tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post2707047964097997779..comments2024-03-28T08:26:58.108-04:00Comments on Our Odyssey: Winds of changeLouisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06306854459459257368noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-43378214939276053712012-03-08T18:06:05.160-05:002012-03-08T18:06:05.160-05:00Cheers Sean for reply and tip. Your points are wel...Cheers Sean for reply and tip. Your points are well taken, and I shall secure my, soon to be purchased, new cover better, and give the trucker the benefit of the doubt.Caron and Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08863923332715954975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-73940076906649580442012-03-07T14:29:24.333-05:002012-03-07T14:29:24.333-05:00Chris,
I think it is highly unlikely that your ri...Chris,<br /><br />I think it is highly unlikely that your rig was vandalized by a truck driver. It is much more likely that your water heater cover blew off on the highway -- a much more common occurrence than folks would like to believe. Here are just some of the reasons why:<br /><br />1. Truck drivers in general are a fairly courteous group. They can get irritated if an RV takes up a truck stall at a real truck stop, as they generally consider this to be "their turf" and they count on those stalls being available. I have heard of (but never experienced) instances of RV vandalism at truck stops, but never at a highway rest area, where they expect to have to share the lot with RVs, cars with trailers, and other highway users.<br /><br />2. If someone was going to vandalize your rig, whether that was a trucker or anyone else, they would more likely damage something that is not easily replaced such as a water heater cover. I suspect they would key your paint job or slash a tire.<br /><br />3. Even if someone decided, unlikely as it is, that your water heater cover was a juicy target, they wouldn't take it with them. They would simply discard it there at the rest stop, or maybe run it over on their way out ("oops -- didn't realize part of your RV fell under my truck") Really, why risk getting caught with the evidence?<br /><br />So I honestly think your cover fell off on the road and you just didn't notice. If anyone did steal your cover, it would be another RVer with a similar rig, not a trucker.<br /><br />FWIW.<br /><br />BTW, I recommend that any covers not permanently attached with a hinge be safety-wired in place. You can use picture wire for the purpose, and small ferrules that can be crimped with a regular wire crimper. Using a snap-ring in the assembly will allow the cover to be removed completely for service.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-3295169441785034612012-03-06T22:10:15.994-05:002012-03-06T22:10:15.994-05:00(unlurk)
Hi Sean & Louise
I/we read your blog ...(unlurk)<br />Hi Sean & Louise<br />I/we read your blog with great interest every post and reap the wealth of information you provide about your travels. This is our first year RVing (34 ft MH) and are always looking for free/inexpensive places to stay every night, and your blog, like I said gives us many ideas. We traveled down the west coast from Canada and across CA,AZ,NM Without a problem from anyone. Then into Texas and stopped at a Texas I-10 rest area you blogged about in Van Horn. Great spot BTW. After reading your post and other bloggers about truckers not being happy about RVers taking their spots in Flying Js and rest stops we decided to crash at the van Horn rest stop for the night anyway. If Odyssey can ...we can.<br />Wary of issues from truckers we pulled up to the very end of the rest area and parked behind another MH. Later a semi pulled up next to our RV at midnight and idled right beside us for 6 hrs and left before we got up. Hmmmm... Then just before we were ready to leave at 7am I did another circle check of our RV and toad and noticed the 12x12" painted to match, cover for our water heater was gone and no where in sight. I was stunned to say the least. I swore it was there when I did my post trip walk around the evening before as its pretty hard to miss, when it's missing. I couldn't believe one of these trucker guys would actually do that. Maybe I am wrong but it sure smacks of nefariousness.<br /><br />Have you guys had any negative experiences with truckers like this in your years of travels???<br /><br /> That was a big "welcome to Texas for us". Now I can't wait to leave.<br />(lurk)Caron and Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08863923332715954975noreply@blogger.com