We have hit the ground running here in Elkhart. There are so many details that have to come together this week before we leave off by rail and sea for Alaska at the END OF THIS WEEK!! AHHHH.
Ok.. deep breaths. We can do this!
No matter how much planning and preparations you do upfront, crunch time is called crunch time for a reason.
We’re super busy researching, ordering parts, measuring for potential projects and making sure everything is in order to have firm marching orders for the folks at Master Tech RV.
So many decisions have to be made this week, as so many things are interdependent.
Such as.. while the bus is being repainted, the windows should really be rebuilt. But while they’re out, does it make sense to upgrade to dual pane? So… off goes a quote to see if it’s a reasonable option. Oh, and how about window coverings for the interior too?
And heck, while all the accessories come off the exterior of the bus.. it makes sense to replace the aging awnings. And we’d love to get rid of the awning arms on the front porch, which actually block the driver’s rear view.
So we’re deep in research on automatic box awnings from the various manaufacturers, and what mounting brackets we’d have to construct to attach it nicely to our curved roof. (If anyone has experience with any of the brands of powered box awnings, we’d love to hear it!)
Lots of other projects coming together too.
Before we leave out of Elkhart at the end of this week, we’ll get a video created with a post to follow-up with the final choices we’ve made. We know lots of folks have been asking just what all we’re tackling this round of renovations.
Onan GenSet For Sale SOLD!
One of our major projects will be getting rid of our Onan 7.5 kW Diesel GenSet – which is just way overpowered for our needs. We’ve been on the fence out refurbing it, getting rid of a generator all together (since our solar setup is pretty abundant) or considering other generator options that better suit our needs.
We’re still finalizing some other details that will impact the replacement choice, but in the meantime – we’ve instructed Master Tech RV to remove the big old Onan. As such, we’ve got it up for sale – if you’re in that market, apparently the motors on these things have some value left.
We’ll be taking the best reasonable offer, which includes the least amount of logistics on our end. Basically, it’ll need to be picked up in Elkhart.
We took a video of it starting and running, so head on over to YouTube for a short clip and more details in the description.
Note: the generator is now SOLD! thanks!
Xscapers Articles & Blogs Section – Now Live
While this has all been going on, we helped the Xscapers bring in some of our fellow RVing bloggers to contribute content to their brand new Articles & Blogs section. The section will feature how to articles, product reviews, destination guides and more for members – right along side content from the Escapees magazine.
We’re off course amongst the bloggers selected to start it off.
Lots of other great stuff coming together for Xscapers – the new lifestyle RV group geared just for us working aged RVers.
One of them is the very first Xscapers Convergence!
Convergences will be more casual than a rally, an opportunity to share great times with community, with lots of time left for living life (working, homeschooling, exploring, etc.) and a bit of education tossed in. It’ll be held at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta from October 2-11.
We’re signed up, so that means we have every intention of being sprung free from Elkhart LONG before that with a shiny new Zephyr! Perhaps we’ll see you there?
Adventure Preps
I’m so glad we got the majority of our Alaska trip planning taken care of before arriving to Elkhart.
We should be able to just board our train next Wednesday morning, and follow the itinerary. Which will be a nice change of pace for us! I’ll follow up soon with our planning process, and the tools we used to piece together this jigsaw puzzle.
Aside from all the bus preps, we’re also preparing to effectively move out of the bus.
So that we can clear out our bays and cabinets where the crew might need to work, we rented a small storage unit nearby. Hopefully that will make things easier for them, thus saving them time and saving us cash on the project.
We’re also relentlessly trying to finish up all the yummy stuff in our fridge & freezer so we can just clean it out before we leave at the end of the week.
Later this week we’ll shift focus to PACKING for our trip. We’ll each be carrying just a travel backpack – for 6+ weeks of transport on cruise ships, RVs and trains. While stationary on land, we’ll be staying in everything from hostels, an AirBnB and guest rooms. Our wardrobes have to be versatile for layering, hiking, rain gear, evening wear and casual. That’s been fun all on its own to think through just what we’ll need to be adaptable and comfortable.
