Yes, we did. It was actually TWO claims (eep!) because the gas station damage went on the truck policy. We just learned today that it might be a while... Hope you get yours back soon!
We are currently staying with inlaws while our TT is having some warranty repairs done. It's been 6 weeks already, and sounds like it will be mid to late May before we get it back. We full time like you. Its quite frustrating to say the least.
Yes! We were struck by lighting and our whole electrical system was a mess. Fridge, AC and thermostat had to be replaced as well. We ended up getting our camper back in about 10 days which is unheard of. I honestly think it was because (bad parent alert) while we were trying to figure everything out, our kids (5 & 7 at the time) were running all over and in and out of RVs. I really think they just wanted us out of there and told us ok, we will get to it this week, and they followed through. :)
We live in Idaho about 20min from Blue Dog. If the hotel doesn’t work out or something happens, you guys are welcome to stay in our 5th wheel. We can take it to a RV park or you can stay beside our house.
Brandon, we love you, and that is SO nice of you!!! You are so kind and we are touched by your offer. At this point it's probably simpler to stay in a hotel. We really REALLY appreciate the offer. Let's stay in touch.
@@LizAmazing if you guys need anything while you are here let us know. We enjoy watching your videos, keep up the good work. And never feel like you would be homeless or without a place to stay. Enjoy the area while you are here. It’s a beautiful place!!
You don’t have control of your situation, but you CAN control your ATTITUDE. Good attitude, guys! You’ll get through this and have good stories to tell.
You both just seem so happy together I don't think anything can bring you two down, no anger or blame game and even sharing those challenging moments with us thank you for sharing .
I bought a trailer from Blue Dog RV several years ago through their internet sales. Since they had more than 1 dealership, they had a good inventory to choose from. From salesman, office staff, shop employees to management, everyone was pleasant and helpful. The salesman would stay on the phone while walking through the units I was interested in and describe every detail for me as if I was there. Arranged shipment to my home almost a thousand miles away. 40 miles from where you damaged your rig in California. Hats off to Blue Dog Rv and Brandon for going far and beyond to help one another during tough times! That kind of service and strangers helping others is rare in this crazy world today. There is hope!
Thank you so much for your comment! We appreciate your kind words and your support. And we are so glad to hear that you, too, have had a good experience with blue dog. Stay tuned!
Check with outdoorsy or one of the other 3rd party rv rental companies. I don’t know what a hotel room costs in the Pacific Northwest but you might can find an rv for at least a comparable price and have more amenities than a hotel. Hope y’all keep the positive attitude and that y’all get this resolved as quickly as possible.
I am so sorry you had to go through such an ordeal with your camper. I do appreciate that even through your challenges you are able to face them together. Your approach to life’s ups and downs is a lesson for all of us who enjoy watching your journey. Thank you!
Thanks so much for your kind words, John. We are so glad to have you on our team. Our latest video is much more upbeat: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BUYIo6AVwuU.html
Hey guys, so sorry to hear about your accident. We lost our RV for 3 weeks just as we started our full time RV life. Hope it doesn't happen again. Good luck.
Love the funny endings! I think keeping calm and a good attitude gets you through. Putting those good vibes out into the universe definitely sends it right back to you and look at all the help you've been getting.
Yes! Thanks for noticing that. We really feel the love on this page. Thanks for being on our side, we appreciate your support! We will keep you updated.
My wife and I live in our camper fulltime in the pan handle of Florida. We love it! Typically, we stay at a campground for 6 months then move to another for another 6 months. Campgrounds around here don't let you stay for any longer than 6 months. We don't travel much with our rig because I work in the area. We moved from NY last year. We sold everything and now live in our RV. I wouldn't change anything. We love it. We're glad that things are looking up for the both of you. Stay positive! You'll be back on the road in no time!
Losing our car for a month from a wreck here. We all need 2021 to be as gentle as possible! 😬😬😬 Really appreciate the updates. It's like getting a letter from home.
Awww, you are so sweet! I am so very sorry about your car wreck. We agree, we need 2021 to be as gentle as possible. We are looking forward to a lot less adventure around here, LOL!
