Project Day in Gila Bend . . .

The RV Park here in Gila Bend is one of my favorite places for getting projects done. They have a good hardware store, a good auto parts store, and not a lot of distractions.

After our morning coffee, my first project was to remove the door trim panel on our truck. When I replaced the power window system a month or so ago, I had problems getting the manual door lock working correctly, and the result was that when you locked the doors, the three passengers locked, and the alarm set, but the driver’s door didn’t actually lock because of the drag of the manual locks.

Luckily it only took about 20 minutes to remove the panel, adjust the lock, and replace the trim panel. Now it all works fine.

Next up I wanted to mount an external 12 volt socket in one of my outside bays to supply power for my Winegard Carryout Automatic Satellite Antenna.

It only requires the 12 volts during the initial setup, and right now I just bring the cable inside the coach and plug it in on the dash. But I wanted to install a more convenient socket.

I figured I would see if I could find a source of 12 volts in the storage bay directly under my driver’s seat where the satellite wires are also attached. So I pulled the generator slide IN/OUT switch out of its housing and found the 12 volts I needed on the switch.

My next problem was to figure out the best way to tap into the + and – wires. I decided to use a Suitcase Splice,

but I didn’t have any that would handle the 12 gauge wires on the switch, so a trip into Gila Bend to the NAPA store was in order.

Since it was about lunch time, I checked with Jan in the laundry room next door to see what she wanted to do. She was doing our heavy rugs in the big machines that she doesn’t like to do in our coach washer. We decided that I would just bring something back from the Subway across the parking lot from the park.

After lunch, I spliced the socket wires onto the 12 volt wires,

and then mounted the socket to the IN/OUT switch panel.

After checking the voltage to the socket, I declared the job done and got out of the sun. It was over 80 degrees here today, and the bay where I was working was right in the sun.

At this point I thought a nap was in order, and it was.

Around 6 pm, Jan and I drove back into town to have dinner once again at Sofia’s Mexican Food.

This time I decided to try Jan’s favorite Shrimp Burrito, but in my case I added a couple of their delicious enchiladas. It was as good as Jan had said.

After a great last meal here in Gila Bend, we headed home for the night.

Tomorrow we’ll make the 120 mile trip over to Yuma to meet up with Nick and Terry to help them get ready for the Gypsy Journal Rally that starts March 4th

Yuma, beware. Nick and I are teaming up again.

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Thought for the Day:

You get what you pay for.

Our society chooses to pay for illegitimate children and wonders why the number of them increases.

Our society refuses to support poor families with married fathers in residence, and wonders why the number of single mothers increases.

Our society pays for single motherhood, and wonders why we get it.

Our society gives stipends to unemployed and/or homeless males, and wonders why we get more and more of them.

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