Sweat Equity Travel Trailer for Us

[Ray Eklund]

Travel Trailers need a lot of attention that costs money. Pay Someone or you Sweat to Fix it yourself. Your choice. Sweat Equity is a money maker... and not taxable. Yet.

There are other Sweat Equity options. Most are not pleasant.

My choices have preferred, Sweat Equity. If I want it done my way... I do it my way. It Pays and I do not employ one or more of a company's staff to work on my trailer. Your trailer... not their trailer. Different points of view. Your time is $0. Their time, with company benefits, overhead, insurance, taxes...OK you are catching on and you get all of this at... $125 per hour? Their Sweat Equity pays just as well as Your Sweat Equity.

I saved 50% of the money paid for our Oliver Elite II, last week. Priced a 12 foot high RV/Car Port and wanted a removable roof part so the Solar Panels could be exposed anytime... after Sunrise. That was nearly 50% earned by just saying... Nope. Did it with a smile, too.

The 28 foot Airstream is in our RV Garage. Again... Sweat Equity not paying every month for storage. Adding it to the house build... was a deal. I may charge myself more to store the Airstream this year. Sweat Equity? Well... maybe. Works for me. I needed a lot of garage... rocks and good stuff need shelving.

I can work the with awning and free shade most of the year. During most of the hot season, we would rather be Boondoocking in the High Country... so not using this RV Port anyways.

Someone asked why did we have an Airstream and an Oliver Elite II? I said 'Because We Can'. Pure sweat equity pays. I know my limitations. I ignore my limitations, at first... and then read the instructions or ask Nancy to read them and I will operate the tool(s).

We do all of our Landscaping and Palm Trimming and Rock Arrangements and... again, sweat equity just paid for a future purchase, unknown at the moment.

No expensive Swimming Pool, weekly cleanings and' floaters', with fur or feathers... no Fish.

I finished fill four trash containers outside. It is 121 degrees and 1% humidity, and I finished whacking Palms. ...and now you know WHY we can afford two Travel Trailers. Sweat Equity.

This is not a toilet plugged question, noisy AC, or tire pressure debates. If you do Sweat Equity... post. If you would like to learn... I can teach you Sweat Equity. I am going to the City Dump tomorrow... bring gloves. Palms have spines at the base that will may you cry... if not paying attention.

Have a good day, my break is over and time to toss my clothing into something sealed for a good wash. Post your Sweat Equity, as I will not be at the health spa to listen.

[Ray Eklund]

Sunny, 3% humidity, 116 degrees. Cut and loaded a pickup load of Palm Fronds from our Palm Tree Oasis. One spine stuck through my glove and bled a little. Sweat Blood Equity.

Dug out a 5 foot bush, finally got the stump out and Nancy and I are going to the City Dump to Celebrate. Sort of. I did survive and our Blue Heelers love the sweat I am producing.

Obviously nobody cares about doing lousy jobs that some would rather pay someone to do... probably could use some exercise. Some pay to go to the Gym and sweat with the guys. Not my kind of atmosphere. I sweat and am fit from hard work and can step back and say....ahhhhhhhh. Done.

Why mirrors when working out? I heard. Air Conditioning... would be handy.

Another Sweat Equity savings is we avoid paying to park at a RV Park. At the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show... we needed to RV Park in those days.

Airstreams have a bit of advantage over many other travel trailers. You can park for the evening and... nobody asks you... to leave. I would give some examples but why give up good, easy Sweat Equity?

I service our Airstream. Again an example of Sweat Equity. If you screw it up more... you had to pay to fix it anyways. Although, if you have a few tools... it is better than the $75 to $125 an hour given to have it done... right... the first time. I work on it until I give up. As of today... have not spent a Dime at a TT Service Center.

Will not be long and my Airstream is... FREE. Although I am having trouble finding anything on it to fix, upgrade or toss out. Still looking...

I have cooled off and Nancy is ready to head to the... City Dump. Part of our trash service options. Sometimes... it is amazing the 'good stuff' people toss. We will see.

[Gene]

Hourly labor in Grand Junction at two shops I checked are $125 and $150/hour. I used to do almost everything, but age catches up with all of us. One shop I had do two things had to call in someone for one thing and that guy charged ripoff prices—even more per hour—and may not be called back by them. Shortage of mechanics is not making it better.

I used to do almost everything that needed fixing or remodeling at home too. And we bought some exercise machines so we wouldn’t have to go to a gym and saved thousands and thousands over the past twenty years.

I was installing a 30 amp RV receptacle a few days ago and the heat got to me. It was almost 100. Working outside at 110+ seems rather dangerous, especially more physically demanding work than electrical work next to the main breaker panel.

