TexasCHLforum.com

I hate hint at being Debbie Downer but my suggestion is to take your time when you pick up the new rig for a PDI (pre-delivery inspection) Now, more than any other time since we bought our RV in 2004, it is difficult to get RVs repaired and get replacement parts. Roof top air conditioners, for example, are on a 2 month backorder according to a local travel trailer dealer. Like ammunition, where the demand has skyrocketed and the raw material sources have all be dried up, RV parts are scarce. You are better off trying to stay put and work out any problems than to start off with something crippled and hope to resolve it while you are traveling.

We just cut short a month long stay in the NM mountains because our refrigerator died (the cooling unit blew). I found a supplier who has the unit that I need in stock but I was hardly able to place the order because he is overwhelmed with other people wanting parts. I'm carefully looking at all aspects of the re-install to make sure that I have everything that I need to get us back on the road. There are tons of things that can go wrong - like the refrigerator not switching over to propane for traveling. BTDT, too.

I'll second the suggestion that less windshield time is better. Seeing a lot of places is fun but kids generally don't do well on extended road trips with day after day of driving. We've had our granddaughter with us pretty much every summer for extended trips since she was 8yo. We have a motor home so it is a little easier that if everyone is in the cab of a pickup but we did 1,500 miles in 3 days to get to a destination. That is just too much driving for younger ones.