This year marks Gary's 70th birthday, his aunt's 90th and his daughter's 50th--all within a couple of weeks of each other in mid-October. Cause for celebration, right?! So Gary and I decided to take a road trip back to Michigan for the reunion. During a weekend photo workshop in July at Craters of the Moon, however, we realized that Gary's Vanagon wasn't gonna cut it as a two-person rig: no pop-top, hardly enough space inside to turn around.
So Gary got on Craig's List to see what was out there in a more comfy size. We spent a couple of weeks checking out everything from used VW Eurovans ($20,000 and $30,000, respectively, for vehicles with 100,000 miles on 'em already, and they weren't much bigger than the Vanagon) to pickup trucks with over-cab campers ($4,500 or less, but often in bad shape). We drove to Nyssa to see a real motorhome (its 6' ceiling and Gary's 6' height weren't compatible) and test-drove a $15,000, 35-footer that was falling apart inside and out).
Wondering if we'd ever find a rig we a) liked b) could afford, we went back to a Craig's List item we had passed over earlier in the week, due to photos that showed what appeared to be a funky pink interior. The seller was able to meet us in Meridian one evening, but by the time we got there, it was too dark to test-drive it. What we saw made us perk up, though.
The "pink" couches and chairs turned out to be salmon-colored velvet, quite soft and luxurious. Instead of fake plywood, the numerous cupboards, closet doors and other appointments were oak and in nearly perfect condition. It was designed thoughtfully, with adequate storage and living space, queen and double beds and a generous-size bathroom that held not only a shower but a TUB and a three-panel mirror with make-up lights! Gary approved of the generator, propane and dual electrical system capabilities. I could see us whipping up meals in the small but well-laid-out kitchen with its 4-burner stove, good-sized refrigerator and freezer, and microwave. The tires weren't worn, the switches all worked. The exterior looked kinda like an Airstream painted dove gray. Best of all: The Class C, 27-foot 1984 LondonAire on a Ford Econoline van chassis powered by a Ford 460 engine cost only... $7,500! We wrote out a $500 check that night to hold it until we could test drive it the next morning.
After the test drive, we wrote out another check, and the vehicle was ours! Gary drove it home, I followed in our car. Nothing fell off the rig; the brakes appeared to work. And then came our first challenge: maneuvering it up our long, steep, narrow driveway to the parking area behind our Foothills house. Here, Gary's experience driving a 65-person schoolbus he had transformed into a home-on-wheels when he "dropped out" for a few years in the '60s stood him in good stead. He managed it...with only a brief but nasty exchange between the rear of the motorhome and the corner of the roof...in just under an hour. Two sumac trees and some juniper branches gave their all, however, before it was snuggled within plug-in distance of the house.
Lesson #1 in motorhome living: Consider where it will reside and how to get it there BEFORE bringing your new vehicle home.
Tomorrow: Too good to be true, but not too bad.
No comments:
Post a Comment