The Battle of Serenity [Valley]

Well, back at it and making progress getting Serenity ready to tow to our new home. Finished the one ton front end conversion.

I did want to note that the installation instructions on the "machinesoflovinggrace" website has some really crappy instructions for torquing the upper ball joint nut...who ever wrote it said (and i'm paraphrasing here) "you need a really shallow socket, so I practiced on the tie-rods as they are the same torque...then used my freshly calibrated arm to use a wrench to torque."

I've attached a photo of the ACTUAL proper way to torque this nut: a 1" crows foot on the torque wrench at a 90* angle...it has to be a 90* angle to ensure the proper torque. If anyone knows who owns the instructions let me know and I can pass on a suggested edit.
 

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I'm ashamed to say it takes an urgent move to motivate me to do what I should have done years ago. Had I been 1/2 this active on my coach these past 3 years my wife and I would have been enjoying it at rallies two years ago!

Anyway, enough regret...it doesn't put coaches on the road.

So this past week I built up the rear suspension, finished installing Al Branscombe's parking brake upgrade, and presto! She's almost ready for touch down.
 

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KenTexian,
You are showing us flexibility, persistence, and diligence with your coach and your plans. Nicely done! It's a pleasure to see someone working their circumstances with energy and intent. At this rate you will have that coach on the road, you and your family will be making memories in it that you will cherish, and you will know that a lot of people watched you successfully climb a mountain. And all this while serving your country. Good on ya.
 
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KenTexian,
You are showing us flexibility, persistence, and diligence with your coach and your plans. Nicely done! It's a pleasure to see someone working their circumstances with energy and intent. At this rate you will have that coach on the road, you and your family will be making memories in it that you will cherish, and you will know that a lot of people watched you successfully climb a mountain. And all this while serving your country. Good on ya.
Thanks for the kind words...I really don't know what to say but, thanks.

The truth is that working on this thing is an odd experience. A lot of the jobs have me cussing, but once they are finished I feel fulfilled in the job that has been accomplished, and later still I realize the whole thing was great fun. I will be proud of her once she's on the road.

Thanks for following along and double thanks for the reassurance!
 
Ken,
You would seem to be close to a satisfaction that many of us know well......
When you finally get her out on the road and get to enjoy both the coach herself and what she can do for you, you will then have a solid understanding of the rest of us residents in this asylum.
Matt - a 17 year 75Kmile resident.
 
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Whoops...looks like I had been posting updates to the sales thread instead of my build thread! (My coach is off the market)

May 12, 2022:
Just checking in, and a quick update. Serenity made it safely to Kentucky a few days after pick up. Everything was intact, no damage at all. I couldn't be happier with Jim's work hauling...the man knows his trade.

Yesterday we had the pad poured so we can get the old girl's big butt out of the middle of the driveway!

So, the next stage will begin once I am able to get the boxes out of the garage and the tools organized. I'll open up the rear hatch again and clutter up my garage all over again! But then I can get back to work getting her road worthy. I have a call into Sirum requesting how much the "easy button" would cost, by that I mean having them do all the mechanical work to get the old girl road worthy and safe to drive. That way I can get started on the house systems and making her habitable. I figure it would shave about 2 years off my timeline just because the pace I am able to tackle these items...but if the cost is more than a 3rd world nation's GDP I'll just keep bending wrenches when I can.

Thanks for following along, I hope everyone is well!

7/1/2024
Serenity made it to Kentucky and on to her pad next to the garage back in 2022. I have done exactly not one thing to her in all the time between then and now. I am happy to say that dry spell ends this week! With the holiday this week I will be opening her up and getting back to business.

First I need to pull all the parts and boxes stored in her out and squirrel them away into the garage. Then I will set to getting the engine running again. This may prove too optimistic for 4 days, but that's the goal!
 

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We all get hit with a hiatus now and then. I'm glad you were able to hang on to her through everything. Good luck getting started back up! Looking forward to your progress.
 
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