Getting Ready for Retirement

First thing we want to do is fulfill our promise to a dear friend, Michelle Riggle, who graciously came to visit us in Wisconsin last year. She stopped by on her way to see her daughter, spending a couple of hours, and leaving just before the rain came. We wish her the best, and hope to see her again soon.

As for us….

During our 9 month break we have done some of the fun things like, working, taking the trailer in for warranty work on the black water valve, leveling system, and a wash and wax.

After we brought our child home we proceeded to making a few cosmetic upgrades (you know children just aren't what you expect them to be). If you have been inside earlier Arctic Fox 5th wheels you would have seen four peel and stick tiles around the range top, so called a back splash, I say ha ha.We decided to stay with the peel and stick motif, we chose real stone though, going up the back wall and stepping down on the window wall. Yes, I am aware I added a few extra pounds with real stone, but what I added in stone, I lost in fat, cancelling it out.

Another upgrade Carol and I felt necessary was improving the entry steps to the trailer. We were not happy with the original three step entry steps, and ended up buying an additional single step to ease entry into the rig. Know anyone who needs three steps welcoming them home, we have such a deal for them.

The new steps are made by Morryde, and can be installed in less than an hour with minimal tools and skills (skill being reading the instructions). The steps swing into the entry door area for storage while driving, unlatch and swing out for use. You may ask yourself, what did they do with all that empty space where the old steps were? Wellll, what else, add more storage. Morryde

makes a storage enclosure that fits in the empty step cavity. It was fairly simple to install, and in my case I needed to make a few modifications to the step cavity. The new storage does not sit any lower than the original steps. Depending on who manufactured your original steps, you may be able to mount the storage enclosure higher in the cavity.


With that said, we are now ramping up for our next journey, Escapade 59 in Tucson AZ. The first time we were in Tucson was Escapade 57, in 2017, without our 5th wheel. This trip will be much different, we'll have the 5th wheel with us. Let us re-visit our 2017 situation. California has some minor requests/REQUIREMENTS for licensing when it comes to large RVs. Because our 5th wheel weighs over 15,000 pounds, it was requested/REQUIRED I acquire a Class "A" Non-commercial license. Between getting the trailer, truck delivery, and the rally, I could not get my license in time. The state of California was gracious enough to provide me my requested/REQUIRED license after we returned home from the rally.

2019 is a big year for Carol and I, as we prepare for retirement and full time RVing.