18 Dec 23 - Back Bathroom Toilet Leak

We had a plumber discover the toilet was leaking under the house and that we needed to have it fixed before it cause floor damage. Well today was the day we decided to tackle the job.

When I pulled the toilet the wax ring was never compresses by the toilet when I set it back in 2019 when the tile floor was done.  Water was leaking past the sealing ring and setting above the tile then dripping thru the floor.

The flange is below the tile making the wax ring too thin to seal to the underside of the toilet.

This is the bottom of the toilet after it was cleaned up.

I took a thicker wax ring and put a half thick second ring molded on tip of the first ring.  After seating the toilet back onto the floor i had to grout back around the toilet.  Best part is the job is complete and should last for several more years with no leaks.
 

14 Dec 23 - Banks Monster Exhaust Install

Step 1 - Cut 4 inch exhaust at specific location.

Kathy grabbed my phone off the side step and took a few pictures while I was working.

After cutting old exhaust was the challenge of removing it from under the truck and over the rear axle.  It took a few minutes and some twisting and turning to get it out!

First piece is in place from the cut I made to over the axle.

The last 2 pieces are in place and then the chrome tip went on.

Oval tip and 5 inch exhaust reduces the restriction and back pressure by 85%.

Old tail piece with the restriction.  New exhaust reduces the temperature by 15% according to Bank Power.

Old 4 inch exhaust pipe.
 

06 Dec 23 - Chasing an odor in the laundry room

Before we left for Jupiter for Thanksgiving on the 17th we noticed an odor in the laundry room.  We have had some mouse activity in the attic over the past several months and have put killer bait blocks up there.  The noises in the attic have stopped so we figured it was a dead mouse odor but couldn't find the source before we left.  When we arrived back home on the 4th of December Kathy saw what looked like hair or feathers on the top of the washing machine.  We also noticed the ac vent above the washer with hair/feathers sticking out.

So I removed the went cover and found this critter.

It was at one time a very fat mouse, now partially decayed.

This is the top side of the mouse.

Bottom side with the large lower teeth on the right side of the photo below its little paw.

So now the smell is gone from the laundry room!
 

16 Oct 23 - Stove Cover for Camper Stove

So, the stove in the camper we rarely use and that is a lot of counter space unavailable.  Kathy and I decided that a cover over the stove would be better than removing the stove and cook top.

I first planned down a piece of mahogany that I got from Jonathan's friend in south Florida.

Glued 3 pieces together and put support risers so it didn't sit directly on top of the stove.

I still have to put on the riser towards the back of the board to keep it from moving forward and possibly falling off the counter.  Then I have to epoxy the knot and then sand and finish it.
 

26 Sep 23 - New Shoes for the Camper

26 Sep 23 - FedEx Freight delivery arrived today!

New shoes for the camper.

Boar wheels and truck tires arrived to replace the standard trailer tires.

First one direct replacement. from a 16 inch wheel to a 19.5 inch wheel with Continental truck tire.

Passenger side done!

One on the drivers side replaced.

Drivers side done.  It took about a hour to replace all 4 wheels.  New lugs also!
 

18 Apr 23 - Concrete Pour

The truck was scheduled for 11 am. I got a text while on the walk that it has been moved to 9 am, so the guys were on the way.

Wheel borrowed it from the street since it was so small a slab.

Ben takes great pride in his work.

Ben finishing the slab.
 

17 Apr 23 - Slab Removal

Arrived home this morning from South Florida to find our slab torn up!

This slab was pitched towards the house and would hold water and mold.

Concrete pile in the driveway made parking the camper a little challenging.
 

8 Dec 22 -Chevy Dealership Service Saga - They Damaged the Truck

8 Dec 22 - We dropped the truck at the local Chevy dealer for an oil change and tire balance and rotation.  We were called early afternoon saying it was done so we headed over to pick it up.

14 Dec 22 - We had only made a few trips around town between the 8th and today and noticed a little hop in the trucks ride.  Today we had to go to Deland for a chiropractor appointment which meant we were going to drive I-4 at 75 mph.  When we got up to cruising speed we noticed quite a vibration in the truck.  In the rear view side mirror I could see the outer dually wiggling going down the road.  I thought I may have a steel belt separating which would cause the vibration and the odd wiggle. So I made a call to Tire Kingdom for an appointment the next day.

15 Dec 22 - Tire Kingdom got the truck in and while removing the rear center cap on the drivers side 2 lug nuts came off with the cap and 3 other nuts were loose.  On the passenger side 5 lugs were not properly torqued.  When Tire Kingdom went to balance the wheels all were out of balance be at lest 1oz.  With the drivers rear outer dually bent both side to side and with a hop in it. I have a video but they don't seem to play here anymore.

I sent the service manager a letter explaining what was neglected on my vehicle and they wanted me to bring it in so they could check it.  When they brought me back to the service bay to show me the bent wheel the center cap, picture below, was laying shiny side down with the lug nuts thrown in it on the concrete floor.  Scratching the gold bow tie emblem.

4 Jan 23 - After several discussions and 2 letters to the dealership they offered to pay for half the wheel and gave us a new center cap.  I asked the service manager to explain what we did to be responsible for half the damage to the wheel and he said "I stand by my decision", he offered to pay for half the wheel.  So we are now writing a letter to the owner of the dealership.  We will see what happens.

 The bent spare wheel I now own above, and a video of the wheel on the balancer at Tire Kingdom below.