Circumnavigator Patrick Childress presented DIY Projects, Tips, and Tricks for Repairing and Upgrading your Cruising Sailboat before passing away from covid-19 in June 2020, after 13 years of a circumnavigation with his wife Rebecca Childress. Afterwards, widow Rebecca Childress, the owner of of the 1976 Valiant 40, called Brick House finished her circumnavigation in May 2023. Michael Hayward, a licensed captain & best friend from South Africa, helped her continue the circumnavigation to the Caribbean, where he bought his own sailboat Amiga Mia. Rebecca struggled with Plan B - life after Patrick, life sailing as a widow, assuming much risk and responsibility for her sailboat and home. She finally finished her circumnavigation in May 2023. She then decided to give the RV Life a try and purchased a 29 foot Class C Motorhome. Now she will focus on the transition to RVing, the differences and similarities between the sailing lifestyle and the RV lifestyle and her next adventures.
I would start by flushing the engine's cooling system dear. With chemicals to take away the internal thermal insulating nasties. Follow that up with a compression test. In fact you might want to reverse that. It will only get worse dear if you do not get it figured out. Get it before it gets you. Chemically flush your cooling system and for where you are at right now toss a 180% T-stat in. Save the old, it will come in handy when you get to Alaska. Actually covering your radiator 50% in cold will work better than shoving in a higher t-stat. Just find a few 12 pack beer boxes and flatten them out and set them into the grill to lower the draft through radiator. Do a chemical flush of your cooling system. Watch for leaks. A chem flush of an engine's cooling system has a way of revealing deep corrosion taken by the flush to the point of leaks. That is my advice for until the next episode where more more will be known about the cooling issue. If My engine every hit 220 I would be freaking out. After radiator transmission cooler for ANY automatic. You can also get cooling pans with air pass to replace the original transmission cooler. If all you have is the stock in radiator transmission cooler and you are running engine temps to 200 F ,,,,,,your transmission is not loving on you.
All good points… and most of them checked at the shop I went to in Farmington NM. New thermostat is he he was in there anyways. It has an external cooler . And a radiator flush was sone due to PH levels. But not what fixed it. Or at least not majorly. It was a good thing to do. But not what solved the issue I don’t think. There were two issues… stay tuned… make sure you are subscribed and have notifications turned on… will reveal in next episode what did the trick.
I have been RVing for 15 years and still do not know it all. I am always learning how to take care of my equipment better, how to find better camp spots, Keep traveling and keep learning. Happy Trails.
It's fun watching you transition from passagemaker to road warrior. This is the first video that I have watched since your boat days. I happen to be doing the same for different reasons. At least we are familiar with DC systems. Good luck!
Welcome back! Thanks for watching and commenting :) yes there is a lot that is similar . A bit that’s different too :) Would love to hear your story :)
You should see if your RV engine has a setting or instructions for high elevations. The reason you don't have power is because the air is so thin, your fuel-to-air mixture is messed up. Sometimes older engines have a plug you can insert that tells the engine to change the fuel-to-air mixture for mountain driving. Look up "mountain driving" in the owner's manual or online for your engine model.
That’s an idea I have not thought of… thanks for sharing it with me. The next video will talk about what the solution was. Tomorrow I test it again to see if it’s all truly good now. Thank you!
This episode just popped up on my feed. The last one I had seen was when you had just bought your bike. Glad to see you are doing well. You look great!
Welcome back! Thanks so much for watching my RV videos :) I’m glad RU-vid is giving it maybe more exposure. But of course that comes from people like you watching it, come ring, Lea I g a thumbs up. So thank you!
