Special Motorhome Blog, Red Bay, AL

While Carole did the last trip blog I thought I would do one on my visit to the Tiffin manufacturing and paint shops and on some of the motorhomes I inspected. It is obvious that more Allegro Bus' are under construction, closely followed by Phaeton's. Tiffin is producing 10 motorhome per day vs a year ago when they were only doing 3 per day.

The manufacturing plant tour is loosely done, you have almost free rein to wander off and inspect whatever construction stage you want to. The tour takes you right through the assembly lines and you can speak with the employees, touch and feel the items being installed. It is quite a sight to see, seems to be alot of confusion at first until you get oriented on the different lines and how everyone is doing a certain task and the unit is moving on to the next stage. Basically, the chassis is driven up to the line at which time all the chassis wiring and anything being installed under the floor is completed. Then the subfloor platform, for those to have floor tile, it is installed in one slab the complete length of the motorhome. The floor tile is installed on a 3/4" plywood platform over at the paint shop 8-miles away and brought over on a flatbed trailer. Suction cups are used to transfer the tile slabs onto the motorhome platforms with a hosit. Anchors are shot through the tile and removed later and the holes filled. From this point holes are cut into the floor for various vents, plumbing, wiring and etc. As the home moves on the cabinets, dashes, plumbing fixtures, and etc installed. The walls are laminated and computer milled for the steel framing in the the huge slabs of insulation panels and hosisted into place once moved to the appropiate assembly line. The walls are installed and then cutting of openings for the various models are done as well as storage compartments installed and carpeted with liners. Some modifications are done to the Ford chassis units at the front to eliminate road water problems that apparently could develope. All models are being built at the same time and are intermingled along the production line. Each order sheet has a name on it and where it is to be delivered. Ironically, one of the orders that our tour guide grabbed to look at and show us was a 36' foot bus. The order was for "Bob" which is the aka used for the big man, Bob Tiffin. So, we know Bob will be showing up at a future rally in a 36' Foot bus.

Inspections are continuely done on each motorhome by the foreman's and many returned to the finish line at the end where corrections are made before or even after they have gone to the paint shop. The paint shop is in Bomont, MS a short drive west. It is a series of large buildings connected together by common walls. My estimate is there are roughly two dozen paint booths there and probably over 100 motorhomes in various stages of paint. I was quite impressed with the cleaniness of the shops, could eat off the floor, much different than the manufacturing operation. Again, you are free to roam the premises as long as you wear the safety glasses and ear plugs and can go in and out of the motorhomes. I spoke with a number of the employees who were quite informative. The primer looking unfinished units make an amazing appearance transition form start to finish. The paint shop is a must see if you are in Red Bay whether you are a Tiffin owner or SOB. The tours are open to anyone with an interest.

The pictures above are of the new Breeze and interiors along with some others of the Red Bay RV Park. Hope you enjoy them. Will send other pictures later.

Harrisburg, Charolettesbille to Nashville

Now may be the time to admit that we can't remember the exact sequence of our trip in the last few weeks. We went through the plantation of President Taylor and the Berkeley. If you don't know, Berkeley was the scene of the first Thanksgiving (See picture of archway and water in background). I know, you thought it was in Jamestown but just recently they have certified that it happened where we stood at Berkeley. Lincoln met there twice with his general McClellan during the Civil War. Robert E. Lee's wife Martha was given shelter there during the war. Here is a little trivia: did you know that Robert E. Lee was married to Martha Custis, General Washington's great granddaughter? Thats enough history for now.

We thoroughly enjoyed the plantations and stories we heard. John and I are so full of historical facts that Stan said we should be giving the tours. We left all that history(Mount Vernon, Monticello, Monpellier, Monroe's Ashland-Highland, John Marshall House, Jackson's Hermitage, Historical Harrisburg and etc.) and traveled on to Nashville and went to the Grand Ole Opry. What friendly people (not like Washington). Our RV park, the KOA, gave us $10 off each night because they are still repairing all the flood damage that happened in May. We saw the Opry the Memorial Auditorium since they aren't back in their regular threatre yet. It looked like they'll be all repaired in about a month or two. What nice people there! Guess what? They actually speak to you and don't just grunt.