Keep it up Ray as long as you can, but someday you will notice you can’t do what you want to. I was remodeling and fixing and building through my 70’s but at 83 I suddenly felt drained after 3 or 4 hours of work. Naps are really good.

[farafield]

I have lived in this house for 35 years, raised 3 children and numerous critters. I am currently cleaning out the garage, which has accumulated various odds and ends as they do, plus mouse remnants of various forms, so that I can cut out a large door and put my beloved Bramble indoors. People said call 1-800-Got-Junk. It sounded nice and easy, but, no. So I am advertising stuff on our Front Porch Forum, and taking stuff to the dump in fits and starts. I took 5 bikes to a bike rehabber including my c. 1979 Fuji, navy blue, elegant 10 speed which got me around Boulder back in the day. (I listened to Steve Winwood's Arc of the Diver on my Walkman while traveling to and fro classes.) The guy at the bike shop admired it for some reason other than her beauty and my nostalgia. It's hard to say goodbye but the roads seem too treacherous around here now for me and someone can put her to good use. I will put a bunch of stuff at the end of the driveway with a FREE sign and cross my fingers. Life goes on. The losses are piling up. But we are so incredibly fortunate to be able to watch sunsets, listen to crickets, see sunrises, and read books.

[farafield]

Jeez you guys, over 100, whether a dry heat or not is still hot!

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by farafield

Jeez you guys, over 100, whether a dry heat or not is still hot!

******
I am a young 74, shortly a young 75.

I can jump over short buildings with single bounce, maybe two... but maybe one, if in the morning. Run faster than a 34 foot Airstream being towed by a Mercedes. Change the course of the 40 foot water hose with the help of my wife. Bend aluminum in my bare hand... and the other, with a glove, as it is sharp on the edges.

Nancy can go to CVS, using coupons, and get 64 ouce mouth wash for 6 cents. Today, only. Savings... Pays for Propane at Costco...

I plan to do the same at 80 and 90. I will carry a lighter tool box, with fewer tools. But more tool boxes.

We get Free Food at the Casinos, playing nickel Video Poker... playing to win you need 10 nickels per hand, with three hands. Win a Spin... and quit.

Free beer from the tap, tip $5 to the Cocktail Waitress.... who knows us by name and Beer we drink. Modelo... cold.

We use postage stamps from our Stamp Collection for full face value, while Dealers pay less than 50%. I lick them, too. I have sheets back into the 1940's at 3 cents a stamp... but late single stamps that are $14 face value... on packages selling Geology and Mining Books on the Internet.

Where the 27FBQ Airstream cannot go... the Oliver Elite II (about 23 feet) takes us where the good Rock Hunting campsites are located. The Airstream 23 and 25 foot Airstreams... are Boondocking Streams.

Come on... where are other Human Bean specimens that are active? Must be more than... five? And a Neanderthal tossed into the mix. Age is just an estimate of endurance, as some 25 year olds cannot take out the trash, they are so out of shape,

Zion has a Flood Watch today... we cannot make it there from Las Vegas in time, so will have to pass this adventure. East of Salina, Utah (5,157 feet elevation) last week was 32F. Ahhhh.... felt like 49F in the Oliver. We rarely use the furnace. The Sun is hot at Sunrise.

No AC. No Furnace. Extra blankets and three Blue Heelers.

...and many complained about NOT having fun during the '2016 Wyoming Adventure'. We had fun... some others said they did. I get you there. I am not a Tour Guide. Watch 'Wagon Train' on television. Those were actors... do not confuse me with an actor.

The 'official' High yesterday was 108F. Seemed like 100F, but still have a pulse. Today is a new day.

[Gene]

At 73 I was cutting down piñon trees with my chain saw with 18” bar and then making the wood fit in our wood stove. We moved then and had no wood stove. I was glad—I had worn out one saw and had to get another one, but by then it was time to stop attacking trees. Then I did a complete remodel on our newest house and finished that at 82. I had slowed down by then out of necessity. Last year we bought a brand new house so I would not try to remodel it despite slowing down (I have put in cabinets where necessary, did a tile feature, hung lots of art, painted the doors a better color, did two painted feature walls, installed a barn door, we moved most of our stuff ourselves, but to me that is not enough).

Towing got hard, so we just bought a small used motorhome (28.75’), just 2.5’ longer than our Airstream was. Now I have another remodeling job, though not like a house. No trees to cut fortunately, though I do miss cutting down trees—they alway fell just where I wanted.

Maybe I would be ok under numerous blankets and no heat as I was when we tent camped, but old guys usually have to get up more during the night and it sure feels cold outside the bed. My wife’s temperature low limit at night is 60.

Age is certainly different for different people, but when your amazing body starts to decline, it is good to be prepared. But I am not aging gracefully, and my wife still is surprised at what I do, but I’d sure like to be 73 again.