Yes it was amazing how fast they all got up to dance and have fun. Maybe from being shut ins all winter! Short summer in Colorado! Short season for RVing too. It’s snowing and freezing there as I type this! In September!
fix your overheating asap, you dont have sails me'hearty edit: today its' hills, tomoro it might be a traffic jam giving you too much pressure getting towed, or replacing the engine will be a much bigger drag
No I love crowds (on occassion) Probably why I keep getting Covid! And remember when you sail… you are only saying maybe 30 to 60 days out of the year. The rest of the time you are exploring on land. And on land there are often crowds :)
Hi Rebecca... I'm still where you and Patrick where ... Eastern Cape SA ... and now you are where I've been 😂 loved colorado ... get a good motor tech to check out the viscous behind the fan blade... had a similar problem in Namibia... slow drive not enough cool air getting through the radiator at low speed ... hope this helps ... sending ❤️ 🙏 from SA
wuss=cautious, 16th birthday was on top of Pike's Peak, talked about it so much my mother was sure i would move to Colorado when i graduated. have visited Colorado , hiking/camping many times but never lived there. Very Beautiful. Great Video. Oh No a Cliff Hanger...... 😎
Haha . Yep a couple of cliff hangers :) Yea I think you are right… wuss just means cautious. And cautious I am . Didn’t get to pikes peak but I will one day!!! Yeah Colorado is just so beautiful. Next video will be more of Colorado… it gets better!
There’s a real fun song by WC McColl called Wolfe Creek Pass, where a trucker ends up down in Pagosa Springs, in the side of a feed store. The songs fun, and based on a true story. As for the rv heating problem, there are multiple possibilities. 1 Something as simple as a loose cap which won’t allow the system to reach proper pressure, which allows higher temps before the fluid boils. They should operate around 15 psi. 2 Also, a defective thermostat. Yours also may be too cool. It may need to be hotter. If you’re overheating, the coolant may be flowing too freely, and therefore not spending enough time stationary in the block, to absorb the heat generated by the engine. 3 Is your rad cooling fins blocked, causing poor airflow, and therefor poor cooling. 4 Is the fan functioning properly. Could be a sensor of the the fan clutch. 5 Is the fan shroud missing. Some people remove the fan shroud, but this should not be done. 6 Has someone in the past added a stop leak fluid. This could cause passages in the block to plug up causing flow problems. These are a few I can think of without actually seeing the truck. Best of luck. I hope you can find someone knowledgeable
When flat towing a car there is almost no tongue weight because the vehicle is supporting itself on all 4 wheels. So it’s the drop hitxh weight, the bike rack and the bikes. Well under 300 for sure.
Truck driving for well over 30 years... The pressure in your RV tires will fluctuate from cold at night to the heat of the day. It's good to monitor your tires to make sure pressure doesn't drop too much, but unless you have a leak, you shouldn't have to constantly change the air pressure. I usually adjust mine back and forth between winter and summer driving (every six months). You don't need to carry a big compressor for those rare occasions. Just stop at a truckstop, where they have air available for big truck tires. If your tire gets low while traveling; just air it up with your small compressor to it's limit, then limp on in to a place where they have a big compressor.
Either the top unit got struck by lightning (they are the most suspect Ike thing on your boat I think to lightning activity) or the top unit needs battery replacement (see link below for link to it) or your bearing kit needs to be replaced in that top unit. take it down. if it’s spinning freely then it’s the battery. if it doesn’t spin freely then new kit from Raymarine to service those parts . Good luck :)
I agree that woodstoves are simple and effective, but a couple of questions. How do you store enough dry wood ? I understand the constraints of the bunk, etc, but don't you end up with very cold feet & hot head where it is, so high up rather than the floor ?
Hello. It never got the true test. We were heading to Patagonia when Patrick Passed. I had my cruising guide marked up as to what anchorages had wood available . I had it carefully planned. Many people that do this route run out of diesel because they use that for heating. Diesel is scarce there… many miles between. Like anything sailing and cruising , the best plan is to have a few different plans.
Since my last video came out I've had so many viewers say I need to contact you. One can't pass links over comments from viewer to creator so if you would like to chat I give an email in the breakup video. It was nice watching your latest. I was out there a bit ago in my camper and camped within 20 feet of where you parked near Carlsbad. Besides just chatting you might want one of my BankManagers. It would help you with your power in the camper and I'd like to get the word out on other channels. So write if you like.
www.bougerv.com/?aff=55 You can get direct from BougeRV or go to Amazon BougeRV 30 Feet 8AWG Solar Extension Cable with Female and Male Connector with Extra Pair of Connectors Solar Panel Adaptor Kit Tool (30FT Red + 30FT Black)
No human being is totally safe at any time, anywhere. Even a 240 lb, 6'5" man. Nothing we can do about the ever-present possibility of something bad happening (predators, accidents, running into bad people, etc), so stop worrying and enjoy the life you have. Know where you're going in the afterlife (trust in Jesus as your Savior), and you won't fear death... only whether it will be painful, or quick & painless!