I'm actually stoked for you guys. You have been forced into different digs for a while, but the memories you make there are going to be forever. Glad you found such a cool temporary situation. Leverage it for the best! :)
I don’t comment ever but feel compelled to tell you something you probably already know 😊 we just purchased a used 2008 Monaco Diplomat and one of the best things about it is our ability to use EVERYTHING with the slides in !! We can even sleep, use the restroom, and have easy access to the frig ! The quality of this rig is unbelievable. I would consider a gently used rig 😀
Hi I just recently started watching your channel and have to say I’m glad to see someone out there being candid and not making excuses about there problems this is the real world and stuff is going to happen and your showing us the good and the bad times and how you deal with it even if it is embarrassing again stuff happens I’ve been RVing for over 40 years so I can sympathize with you I hope it doesn’t take to long to get your rig fixed try not to stress so much about things think it through and you will be ok look forward to your update
Hi Rich, thanks so much for your kind words. We are glad to have you on our team. Fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly. Hope to see you at a campground one day- once we get back out there!
I know how hard this is and I really sympathize. But in my life, when my life zigs like this dramatically it is for some good reason that only the Creator knows right now. You'll see in the future when you look back on this. Praying for you.
Yes! We agree. We know that there truly are no accidents and that we are always on the right path, looking for the gift and the lesson during every step. Thanks for checking in!
I was happy to hear a local hotel was able to reduce rate for long term stay while your camper is being repaired. Sometimes the owners & managers of these places realize that situations arise & leave folks in a bind. That's great.
Your honesty in reporting your journey is so much appreciated. And, you found a reputable dealer to repair your rig as well as suitable accommodation in the meantime!
I totally admire you two for keeping such a positive attitude during your ordeal. You lean on each other and that is important. My girlfriend and I are planning our full-time RV life within 2 years. We are soaking up everything ya'll go through...trust me! Best of luck guys!
Hi Bruce! Thanks so much for the love. We are so glad to have you on our team and we appreciate your support. See you in the next video. And we are excited to see you out here some day.
Very sorry to hear about the dilemma but grateful you guys are willing to share your experience and hopefully the information will be helpful to others that might find themselves in a similar situation in the future.
Thank you so much! We miss you too! I hope things are going good and we hope to see you on the road. After all this is over we expect to head east. Happy travels to you!
Destination open road { full timers } had there camper side swiped about a year ago. They were in a motel for a few months. Life happens, hang in there and keep Liz amazing !!!
My wife and I just got our first trailer and will be taking it out this weekend for its inaugural trip! I love the idea of going full-time at some point in the future, but this scenario is one of my biggest fears. Thank you for sharing the whole experience from painful accident to figuring out the fix. It really helps to see someone else go through it first.
Hi Trevor! Congratulations on your first camper. I know you will be having lots of adventures and making many memories. We hope to see you out here. And honestly, even with this incident, for us, RV life beats stationary life!
Getting any RV repair work done is a nightmare. Our travel trailer sat in the dealer’s lot for a month waiting to get winterized. Only upside was I didn’t have to pay to store it. Since then with the help of RU-vid I have learned to winterize it myself, replace the hot water heater, replace the inverter, grease the axle bearings, and a few other things.
Yep. You really have to become a do it yourselfer to be an RVer. It seems to be a universal problem that RV dealerships are always way backed up. We consider ourselves lucky to have found a good one "only" 1100 miles away! See you in the next video.
Accidentally found your channel and I love your approach to problem solving, your logical solutions, and especially the respectful way you speak to one another. New subscriber!
Yay! Welcome to our channel. Thank you so much for your kind words, we are glad to have you with us. Here is our latest update: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-D6VVSsCUzU8.html
As full-time rvers half of our family thinks that we're living the dream and the other half thinks that we're nuts, I keep telling them we're not homeless! We're house'less, there's a difference and it's by choice!☺️ We realized you guys are in a different dilemma God bless you and good luck with that.
Hi John! Thanks so much for watching and commenting. We appreciate your good thoughts of support. Will keep you updated. Happy and safe travels to you!
Onan Indiana at Elkhart Indiana is fantastic. They provide you a campsite free water and electric. No dump. While you wait in line for repairs. What a huge plus as I also am full time motorhome.
