Sucker punch

 Yesterday, Friday March 1 was the day I took Fillmore into the city for his OOPSI. They open at 8am so I wanted to get there first thing in the morning to avoid all the city traffic etc. So Thursday night I decided that I wanted to back Fillmore out of the driveway, turn him around and then back him in. That way in the wee hours of the morning I would have a clean get away. Fillmore had other ideas. I think he had stage fright. I got up at 6am, did a couple final things to get ready, then.........nothing. He refused to start, "BAM"- sucker punch to the head.The battery was drained to 50%. I don't remember if I left something on OR the battery has a bad cell....I'm not sure. None the less my 8am appointment came and went while I patiently waited for the charger to bring the battery up to firing speed

I actually pulled him out of the shelter with Michelle's Volvo so that we could have a better chance of a jump start if need be, but for now the charger trickles away....as does my patience.

While I waited I decided to dress up a temporary mounting wall beside the driver. I little laminate and contact cement do wonders.

It's far from perfect but it cleans things up and makes me feel better with something to do while I wait for Fillmore to get over it and get on the road!

I also created a little template for the shifter, which I cut out of 3/4" ply for now. I would like to make it a plate in 1/4" steel....but that's a detail for down the road.

FINALLY! At 10:30Fillmore finally decided to give it up and he turned over. After a not so brief stop at the gas bar for a fill. We trundled off to the city. There were a few things that went through my mind on that journey. First Fillmore was on his longest trip since the Cummins was dropped in, and he was performing admirably. Lots of power for the hills, speed wasn't an issue and temp hovered around 175F. Second thing I realized is that Fillmore steering is still pretty sloppy, I wonder if that will be a problem for the inspection. And lastly, as I drive Fillmore he feels BIG, but look at this pic where I parked him at the inspection center. Compared to some of the other motor homes on the road Fillmore is a squirt!