What I love and the ONE thing I don't like about my motorhome. 2005 Alfa See Ya 36FD Founder RV tour
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
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✅ VIDEO DESCRIPTION
Fulltime RVer Liz Amazing gives a tour of everything she loves about her motorhome and shares the ONE thing she dislikes about it.
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✅ Who is Liz Amazing?
Liz is a fulltime RVer who hit the road in 2018, after dreaming about this life for 26 years. This channel provides entertaining and informative RV tips and tricks if you are thinking about living the RV life fulltime, part time or just on weekends.
✅ All Rights Reserved. These videos are for entertainment purposes only. Liz is not a travel or RV expert. She shares her RV tips and tricks that work for her. It is important to do your own research to find what works best for you. Liz is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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You can have a surge protector hard wired installed within you electrical bay, your power cord would then be plugged directly into the electrical power panel at the RV park. Just as easy as hooking up your water supply hose. No more back breaking plugging, unplugging into the portable surge protector.
That is starting to look like a GREAT answer. Thanks so much for this!
👆 yes, high on your upgrade list should be an internal surge protector! I hated to see you bent over at the hip trying to pull up on the plug. Very bad for your back. Never bend over! Always bend at the knees and squat. Hope you have many many miles of trouble free RVing!
The good news about the surge protector is that it's more difficult for someone to walk off with. Seriously the hardwired one would be my choice.
That would be one option, but I am unfamiliar with the lifespan of high voltage SPs these days? Otherwise, tap in two windshield tools on either side and pry in unison, their built for it and non conducting.
That’s what I was going to suggest also. Like already said, it’s hardwired into your bay. 🥰
Nice coach Liz. Enjoy!
To get rid of the corrosion on the terminals and connections, neutralize it with a mix of water and baking soda. Invest in a terminal cleaning brush from any auto parts store and then when you're ready to reconnect everything, put a very light coating of the dielectric or plain Vaseline on every connection. This will slow down the formation of the corrosion and make the removal of the connections much easier if and when you decide to replace or need to change out a battery.
Chris Flavelle
That's good advice, Chris.....works well
I bought the little kit from auto zone and it includes a round felt pad to put down too. So far so good
And when cleaning the battery terminals wear safety glasses just in case.
For Sure! Great advice!
Chris is right Liz. That's quite a bit of corrosion. I would take both connections off (negative first, then positive) and clean them really well. Pay attention to the terminal. If the acid had eaten through they may need to be replaced. Wear protective glasses and old clothes when cleaning with the sofa water. You will splatter and that acid will eat through clothes. There will be lots of green foam. Change the soda water and keep cleaning until all clean. Take a terminal connection brush and clean the posts and inside the terminal connectors before installing back (positive first, then negative). My dad used bearing grease to goop up the terminals to prevent corrosion. Something I do to this day. They do make a terminal corrosion spray, but I haven't tried it out. An earlier post said something about Cola. Don't do that. You will have a sticky mess. Anyway, lots of UA-cam videos out there for the process. Just my two cents.
Liz, I'm so happy for you! What a fantastic new home; it looks spacious and extremely comfortable. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors. ❤
Thanks so much Rhonda, sure appreciate your love and support!
Thank you for the wonderful channel, Liz! I am learning a lot, though I am a new subscriber. My husband passed away a year ago and now, at the ripe old age of 67, I am thinking about going out on the open road... though I am scared to death at the thought of being alone. You are doing beautifully even by yourself, and it gives me hope! I would keep my house and just go on shorter trips to start, i think. I will keep watching for all of your tips and tricks! thanks!
Yes, just take baby steps. You may even wish to join a club of other solo RVers and travel as a group. Sorry about your loss, I am sure it has been a rough year. Good for you for trying new things! And welcome to the channel, looking forward to meeting you on the road.
You will have fun once you get used to it. It’s exciting to be solo and just do whatever you wanna do.
My husband passed away several years ago. I learned to drive my Class A motorhome and recently a motorcycle too. I'm 69 y/o. I moved to Nevada from Oregon.. on my own. I'm settled but I miss my old life sometimes... It's ok. ❤️❤️❤️. Good days mostly 😊
@@maryh3438 Thank you for sharing! I live in Oregon myself, but used to live in Las Vegas (we called it "Lost Wages"!). I agree, I miss my old life as well, but one day at a time I'm working my way out of this isolation. There is light at the end of the tunnel!
@@maryh3438 How inspiring! Good for you!
well done. highly entertaining , very well thought out video. what i like the most is the formula f1 pace of TALKING from start to end. JUST FACT AFTER FACT . no eye rolls , no hums.. no unnecessary time wasting. very done.
Thank you VERY much for this!!! I was actually worried that people would say I drank too much coffee when making this!!! Truly, I kept editing stuff out to keep it moving. Thanks for taking the time to tell me!
I think this is why you call yourself "Liz Amazing", because of all of the things that you venture out to do. I think it's amazing that you are taking on this big pusher to drive and manage all alone. Many women would not try it. I would if I could afford it. Fantastic home on wheels! Congrats to you! 🎉🎊 You're very knowledgeable!
Yes, Liz is amazing. She's doing ok with this 💔 while Paul is struggling to make a VA appointment for his mental health issues according to his latest video.
Moral of the story: Paul's life will not be Amazing without Liz in it at the present moment.
@J T305 It's been a rough month for us both, that is for sure. We both have broken hearts. Instead of sharing about that publicly, I am focused on healing and bringing YOU the best content. That said, kudos for Paul for being so vulnerable and sharing his journey to help others.
Thanks for this! I so appreciate your cheering me on! Thanks for your kind words and for watching!
@@JT-cl9np kind of a lame comment….leave Paul alone and let Liz focus on her new life….