I'm so sorry this happened but the great thing is noone was harmed!! Lessons learned!! So onward and upward!! Great to c that u two have come thru unscathed on ur relationship!!
Those rigs are designed for perfect roadways, perfect cities, perfect RV parks, and perfect drivers on the roadway. I have seen your videos and they remind me of what I have seen many times with my friends. It becomes so stressful to drive around with your rig that you will start to stay longer at one place. Soon thereafter, you will find one OK park and move your rig there. After a few months there, you will stay with family at their home or at a friend's vacation home. Then you will either rent a home or buy a home. In the meantime, you will go back to your rig once in a while, the intervals growing longer. Your rig will deteriorate and eventually you will get rid of it. Don't feel bad, many many other people have done the same thing, and many , many more will do it too.
We have seen people just like you described. However, we do not relate to any of that at this point. We love this life and do not like being stationary. We have only been on the road 2 1/2 years so maybe 10 years down the line we might start getting tired of this fun and adventurous life. Thanks for your comment and see you in the next video.
You both handled this well. I learn the GOAL process. Get Out And Look. Even if you have to get out a bunch of times. I hope all goes as well as it can for you both.
Yes, from now on the copilot is going to get out. At the time we did not think it was that difficult of a turn. From now on one of us will always get out whenever we are maneuvering. Thanks for watching and we will keep you updated.
Well good news all the way around. I hope the repairs go fast when they start and that you can get back on the road faster than you expect. It's not perfect but it's working out and that's what counts. Your home will be good as new again.
Paul and Liz, thanks for the update! We have been praying that a solution would be found. We are so glad your RV was not totaled and you found a reputable dealer. Keep up the good attitudes!
Wow, I have found all your posts to be so informative and helpful. Thank you for sharing . . . humility has a way of teaching others from one's mistakes. I am so, so glad I found your channel. Hopefully you are way past all these setbacks and managed to enjoy your summer travels.
From rotten tomatoes to beautiful roses! Great job to find a repair shop with a conscience. Beautiful area to be stuck in. Great job all the way around! Good luck, keep us updated! SAFE TRAVELS
Thank you! Everything that happens is either a gift or a lesson. We are so grateful that it was not worse. And we sure learned a lot! We will keep you updated.
So sorry to hear about all this RV troubles how heartbreaking. My hat is off to you for not throwing in the towel. I will tell you east coast is so much cheaper especially south east coast. Gas and housing. I think when you get your RV back you need to change it up and come to east coast. You could do florida in winter and north east coast in spring, summer and fall. I will pray for you to have good luck when this is all said and done. Maybe June 1st everything will be back to normal. Hang in there and keep the faith!
So sorry to hear sbout the issues you had finding housing but it sounds like you found s gem of a dealership to work with and having a flexible schedule with the hotel is great! You certainly have some beautiful scenery to enjoy. Love the idea of a video of how to transition to temporary housing when your rig has to go in for big repair or service. Be well and keep us updated.
Thanks Rosemary! Yes it will definitely make for some interesting videos as we go through this. You can learn right along with us! See you in the next video.
Gosh Im from South Dakota too, due to retire in 2 years, work part time as nurse. I'm going to keep my cheap little 30K house while I travel, thanks to you it helped me to decide to keep a fall back plan, right now Im just doing pop up camping, boon docking, then trade up to probably a Class C. Don't need big just small, mobile and inexpensive as possible. Thanks for all your info. Really appreciated
Yes, for many folks it is the best of both worlds to have a homebase as a fallback plan. For others, there's the freedom of knowing that nothing calls you back as far as upkeep and repairs. I think it comes down to each person needs to work out their own comfort zone. But your house sounds like it might be low maintenance so you would not have too much to worry about. Congratulations on your upcoming travel!
