1 May 2024 - Rear Wall Repair and Rally Opening Ceremonies

 

This morning there was a lot of hustle and bustle in the RV park.  Coaches were being detailed by a local company for a reasonable fee.  Another company here was providing grey and black tank cleaning services.  Repairs and modifications were being done.  People were walking their pets and some were jogging.  New rally attendee arrivals were rolling in and being parked by the parking crew. 

Blue Compass RV, an RV dealer out of Tyler TX, is one of the main sponsors of the rally and they were shuttling in various Alliance models to display plus setting up their information booth. Doreen and Liberty were with a group helping with crafts.  

Blue Compass RV setup with their demo coaches in the background

The Civic Center building where our meetings, events and dinners will be held

This morning I started right in on finishing the inside portion of the rear wall repair project.  Yesterday we did the outside part.  So the inside portion involves unmounting and removing the sofa which extends across the rear of the coach. 

,

Sofa attachment brackets

This exposes the rear wall where it attaches to the floor.  There is an angled extrusion with fasteners downward into the subfloor and fasteners rearward into the rear wall, all designed to provide additional support to the rear wall.  The stresses on that wall are incredible.  Remember riding at the back of the school bus?!!

The angled extrusion with fasteners visible

I had previously reattached this and used larger fasteners, but the new process involves upsizing the fasteners even more, increasing the number of fasteners and using Blue Loctite which is a medium-strength threadlocker that seals and locks metal fasteners to prevent them from loosening due to vibration and shock.  The new process also involves the installation of "exploding" peel pop rivets. It is common practice for RV manufacturers use exploding peel rivets to hold panels and attachments to the frame. Here is one that has been collapsed but the mandrel has not yet been removed.  Notice how it spreads (peels) providing a great grip on a wall panel.

So the rear wall project was a success and went without issues.  I took the opportunity to clean the entire area which is normally difficult to access underneath the sofa.  Between the Dyson and the Swiffer it cleaned up very well and I got everything put back together.

This evening the Rally opening ceremony took place in the Civic Center.  Charles and Leslie Tyer, Texas Alliance owners who organized the Rally, gave opening comments.  Then Mineola Mayor Jayne Lankford presented a proclamation to Bill Martin, Vice President of Customer Service for Alliance RV.  Bill flew in today, on his birthday,  from Goshen IN to join in the Rally festivities and meet/greet Rally attendees.  Other Alliance representatives are here also to include two regional sales managers. 

Mayor Jayne Lankford along with Charles and Leslie Tyer,  and Bill Martin

Mayor Jayne Lankford presenting her proclamation to Bill Martin from Alliance

After the opening ceremonies we were treated to brisket and pulled pork dinner provided by Blue Compass RV.  We had smoked brisket, pulled pork, cheesy macaroni shells, baked beans and all the fixin's.  The food was simply amazing!!

Tomorrow is basically an "on your own" day to explore Mineola, but the weather may put a damper on activities.  A rally golf outing is planned. A buy-sell-trade room is available all day in the Civic Center as well as various card and board games.   RV repairs, detailing and tank cleaning will occur.  We will likely explore Mineola a bit and we may check out one of the local restaurants we have heard a lot about.  Tomorrow night they are having a square dance group here to teach us how to square dance - all in fun of course.  I may watch but my Allemande Left, Do Si Do, Right and Left Grand, and Promenade days are long gone LOL!!