Liz I dated a guy who was a RV tech. And have been in a lot of motor homes and I can truly say you got a NICE NICE motor home. I 'am in awe that your out there doing it by your self. GIRL POWER ROCKS. ☮
Awww, thank you so much Patty! See you in my brand new video if you haven't seen it yet! ua-cam.com/video/jVB5USrMhgM/v-deo.html
Nice RV! We now have a residential refrigerator in our motorhome but we did love the propane one. My husband lived in ours for five years working at a US Air Force base. We never had any trouble with the propane freezer and it did not cause freezer burn that we ever saw. Still miss that little refrigerator! Happy travels to you ❤️
That's great to hear, Pattie. I bet the older ones were better. I think that was the case with my 2003 Chinook camper van. The fridge was great! Thanks for watching and your kind words. Happy travels!
Same here with the propane frig. Never had an issue with coldness or freezer.
As someone who is researching their first RV, I really appreciated your presentation of the pluses and minuses of various types of RV systems, eg propane refrigerators. Thanks!
Thanks Todd. In case you missed it, I just did an RV shopping tips one with lots of info: ua-cam.com/video/SXBSh_ERtZI/v-deo.html
Hi Liz. For your problems with disconnecting the electric cord. Many times the connection inside at contacts of blade into sleeve for electric power transfer is intended to be tight to help eliminate heat and burnt terminals due to loose connection. Leave the plug in your surge protector and you or another person you trust cut a notch in the floor of the compartment or install one of the much larger plastic rings in the compartment floor ( sold at rv places or online ) I did the larger ring on a Monaco class A I had last year. I fought the unplugging until I changed out the little plastic ring for much bigger. Enjoy and have fun Glen
Thanks Glen. I am reluctant to cut a hole in the outside of my motorhome though. I may get something installed inside. Still thinking on it. Thanks for watching.
It’s a real treasure and I’m so impressed in that the former owners took such good care of their 2005!
Thanks so much, this is why I drove 750 miles!!! I didn't want to miss out on this. And thanks for watching!
You have a great looking class A. A few things to fix but even when buying new there are things to fix! Over all if you like it that is all that matters. I think you got a great deal. And I love your tip about save some money, don't blow it all on the RV. THAT IS THE BEST TIP anyone could ever give! Looking forward to upcoming videos. Stay safe.
Thanks so much for saying so, Wayne! So happy to have you here! And that's so true with brand new ones, too! See you in the next video and thanks again for your kind words.
This older Alfa is pure class. It reminds me of owning an older Mercedes Benz 300 TD. I've only rented an RV once from Ca. to Utah. St. George to Salt Lake City. Clean the terminals with a brush and vinegar wipe off with paper towels then reconnect the terminal and apply lithium grease on top of terminals.. Use your gloves unless you feel adventurous..😇
Don't clean your terminals with vinegar, vinegar is an acid and you have acid (sulfuric acid) buildup on the terminals. I don't know what could happen when you mix two acids, but I wouldn't want to find out. Use a solution of baking soda and water to clean your terminals, the baking soda will neutralize the sulfuric acid.
Additionally, I recommend you install treated felt washers on each terminal when you re-install your cables to the batteries. You can find them at auto parts stores near the new battery section. These felt washers are treated to neutralize the acid coning up from the battery posts and will prevent (or severely retard) the terminal corrosion.
Thank you. I cleaned the terminals with baking soda and water but still need to apply a coat of something to the terminals. Thanks for the reminder, and for watching.
That Alpha is alot of coach and very nice. We almost purchased one but went with a Newmar instead. We have an 05 as well. If you haven't already, get a safety check and make sure they check all of the airbags for cracks and the suspension ride height rubber grommets as well.
This is a great tip, thanks Raymond! And congratulations on your Newmar. Looking forward to seeing you out here.
Liz, we put a Hughes Autoformers PWD50-EPO-H, 50 amp spike power watchdog with shutoff into our mototcoach. It's hardwired and doesn't require the constant plugging in and unplugging. Saved so much frustration and time. If you decide to go this route, reach out to me if you have any questions. :) So proud of you!
Well, that's awesome. I need to get one! Thanks so very much! Safe travels to you and thanks for your kind words!
Morning Liz, I had almost the same issue with my shore power plug, I found a door trim removing tool used by professional auto repair shops, Snap-On, Matco and most tool vendors carry them, they have a nice beveled tip that can be slid in between the two half's of the connection and then the prying force is directed vertically up the center of the plug instead of from the side, when the pressure is from the side the plug pins bind in the sockets and that's why it's so hard to separate them.
Hope this helps,
You could use a screwdriver to pry them apart but most people don't think to get the cord disconnected before shoving a metal screwdriver tip into an electric plug so I can't suggest that.
And then I googled something, Mike, that said even if the rig is unplugged you can still get a shock if you touch metal to the prongs. Thanks for your tip, and for watching.
Hi Liz, love the new coach. As to your sticky connection,clean off the grease so can see where the blades are rubbing . There should be shiny scratches or brighter areas where the friction occurs. Then take some emery cloth and work on these areas checking your progress frequently so as not to remove too much material. If it’s way out of a good fit use a file to remove the bulk of the material , then finish with the emery cloth. The other option is to return the unit for one that fits better. This may not be an option. Good luck.
Hi Don. I hadn't even heard of emery cloth so I will have to google that. It does sound like the answer. Thanks for this, and for watching!
Had a 2004 ALFA See Ya 36 for 10 years, put 54k on it, 38 states towed a 28' enclosed trailer. LOVED that motor home, you will too.
Yay! So happy to hear this Dennis! I am thrilled with this!!! Thanks for watching and commenting.
