Pt 29 "You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave."
The dark side of RVing; 42 days, 4 quitting techs, and 1 paranormal takeover of the waiting room --welcome to repairs!
If you’ve been following along on my adventure, you’re probably thinking, this is the life for me! The open road, wind in my hair, and the freedom to explore this beautiful country! And while I wholeheartedly agree, I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t share the downs right along with the ups.
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Owning an RV is an adventure, but it also means repairs. Since our rig happens to be a vintage beauty, finding parts can be like embarking on an Indiana Jones-level quest. Then, of course, there’s the challenge of finding someone who actually knows what they’re doing to install those parts correctly.
After spending a few days on Ernie’s now-partner’s property in Ocala, we left the hammock of palm trees and living oaks and were off to Seffner’s Lazy Days for more repairs. Remember that slide seal we had replaced in Oklahoma? Well, turns out it needed to be replaced again.
We pulled into the parking lot of Lazy Days in Seffner on April 30, blissfully unaware that we would be held hostage until June 11. I felt like I had been cast in a real-life version of Hotel California:
You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave!
To make things even more fun, Lazy Days decided it was the perfect time to lay off most of its staff due to pandemic logic. During our stay, four different techs quit on us. Each time a new tech came in, we had to start from scratch, because the last tech did not bother to pass along notes or keep records on their repair process. Total nightmare!
And while we were stuck in the repair bay under fluorescent lights, surrounded by grease and grime, every once in a while, we’d be temporarily released on good behavior to their RV park across the street, like inmates getting a taste of the yard.
Mother’s day —ahh, yes, nothing says Happy Mother’s Day quite like spending it in an RV bay, under the hum of industrial lights, inhaling the sweet scent of axle grease and the odd black water dump. But you know what? My daughter sent me flowers, and let me tell you, they practically glowed in that dimly lit, fluorescent dungeon. It was a small but mighty reminder that beauty (and love) can be found even in the most unexpected places.
I don’t think the RV industry had any idea what was about to hit them. When we arrived at Lazy Days, the lot was packed with RVs. By the time we left, it was nearly empty.
People who suddenly found themselves unable to travel by plane decided, buying an RV and hitting the road was the better choice. And those who already had an RV? They were demanding repairs at a time when Lazy Days had, just laid off the people who actually did the repairs. It was a mess.
Even more fascinating? The parking lot was full of high-end cars, boats and motorcycles. People were literally trading in their luxury vehicles just to get their hands on an RV. What an interesting twist.
To sum it up: it was a giant, disorganized, stress-inducing clusterfuck. The only saving grace? Our service agent, Katie. She was an absolute gem, advocating for us when everything seemed to be going sideways. Because of her, I’d actually consider going back. Although, I may need some therapy first.
Let’s talk about the waiting room. It was like stepping into my grandmother’s living room, minus the protective plastic on the furniture. Cozy, warm, and inviting. There were people who had set up entire desks at the tables, working away. others, glued to Fox News getting sucked into the latest round of political drama. Me? Oh, I had a very different strategy.
Every morning, bright and early, I made sure to stake my claim in the waiting room first (because we had to be out of our coach by 7 AM anyway). Step one: grab the remotes. Step two: switch the channel to paranormal shows for each TV. Step three? Hide the remotes.
Now, I should mention, I’m a people watcher through and through. I also have a particular kind of charm and wit, one that only a mother could love. So, watching unsuspecting RVers get slowly sucked into an adrenaline-fueled, spine-tingling parade of supernatural reenactments and eerie first-person accounts? Fascinating.
The way some tried to act like they weren’t completely freaked out? The nervous side-eyes? The futile, under-the-table remote search? Comedy gold. But the absolute best part? Watching their reactions when they realized they couldn’t change the channel.
Some sat frozen, gripping their coffee like a lifeline. Others shifted uncomfortably, quietly scanning the room in search of a hero willing to embark on the great remote recovery mission. And then there were the true believers, yes they were the best. They leaned in, eyes wide, absolutely riveted by the ghostly chaos unfolding before them. Yea, those are my kind of people. Honestly, it was one of the only joys in that entire experience. And I regret nothing.
It helped passed the most frustrating parts of this mundane adventure. The never-ending waiting for parts. The older your RV, the longer you wait. And Lazy Days? They wouldn’t pay for expedited shipping. So, there we were, just...waiting. At one point, I swear, cobwebs were forming between the coach and the bay door.
Ernie, of course, somehow managed to schedule all his business trips during our captivity. Convenient, right? I’m not entirely convinced they were all work trips. I have a sneaking suspicion he was sipping Mai Tais poolside somewhere while I was pleading with Katie to keep repair techs from quitting.