Hello. I feel your pain. I am going through the same thing right now. In mid March, I ran over a landscape boulder at a campground too small for my 38' travel trailer. Most of my damage was to the plumbing - no leakage when it happened, thank goodness. I returned to my home park and tried to find a place to take it to, being full time, I need my plumbing. Finally found a local guy that had mercy on me and took it in. He had it for a week and thought it was fixed but then filled all the tanks and found a leak in my kitchen gray tank. I had stayed in a hotel that week. He ordered a new tank from Grand Design and let me take my rig back until it showed up. I try not to cook much because I have to wash dishes in the shower. After two weeks, the wrong tank came in. GD shipped the correct tank today. Like you said, 1st world problems. My real disappointment is that I just retired and was about to be a full-time road warrior leaving for the mid-west on May 16th. But after watching several RU-vid full-time RV couples like yourselves, I have learned 1) be flexible 2) everyone makes mistakes.
Oh no. So sorry this is turning into an epic situation for you. Whew! I bet you are looking forward to finally getting on the road. Congrats on your new life, I am sure you'll be past this in no time.
@@LizAmazing And I wish the best for the two of you. I enjoy watching watching the two of you, glad you are so willing to share the good, the bad and the ugly.
Paul don't feel too bad about your mistake. I feel for you and Liz still loves you :) what a lovely thing for the dealer to do for you. You both sound so positive about everything. All the best.
Whoa! GUYS!!! This is quite an upheaval to your day-to-day. Gosh, we really feel for the both of you. All of your A-Team’rs are here to support you through all of this!!! Episode idea... you could give us all a full blown tour of the hotel stay!! From room service to dinner... your room and the amenities. Make some lemonade out of these lemons!! As full-timers too, we had to actually help our mechanic fix our slide and STILL pay them! 😂🤣
We don't have an RV (yet) but pull a large horse trailer. Whenever we have to maneuver, as in pull in for fuel, park it (especially backing up) etc.... we use a pair of those inexpensive 2-way radios from Walmart. My wife takes a position behind the rig and as I back up, she moves from side to side, spots and keeps an eye out for dangers, obstructions, height clearances, etc... that I might not see and keeps me advised with the radio. Sometimes, it takes us a little longer to maneuver where we are going but we do it safely 100% of the time!
Thanks so much for the tips! We saved $.99 by going into that gas station but what we've learned coming out was priceless! From now on, the copilot will be getting out whenever we are in a tight situation. See you in the next video!
Last time we needed service that was going to take weeks, we searched and finally found a service center outside Knoxville, TN that had it's own little campground onsite, that they offered to fulltimers for free. In the center they had a building that had a lounge, kitchen, bathroom, washer/dryer. On days they were actually working on the rig, they'd come get the motorhome in the morning, and bring it back to our spot at closing. I'd relocate to the lounge building, bringing my lunch and snacks, and setup my computer and work during the day. We spent just over a month at that service center.
My husbands family lives in the Spokane/Post Falls area. It really is a great place to visit. Besides the centennial trail that we love riding, we also discovered Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. If you happen to like Mediterranean food or garlic you must eat at the White House Grill. It is my all time favorite restaurant. The prices are reasonable and the food is amazing. Their French bread, deep fried feta, French onion soup, Büftek are some of my favorites! Hope your RV repairs go smoothly and you’re back on the road soon.
A *long* time ago, my Class A's transmission decided to self destruct. I was towed to a truck repair place ( Stewart & Stevenson ) in San Antonio. They graciously allowed me to stay in it as they dropped the transmission, and rebuilt it. I had a 15amp extension cord, and was there for about 10 days - over Thanksgiving holidays. I'm glad I had a bicycle.
I'm relieved to see your rig wasn't totaled! Your videos documenting this misery will be canon for all full-time RV people. What to expect, how to navigate the pitfalls, and getting through something awful and being better off in the end. You were very smart to get out of California and find a shop that could take you right away and understood what it means to be out of your home for the repairs. If you joined Thousand Trails they do have cabins you can use for emergencies like this. I have a good cushion of emergency coverage on the insurance and sometimes the insurance company can negotiate a good deal on a place to stay while you are under repair. Looking forward to your next updates and cheering you along! Thank you both for sharing this odyssey!!
Hi thank you so much for checking in and for your very helpful comment! We do have a membership with thousand trails and there is one about 45 minutes away. That is a possibility. And I really like your comment about the emergency coverage. We have only $750 reimbursement for housing. But reading your comment makes me think that maybe I can try to negotiate something more from them. Thank you and big hugs to you!