Looks like quite a few people have given good information on battery care. If you decide to stay with lead acid batteries I suggest getting the remote water fill kit for batteries. It saves a ton of time and makes keeping the water topped off in your batteries a simple procedure. You can find them on Amazon.
Great tip. Thank you! Since this video I did another one about my batteries, check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/jVB5USrMhgM/v-deo.html And thanks for watching!
Liz that is a nice RV. Alfa built a very nice coach and I love the ceiling height. The full body paint is a great upgrade. Very happy for you and wish you the best in your travels. One thing that I do after my back surgery per my doctors advise, he said to not sit longer than 30 minutes which it sounds like you go from sitting and then stand up. He advised me to walk just a little bit to move around and then go to sitting or standing. It has really helped me. Take care and glad you seem to be doing well.
Hi Jim, sorry you've also been through back surgery. That's true that keeping it moving is very helpful. Thanks for watching and take care of your back.
Liz, you are amazing. You have tackled this whole process head on. Stay strong and keep the videos coming ☺️
Thanks so much for the support, Roseanne. It's great to have you here!
Hi Liz- Terrific layout!. Looks extremely comfy. A few ideas you may find helpful- I am terrified of the gas stove and hate using it. I purchased a cook top like yours, but most of the time,it is not practical when cooking for two or when we have dinner guests, so… I got a Cuisinart griddle/waffle maker. Works great for sandwiches, burgers, etc…and can even toast bread perfectly. Also got a Proctor Silex electric pot- perfect for boiling everything! My best appliance is my All-Clad electric frying pan- use it to cook everything from short ribs, pot roast to fish. With those appliances and the convection microwave, I never turn on the stove. My doggies were always accidentally turning on the knobs on the stove. While browsing a thrift shop, found a brand new set of stove knob covers. Fantastic find! No more hitting the knobs. Travel safely and look forward to sharing more of your adventures. 👍🏻🙏❤️😀
Wow, great tips on cooking gadgets, thank you. I have a panini press and love it. Thanks for watching!
Liz so proud of you! I too pull a 40Ft 2007 Tiffin Phaeton with a 24 Ft trailer, housing my Mini Cooper, Harley, golf cart and electric bike. I started off towing a Nissan Titan, and yes it can be towed with a drive shaft disconnect. Now I pull a ATC trailer which is all aluminum, so for weight restrictions it helps, so I can carry my toys all weather gear and my Costco supplies. I will tell you it takes about 2 years to get the rig the way you want it. I have upgraded everything from water filtration with uv sterilizer, added deionized system to wash the rig spot free, to a full residential refrigerator and a whole host of other upgrades. I just left the Elkhart area and if you need service, customizations call Paul’s Rv interior in Wakarusa, Indiana. I had them install a custom shower wall, security cameras and a few other things I am pleased with their work. So when I am not in Red Bay, AL at Tiffin, I’ll come here. I went to EQ systems and changed out my leveling jack system now it runs off my phone and love it. I have a Truma tankless water heater and went to the factory to get my antifreeze kit installed and got educated right from the manufacturer it was great. I tell people all the time not to buy brand new, I got burned with two brand new units and had nothing but problems. You are well on your way enjoy your condo on wheels! Be safe happy motoring 😊
HI there! Thanks so much for your comment. I may need to go to Elkhart! I want a new shower and just to replace the fiberglass one with a new one I was quoted $5000! Yikes. And this was from the old Alfa dealer that now services all the Alfas. I am sure there are many other upgrades I will want to do. I am stationary for the winter so I can get some of these projects taken care of. It's true that the new ones are much worse.
Thanks for your love and support!!!
Baking soda, water and a wire brush can be used to clean battery terminals. after cleaned, a spray of clear coat or battery terminal protectant spray helps prevent future corrosion. Good luck and thanks for sharing your new RV.
I did that, thanks so much. BUT I haven't yet done the protectant spray. Thanks for the reminder, and for watching. See you in the next video!
Great camper Liz as far cord end issue I would suggest having a surge protection mounted in your rv there wouldn’t be any issues including possible theft of the surge protection also the track with the stuff peeling off I would remove the track remove the stuff from it then get some rust oleum paint that you love and paint and install
Great tips, both of them. Thank you so very much!!! And thanks for watching.
I am SO excited for you Liz . Your new home is wonderful and I can not wait to see it with your touches on it . Stay strong stay well and travel safe .
Thanks for the encouragement, Amy. See you in the next video!
Another great video. Just a safety note… do not get a conductive cooktop or range if you or anyone else has a medical device implant like a pacemaker or medicine pump. The conductive range is a magnet and will, without question, turn your device off.
Easy Solution - We had the same problem and used to struggle with disconnecting the surge protector from our power cord. Now it's a breeze. Buy a REALLY BIG screwdriver and work the blade in between the connectors and simply pry them apart. Of course, make SURE that it's unplugged from the power pedestal first !
Indeed! And I googled and it said even when th RVe plug is unplugged you can get a shock!!! Be careful. And see you in the next video.
Its Amazing! Beautiful! Thanks for your honesty and all the experience you give us!
Awww, thanks so much for your kind words, Jenny! And thanks for commenting within the first hour it really helps the channel! Big hugs to you and see you in the next video.
You Have purchase a beautiful coach. Love all the storage ,layout and beautiful paint. Perfect for your needs. Im so proud of you and your reasons for going with a motorhome . You have shown me how to live amazing and be confident despite what life throws at me .I love my new RV too. Hope to see you again soon .
Hi Gus!!! Congrats on your new rig and how exciting!! I bet you've already got some good travels planned and maybe even Fort Wilderness!
You’re awesome! Thank you and I pray for blessings over your health and family.
Thank you so much, Hope!
