Is our CAMPER FALLING APART?? | RV Travel Days

[@lifererouted]

It was SO great meeting everyone at the Grand Design Rally! (Video coming soon) Love ya'll! ❤

[@XLSLife]

Wish I could have made it to the rally, but I couldn't get the time off work. Maybe next year. Glad you had fun.

[@lifererouted]

Maybe next year!! Thank you friend ❤️

[@kevincarson7096]

Our water pump worked fine when we first got it. However, after sitting for almost a year, it didn't work when we went to use it. I took it apart and found that it is a very simple design with few moving parts. All of the surfaces felt slimy so I cleaned them with soap and water, reassembled it, and it started working again. Since then, I run 7 -8 gallons of water through it on travel day and it has worked consistently every since. You might want to try cleaning that one and saving it as a spare.

[@lifererouted]

Steph really wants to take ours apart and see if that works! I wouldn't be surprised if it's gunked up, we've never taken it apart in the 5 years we've had the camper. Thank you for the advice!

[@BPal75]

I have to agree with Mike on this one - I love having an outdoor mat at the campsite to keep things cleaner. I find it helps a lot with tracking less dirt/mud into the camper.

[@lifererouted]

See, I knew I liked you 😆

[@glowilk5377]

I too like the mat. And yes, you have to pack up the nasty mat to next site. Yeah & yay ! 😅

[@jenniferdavis8088]

I Love having a outdoor rug while camping!!

[@lifererouted]

Me too! #teamrug

[@CellasChariot]

Khali needs the snacks before a walk ....I love this lol...the rug is essential...LOL

[@lifererouted]

Khali ALWAYS needs a snack 😆 Hope you are doing well!

[@XLSLife]

Jared over on All About RVs did a video on those little rubber side molding strips. He ended up applying a little caulking to each of the screws underneath and finding a different type of strip to help keep the water out. I was as surprised as you to realize the were nothing but that strip of rubber covering the screws, especially because water can drip past the strip in the little channel. Stinks that your water pump died, but like you said, at least they're not crazy expensive like some RV parts and they're relatively easy to swap out.

[@lifererouted]

We were so surprised there was nothing else under that strip too! We'll have to look up his video. You're exactly right - should be an easy/inexpensive fix 😊

[@ourrvsunsets]

Ugh!!! The water pump issue is a bummer. Should be an easy fix though once you get the new one. Great job handling the stress of it all, we totally can empathize with situations like that. Looking forward to the rally video! Safe travels!!!

[@lifererouted]

Fingers crossed! Thank you!

[@markf8256]

Another great video with lessons learned. I can’t believe neither of you is an organizer. 🤔 My mom was a nurse, and I have two sisters-in-law that are nurses. All have serious organization skills.

[@lifererouted]

Haha I (Steph) always joke that I use up all my organizational skills at work, so when I get home I have none left 😅 Thanks!

[@williamarmstrong9970]

The same thing happened with our plastic gutter rail cover. We bought the replaement from "Steel Rubber Products" and it is AMAZING. However,1 year after we traded and got a NEW camper. Good Luck!

[@lifererouted]

Good to know! Thank you!

[@KS-2]

5 years in that Rv. It has definitely taken good care of you all. Hope everything works out with the pump. Safe travels.

[@lifererouted]

It really has! Thank you 😊

[@Enjoyrving]

Wash the track and trim. Use small dots of silicon caulk down the track to secure the trim. Two different types of materials expand and contract at different rates.

[@lifererouted]

Thanks so much for the tips!

[@bettyjorodgers8552]

So sorry for your issues. Thank you for sharing.

[@lifererouted]

Hopefully they're easy fixes! Thank you Betty Jo 😊

[@markkrick58]

That molding is easy to replace. Just cut the old one off about 8 inches from the water spouts. You can then place the new strip on top of the old ones near the water spouts. I overlap mine 2 or 3 inches, then use a dap of clear adhesive to help keep things in place. I tried using my old molding, but it wouldn't stay in because it had become weathered and stiff. Just be sure to order the correct size and color. Also just replaced my water pump. Factory pump lasted 6 years, but I have read a lot fail after 4 or 5 years.

[@lifererouted]

Thanks so much for the tips!

[@creditguy4922]

I like rug Mike. Enjoy it. Safe travels

[@lifererouted]

Thank you!

[@bearcat1964]

As stated before, we have the same unit and so far, the only thing I e had to ‘fix’ has been replacing the roof twice. Once was my fault and the other because of a bad repair job the first time. Water pump quit on me as well but found it was just a wire that came off the pump (probably trying to get the drawer back in after winterizing). Glad y’all had fun at the rally. Stay safe!

[@lifererouted]

Replacing the roof twice doesn't sound fun - but at least that's been it so far for you! We were hoping our pump was just a wire too but no such luck. Thank you!

[@edandsharonmoreland]

We put in a filter system and I added metal quick disconnects to all my fittings to make connections a snap. Oh and we just finally bought a travel Berkey for $269 so no more bottles.

[@lifererouted]

Nice! I kind of like those Berkey filters. Did you buy the big model?

[@edandsharonmoreland]

@@lifererouted no we bought the 1.5 gallon one. Plenty big for us.

[@lifererouted]

Gotcha. That'd be a great size!