As I write this we're in the Tiffin park in Red Bay, AL. We're here with about 200 other rigs. All waiting for our turn for service work in the 48 bays. We got all our work done but I damaged our carpet trying to clean some spots and we're waiting until Monday when they will replace it then we'll head out again toward Tupelo and Memphis this time. The best part of Red Bay is the people. They have a big waiting room that is furnished like a living room and our Anthony would have a ball there! You know, Mr. Pride & Joy! We took the factory tour with "Red" their 85-year old tour guide. Red is an interesting fellow and is probably the best person for the tours. He recounted how in 1931 he harvest cotton on the site of the factory and how Bob Tiffin turn his gin workers into factory workers building their first RV's. And of course, when touring we got to see and touch the new Breeze. It is nice, but a little to tight in the bedroom for us. However, John & I fell in love with the new 34' foot Allegro Red. It is the roomiest and most well laid out floor plan of the shorter Tiffin motorhomes. Also, though an entry level rear engine diesel (aka RED) on a Freightliner chassis they appear to have already upgraded it to at least a Phaeton level or better in the 34' model that we saw on the finish line. It was not in their current brochure. They do have it in their website now.

At the Allegro Club, Jimmy and Cynthia have been gone. They went to the FMCA rally in Oregon and are scouting out a rally site in the Northwest for a 2011 Tiffin rally. We ordered a new Tiffin outdoor mat for our RV while there. Tiffin has a great RV store on site and of course John had to spend time their spending money on foolish things, deodorizer, T-Shirts, Wheel Liners, filter wrench and etc.

We went to Florence yesterday and found out that the University of Northern Alabama is there. What a beautiful school and city. The school looks like buildings in Washington DC. The city is clean and has a modernized its downtown that appears to be very active. It was 96 degrees, so we did not get out and walk around that afternoon until getting to Wally World to restock. Which reminds me, John drove 15 miles to purchase beer at a package store since Red Bay is in a dry county. We learned that in the revolution hills, they still might still make moonhine. We can believe it after making a trip to Coon Dog Cementary. A coon dog must be the most valuable possession as the 300 plus graves we observed, the majority of them had fresh flowers on them

When we leave Memphis and Little Rock we will up date the blog.

Washington DC Visit

We arrived at Cherry Hill RV Park in the DC area on July 28Th and were there until August 9Th. We must have walked a trillion miles while visiting all the sights or at least it seems like it. How best to describe the visit, very interesting, educational, fun, warm to hot humid days and some of the most unfriendly people you would ever meet at the various government exhibits and museums. And they talk about how rude and unfriendly Californians are, give me a break! DC sets the record! The few friendly soles that we did meet were really nice and helpful and kept us charging forward.

First stop was the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum followed the next day with a tour of the Capitol Building (Best Lunch Place). Over the next couple of days we visited the American Natural History Museum where the most crowded room was where the Hope Diamond was on display with other valuable jewels and minerals (Mostly women, the men fled) and then the American History Museum. Somewhere in the next few days we spent a day or two of rest and visited the White House, Supreme Court, Lincoln and Washington Memorials, Viet Nam, Korean and World War II memorials. On the final day we spent time at the National Art Gallery where you could view century old paintings of amazing quality and condition. I took a second trip with Stan & Julie up into the old U.S. Post Office Building that had been restored and you could take an elevator up to the tower where you could view the entire city from about 300' with the view over the tops of the cities buildings which was made possible when congress voted to not allow any building to be taller than the capital. Makes for an interesting city without high rises.

