MISSION,TEXAS. Ron Hofmeister spent a good part of three weeks attempting to do much needed work on his motorhome and car. It is a well-known fact among his family and friends that Ron does not know the difference between a screwdriver and a hammer---much less what to do with them, but he seemed determined to become Mr. Fix-it. Several things needed attention. Both of the vehicles needed washing to remove the salt from the visit to Padre Island. The bikes needed a good cleaning and some rust removal. The roof of the motorhome had leaked badly, near the front vent, during a recent rain storm (Ron was sure that it was a fluke or just the way the wind was blowing). The holding tank (sewer) had been leaking for months and was getting worse, and the entry step was more rust than paint. Ron also wanted to shop for a generator before he headed into the remote camping ahead (the solar panel needed help)."There's more work in a motorhome than there is in a house," he said as he faced the jobs. 

Shortly after arriving in Mission, Ron tackled the vehicle washing. "I'm glad that we happened to pick a park with asphalt pads, double water connections, and no restrictions on car washings; I can really get a lot of work done here," he told his wife, Barb. The vehicles were washed right away with lots of supervision from all the guys nearby. Even the entry step was sanded and painted within a week. Shortly after that Ron took care of his bike. After each job was done, he needed to rest for two days. The holding tank repair kit had been purchased months ago. Ron was waiting for just the right (?) conditions. 

The roof was a different story; he said he needed to talk to lots of different people before deciding what to do about it. They went to a big RV parts and equipment place to purchase the generator, but Barb could not get Ron interested in even looking into the roof stuff nor would he talk to anyone there about it. That same night Barb noticed some strange bumps on the ceiling in the corner of the cab area. It was lots of fungus growing, and although Ron wanted her to ignore it for a few days, she immediately removed the wallpaper there so the wood could dry. It was saturated and it had been weeks since it had rained. The wet spot was a good two feet from the vent where the water had dripped in during the last rain storm. Barb said the roof needed attention --- NOW! 

The next day, Ron went back to the RV place and easily found the product he needed (roof sealer) and vowed to fix both the holding tank and the roof in the same day.  First thing (two days later with rain predicted), Ron climbed up to the roof and in no time had that sealed. He even glued down the television antenna in the process. 

After he read the tank repair directions, he said  "It says it is a 20 minute job---that means 40 for me." Barbara went for a 40 minute walk. When she returned, he told her that he "botched the job." The repair material is fiberglass and once mixed, hardens in just five minutes. Ron had mixed it while sitting in the lawn chair on the other side of the motorhome, then walked to the tank, crawled under and had just started to apply the stuff when it hardened. 

Barbara went to the store and bought another kit. She mixed it this time and finished the area that he had started. When it was set, and water was put in the tank; it still leaked just as bad as ever. He had "fixed" a spot that wasn't the leak. The crack was further up and quite 
large. Back to the store---one more kit---one more try. This time Barb did the work and Ron was the helper. They think they will make it until they get back to Jessie at Dennis Trailer Sales in Lansing. Barb said, "I knew that he wasn't a handy kind of guy when I married him and I still love him. I will admit that I am learning how to fix a lot of things in our motorhome." 

Post script 1993. When we traded in the motorhome, the holding tank repair job was still holding fine.