Your coach is a beaut! I’m always amazed at the ingenious ways manufacturers fit everything in, and in a harmonious way.
Thank you, I am thrilled. And thanks for watching, so glad to have you here.
OUTSTANDING LIZ!👍 You truly are practicing what you preach! Love the new coach! Great video👍🥰
Thanks so much!!! Sure appreciate your love and support!
wow,Liz I’m so happy for you ! I love your motorhome ! It’s really pretty . Just want you to know I watch you all the time. I wish you the best GOD can give you. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Aww, thank you so much for your love and support! Glad to have you here and thanks for watching!
We use to have the same problem with our surge protector. Then we replaced our power cord. The new one has an end specially made for it. Now it is super easy. No effort needed at all.
Good to know. I may do that. Thanks so much!
Liz, congratulations on your new coach, it looks like it’s a perfect fit for your needs. To clean your batteries simply mix about 1 part baking soda and 4 parts water. Using a toothbrush or small paintbrush apply the solution to the terminals cleaning them thoroughly. Then remove the cables from the terminals and use a battery terminal brush to clean the battery terminals and cable ends well. Put everything back together and make sure the cables are tight. For your 50 amp connection have you tried plugging it directly into a 50 amp outlet to see how hard it is to remove? It may be the female connector of your surge protector that’s the issue.
That's a great point about the 50amp plug. Yes, no problems at all with the RV plug. This is a brand new surge protector and it does NOT seem to be getting any easier. Thanks for watching.
Nice unit! As for the batteries, baking soda and vinegar and a brass bristle brush. Some have said that pouring Coca-Cola on the terminals will work. After you clean the terminals and posts, there is a battery terminal spray you can use. It coats everything and helps prevent the corrosion. Can you make the hole for your power cord larger? You could make it large enough to fit the surge protector through, just make sure you keep some sort of cover on it to keep rodents out. Enjoy your new RV!
Thanks Corinne, I thought about cutting a hole but would rather not. It has a nifty little cap for the hole now so I think I will not do that. I may install a built-in surge protector though. And thanks for the battery tip!
No vinegar!! Just baking soda and water for cleaning. The rest of your advice is good.
Beautiful Rig Liz. I also prefer my induction cook over the propane and I also gave up on my RV fridge and bought a regular fridge and a small freezer.
Yep, that's the way to do it. Thanks for this, Tracy!
Liz I have a bathtub repair solution under $10 and 5 minutes. Take a shower curtain and place against the wall. You can use gorilla tape to hold it in place. With it on the walls it makes it so easy to keep clean with zero worry about water intrusion.
I love your new home!!
Thanks for this, Dave! Good tip, and thanks for your kind words as well. See you in the next video.
When you tackle the job of cleaning your batteries. Don't forget to protect yourself from the harmful battery vapor and Don't let the battery corrosion splash on your skin and your clothes. It's still toxic until the baking soda dissolves it. This is something that you want to do out of any rv parks and so you don't harm wildlife creatures.
Also as someone else mentioned REPLACE your surge protector with an in-line surge protector. That will fix that problem.
Be safe out there. Happy travels.
Thanks for the tips, Frank! Sure appreciate you!!!
Hi Liz, that is beautiful motorhome. You did good 🙂👍👍. Seems perfect for what you have in store for the coming years. :) Take care and good health for the future. I enjoy your channel a lot.
Thanks so very much. I am so glad to have you here! See you in the next video!
Love your motorhome it looks so comfortable Liz .
Safe travels.🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks so much, Debbie!!!
Great advice. I love your home. With that paint job you home will never be old.
Thanks Roy! Glad to have you here! See you in the next video.
With this type of setup, I've always kept a large screwdriver with me, to pry the surge protector from the head of the main wire harness. MAKE SURE, you are unplugged from the post/120/240 before ever doing this of course. I've never had an issue doing so, although it's slowly getting easier the more I use it. Enjoy your new wheels Liz, and thanks for the tour. I recently switched my four house batteries to Battleborn Lithium batteries, as I have the residential fridge in our '08 Phaeton, where overnight I don't have to worry about the batteries going below the 50% mark, and they charge quicker as well. Obviously much lighter in weight too, but I'd get your battery connections cleaned up, and hopefully you'll watch it much closer, as those are nasty! I see others have told you the solution to dilute and rid yourself of the corrosion. Stay safe, and enjoy your e-bike, as we sure do!
Thanks you two! I have heard that if you touch the metal prongs with a screwdriver you'll still risk a shock (coming from the RV). Others have said to use plastic wedges and a mallet so I may do that. Thanks for your tips and for watching.
Shouldn’t be any back current coming from the RV as your generator interconnect switch will cut power to the shore power cable. Other bad things would happen to your RV electrical system if this was the case. Definitely make sure the surge protector is unplugged from the service post before using the screw driver to pry the surge protector from the shore power cable.
What a gorgeous coach! You got as close to perfect as you could find for yourself! ❤️ Congratulations!!
We prefer our propane fridge and the oven. But we do use an induction and use almost exclusively cast iron for it. Great cooktop!
I'm with you on the power cord issue! Help!
Exactly! And thanks so much for watching!!! Sure appreciate your kind words!
Nice RV Liz. I love the storage. Your desk looks great.
Thanks so much, Shara! It all worked out. And good to see you!!!
I hardwired my surge protector. Have had them on last two rigs and they worked flawlessly.
That's a good idea Jim, I will probably do the same. And thanks for watching.
To release my surge protector from the cord, I use a screw driver that I work up and down. I leave a gap of about an eighth of an inch when I put the two together. I unplug from the pedestal and then use the screwdriver to pry the cord and surge protector apart.