@@LizAmazing After seeing what you are undergoing I contacted my insurance Agent and increased the emergency coverage by $5000. Additional annual premium was $1.67. It's worthwhile checking out. I tend to over insure and, knock on wood, never use it.
Sounds like your'e rolling with it just fine. If Blue Dog comes through, your'e all set! But yes being calm, doing research but not wasting too much time is the key to recovering a semi-catastrophe. Great job Liz!
Saw your video of the accident sorry that happen if you guys were in Michigan you sure couldve stayed with me as I have the room, Ive learned alot from you two glad you found housing, stay safe enjoy this new adventure.
Thanks for your video! I'm not an RV'er yet but I envoy watching RV'er videos and how everyone shares how they problem solve unexpected issues along their way. Best of luck with the repairs. Idaho looks like a great place to visit too.
Thank you so much for sharing the ups and down of RV life. So many channels just gloss over the nuts and bolts that it's refreshing to see a couple be so honest. Fingers crossed that your rental is quiet, replacement parts arrive quickly and you get to go on some nice bike rides in the meantime.
This situation is part of the reason I will soon have both a vac build and a cargo trailer conversion. Two independent spaces that can facilitate a stay in either. Granted no where near the comfort of your big rig but comfortable enough. Best of luck. If I were you I would buy an old used travel trailer, for a few thousand and sell it when your rig is done, bottom line is cheaper than a hotel. Or buy a cargo trailer and slap a bed in it, you could even keep it as a bike garage. Camp in a quality tent like a shift pod. With an inflatable queen bed. Not sure if you can give up that much comfort but there are lots of options. A shiftpod is insulated and can facilitate a portable air conditioner with heat strip. It has hose ports. Buying stuff used that you can sell can be a net zero cost. Just some out of the box thinking.
Thank you! We actually thought about doing that and if we hear that it will be several months that we will not have a rig, then it makes sense. Currently we are hearing it will just be 2 to 3 weeks. For that, we can handle staying in a hotel and will not have to hassle with trying to sell a spare camper. The adjuster comes by this week and we will know more then.
You guys are awesome!!! love your videos. Not BS just the real deal with good info. Paul, watched your vid at the gas station...I feel for ya bro, Liz way to go with the support and not getting PO'd...you guys are amazing!!!
Our old stomping grounds! It’s a lovely place for so many reasons. You came at the height of spring season, and it is gorgeous most of the year. Enjoy all the fun things to do in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area,
Spokane region is a very bike-friendly place.😍 And ‘ yes’ it beats a lot of other places I can think of in which to be stuck,. Have a happy time exploring.
You two found a WONDERFUL RV shop at BlueDog RV! I bought my Rpod there and I can not say enough good things about them. Also, the Centennial Trail continues to Spokane so you'll have more than enough daily adventures to keep you engaged while your trailer gets spruced up. Mishaps are just a way of letting us know we need to take a pause and reset. I continue to be amazed at how the two of you always work together respectfully to address the latest situation and turn it into a positive. kudos to you both!
Thanks so much for the kind words! And it is so good to hear that you, too, have had a good experience with blue dog. We are just in the beginning stages but we are very pleased with everything so far. We will keep you updated and thanks again.
Welcome to our neck of the woods. You're going to love it here. We've been living here for 12 years. Just sold our home and waiting for our 5th wheel to be delivered. Make sure you also do the Hiawatha Bike Trail on the pass between Idaho and Montana, it's fabulous! If you want more hints just let me know. Will be glad to share! We're staying in an extentened stay hotel in Spokane until our rig is here, which is any day now. Then My husband retired in October and we're on the road too. Would love to meet up and take you to one of our favorite restaurants here.
Our hearts go out to you both and trust the transition will go smoothly. Keep those spirits high. Thanks for the update, we were delighted to see your (now) smiling faces. Regards,
This happens! Have you considered renting a class c motorized unit? Move what you need over and go! And with the ads pushing renting out your RV you should be able to find something cheaper than a motel until repairs are done. Tip: get the shop to seal every seam on the roof! You did a sideswipe which does move the cabin enough to loosen seals on the roof and even the side windows. Watch for swelling under the bedroom window after a good rain. You should see the damage leaking windows can bring into your life!! Good luck Blue skies and safe journey's!