So much to come together in the next few days. We’re excited and at moments, panicked. We know it’s all going to be awesome!
When you get back I’d love to hear about your generator-free experiences. I’ve heard both sides: some say you can’t live without a generator; some say it’s very doable. Have a great trip!
Hi George.. check out our boondocking experiences at https://www.technomadia.com/boondocking. We have an article in there about living with electrical abundance. We went all winter with living off just solar, no generator. Lots of other content there too. Enjoy! We’ve done 9 years of full timing with a LOT of boondocking mixed in, with very little generator usage.
You guys are great bloggers. Just gotta say that. Have a fun trip!
So excited for you guys to go to Alaska!!! Are you in Elkart, Indiana? I’m from southern Indiana. I’m actually a big fan of you guys’ youtube videos! I’ve been watching them for like a year now. I’ve learned a lot of helpful tips. So thank you! I really appreciate it. 🙂 I’m 25 and my husband is 23 and we have been planning to live on an acre of land out in the country for 2 years now on an rv. A year and a half ago we bought a 1950 Spartan Royal Mansion pull behind. But it needed so much more renovation done to it then we are able to do. We thought all was lost. But we finally found and bought a 1970 Avion Ultra Camper and brought it home just yesterday! I’m soooo excited to get in it and start our adventures. Even though we probably wont be traveling in it for awhile, I’m just excited to live in it! I really want to do a blog about it, but I’m not sure where to start. Any tips?
Hi Monica.. yes, we are currently in Elkhart, but leaving out in the morning.
For starting a blog, a great place is start is our ‘Blogging for RVers’ post and video we did last year: https://www.technomadia.com/bloggingforrvers
wishing you happy trails in alaska.looking forward to hearing all about it
Thanks.. we look forward to how the adventure unfolds!
Sounds like you are very well organized…and breathing does help so I like your comment “take a deep breath” Your Alaska trip sounds awesome as well as all your projects for the Bus….I look forward to seeing the “new home” and any blogging about Alaska…have a great time and safe travels…
Thanks Jil.. it’s both exhausting and exhilarating to be co-planning so many big projects and adventures. 🙂
Good luck on your Alaska trip. I’ve been there twice and am anxious to go again. And I can’t wait to see pictures of your bus!
We’re so looking forward to exploring up there!
Super excited to hear about (and see!) the results!
Nina
So are we! Next we meet up, we should be super spiffy(er).
Have a wonderful trip trip to Alaska! The train ride should be a relaxing change of pace. Looking forward to seeing all the Kiki approved upgrades when you return.
We are so looking forward to getting on the train and riding off into the sunset 🙂 And of course, ALL of the projects come down to the cat. Hahaha.
Can’t decide if I’m more excited about the trip or the refurb! Losing the big propane tank and now the big geni, you must have so much more room, and less weight! We’re feeling the crunch as well, after 2.5 years of prep, our launch day is next Wednesday as well 🙂
Woot to your upcoming launch date!! We’ll be toasting you from our first train ride that day!
Awnings. Yeah, I’ve been doing similar research, and at this time I’m likely going with a Dometic 9500 power case awning. They have lengths up to 16 feet and a range of colors, as well as powered and unpowered options. There are some other choices – Carefree of Colorado, Zip Dee, and Girard, all prohibitively expensive (we’re talking $2500-4000 for one side with the Girards). Dometics are not cheap but my understanding is that they work well and should be easy to install in a bracket (which I’m having made for my bus.) Happy to provide additional details.
The Dometic 9500 is on our list as well.. but having a heck of a time getting detailed specs. They have none of their manuals online, we had to write and get them.
I’m looking forward to my vicarious journey with you. Lol!
Have fun and enjoy these amazing simultaneous voyages! 🙂
We look forward to sharing.. thanks for virtually following along 🙂
If you go to Denali, make sure you get reservations for the bus tour through the park before hand. Apparently they won’t sell you a ticket the day of the drive. Have a great time, we’re looking forward to seeing what you see.
Thanks! We’ll bump that stop up on the priority list for booking something.