Two of our side trips were by auto to Arlington and Mount Vernon and were highlights of our visit, especially Mount Vernon and being able to stand and learn why George Washington and his family acquired this property to build their home and farm. Great views of the Potomac River and of the plantation. After touring Mount Vernon and learning more of its history and giving thought to all his famous visitors to Washington's home, most of which were involved in the building of America, it makes other parts of history seem insignificant. Especially what is happening in DC these days.

At Arlington, General Lee's mansion had some impressive history and views of DC. The sad part of Arlington was all grave sites of our brave soldiers that had given their lives for our freedom. The Kennedy family is buried there as well as other prominent military men and women including Audy Murphy.

Our friends, Stan & Julie Grebiec arrived on Friday August 6th and that night we enjoyed taking a night tour of the city which gives you a whole different prospective. Over the next few days we all enjoyed catching up on the gossip and how we all had spent our times after they moved east from California. Of course we continued our sightseeing with them. It was nice to have someone with us (that way when I wonder off as I usually do Carole was with someone and did not get lost). Campsite BBQ and Farkle was fun too, though Julie felt like this was not her game. Stan caught on right away, winning every game.

Cherry Hill RV Park in College Park, MD is a good location if you are visiting the area in your RV, they have bus service at the park to get you to the Metro Stations or Union Station. We usually took the Metro rail (subway) since we could drive a couple miles to the station and ride on into the City for less than a dollar each way (seniors!) and not have to worry about finding parking.

When we left DC, we headed south into Virginia to Harrisburg, Jamestown and Yorktown for four days and then to Richmond and Charolettesville for three more days. Our next blog will fill you in on our visits there with pictures.

Our Cincinnati Visit

We drove south from Elkhart, IN approximately 265 miles passing through Kokomo and Batesville before arriving at the FMCA Membership Office and RV Park. Our first three days as members was free of charge and the next three cost only $20 per day with full hook ups. It is a very clean park, small, 24 concrete spaces and lots of lawn. It was a great location for visiting Randy & Katherine and the grandchildren, only 5 miles from their home. Our rear jack and door hinge had been delivered to their home as promised by the people at Tiffin. Master replaced the hinge and sought out a RV dealer to replace the jack. Found a wonderful Tiffin dealer just north in Fairfiled, OH, Tom Raper RV and while they were booked up three weeks, they gave him an appointment on the day we left Cincinnati and their service department had us up and going within 2-hours of our arrival at their shop. No more "Rock N Roll" though we all were getting use to it. And off to eastern Ohio where we found a great State RV park to lay over for the night before passing through Wheeling, West Virginia.

Randy and his family were great. It had been two years since my masters and I had seen Mary, age 5 and Michael, age 4. Sarah, age 16 had been to CA to see us last summer. Mary and I didn't quite get along at first, a territorial thing. I decided that I would rest one day and all the humans went to the zoo and came back and played Farkle. Mary was a great player even for her age. The only down side of our visit is that we all miss them again before we even leave. It is a very different world where they live in Cincinnati. Quiet, shady, rolling hills with one- and two-story colonial homes (all white). Humid too! I (Trixie) was having a ball in their backyard with the short cyclone fencing. I chased cats and dogs and hid in the shrubs. We enjoyed being able to visit and then go to our own RV nearby and rest.

Oh yeah, while our RV was repaired they dumped me off at some groomer to give me bath and then went next door to "Jungle Jim's." They said this was a super, super large interional grocery store with items from all over the world. It is truly an amazing store and worth a stop if you're nearby. They have items there like duck feet, whole pig heads, etc. I personally don't know why anyone would want those things but somebody must, I prefer duck jerky and pupperoni's.

We are heading out to DC via West Virginia and Maryland. Will be at Cherry Hill Rv Resort in College Park, MD, it is the closet park to DC with good sub-way access. We are going to do 10-days of sightseeing and plan on meeting up with our motorhome friends, Stan & Julie Grebiec who have moved to Florida from the San Francisco Bay area. We are looking forward to visiting with some nice familiar faces though we have enjoyed the many different people we have met so far on our trip. Look forward to the DC blog.