One of the hardest parts during this time was not being able to drive the motorcoach. Every time a porter had to move our rig to the RV park, I felt completely inadequate. But that experience was a turning point. I was determined to learn how to drive this beast. Of course, timing is everything, and back then, it just wasn’t the right time.
Looking back, I’m actually grateful I waited. Being married to a Class A commercial driver trainer meant I was trained the right way. There’s a lot to learn, and let me tell you, it is nothing like driving a car.
Did you know that in some states, there are zero requirements for driving a 45-foot, three-axle, bus-sized Recreational Vehicle? Yep. A standard driver’s license is all you need. I believe that if an RV is longer than a Class C, there should be some licensing requirement! And in some states, there is.
States Requiring a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for Certain RVs
A CDL is required for RVs over 26,000 pounds in:
Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C. (Class B for single vehicles; Class A for combinations over 26,000 lbs.)
Wisconsin: CDL required for RVs over 45 feet in length.
States Requiring a Non-Commercial Special License for Larger RVs
A special license is needed for RVs over 26,000 pounds (or with additional requirements) in:
California, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming.
Michigan: Requires a Recreational Double "R" Endorsement for towing a fifth wheel plus an extra trailer.
Nevada: Requires a "J" Endorsement for towing a vehicle over 10,000 pounds, if the combined weight is under 26,000 pounds.
New York: Requires an "R" Endorsement for RVs over 26,000 pounds.
Notice Arizona, the wild, wild west has nothing? That’s right. I can legally hop behind the wheel of our 45-foot motorcoach and just… go.
And this is why I have more confidence driving next to a properly trained truck driver (as long as they’re not attempting to pee in a bottle) than next to most RVers.
If you’re thinking about getting a larger RV, do yourself a favor—check your state’s licensing requirements before you hit the road. If I’d known what I was in for, I would have gotten a Class B license before setting off. I did try to get one while we were in Las Vegas for months, but because my license was from Arizona, I was out of luck.
Now that you have a little “did you know” under your belt, back to Lazy Days. When it comes to purchasing an RV, I have to give Lazy Days credit where it’s due. Their marketing strategy is brilliant.
Their lot is set up like an RV park and not just some sun-blasted asphalt wasteland. Every RV has an electrical hookup blasting cold air inside and is nestled under the shade of live oak trees. Perfect for keeping shoppers comfortable while they’re being whisked around on golf carts as it is essential in any Florida RV park to have one; okay, not really, but they’re fun.
The grounds? Gorgeous. Thick, spongy, lush green grass. Perfectly trimmed hedges. A vibrant display of flowers offsetting the vibrant green. Walking the cats around the property after being couped up all day, was our reprieve. A much-needed escape from staring out my window at an endless line of coaches in need of repair.
If you’re new to RVing, heed this advice — get on the forums! Before you start a new thread, do a quick search to see if someone has already covered your question (trust me, they probably have). Once you find a solid recommendation for a repair tech, hold onto them for dear life. This is exactly why I shared Joe in Oklahoma with you all. When you find a tech who actually cares and has integrity, you want to lock him up and take him with you. Well, that’s cruel, but I wish I could!
Now, I do belong to several Facebook groups, but I avoid asking questions unless I absolutely have to. Why? Because instead of getting a straight answer, you get a flood of irrelevant responses, personal opinions, and arguments that spiral into chaos. However, the beauty of Facebook groups is the search function. Type in a keyword, silently (and sanely) scroll through past discussions, and you might just uncover some golden nuggets of wisdom.
Forums can be a life saving and fun if you join one that’s specific to your RV brand. Since we have a Monaco, we belong to Bill D’s Monacoers, and let me tell you, the responses there are solid.
If you're a member of Family RV Association (FMCA), formerly the Family Motor Coach Association, you’ll find a plethora of technical videos, forums, and other invaluable resources. Bonus tip? If you join a chapter dedicated to your make of RV, you can attend rallies where you’ll get hands-on training, technical advice, and the chance to meet some truly wonderful people. Plus, there’s always some kind of fun event to keep things interesting.
Another great resource is iRV2 Forums, which is part of RV LIFE Pro, but I’ll dive into that next time. It’s a fantastic planning tool and a great way to connect with like-minded RVers.
It’s little tidbits like this that make all the difference. Honestly, I never thought I’d be someone who relied on forums. But when you're desperate, you’ll try anything and I’m so glad I did.
Next week, I’ll share more about RV LIFE Pro and Lazy Days RV Park because there’s plenty more to tell!
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Thank you for tuning in and reading this. I super appreciate you.
~Karen
I give you lots of credit for being able to drive an RV 🚙🤗That wasn't a fun RV adventure! Ah, Facebook groups can be insane!