cleaned a couple of days before we picked it up.Now the fun begins to get it equipped with all our "toys" from our FL: cell phone antenna and amplifier, cellular router, weather radio, console up front for my laptop-based GPS system, replacing the Sharp TV with our newer digital TV (that was a fun project, dealing with Steve's custom-designed pull-out TV mount), and preparing for cold-weather camping with the installation of foam and snap-on covers for the vents and cab-over windows. And of course, I've got to order a set of LED tail-lights from Terry. We're going to put a cat-door in the forward dinette bench and keep the cat litter box in there - out of sight and smell, yet easy to access to clean each day. I have noticed a couple of spots where I can put some custom-built shelves. My sofa-back storage cabinet from the FL fit perfectly in the RB behind the port sofa.What a difference three feet makes! Between the additional inside storage areas and five, count 'em five, exterior compartments, there'll be plenty of room for all our stuff without having to turn the shower into a pantry, as we did in the FL. Liz will be able to take her huge dictionary with her this winter! I'm sure over time I'll figure out how to fill those compartments.The Feature Photo on our web site is of the "new" rig on our way home.Only one small detail left: anyone interested in a nice little '02 FL ??Ted H.NE-12 '05 RBwww.wxtoad.com http://www.wxtoad.com/>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Pick-Up Report (Semi-long) Reply #1 – June 19, 2009, 10:48:44 am Yahoo Message Number: 103426Congratulations Ted, and welcome to the 'RB' club.Barry Where are we? http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=122
Re: Pick-Up Report (Semi-long) Reply #2 – June 19, 2009, 11:11:54 am Yahoo Message Number: 103427Ted and Liz, You will love your rear bath ... it's the best!!! (Ducking!) And thanks for all the great campground information on your website. Have you considered following Andy's footsteps and putting all the information on a CD to, ahem, sell?Lorna Lakeside at Laura Walker SP, GA
Pick-Up Report (Semi-long) Reply #3 – June 19, 2009, 12:41:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103430Ted and Liz, congrats on your new silver LD!!! I'm glad you are enjoying all the new room. She (or he) looks beautiful in the picture but I was wondering if it was the light or what on the front fake windows. They look like there was something put on them as they are not bright like the other windows. Just wonderingJudy Wms.Blue '07 RB "Dog Daze"And all the fur kids[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pick-Up Report (Semi-long) Reply #4 – June 19, 2009, 03:55:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103436Congratulations, Ted & Liz! Your new rig sounds perfect for you, and I hope you'll soon find a good home for your not-so-old one. :-) Having seen it at NE-LD group get-togethers, I can testify that it's in superb condition, so it'll make a great rig for some lucky buyer.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Pick-Up Report (Semi-long) Reply #5 – June 20, 2009, 08:21:35 am Yahoo Message Number: 103448Barry, Lorna, Judy & Andy,Thanks for your kind words. Yes indeed, we are very pleased to have found this rig. We've always admired the wide-open spacious feeling of the RB.So you're at Laura Walker, Lorna. It's a nice little park, isn't it? But the big question is - what the heck are you doing way down there in the south country at this time of year? You need to get yourself up here to New England where summers are absolutely exquisite. And linger into autumn to catch the foliage.It must be the light reflecting on the fake windows, Judy. They're just the normal LD black raised panels.Thanks for the endorsement of our "old" rig, Andy. We're hoping it will sell soon. Although LD's are truly wonderful rigs, I'm not really keen about owning two of them!Ted H.'02 FL & '05 RBCharlton, MAwww.wxtoad.com http://www.wxtoad.com/>Congratulations Ted, and welcome to the 'RB' club.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Pick-Up Report (Semi-long) Reply #6 – June 20, 2009, 12:02:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103455Quote We made the big leap last week: after 7 years in our 2002 Front Lounge, we moved up to a 2005 Rear Bath. We met Joseph and went over the rig and the operation of some >features with which I was not familiar, such as the Kwikee >levelers. We spent almost a week driving it back to MA, no >surprise to those of you familiar with our not-so-rapid pace of >travel. Although I doubt that I would spring for levelers on a >rig, this one came with them, and I must admit that they're pretty >nifty to have. Press a couple of buttons and presto, level and solid. Only one small detail left: anyone interested in a nice little '02 >FL ?? Congrats Ted and Liz on your new rig! And now that you've seen the light and gone silver, don't you agree that it IS the best color?;-) One question though, since you brought the topic up. Will the added benefit of having hydraulic levelers (no longer having to pack up your leveling planks when you break camp) mean that you can squeeze an extra 25 miles per day in to your exhausting travel pace? ;-) Good luck with the new rig; hope to finally see you on the road some day!Steve K.
Re: Pick-Up Report (Semi-long) Reply #7 – June 21, 2009, 04:57:50 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103478Thanks, Steve,Silver vs teal???..hmmmm, we think we're gonna miss the green! But I'm sure the silver will grow on us. It just seems very subdued to us.Aw, c'mon, you don't really think we could add another 25 miles to our day, do you? You'll note that it took us 6 days to get back home to MA from Rochester NY. I see the benefit of the levelers as being able to lounge about for a second cup of tea brewed in my Brita pitcher.And now we have two sofas, I'm really in a quandary as to whether we should sleep length-wise or cross-wise? againThanks for your good wishes. Indeed, some one of these days we do need to meet up somewhere.Ted H.'05 RBCharlton, MAwww.wxtoad.com http://www.wxtoad.com/>Congrats Ted and Liz on your new rig! And now that you've seen the light and gone silver, don't you agree that it IS the best color?;-) One question though, since you brought the topic up. Will the added benefit of having hydraulic levelers (no longer having to pack up your leveling planks when you break camp) mean that you can squeeze an extra 25 miles per day in to your exhausting travel pace? ;-) Good luck with the new rig; hope to finally see you on the road some day!Steve K.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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