Motorhome ground rules

Today, We Honor The Overall Man Classic Bill Mead

Reprinted with permission from Tehachapi Lifestyle Magazine, October 2013 issue.

Here is a list of instructions left behind by the late Bill Mead, who wrote them up for the benefit of his granddaughter, who had been on many family adventures in the Winnie, but had never borrowed the motorhome without Bill captaining the crew. The RV that you own or use may differ in some ways, but the advice is sound. And amusing, like most things Bill wrote. Touring in a motorhome or trailer held great appeal for Bill for two important reasons: first, because he liked the comforts of home and having his family together with him when he traveled; and secondly because he loved America and liked to explore our country at a leisurely pace, taking in small towns, historic areas and National Parks as well as cities.

Using recreational vehicles is a year-round activity for Tehachapi residents, some who travel in the more typical spring, summer and fall months and others who spend the winter with their RVs over at the Colorado River or some other warmer location. We salute those who nomad!

Bill Mead was a long time publisher of the “Tehachapi News” and a lifelong friend to “Tehachapi Lifestyle” publisher Nikki Mead Cummings.

1) Check oil level before starting any trip. If it needs to be topped off, put in Mobile One. Oil should be changed every 5,000 miles. In the past, the engine has seldom used any oil between changes.

2) Before moving the motorhome make sure all objects are stowed securely. Refrigerator doors should be closed. Bathroom door, and all windows, vents and roof vents should be closed.

3) If carrying items that require refrigeration while on the road, set refrigerator on gas or automatic. Turn off refrigerator while fueling.

4) Switch on pump to flush toilet or draw water when not connected to city water. Always turn the pump off immediately after using the water. Before starting out on a trip, turn on the pump while you check to make sure the cap on the city water connection on the side of the motorhome is snug. If it is leaking more than a few drops and the pump is left on for an extended period it could result in a burnt-out pump.

5) Make sure the water heater is off before driving away.

6) If you need to use generator power, the power cable must be plugged into the socket on the left side of the compartment where the cable is stowed. Plugging it in is a pain in the ass. The easiest way is to pull the cable all the way out first so you can see what you are doing. You will cuss a lot. A flashlight helps a little.

7) After both holding tanks have been dumped at the end of a trip, both tanks should be at least a third filled with fresh water. Neither tank should ever be left dry. If the motorhome is going to sit for more than a few weeks, put holding tank deodarant in both tanks. Many people don’t realize that the gray water tank is more apt to stink than the black water tank. That’s because people often neglect to leave enough water in the gray water tank.

8) At the end of every trip the motorhome carpets should be vacuumed, the hard flooring mopped, kitchen and bathroom left clean and any other obvious messes cleaned up.

9) When leaving the motorhome in storage, lock all windows and doors. Leave vents cracked about an inch. Lock all outside compartments. Make sure all lights are off. Turn refridgerator doors OPEN unless you want to clean up a bunch of mold before your next trip.

10) The generator engine should be run for about ten minutes at least once a month. You don’t have to plug in the power cable for that. Use the starter button above the stove. Sometimes it’s a little balky in starting but just stick with it and it will eventually catch.

11) The Winnie had an auxiliary starter switch which pulls juice from the house batteries if the engine battery should fail. The switch is located to the left of the steering column about halfway between the headlight switch and the parking brake release down below. Push the switch and turn the ignition key.

12) Since the Winnie will be parked without a connection to shore power, which keeps the house batteries constantly recharged, you have to be concerned about it sitting for more than a month without the engine running long enough to recharge the house batteries. If you are not going to drive the Winnie at least once a month, be sure to turn off the house batteries. the switch says “AUX BATT” and is located near the floor as you enter by the side door. It’s probably better to leave that switch on and drive the Winnie for at least an hour but that’s not always convenient.

13) It’s easy to pop a breaker when you do something that pulls too many amps, like running the coffee maker and an electric heater at the same time. The breakers are located inside a metal box just below the refridgerator. You can tell which breaker needs to be reset by just looking.

Nikki’s additional wit & wisdom:

1) When dumping the black water tank, make sure there is a secure fit from the hose to the dumping tank. Trust me, you don’t want to find out why this is important the hard way.

2) When dry camping, be sure to check the tank gauges regularly. Again, this is not something you want to find out the hard way.

3) When camping during the winter in northen Indiana, make sure that your propane tank has enough to last you through the night, or you will wake up at 3 a.m. looking at your own breath.

4) Make sure that you teach your 3-year-old, in advance, that it’s not safe to climb eleven and a half feet up the ladder in the back of the motorhome all by themselves.

5) Before you lower the canopy on the outside of the coach, make sure you know how to put it back, as this is about as difficult as backing up with another vehicle in tow, maybe worse.

If you don’t know Bill: Bill Mead was the longtime publisher of the Tehachapi News, along with Betty Mead, his wife and partner of more than 50 years. Known for his keen wit, which could be gentle or scathing or somewhere in between but was often self-deprecatory, Bill’s writing won him a wide following among News readers. His column “The Overall Picture” ran in the News for more than 25 years, and in 1999 he published a collection of his columns in a volume entitled The Napa Valley Outhouse War. His book is currently available for sale at the Tehachapi Museum for $10.

Bill had a remarkable mind and because of his intelligence, humor and appearance he was regarded by many as Tehachapi’s Mark Twain. As Betty used to remind him, he was “older than the oldest Model A Ford” and his wealth of life experiences and rural upbringing allowed him to bring a thoroughly American, 20th century perspective to his reflections and musings on the everyday. Bill passed away in 2008 but his writing lives on.

[Publisher’s note: I read Bill’s articles during the 80s and 90s and 20s and I am grateful to share them now with our current readers.

I hope you enjoy this touch of nostalgia as much as I do.