AlfaMotorHomeOwners

Not too long after we purchased our 2005 See Ya Gold motorhome we heard about Dick and Trish Albritton, from Choudrant, Louisiana.  We were making a trip to southern Alabama and decided to detour through Louisiana after setting up an appointment with the Albrittons to have several things done to the coach.

We arrived early for our appointment and were pleasantly surprised.  Dick and Trish have a real nice setup.  They have several 50 amp hookups with water and a dump is available if you need it.  There is also a bunkhouse where you can stay while your coach is being worked on.  It has a bathroom, washer, dryer and satellite TV to keep you occupied, if you want to stay at their place.  Choudrant is not too far from Rustin, LA, off of I20.  There are several things to do and see in the area.  All you have to do is ask.

On our first visit, we had a list of items to be done. One of the major items was the sealing of the coach for air infiltration. Dick and Trish spent most of the day working on sealing.
We also had the entry door insulated which makes a big difference in noise level and heat transmission.

Another item that we had installed this trip was the modification at the 30/50 amps switch in the back, which allows both air-conditioners to run when connected to 30 amp.

We also had the front trim installed.

One improvement that my wife really likes, is the opener for the vent fan flap – it can be opened and closed from inside the coach.

We decided not to have a third air conditioner installed at this time.  We had not had our coach that long and  we wanted to see how the air-conditioning worked.

Sealing the unit made a huge difference in drafts, and how the air conditioner worked.  We then spent several months in southern Alabama and in the south.  The temperatures in the summer got up into the upper 90s, even breaking a hundred, many days with humidity  in the 98 to 99% range.  This was more than our current air-conditioning could handle.  So we made another trip up the Dick and Trish’s to have a third air conditioner installed.

During this trip to Albritton’s, we had the third air conditioner installed, and I must say it makes a BIG difference in comfort in the coach.  We had the low-profile carrier unit installed with the heat strip rather than having a heat pump installed.  We figured on chilly mornings we could use the heat strip to help take the chill off the coach; especially if it was too chilly outside for the heat pumps to work.

On this trip, we decided to have some other items installed. 
We had the oscillating Marine fan installed in the bedroom, which helps circulate air in the bedroom.  The fan is installed out of the way. 

We also had a fuel guard installed since I had overrun the diesel a couple of times and gotten diesel down the side of the coach.  This will help protect the side of coach.

We had LED tail turn lights installed midway up the back of the coach, and I must say, they make a huge difference.  The people that are following us can now definitely see that we are wanting to change lanes or going to make a turn, especially when we’re pulling a toad.   

On our way to Dick’s this time, our old big heavy TV up front started having trouble with the color.  So while Dick was installing the third air conditioner,  we made a trip to the local Wal-Mart, purchased a 32 inch Visio flatscreen and had Dick install that boy. What a big difference that makes and it really looks good.

We had been having trouble with our large slide.  It would start to come in and then get to about the top of the ramp and stall out.  Dick showed us how to do the “Alfa dance.” All the jacks are put up. Then just the left jacks are put down and extended all the way so that the driver side of the coach is up in the air – we do get strange looks – the slide is then brought in. It worked.

But we wanted a permanent solution so Dick said that he could modify the slide assembly and put in a soo long slide motor.  The soo long motor is a much beefier motor than the original motor.

Dick ordered the motor, and as we were headed north for summer, we made arrangements to stop again on our way south to have the motor installed .  So on our way south, we stopped and Dick installed our soo long motor.  We are very pleased with this motor.  It pulls the slide in at a steady speed and does not hesitate or stall out.  I think we have solved our problem with our slide
so if you are having trouble with your slide and do not have a soo long coach, I would suggest that you have your unit modified and the soo long beefier slide motor installed.  You will be very pleased. 

Dick and Trish like to start early, and they might stop for lunch, but then they may work straight through until they finished.  They are still are RVing and use their ALFA quite a bit so be sure and call or write and make an appointment and verify before you show up to have any work done.

Dick Albritton,
5048 Hwy 145.
Choudrant, Louisiana 71227
318 278-1677
dick@wildblue.net