HI Bob, that's interesting you don't connect them all the way. Someone said on here if you do that you risk arcing. Also, if you use a screwdriver, even unplugged from the post, you risk electrocution if your screwdriver touches a prong. I just googled that! And thanks for watching.
Liz I love your RV! It’s beautiful! Again congratulations on your new home. ❤
Hi Cathy! Thanks so much!!!! I am thrilled and am doing cartwheels over here (well, in my mind anyway!).
I’m so proud of you Liz💞
Thanks Cher, so grateful to have you here!
This is great. To finally find a solo woman driving a Class A, which is what I want. But admit was a little nervous in that consideration. I'm holding off till interest drops, so in the meantime I will learn and gain confidence. Enjoy Liz.
Hi Mary Elizabeth! Well stay tuned because I will share all sorts of tips about owning a motorhome. See you in the next video, and thanks for watching.
Liz , I had the same problem with surge protector. I found my best solution is - make sure it’s unplugged then I have a flat head screw driver that slips in between the connections. Then pry back and forth little by little- and out in seconds. Works great for me.
Thanks Doug. I've heard you can give yourself a shock if the screwdriver touches the metal prong so be careful. Another commenter recommended a mallet and plastic wedges so I may try that. Thanks for watching.
Nice choice on the new home.
That's a tour bus in disguise!
Yes, that interior height is great. Especially for any future resale. Not everyone is under 6'5"! as most other motorhomes.
That massive windshield will be nice during bad weather. Not so claustrophobic. Hope you have a giant reflector/cover for the hot days.
Tire pressure monitor system?
No? Definitely install! Can save your life! Same for the towed.
Yes on the induction cook top!
Future, remove the gas top, install a residential unit.
Much safer, cleaner, more efficient, and less interior moisture.
Can you haul the bicycle in the under/belly compartment, without injury to your back? Maybe on a slide out tray?
Let us know your MPG!
And for gosh sakes, dont drive into any sandy parking!
HI Clark! A definite no to a sandy lot, LOL. I am getting just over 6mpg but both trips I've done so far were hilly. In my next fillup I expect those numbers to go up slightly.
The motorhome has a power shade in the front, quite handy!
I thought about that for the bike but it just won't fit in the compartment. Darn. But I will be doing a future video about bike theft prevention and a smart solution I found.
And stay tuned as I will be talking about TPMS in an upcoming video.
Thanks for your comment!
Wow, Liz, that home is huge! Is it bigger than the fifth wheel because it sure looks like it! I hope it’s a great home for you with few future issues. It looks great! Good luck 🍀🙋🏻♀️!
Hi Theresa! The fifth wheel was 35 feet and this is 38 (but also has the cab) so I'd say about the same. But...it feels WAY bigger with so much storage! Thanks so much for your good wishes, and for watching. So glad to have you here!
Liz, it is wonderful to see you so happy and upbeat!
Thank you Diane, nice of you to say so! Thanks for watching!
Beautiful coach. I have wanted a diesel pusher but wife does not like the entry door up front. You seem smart and logical. How refreshing.
Awww, thanks for your kind words, Bob. There are some with mid-entry doors but no so easy to find. And thanks for watching.
Well done Video - full of good info - quick paced - good videography !! A++ For the surge protector issue I'd look for one that fits through the hole in the compartment floor or make that whole bigger to fit the surge protector you have. Making the hole bigger (assuming no obstructions underneath) is something you could do along with mounting a new cover plate for the new hole size. You really do have a beautiful rig.
Thanks so much for your comment, Tim. I actually bought a smaller surge protector that would fit in the hole...BUT I learned the hard way that it will NOT fit when plugged in. I am reluctant to cut a hole in the rig so I am leaning towards a hard-wired surge protector. Thanks so VERY much for your kind words!!! Big hugs to you!
Awesome motorhome…so large and spacious. I couldn’t imagine driving something so large (I am not an RV owner) but it’ll sure be nice when you’re parked at your destinations. Nice tour- thank you!
Yes, it's definitely a home on wheels. Thanks for watching!
For your surge protector. What I do is put a bar through the hole of one either the surge or coach and pull on the other end. This works for me.
Now that might work! Thanks so much!
Great video, you’ve already got 700+ comments and some one has probably offered an answer to your difficult to unplug question already but I’ll offer one as well.
A small pry bar (super bar) or small carpenter’s pry bar. These come as small as 6” - 7” in length and as long as you’re not connected to power there’s no risk involved and if used with some finesse it won’t damage your plugs.
Hi Greg, Well I just googled that and it says if the metal comes in contact with the prongs you can get shocked. So be careful!!! And thanks for watching and your kind words. Glad to have you here!
Beautiful RV/home Liz! Looking forward to following your new adventures! I'm envious of all that storage! 😊
Thanks Angie, yes it is HUGE! Thanks for watching and for being here!
Great choice on your Alfa Liz. Alfa is a brand designed for full timers by full timers. Interesting story how the Alfa came about, if you’re familiar with John Crean Sr the founder of Fleetwood RV,his son John Crean Jr worked for him & he wanted to change things up. John Sr was not a full time RV’er but John Jr was so Jr wanted to build a line of coaches for full timers & Sr said no, if it’s not broke why fix it Sr said. Long story short,they had words & Jr left & started his own company he called Alfa & the last thing he said to his dad was see ya. That’s where the See Ya name comes from. They later reconciled in later years before John Sr passed away.
Hi Mike, I didn't know this story, thanks for taking the time to share it. I am thrilled with my Alfa and feel very lucky to have one. Thanks again!