Thanks for the tips George! We are finding renting an RV to be super pricey. Since we can stay in ours until the parts get here, hopefully we will not need to be in a hotel for long. Fingers crossed.
So very happy to see this update and know you two are getting things back on track. Keep up those positive attitudes and keep us posted. Happy you found a great shop to do the repairs on your home, such a blessing. Also glad you won't be homeless. 😁
So sorry about the damage, but good to hear a solution is at hand. We bought our 310 from Bluedog RV in Redding CA and in fact it’s there now for some minor warranty work. I’ve been very pleased with the sales and service depts to this point. As you found out, they told us we could take the rig while parts are on order if needed. Good Luck!
When I damaged my rig, the repair shop gve me a heck of a deal on a rental for the 4 weeks its was being repaired. Yes it was smaller but saved me thusands
Hmm, maybe we should ask. If it's only going to be a couple weeks a hotel will be easier than having to unload our rig AND tools and AND rv gadgets and gear. We will definitely reconsider if it's going to be longer. We are missing the traveling life!
Sorry for your accident. IF and I mean IF something happens to your rig in the future, try renting an RV. You can still travel while your rig is being fixed.
That's what I was thinking. However Paul, being Paul, wants to stay close to the shop so he can monitor the repairs! LOL! We are being told we will not be out of our week for long so hopefully that is the case. Fingers crossed!
Liz and Paul , there are other places in the RV world that allow you to stay in your RV while the work is being done. It's just during the day that they actually are working on it that you would have to either go site see or stay in the Service lounge but at the end of the day you can stay inside your rig. You have to talk with them upfront. I'm kinda like Paul in the video when the accident happened, oh it's totalled , look what I've done. All kind of things run through your mind. Now that you've taken a deep breath it's not as bad as you thought, I mean it's bad but not as .... Brandon , is such a gentleman to offer you the use of his 5th wheel. Like I've said , there are lots of us who are willing to step up to help out our fellow RV'ers . I gave a couple that has a RU-vid site as you do. They were in Texas when the ice storm came through and there Travel Trailer was totalled out when there black and Grey tanks froze its a long story. I gave them my 5th wheel hitch that I only used maybe 3 times. I trade for a Class A and they needed it. They weren't that far away and they come got it. Please keep us posted. God Bless
I've been planning for year's coinciding with retirement. Followed you before you were '2'. Quite a journey it's been! Heaven forbid anyone encounters hardships R.V.ing. Your recent disaster as R.V.ers and reaction as a 'Team' is a learning experience for me and should be for all. Thanks
Hi Jim! Thanks so much for checking in. You have a special place in my heart since you have been following this channel since Way back in the beginning! Congratulations on your retirement and we look forward to seeing you out here! And thanks for your kind words of support. Hugs.
Thanks for sharing you made me feel a little bit better about hitting the curb with my Mustang damaging my tire and the rim. It’s awful accidents do happen though.
Yep. All you can do is dust yourself off and move on. Thanks so much! Here’s our update: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SD4FmxcYvYU.html
Thanks for sharing your journey. I think this will be a great resource for others in the same situation. Hang in there. Love your positive outlook and honest sharing even during a frustrating time. Praying everything comes together well and quicker than expected.
I'm a future Rver well at least I hope so. I'm glad you guys are not throwing in the towel! Keep your positive attitudes . It's great you found a place on the river where you can bike. Keep us updated
Don't worry -- the story of how long it takes to get an RV repaired in a Cour D'Alene sort-of-suburb will definitely be interesting. VERY surprised by the screaming-high housing prices -- but saw today that the US rental average price is up to $1,475 per month! FYI, you could join an Elks Club, and they have more than a thousand RV places to park at either free or very low costs. Will stay tuned for further updates to your repair saga!
My husband and I owned our truck and drove cross country together we we had breakdowns and our truck was towed away that was our home and transportation I cried every time it left me with a lost feeling