I watched many of your video posts, and always truly enjoyed them. What is so upsetting is this should not have happened to him, or the world for that matter, and Anthony Fauci has still not been made to pay or brought to justice for this terrible crime.
Ah thanks…. I’m always cautious… it’s my middle name :) I use Driveweather to make decisions to stay or go. I was willing to sail in more wind than i’m willing to drive this motorhome in :)
Happy to see the latest video. I enjoy watching your adventures as I slow down for the evening. Safe travels and keep smiling. It looks so good on you!
@@RVLifeNOW I’m actually following you through New Mexico in October. Been doing the RV thing for years here in Alaska. Decided to purchase one just to travel the lower 48 during the winter. Summers are too nice here in Alaska to travel. So now that I got to retire early in life as you I’m going to be adventurous. Keep wearing those shades. You’ve got such a bright future!
It's handy to keep a tarp, old large towel, or large piece of cardboard to put on the ground when you need to look under your van or car. You can lay on them or fold up for kneeling. Love your videos.
Rebecca! This was so fun to watch, I've always wanted to see Carlsbad Caverns, now I have to go! Looking forward to seeing your Colorado adventures. Stay well and have fun!
Glad you enjoyed it! And I hope you get there. It’s still to date, months after the fact really, one of my favorites!!! Colorado is pretty magnificent too though! It’s nice living on the RV full time and taking as long as i want to get places and be places in the motorhome
Truth or Consequences New Mexico, a magical little city sitting on geothermal hot spring. Hot Springs all over the city. These waters will change your life.
So glad to see you're looking so good........a totally different person from the time you were in Cape Town.........and even back in the States and still on your boat. It seems boat life in the end was not good for you any more. All the best on your travels ahead. Blessings from Cape Town. 🌸🌼🌺
ah can’t figure out who this is… but glad to hear i’m looking good :) I think sailing probably ran its course. Not opposed to doing it again someday. But for now RV Life is treating me well. There is still a little bit of stress but whenever i see a challenge up ahead I always remember how much harder it was on the sailboat and how much more I had to lose … and it makes RV life feel like a piece of cake !
@@RVLifeNOW You go Girl!! You really look stunning. We did not meet in Cape Town. I sent you some messages when you were so traumatized by Patric's death. I felt for you. Although Mike was with you afterwards, you were still recovering from an insane period in your life and it took its toll on you. I can see you're in a MUCH better place and I am SO happy for you. Many blessings, love and light.💝💫
Another word of advice, get the muffler repaired. Dragging muffler or safety chains can cause sparks with can cause a wildfire. I am sure you do not want to be the cause of a wildfire. Several years ago loose safety chains caused 7 wildfires along hwy 97 here in Central Oregon. Best deal is the lifetime senior pass. I got mine when they were $10.
Hey… you saying i’m a senior! I just got the normal one year pass because i’m not a senior yet :) Yep… Have already since gotten it fixed properly for that reason and many more reasons :)
oh and i also saw electric brakes connection between toad and motorhome drag and cause sparks and cause the brakes to switch on and off in car and wreak havoc. I take this stuff pretty seriously. But had to do something to hold me over until…0
Over the years I have met many women who travel solo. It is simple, use common sense in your travels. The biggest danger while traveling is feeding the wild animals in parks and this is something you should not do. I do not know how far the video is from real time. Most travel to the Southwest during the winter then migrate north as the weather warms up north. I live in Central Oregon Cascades and make a 60 to 60 day treck to the southwest each winter. I love winter here but a change for a while is fun. Over time you may find that your low clearance toe rig will limit your exploration. A high clearance toe rig will permit you to see much more.
Yep… that’s so true. I park the RV in safe places for my motorhome to be, and take my little Honda where it probably isn’t meant to go… I put airbags on the back of the motorhome but it didn’t help that much
and no i don’t feed the wild animals. I don’t even feed the domestic animals :) But there is still a cat and a dog lazing on my motorhome floor as we speak, at a Harvest Host place!