[@josephharrell5724]

Here is the thing about water pumps; You go from campground to campground with full hookups and you don't find out that your water pump doesn't work until you need it. They fail a lot and it is worth it to have a spare on hand. You can't really carry spares of everything, so what do you carry? Maybe topic for a video?

[@diverm2371]

I noticed you're Tailgate doesn't open when hooked up. Mine opened by accident and got broken jack switches, twice. FYI, you can mount the jack head 90 degrees and the gate will open all the way down. Never take out another switch.

[@lifererouted]

I need to do that!

[@edwardhorvat2770]

That strip after a few years will shrink and it’ll do exactly what it’s done you’ll just have to replace it you buy it by the roll other great video guys safe travels. Do you ever get over toward Pennsylvania? Let me know like to meet up with you guys.

[@lifererouted]

That seems like what it's done! Thank you! We haven't made it to Pennsylvania yet, but we hope to 🤞

[@bhclark6128]

I had the same thing happen to the rubber stripping on my camper. I ordered a roll of it on Amazon and replaced all of the stripping very quickly. It was just weathered and cracked.

[@lifererouted]

Good to know! I'll have to see if I can find some. Thanks!

[@bhclark6128]

Camco 25212 Vinyl Trim Insert (1" x 100', Black) This is what I used. Simple repair.@@lifererouted

[@HappyRamblingCamper]

Drip rail over screws… it happens at times … just keep a eye on it…. I had to use 3 self tap screws in mine on the outside of that piece. Then used sealant to cover up the self tap screws.. never happened again ..

[@lifererouted]

Thanks so much for the tip!

[@bobabooie6389]

Make sure you're checking those wheel bearings👍🇺🇲

[@Johnnytito321]

I also went with steele rubber products i did all the screw tracks from front to back , top to bottom i plan to never have to do it again it is truly an awesome replacement

[@lifererouted]

Good to know, thank you!

[@497SC]

Our 2022 Grand Design Solitude 310GK-R leaks and is slowly falling apart. It is returning back to the dealer next week for more water leak repairs around the slides.

[@lifererouted]

Oh no! Hope they get it all fixed!

[@mikeandre9027]

That's a bummer about the few repairs that you have. But the good thing is if grand design still repair stuff for free. At the rallies, thats, a real Bonus

[@lifererouted]

We got a couple items there. Hope to share all that next week!

[@mikeandre9027]

@@lifererouted 👍🏻👍🏻

[@abundantlifeadventuresdona1918]

We hope to go to a Grand Design Rally one day. Look forward to seeing that adventure. Thanks for sharing how things happen while camping. It doesn't detour but may add to the adventure. Safe travels.

[@lifererouted]

You guys should! We had a great time

[@philstucker1312]

I do like the carpet. We bought a small one (5X7) for the short stays. Stay safe!

[@lifererouted]

Nice! Thank you! ❤️

[@stepfour]

You should put a bead of silicone sealant in that track for the rubber molding then seat it back in there again... that would probably be a permanent fix.

[@lifererouted]

I think that's what we'll end up doing. Thanks!

[@Brigand231]

You know it's gonna be a good video when it starts with a pup cup! Those water bottles can be reused too - bottles of water will actually help a fridge or freezer work more efficiently than empty space because they tend to retain their temperature better than empty space. Plus, you'd have them as a backup if your pump ever goes on the blink again or you're not near a water source. As for stuff breaking or falling apart, it always bothers me when people chalk it up to living in an RV - that stuff happens at sticksnbricks too! It's all part of owning a home whether it moves or not.

[@lifererouted]

Always have to get a pup cup! That's a good point! Hoping to get everything fixed soon!

[@markblake1371]

If you get to come to south east Ohio The Portsmouth are there is new campground at Shawnee State park . On the Ohio river. And a private owned one, River view campground, it’s right on the Ohio river. east of Portsmouth

[@lifererouted]

Thank you for the suggestions!! We'll put them on the list, we're realizing there is so much to explore in Ohio!!

[@cindycierlik8162]

They are easy to clean Love our outdoor rug, we have two!😅

[@lifererouted]

Nice! #teamrug

[@melodygrandinetti5016]

I love our berkey, use it all the time.

[@lifererouted]

Nice!

[@larrybrackley3249]

WOW ... trim falling off ... water pump failing, they should fix all that at the rally for you for free ... if not it might be time to look at a Forest River Rockwood ... they have rally's too ... lol ... name the Goat ... you two take care. Larry

[@lifererouted]

Good thing is we're heading to the rally next....we'll see what happens there! Haha maybe the goat will just forever be "the goat without a name" 🤣 thanks Larry!

[@bobw349]

Like the Mat, use ours every trip!!

[@lifererouted]

I love ours!

[@Technocrat.]

Good to have 2 pumps, with bypass in case one fails

[@lifererouted]

Good idea!

[@jjsantos3292]

Our Transcend has been falling apart since the day we bought it new.

[@lifererouted]

Oh no! Sorry to hear that

[@ghostpepperrides4805]

A home going down the road always needs repairs. We take it one day at a time.

[@bobabooie6389]

👍🇺🇲

[@schlz69]

Mike, You gota turn that Jack head so you can open your tailgate fully when hooked up, its like a 30 min job. 2 bolts, turn, drill and tap 2 holes and you are done.

[@lifererouted]

I'm gonna have to watch a video on it lol. I never think about it until we're moving! 😆