Liz, after struggling with the tight surge protector myself, here’s an easy and safe way I use to decouple the surge protector from the power cable. First, very important to be unplugged from the power source. Get yourself an extra large flat screw driver, the blade should be 3/8 to 1/2 inch wide. You simply insert the driver between the power cable connector and the surge protector plug, and gently turn the handle. Do not force the screwdriver, just insert a little bit at a time and turn. Do this from each side of the plug, gently prying as you turn the driver. The blade leverage will separate the plugs easily. I keep the driver handy in my power bay. I always wear gloves when handling the power cable to keep clean, I keep a pair with the driver in the power bay. Once you done it a few times, you’ll get the knack of it and look like a champ 😊
I just googled this Wayne and you can get electrocuted if the blade of the screwdriver touches one of the metal prongs. Someone suggested plastic wedges and a mallet. I may go that route. Thanks for watching and BE CAREFUL!
@@LizAmazing which is why I specifically said “very important to be unplugged from the power source”. Unplug the surge protector from the post first, then you can pry apart the surge protector from the power cord. If you are not plugged into the power source, there is no electrical current.
@@wayneglabais1208 And that’s what I googled. If you are unplugged you can still get electrocuted if you touch the metal prong with a metal object, per Google.
@@LizAmazing it’s good to have and keep a healthy level of respect for electricity. I wouldn’t want you to do anything you are not comfortable with. Since others have suggested the screwdriver method and you may be considering it here is my take. I’m fairly comfortable working around electricity and electronics being trained in both and having several years of hands-on working in field service supporting remote base camps with no one to call. Having said this, I don’t assume there is no power in the circuit, I assume there is power until I can prove otherwise by metering the line. I also take precautions depending on the circumstance to avoid accidental shock. While you could go with the hard wired surge guard mounted in the electrical bay, I did not because these things do fail and if they do you are without power with no alternative until you replace or repair the unit. For this reason for our MH I went with the portable unit, if it blows I can still plugin elsewhere by testing the line with a meter until I can replace the unit at a supply store or Amazon overnight.
I have an established routine for connecting and disconnecting power. The first thing I do when arriving at a site is I turn off the breaker, most people leave it on, you should try to avoid connecting with the power on, very hard on the plug pins arcing. Next I plug in my surge guard and power on the breaker without plugging in the MH line. I let the SG run through its test and once both L1 L2 lines are good I turn the breaker off, then plug in the MH then power breaker on and watch the SG through its test cycle. I do this because posts can be mis-wired and I would rather find out with the SG first.
When powering down I turn the breaker off, remove the surge guard from the post then separate the surge guard from my MH cord by gently prying apart the connector with a screwdriver. Is it safe? Technically there should be no power at that point in the line, I suppose although unlikely their could be some capacitive current stored in the SG or a fault feeding back from your inverter. Either one of these would be a situation that would need to be rectified. So, one could take out their digital multimeter and check for power, but unless you do this every time not much point. So I take precautions. Most screwdrivers have non-conductive handles, and since I never assume there is no power I am very careful not to touch or short the pins, this is just good practice even though I am reasonably confident there is no power. That’s how I do it, you’ll need to make your own informed decision. For me, I’m more concerned with working on the roof of my RV, and I used to climb 300’ radio towers for a living. 😊
Liz, Liz, as the owner of a cybersecurity firm, it breaks my HEART to see the stack of hard drives on your desk. Let's chat, and in 50 min, I can help you put a plan together to be fully protected from events that could destroy all your channel data. I will point you to what you need to get to make this happen. Thanks!
Hi Jason, no worries at all. Those 2TB disks are all fully backed up to the cloud daily. Thanks for your concern!
Use your little pry bar for the power cord But Do Not touch the connectors when you're doing it They Are Hot
Hi Paul
Thanks, are you trying to kill me? :D It would be super easy to touch the metal with that!
@@LizAmazing Made me laugh! I thought the same thing.
@@LizAmazing Actually you probably should use a flat tip screwdriver with an insulated handle so there would be no risk of electrocution. If you do use this method then you will have to move from side to side because you won't get it to come apart just prying on one side. I had to do that every time I needed to take the surge protector off the cable.
@@KenandCarla Hi Carla & Ken 👋
Loved the tour. Replacing those door lifts will be a good investment being solo. Otherwise you will get used to the doors on your back all the time as you look for things in the basement compartments. Lol There will always be things to fix. Don't sweat it or let it stress you out.
Thanks so much for this, Deb. I had the handyman out here yesterday and the doors are fixed, yay! I budgeted for these kinds of repairs. In fact I am going to do a video in the near future about how much money you need to set aside when buying used. See you in the next video.
Hey Liz, nice coach ya got there. I owned (well,there were days it owned me !) a year 2000 36 ft National Tradewinds diesel pusher with a cat 300 hp motor. I did 99 percent of all work on it myself. The best website for these older coaches I found is IRV2. The site is a goldmine for where to get parts and how to fix most anything with current members that will help you handle anything on your coach. There are threads for most coaches, engine's, body's, electrical systems, plumbing, slides and on and on. There are not many problems that someone on that site has not encountered. It has been a great help to me. Also,I hope your rig came with the manuals as built. They are invaluable to keeping the coach up ! Good luck and...See Ya.
Oh my gosh, thanks for this. I actually need to go there so I can find a replacement dipstick. The former owners were just using a piece of wire after the original one broke. And thanks for watching.
So sorry I just saw this you tube video. For helping pull apart the plug, I would recommend a Paul. Oh wait, you already had one. Anyway Liz, that class A is HUGE. I'm glad you are enjoying it.y wife and I bought a 1995 class A Fleetwood flair. We probably paid less than your toad. We bought it in 2017 with about 80,000 miles and are near 90,000. We love it. No slide outs and only 28 feet long. We didn't get it inspected and it worked great for a few years. Currently, we have spent about the same as we paid for it, in new tires, batteries, new generator, and a couple other minor issues. We wouldn't trade it for anything. Take care and happy camping
Congrats on finding an oldie but goodie! They sure don't make them like they used to.
