After an unplanned, eventful morning, we are finally on our way home.
When Jim tried to start the RV this morning, we discovered the batteries were dead! Oops! We tried to jump the chassis batteries from the coach batteries, but the jumper cables weren’t long enough to make a solid connection (another item for the “need to buy” list. I have also learned you can not jump 4 chassis batteries from one little mini-van battery (Jim wouldn’t let me try).
We called the Showhauler factory (we were only 6 miles from them) and they gave us the phone number of a garage to call. We did so, and half hour later Joe from Miller’s Garage showed up. He had TWO huge battery chargers that he used (at the same time) to get the RV started. $75 later and we had a drivable coach.
How to jump a Freightliner Chassis
Well, almost drivable. The RV wouldn’t shift automatically. Jim ended up having to shift manually (I have no clue how this all works…so ask him…not me). We got to Showhauler and the salesman came out. He immediately “rebooted” the truck by cutting the battery power to all the systems. Turn the battery power back on, wait a few minutes and Viola…the RV starts and the transmission shifts. Phew.
The question still remains “Why were the batteries dead?” Jim thinks it might be the alternator. It can wait until we get the RV home.
We had a good visit the the Showhauler foreman and figured out what all to put in the bedroom, how and where. Bye bye bunk beds. Hello queen mattress. It should be done in 2 weeks.
And we are now driving home. The GPS says we should be there late tonight. Yawn. Enough adventures for today,
Something about a new “learning curve”? You do so much better with these things than I do. Still can’t wait to see your new home away from home!!!
You aren’t kidding about a learning curve! The manuals were being thumbed through in a panic this morning when we discovered something was wrong!!!
You didn’t have a shelf from the refrigerator across the battery?
Mom
Too funny! I just had to tell Jim that story from our old HiLo back in the 70’s. I am CERTAIN it was not something shorting the battery. I think. At least I know there wasn’t any black smoke! 🙂