I like to save money, but sometimes comfort feels pretty good, especially when I wear out from lack of stamina early in the day. Live to the max while you can. “Max” means different things too. We did 62,000 miles with the Airstream in 10 years, about 15,000 with the Nash in 7 years and the MH, zero except for driving it around town for new tires and some other service. Because the A/C doesn’t cool well since there is insufficient insulation in the ceiling, I have to change the airflow by closing the ceiling “ducts” off (not real ducts, but channels between roof and ceiling and between about 3” of cheap unsealed foam board). The MH is a Thor ACE 27.2 and despite Thor’s awful reputation, it is in very good shape and the chassis is a Ford, common to every smaller MH—but the insulation sure is poor. Other stuff is simple—Cheap TV’s have great video and garbage speakers, fixed with $100 sound bar (on sale). Scratches in wood interior fixed with furniture pens of proper color. No clock? $10 clock has been mounted on cabinet door. The cushions are better quality than the ones that came with the Airstream (we replaced them with new foam and very good quality vinyl on sale, found a seamstress who did new cushions for less than $10 each—she refused more money—and we got much better cushions that looked great for less than $200), but the Thor has good cushions and seating options plus, luxury for camping—a king sized bed! And we can get out of each side unlike our 25 FB. The price asked here was far less than anywhere else in the country and we got it down another $12K.

My trophy wife is also into coupons and can from time to time score a good deal. When I buy things I research and often save a lot. When we set up or break down with our RV’s, we both do the work and sometimes do each other’s jobs to help each other. I bring enough tools to fix a locomotive and always have to fix something on the road, though the last big one was when I managed to bend the jack shaft and had to order a new one and replace it. And we’ve made a little money buying Navajo (Dine’) rugs wholesale and selling them for more.

Ray, I enjoy your outlook on all things—agree with some, not others, but always interesting.

[Ray Eklund]

Gene... a battery operated hand held drill and screw options... my favorite tool. Nancy also knows how to use it. Our three Blue Heelers... they have their spots on mats on the floor and wear fur coats.

My parents could fix... nothing. I was the fixit 12 year old. My Mom bought me a Sears Tool Kit (Craftsman), that was returned to the Sears Surplus store in Independence, Missouri. Still have most of it in the garage. Sears had good tools.

I learned by taking things apart and if it did not work... it did not work when I started. Same with the Airstreams. If I cannot fix or adjust something... I think about it and get back to it... working it out. So far... no Airstream Dealer Service for me. Sweat Equity... but have not figured out what that is worth.

When Boondocking... I need something to do after Sunset. Nancy reads soft cover books. I have a library of 2 to maybe 3 thousand Geology, Archaeology, Paleontology, Structural Geology, Western History from National Park Service studies... even fly fishing fly tying books. Don't read any of them from beginning to end. I use them when I need one for places to explore. Flip through for only what I needed to find out.

Anyone who has a Travel Trailer will have a learning curve for repair and fixing what needs to be secured to the floor, wall and ceiling. I give up on giving advice... as it is ignored often, so read all of the other... cures... and chuckle out loud.

Been everywhere since 2006. Been back too often and need to get further into the wilderness to places to discover. Visited most of the Western National Parks when you just drove up and parked in half full parking lots... if anyone. Not anymore. Most chase after Bear in Yellowstone to get a close up... with a Zoom Lens?

Few seem interested in our kind of conversations, mostly mine it seems, so I will probably do something else. Airstream owners prefer company at RV Parks. We enjoy exploring and hunting for interesting 'stuff' weathering out of Volcanics and Sedimentary Rocks. No body in sight. Makes our hearts 'soar like a bird'.

Stay well, my friend. Pain and sweat is good. You will have Eternity to do... what most expensive RV and Travel Trailer already do. Talk about doing something. Oh yeah.

We sit down, look at our pile of DeLome map atlases... and... been there, done it. Hook up the Oliver Elite II and push further into the National Forests and BLM. When the Road is least traveled.... ahhh our Temporary Home and let our three Blue Heelers run loose. aaaahhhh. Sit and watch Sunsets and talk about when we were totally ignorant Airstream Owners, less than a quarter our current ages tent camping and Places we Camped and may return.

[Rolind]

It is rare to find someone who treats your stuff like you will when you fix it yourself!
My general rule of thumb is, if I think I can fix it I will. Usually, that works out well, occasionally not. When not, I get pretty distraught, but it never keeps me from trying again the next time.
YouTube videos are a gift to the DIYer.

[Wanderings]

My grandfather taught me how to fix things at an early age. When things got too complicated for him, I began to teach myself.