Nice RV! I 'm sure you will enjoy it. As for the surge protector try to find a LARGE flat screw driver or plastic pry tool. Make very sure it is UNPLUGED from the power supply (which it has to be to lay it on the ground as you were doing), and pry it apart. I have seen several people doing it and it is perfectly safe as long as it is UNPLUGED. I'm getting to the point where I can hardly get mine separated either and will start doing this. The good part about this is that you have to unplug it to separate it so you can't do what I have done which is disconnect the power cord and leave the surge protector plugged in and forgot it there. Hope this works for you.
I don't know. I've heard that if the plug comes into contact with metal it may not be good. But with plastic, that would be ok. Thanks for your comment!
As another poster recommended, carry an item that can be used to pry the surge protector apart. I have the same problem with mine. I would suggest going to Harbor Freight and looking for their plastic body tools that look like a 6" flat but wide knife. Buy their set and try it (three pack). I hesitate to tell anyone to use a screw driver as if you forget to unplug from the power stand, you can end up dead! Wiggle it between the surge protector and RV plug and twist it like an oyster knive to get it to separate. Try from multiple angles and it will work!
Yes, plastic wedges and a mallet are the answer. Thanks for watching, Bob!
Not sure if anyone has mentions this but the best thing to use is Dielectric grease. You simply apply a little to to all the prongs on the end power cable and it'll slide in and out of your surge protector :)
Keep watching where I talk about exactly that, and how it did NOT work, unfortunately.
I went to a Harbor Freight and got a product similar to WD40 that is made for electrical connections. I spray it in the prongs each time I plug it into the adapter and it is now much easier to unplug. In the past I actually pulled muscles in my back getting it apart, so I know how tough it can be.
I need to get that! Thank you!
Very nice! Some baking soda mixed in water will clean up those battery terminals. Get yourself a battery terminal cleaning brush and those terminals will look like new. I love the desk!
On it, thanks Warren. This is my project for tomorrow. Thanks so much for your help!
Liz - it is always interesting and entertaining to watch your videos. Great camera work, light and editing. This Alfa looks really good and the new paint is beautiful. Thanks Liz
Thanks Wolfie! Sure appreciate your kind words, keeps me going! Hugs to you and Brook.
Oh I am so glad you found one of these. I have seen them and they often come with washer and dryer.
Yes! So glad to have found one!
With any life changes. Put nutmeg in your coffee ☕️ it’s a picker upper. Naturally. Happy Beautiful Trails!!
Oh I hadn't heard that. I don't drink coffee though. It's been a rough month but I see blue skies ahead. Thanks for being here, Michelle!
You may have heard this already but you can have your surge protector installed inside your unit close to the breaker panel. Then you don't have to worry about trying to unplug and replug and don't have to worry about it getting stolen.
It doesn't even have to be hardwired in. Just put a 50 amp outlet close to your breaker panel plug your search protector into that and then put a 50 amp plug on the end of that long power cord of yours to plug into the surge protector right there inside your coach.
That way if you ever have to replace the surge protector or that long cord it'll be a lot easier just unplug it instead of having to unwire it from me coach itself and then rewire another one in.
Good tip, Kerry. I ended up having an electrician cut the cord inside the compartment and then plug in the surge protector between. Thanks for watching and stay tuned.
Congratulations on your Motor Coach. I pray it brings your Wondrous Journeys and memorable adventures. 🚌🍾
Aww, thanks for the happy energy, Sanda, and for watching!
You were very smart (and lucky) to get a diesel that was pre-DEF. I'm not sure how many owners of diesel RVs have experienced DEF system issues but I'll bet it's a very large number. CATs, Cummins, and Detroits (especially Series 60) are stone cold reliable, but their emissions systems are not and repairs are frequent, costly, and sometimes hard to diagnose.
Thank you. Yep, an oldie but goodie is the way to go.
Love your new class A. Anxious to watch all the changes you make! Proud of you!
Thanks so much for the support, Beth! It's been a rough month but I see blue skies ahead. See you in the next video, and thanks for watching.
@@LizAmazing been there- don’t hesitate to ask for help - this isn’t your 1st rodeo- 💪🏼
You have a great layout. We made sure we could get to everything in our RV if the slides were in. We have 1 1/2 baths which come in handy with the grandkids when we are on the road. Our bedroom is large and the full bath is the width of the back in. We have a king Sleep Number that we have to raise the head of the bed to pull in that slide. The foot of the bed touches the closet doors. You have to climb over the bed to get to the full bath and the bed is high, so love having the half bath.
I have not even tried to drive our coach and hope I don't have to but I think I should learn! Looking forward to your tips! HUGS~Donna
Hi Donna, your rig does sound very nice! Yes, having a half-bath is a big plus, even if only two of you. You don't want to learn to drive it under duress, so be sure to at least take it for a low stress drive in a parking lot. I was surprised how easy it was! Stay tuned for an upcoming video with driving tips, and thanks for watching!
Dear Liz, although I am not an RV'r, I loved your tour of your motorhome. The capacity for storage and just the design, layout and the overall appearance is fantastic. WOW!!! It is incredible. It was difficult to see exactly what you were referring to about the shiny edging on the one counter. If it is really bugging you, you might try some larger hardware stores and see if you can pick up a piece of polished aluminum trim. Safe travels.
Thanks Robert. I don't remember saying anything about the counter but the gold foil on the closet door runner is peeling off. I will shop around for a new piece of trim. Thanks for your kind words and glad you enjoyed the tour!
