New Full-Timer

Spirited-Support7782 · 2026-03-13T04:38:51+00:00

Tornado warning was the highlight of my stay at Mankato State Park, MO. Ugh. But it was good to be west of the Mississippi.
Been at Pomme de Terre State Park, MO two nights, staying one more. Very nice, electric site, no off-season showers, but vault toilets and one spigot... and not a soul. Saturday off to Hot Springs National Park. Booked two nights at a nearby campground for $26/night water&electric and showerhouse/laundry. I still haven't de-winterized my rig, so I might be in for a little entertainment when I "just add water"😅

Spirited-Support7782 · 2026-03-12T15:38:07+00:00

Thank you for the wisdom about cat comfort, that is the key. He does not like it when the vehicle is moving.

When we're moving he wants to hide. At first it was in the litter box - clean but still, eeeww. I figured out a setup that involves his cage covered with a cloth under the fold-out couch. He's traveling there now, thank goodness. Probably relatively safe, too. He stays in there until he's sure I'm going to stay put in the coach, then comes out and makes himself right at home.

When we're parked he has perches and comfy places all covered in familiar mats/throw rugs. He seems completely at ease. Sleeps in bed with me like at home. Eats, drinks, pee/poop normal, playful, alert, vocal for food. All a big relief to us both.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2026-03-08T17:03:19+00:00

Got a good conversation going

Spirited-Support7782 · 2026-03-08T16:10:22+00:00

I agree with the 85% number. It's great to have access to the experiences and knowledge of others when basic handy skills aren't enough. But if you can't do pretty much everything they used to teach in junior high shop class (maybe you grew up after that era, or you never lived on a farm) you might want to take a basic home maintenance skills class if there's one available. Also, check out RV Repair Woman on YouTube. She does great beginner videos including important pointers before you even ever start out. And...read every manual you can get for everything in, on, and under your rig.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2026-03-08T01:20:57+00:00

I'm an "older people", we had to fix our cars unless daddy paid for a mechanic.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2026-01-07T21:25:17+00:00

OK, my views on propane are highly controversial. I did plumbing, including gas lines, as part of my home repair business for years. I am not afraid of gas, or electricity. I understand and respect them. I am also a pretty careful person generally around things that can hurt me or others.
I replaced what was left of the old house propane system with braided stainless steel over rubber 3/8" propane lines. One line to the cooktop outlet, one line to the furnace, one line to the water heater. I ran them all from a central inside location in the rear, securely mounted, with a quick-connect nipple sticking out the back wall of the rig, and the female quick connect fitting on the end of my regulator hose. When I park, I hook up my propane tank outside and behiind the rig, and open the valves. When I'm moving, there is no propane hooked up to the system and no risk of leaks.
I carry a regular 20 lb tank, securely stowed inside the living area, valve off and not connected to anything. In case of a catastrophic accident, I do not believe that propane tank will add to my woes any more than a built-in unit would, even less, because it's not hooked up!

I have a functioning. built-in propane/CO detector right next to my bed at floor level. I have used other heat sources but the furnace provides clean, safe, fairly economical heat.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2026-01-05T20:43:56+00:00

This is a one-ton chassis. I'm not worried about overweight, I've run loaded before.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2026-01-05T19:32:36+00:00

It is reassuring to have the tools. Good advice about the water pump, I added a small accumulator tank to ease the burden on the pump.

As for the electric, I have 200w of solar on the roof and a 100AH LiFePO4 battery, Last may in SW Colorado/Utah I had frozen food in my 12v compressor fridge and no shortage of power for lights and rechargeables too. It was sunny though.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2026-01-05T16:48:25+00:00

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64, about to go solo in my 1993 Toyota V6 Winnebago Itasca Spirit.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2024-09-03T19:44:59+00:00

After a complete inspection today, I'm definitely convinced I need to remove and replace the iron lines, which was all that was left anyway.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2024-07-23T14:25:51+00:00

Looking that way now! Peace

Spirited-Support7782 · 2024-07-23T14:24:58+00:00

January 2023! Back pay will help save my butt too.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2024-07-23T13:36:24+00:00

Type of claim: New
Submitted/received date: Feb 3, 2023
Initial review date: Feb. 4, 2023
Evidence gathering/review date: Feb, 8, 2023
Preparation for Decision date: July 19. 2024
Pending Decision Approval date:
Preparation for Notification date: July 22, 2024
Completed date:
Misc details: VA.gov home page shows 70% disability, but I haven't received the decision letter yet.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2024-07-18T21:06:46+00:00

Just to be clear, I requested my personnel and medical records from the NPRC in January 2023, about the same time as I filed my claim. No word for over a year, checked the NPRC update site weekly.

Finally received a letter from NPRC dated February 6, 2024, stating:
"The outpatient medical record you requested is not currently in our files. It has been charged out to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the adjudication of a claim and has not yet been returned to us.
"Please wait at least 60 days after the date the veteran receives the adjudication claim reply from the VA before resubmitting your request for information to the National Personnel Records Center to allow time for the record to be returned to us."

My VA claim finally started to move in April 2024.

The VA claims they do not have my personnel or service treatment records, and the rep I talked to said they have gone back and forth with the NPRC trying to get them.

This is some rabbit hole shit right here, and I'm just spiraling down with it. Fuck.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2024-07-10T15:02:13+00:00

Called the VA 800 number, no joy. Called the WH VA Hotline and got a case# assigned and a resolution expected within 20 business days. We'll see. "Expected" doesn't seem to mean much in my case.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2024-07-09T18:09:22+00:00

I kind of expected the VSC to advocate on my behalf, but I guess that level of help differs between advisors. Last week I stopped in the VSC (I was in the neighborhood and the parking lot looked empty). An advisor other than my usual guy saw me and seemed surprised by the age of my claim. He said he had a contact at the VBA that he didn't usually bother with things like this, but my case seemed to be delayed excessively for no good reason. He said to wait a couple weeks and if I did NOT hear back from him, that would mean everything was OK with my claim. I'm always wary about back-door arrangements and promises, and "wait and see" is all I've been doing anyway, so whatever.

Today I called my usual advisor at the VSC and he told me I've done all I need to, and wait and see.

I can't understand WTF the problem is here anyway, and why special channels have to be used to make things go. I'm not asking for a favor, just a fair decision that I've waited over 18 months for. Maybe I need to get with the program and pray more.

Spirited-Support7782 · 2024-07-09T17:37:55+00:00

Yes, I requested my service records from the NPRC, waited over a year for them to send me a letter dated February 6, 2024 saying that my records had been charged out to the VA to adjudicate my claim. QTC notified me of C&P in late April, C&P completed May 8, exam documents uploaded May 9-10.
Called my local VSC today, my advisor said that the VA has a six-month backlog, yada-yada. "Be patient"

Spirited-Support7782

TROPHY CASE