By the time I was 8, I was repairing the television, reading the manual and pulling tubes to take to the tester, then replacing them. I'd studied for my Ham Radio license as well and could pass the theory test, but never mastered Morse Code well enough to pass that part of the test (1961).


Later in life, I was having the siding on my house replaced (under warranty) and had to remove a 12' x 16' patio roof. The contractors returned on Monday to find the roof detached and laying completely intact on cribbing at the end of the patio. They were even more amazed to find it back in place the following Monday without a scratch, and mounted back into the very same holes for the lag bolts. (Amazing what a little ingenuity and some rope and pulleys can accomplish.)


I've maintained my own homes and landscaping including mowing the lawn with a push mower. The mail person remarked that it looked like a lot of work, but I pointed out to her that at least I didn't have to pay for a gym membership.


I've done a lot of minor repairs on Tiny Tiny over the last two years, replacing a couple of rivets, repairing the door latch, and such. I've also made a few upgrades to the systems onboard. Cheaper than the gas required to tow the rig to the dealership for the simpler things.


Every time I tinker with a project or make a repair, I thank my grandfather for teaching me how to fix things myself rather that him fixing things for me. And I remembered to pass the same skills on to others whenever I had the chance.

[Gene]

Some of us want to know how things work and some don't. Some of us can put things back together without "extra" parts left over. Fixers wouldn't have as much to to if things didn't break or others didn't fix them improperly, though I wouldn't mind if things didn't break as often.

I like being able to fix things because it is cheaper, makes me understand how the things I depend on work so I can fix them when they need fixing, and when I can't or won't fix something, make sure the hired fixer doesn't screw it up. Perhaps most of all I like to solve problems.

Now that I have much less stamina because of age, I hire people for things I used to do and don't like that because I have to pay them (a lot!), they don't always do it right, and sometimes I have to show them how to do it (shouldn't they pay me tuition?).

Staying home does get more desirable these days, but I miss the wilderness I used to hike through decades ago—no RV's, sleeping on the ground without a pad under the sleeping bag, curling around the rocks, and living for a few days without people (except Barb) and magnificent views and cleansed air to breathe.

[Ray Eklund]

I use to wear a cape and jump over tall buildings. Now I use an elevator. I prefer a softer landing when things go wrong.

I look under the hood of my 2016 F350 Diesel and if anything goes seriously wrong... Salvage Price. I do not have a crane in my garage. I do have some ladders and a step stool. New wiper blades installed last week. Now if it would rain in Wyoming's Red Desert, I can test them out. High performance wipers may have improved my fuel mileage. I will make notes.

Travel Trailers are fancy shells filled with wire, gizmos and appliances that may be dependable on the Dealer's Lot, but not tested while on the road, being towed.

My best advice: carry a full packages of Lath Scews of three lenghs, a battery operated quality drill with 'phillips' bit, a set of quality drill bits to drill things OUT in cabinet hardware, and insert a Stainless Steel Screw. A sack if 90 degree brackets... will do the trick. Walls and Cabinets... stick to the wall better. Never falling off the wall, onto the floor, full of Campbells' Bacon & Bean Soup cans.

Someone asks for my 'Business Card'. I had them a Lath Screw.

But... dedicated Pop Rivet Fans... find failed pop rivets and insert another. Maybe repeat, one or more times. I screw these pop rivets, often on the CURVED Interior adding well placed metal 90 degree brackets to secure WALLS, that hold the Hull and Cabinets together.

I am a 'No Mercy Lath Screw them Pop Rivets' to eternity. Lath Screws do not fall out, when parked. Unlike Pop Rivets. Only once leaving the Dealer's Lot... gravity takes over.

Being towed, or Parked or just towed off the Dealers' Lot things fall off. Otherwise, why would a Travel Trailer Dealer build a work shop and hire mechanics? Duhhhh... they get paid for THEIR Sweat Equity. By whom?

Watch someone with a problem who stares at a wire, or an interior hole, missing a pop rivet. Mention a Phillips screw driver, or Lath Screw and it sounds... high tech science fiction? Ohms meter is for what?

Money saved by NOT being parked at a RV Park pays for all of our tow vehicle fuel... and food. Our and the Blue Heelers, alike. Watching an Airstream move from spot A to B with the awning down... keeps the awning side cooler? Ask if they need a Phillips and Lath Job.

Back to business. Buy Junk... sell Antiques on EBay. You just need to know what looks like Junk, but everyone wants it. Sound similar to a Travel Trailer losing parts while being towed... to me. Charge 'them batteries'. Ray means business... and I pay shipping. Well, you figured it out already, that 'FREE Shipping' is also, not FREE. But advice... can be.

Many have not figured that out either. I believe I have cured myself of something. Have to look it up.