Liz, I’m happy to see you have moved on and are doing well. I would love to do exactly what you’re doing. Happy for you - Nice Rig!
Awww, thanks so much Twyla! You can travel with me virtually any time! And thanks for watching!
Liz, I’ve been looking at motor homes for a long time. I’m really taken by your Alpha. It looks so homey and comfortable.
In your tour video you named the model and said two things after. I assume you said maybe the company and maybe the model number. I couldn’t catch what you said. I have recently retired and just might start looking for an Alpha.
And I must say, I’ve watched tons of RV channels and can easily say yours is the best. You are very articulate and always say what’s bad and what’s good about RV living. (Though I find the thought of giving up my home, terrifying.) Your ability to research is unmatched.
I always look forward to your latest videos and enjoy watching the old videos as well. There’s always something to learn from your videos.
Thank you and you really are living amazing!!
Wow, thanks so very much for your kind words. I am so glad you are here and appreciate you watching all my videos! I have a 38' 2005 Alfa in the 36FD floorplan. You are exactly right, it IS so homey!
Great looking MH, congratulations. Some baking soda and water mixed and a old toothbrush will clean the battery terminals right up. Then go to a automotive store and pick up a spray can of battery terminal spray protectant and spray all your terminals and you will not have that problem anymore.
Thank you so much for the tip, Brett. I have the baking soda now and will be tackling this tomorrow. And thanks for watching.
Roaming wit Rosie2 is also an Alfa, they might have some tips. We have an Alfa 5th wheel and I would not trade it. I had 3 things I wanted. Everything had to be usable with slidesin, big tanks, and no kitchen in slide. Our Alfa (also a 2005) is the only one we found that fit all our needs. My husband also suggests hard wiring the SP as that is what he is doing with our 5R...welcome to the alfa world..
Thanks so much for the welcome. Yes, hard wiring seems to be the best answer. Thanks for this!
It's always so cute the juxtaposition between that huge rig and you towing that huge truck w/your little self, lol. Great motorhome - an oldie but a very goodie! Congrats on the new home.
Yes! I am being me even though this is probably NOT the norm, LOL! Thanks for watching and I am so happy to have you here! See you in the next video.
very easy...I keep the contacts (prongs) well lubed with dielectric grease, but also use a small rubber headed mallet (flat on one side), to knock connection apart. Takes 2 seconds!
Good tip about the mallet, thanks Dennis!
Regarding your surge protector 50 amp plug struggles - We found spraying DeoxIT D5 on our plug and in the socket not only cleans up the plugs but makes the 50 amp plug glide in and out of our surge protector. Before that It took all my might to separate them … I’m a decently strong big guy too. Now I use it twice annually on all plugs and extension cords as well as every new outlet we plug into at parks, etc..
Btw - nice looking rig- we have a 2000 Foretravel U320 and love diesel pushers - especially that front window 😊
Now that sounds very promising. I am writing that down!! And that's awesome that you have a Foretravel, I know they are the cream of the crop! Looking forward to seeing you out here, and thanks for your comment!
What a beautiful motorhome. Glad to see your on the rode and enjoying life. Thanks for the great information you give. Happy Travels.
Thanks so much, Carmen, happy to have you here!
Glad to see you again Liz I've been under the weather with my COPD I love your mobile home I really do now I get to ride with you again love you take care be safe out there hope to see you in your next video
Hi Shelia! Nice to see you again as well. Hope you are feeling better now. And thanks for watching.
Baking soda and water work great to clean battery connections. You can also purchase a cheap little tool made specifically for cleaning those terminals and clamps.
Great! Thanks so much. This is on my list for tomorrow. And thanks for watching.
nice thing about this home. no property tax.
Or utilities. Lots to like including getting to follow 70 degree weather. Thanks for watching!
WOW, FOR A 2005 model it looks really nice and well cared for. Happy for you.
Aww, thanks so much. I am thrilled. And thanks for watching.
I’m excited.
It’s a big big vehicle. I want solar. And compost toliet
People love those! Thanks for watching!
I have the same problem unplugging my surge protector. I use a long handled flat head screw driver and carefully pry the plug upwards. Works every time!
Good to know, thanks Linda! I am concerned about electracution so I will be trying a rubber mallet and plastic wedges. Hope that works! Happy travels!
Had same problem with my plugs tying to get them apart, I saw on a rv street video he took sand paper to prongs and once cleaned up they come apart easy now, I did it and it works, ,good luck
That's good to know. I may try that. Thanks Steve!
Nice coach. We keep our surge protector in the bay. We have another adapter and use that to hook to the campgrounds electrical box then it connects to the surge protector and the surge protector is hooked to the rv. It also keeps the surge protector from being stolen.
I need about 20 to 30 feet to go from the rig to the post though. Believe me, I have thought about doing that! And thanks for watching!
Hi Liz, might I suggest a very thin coat of electrical grease on the plug of your 50amp power cord and hopefully a EMS surge protector. I actually need to do the same thing, now that I think about it.
Before I forget, I would replace those batteries (maybe even cables) for maybe Interstate batteries. More than likely they will be better cranking amps. You have a lot of potential with the "new to you" rig. Pete
Thanks so much for this, Pete. I will look into that. And thanks for watching.
Nice rig!!!
I have a Southwire Surge Guard and if you look closely on the input power cord for the surge protector (the pronged side) there is a T shaped pull that looks like a boat anchor built into the backside that is facing the ground in your video. If you pull on the top side of the T it will open up and provide a grab bar that facilitates disconnection of the power cord.
HAPPY TRAILS
I will have to look for that. It does have a handle, it's the RV cord that does not. Thanks so much Joseph!
@@LizAmazing Glad to have been helpful!
P.S. I prefer Joe.