Some days... The Joys of Working on your RV

[wahoonc]

I decided today was the day to take the passenger side dash apart on my 2014 Itasca Meridan 34 B to replace some damaged/missing dash vents. It comes apart fairly easily. A total of 6 screws, 2 by the door and 4 for the grab handle.

I got it apart, replaced the screw in dash vents, then had to fight with the stupid screw clips for the grab handle. I get it all back together and notice that the cellphone charger wire is caught in the dash. I tried to pry to open up the gap, no joy.

Then I remembered my small flashlight was plugged up to charge, so now that is behind the dash. Apparently when I plugged it in I laid it on top of the dash and it fell in while I was working on the other end. So I pull the dash BACK apart, then the freaking clip for the grab handle disappears, so it gets pulled back apart and I get that realigned.

About the time I am putting the last screw in I can't find my needle nose pliers. Pull the dash apart AGAIN, there are the needle nose pliers laying on the floor behind the dash assembly. Now the little flipping clips have moved and don't line up. I FINALLY get them lined up, get all the screws back in. What should have been a 30-minute job took closer to 3 hours.

Life continues.

Aaron

 

[Eagle5]

Hi Aaron,
I believe many of us have been there/done that.
What I like to do is to get extra light on the job so that I can see more easily what I might have forgotten.
Eagle5

 

[wahoonc]

Hi Aaron,
I believe many of us have been there/done that.
What I like to do is to get extra light on the job so that I can see more easily what I might have forgotten.
Eagle5

It was plugged in and charging... behind the dash

I usually keep pretty good track of what tools I am using. I am NOT an A&P (airframe and powerplant mechanic) though I know quite a few. If you ever get a chance take a tour of a plant that builds jet engines. Very impressive.

Aaron

 

[Eagle5]

Yes, I used to work at Boeing. We called it FOD (Foreign Object Debris).

 

[wahoonc]

Yes, I used to work at Boeing. We called it FOD (Foreign Object Debris).

We have a GE engine plant near us that is part of our OSHA group aka NC Star. I love touring their plant. It is always amazing. I have toured the Boeing Plant in WA a couple of times. My bride was a 35-year Flight Attendant. We toured the plant during our honeymoon in 2000.

Aaron

 

[Skibum-FRF]

That was some honeymoon. LOL

 

[bigb56]

Did I tell you about the time I replaced my serpentine belt twice? The first time I somehow ended up with the old one back in place when I was finished. This was on a Sprinter chassis so no easy task.

 

[Pointyears]

I decided today was the day to take the passenger side dash apart on my 2014 Itasca Meridan 34 B to replace some damaged/missing dash vents. It comes apart fairly easily. A total of 6 screws, 2 by the door and 4 for the grab handle.

I got it apart, replaced the screw in dash vents, then had to fight with the stupid screw clips for the grab handle. I get it all back together and notice that the cellphone charger wire is caught in the dash. I tried to pry to open up the gap, no joy.

Then I remembered my small flashlight was plugged up to charge, so now that is behind the dash. Apparently when I plugged it in I laid it on top of the dash and it fell in while I was working on the other end. So I pull the dash BACK apart, then the freaking clip for the grab handle disappears, so it gets pulled back apart and I get that realigned.

About the time I am putting the last screw in I can't find my needle nose pliers. Pull the dash apart AGAIN, there are the needle nose pliers laying on the floor behind the dash assembly. Now the little flipping clips have moved and don't line up. I FINALLY get them lined up, get all the screws back in. What should have been a 30-minute job took closer to 3 hours.

Life continues.

Aaron

I hope you're not a surgeon.....

 

[Bzerull]

Good, funny read for Sunday morning. Thank you! Been there done that on similar projects. At least you did get it done and are happy in the end, right?
Thank you for sharing

 

[wahoonc]

That was some honeymoon. LOL

She enjoyed it as well as the Boeing Museum at Boeing Field. I believe they had part of a 727 there that was one of the first planes she ever worked as a Stewardess for Piedmont Airlines.

Aaron

 

[Seakayaker2]

Sorry for your pain Aaron. It gave us all a good laugh!

 

[BCam]

It didn't help when my dog stole my tools everytime I sat them down. And many of my screwdrivers have special, dog tooth modified non slip handles.

 

[Seakayaker2]

Even a better laugh!!

 

[BCam]

There's a great YouTube channel, "Matt's Off Road Recovery" about an off road tow service and building the recovery vehicles.

Matt has several recurring comments, one of the best being "We do it right because we do it twice". Check it out, sometimes he's even recovering an RV stuck in the sand:

https://youtu.be/JNNSLPbuwnA?si=v10Ex9GF0dsxBTY7