Loveland Repairs

DM RV and Loveland RV Resort, Loveland, Colorado – June 24 through June 28, 2013

The appointment in Loveland at DM RV to get our air conditioning unit repaired has not necessarily dictated our schedule over the last few weeks but has definitely influenced it. We might have lingered longer in Frisco or RMNP, but need to get this taken care of.

We discovered we had a problem several weeks ago in Salida, Colorado but since we were still experiencing cooler temperatures we could do without it. Besides, we’ve been camping without services all this time and would have had to run the generator if we needed to cool down.

Our air conditioning system has two compressors in it, one for just a little cooling and two for a lot of cooling (tech speak). Our problem was that as long as we only needed a little cooling, it was fine. When we needed a lot of cooling it would run for about 5 minutes and then just quit. Nada! So Frank got the unit manual online and proceeded to run all the diagnostics he could with the tools and instruments he had available and narrowed down the potential problem list to an outdoor fan motor and a freeze probe. He also consulted with folks at www.IRV2.com and got their opinions. Based on all this we identified DM RV of Loveland as the best and closest place to get the air conditioning fixed.

So early in the morning we left Timber Creek campground in the RMNP and proceeded east on highway 34 (Trail Ridge Road), a twisty, windy, steep road headed towards Estes Park. Our strategy was to leave early enough that we would beat all of the “looky lou’s” who stop in the middle of the road and back up traffic to take pictures of wildlife. This is in spite of signs specifically forbidding stopping in the roadway.

Except for being stopped by a rockslide and to to let a Marmot cross the road our plan worked out pretty well. We still can’t get over the feeling of being on top of the world.

As a result we ended up in Estes Park at about 9:30am, just in time for breakfast before we walked around downtown where Frank saw a sign in a jeweler’s window that he thought quite clever.

By 4pm we had arrived at DM RV (The name DM stands for Don and Mary Ann). After a few minutes they were ready for us and we moved into the spot where we would spend the night with a 30 amp electric hookup.

The next morning, bright and early, they began testing the AC unit to determine what was wrong with it. I was impressed that they spent quit a bit of time on the phone with the factory to verify suspected problems. The final verdict? Not only was the outdoor fan motor bad, but so was the indoor fan motor. As precautionary measures we asked them to replace a bearing and the freeze probe as well. BUT (you notice the big but?) they didn’t have those parts in stock and had to order them from Wichita, Kansas. We were assured the parts would arrive on Thursday. So they buttoned everything up and we proceeded on over to Loveland RV Resort to see if they had a spot for us for two nights.

We went by Walmart, checked out the outlet stores and saw the movie “Now You See Them” with Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. It’s a well acted movie with a surprise twist at the end. See it if you can.

So Wednesday was a free day for us.  Time to catch up on some chores, laundry and Frank investigates an LP gas smell that EJ has detected. Frank’s “smeller” is not as good as EJ’s so it hasn’t bothered him. A leak is detected under the coach in a hard to reach spot but it appears to be a loose connection. Ah, a little tightening and we’ll be good to go. Wrong! Once tightened the gas leak is worse. Uhoh!

A rerouting of gas pipes including new valves is in order to isolate the leak so we can continue to use the refrigerator. At least Frank got a brand new aluminum pipe wrench out of this debacle.

We also asked to stay one more night at the RV park and pay in advance. The place has had a slow but steady trickle of new arrivals and we want to make sure we have a place to stay and plug in because it is hot!

Thursday morning we’re back at DM RV where they start removing the AC from Big Guy. Frank also informs them of the gas leak and they agree to fix it. Here’s the big hole where the AC unit used to be.

The unit sitting on the lift dolly in the shop.

And the condenser fan compartment which is filthy because there is no way to clean it without removing the AC unit.

Well the anticipated 2pm UPS delivery time comes and goes and no new motors have arrived. There is no way we can spend the night in Big Guy without AC in these temperatures. It was running 99 degrees inside BG. Conversations with the owner results in us being furnished a room at the local Best Western.

Much work ensues with EJ getting us and the cats ready to move out of Big Guy for the night and Frank cajoling the RV park into changing our reservation to Friday night. Seems their computer system doesn’t allow them to move a reservation but they finally figured out a way to comp us a night so it all worked out.

So we loaded the cats into the Element and headed for Best Western.

Once in the room, both cats scattered and looked for hiding places. EJ used pillows to stuff all the potential cat hiding places she could find. Finally Mocha and Taz decided that the best place to be was back in the cat house. Taz is being pretty cool about it all, but as you can see Mocha is stilled weirded out by the relocation.

We built steps out of drawers so Taz could sleep in bed with us as is her habit. Her arthritis limits her ability to jump so we try to make things easy for her when possible.

Friday morning Mocha woke us up with her yowling, demanding her breakfast. Once fed she quieted down somewhat but was still fairly vocal with her displeasure at being relocated. So we turned up the TV volume while we went to eat.  We enjoyed the free breakfast at the motel. Scrambled eggs, sausage patties, waffles, and biscuits with sausage gravy were all consumed. We arranged for a late checkout to give DM RV as much time as possible to finish up with Big Guy before we had to reoccupy him.

Yesterday Frank had also told the owner that they hadn’t even looked at the gas leak while they were in limbo waiting for the motors to arrive. So right after breakfast he went over to switch the refrigerator to electric and they were just beginning to work on repairing the leak.

We drug our feet as long as possible keeping the cats in the air conditioned car since it was in the 90’s.

Finally, after lunch we drove back to DM RV to check on progress. Turns out they had met the UPS truck somewhere on it’s route earlier this morning to intercept the shipment. This meant they didn’t have to wait until the normal 2PM UPS arrival time to start the AC repairs. Finally around 3:30 everything was done and we were able to turn on the AC in Big Guy again. We let it run for about an hour and half before we left to make sure the problem was fixed. And the gas leak? Yup, cracked pipe. And when Frank tightened it, it only made the crack bigger.

But the Loveland adventure isn’t over yet. Once we were satisfied with the repairs and had paid the bill ($$$) we moved Big Guy back to Loveland RV Resort. We were back in our old spot #189 when we noticed the voltage inside kept dropping. We were in the older neglected area of the park on a 30 amp connection. After just paying big bucks for repairs we didn’t want to jeopardize our investment so we asked and got permission to move to a site with adequate voltage.

After we just got settled in the new spot the skies got dark as a storm was rapidly approaching. And then the downpour began. Only it wasn’t rain. That’s right, it was hail.

By the time it ended it was too dark to see if there was any damage.

Since Big Guy did spend almost 2 days in plus 90 degree we figured some things must have suffered.  We  did find that several things in BG didn’t take the heat real well, especially the chocolate mints! I’m sure we will find other things as we get them out.

The next morning revealed that the hail hadn’t caused any damage but had knocked a lot of leaves out of the cotton wood trees and even knocked down a few branches.

We are glad to get away and continue our northwestern trek. We hope this will be the worst of our surprises along the way.