Gaffney, SC

We are on the road again. Those of you receiving the Spot notices noticed that we were in Hardeeville, SC last night. This is our annual pilgrimage to Gaffney, SC and the Freightliner factory where the chassis on which our motorhome rests was built. Their low season for activity is from December through February. To encourage business they offer a discount on service during this period. This discount, and a labor rate already much lower than in the Orlando area, makes coming to the folks that know this chassis best a great way to start our RVing season. 

One of the benefits of this trip is a chance to visit with Nina and Archie Sellew in Bluffton, SC. We had a great visit with these wonderful friends and Nina treated us to a terrific dinner. She really excelled with the dessert, a flour-less white cake with whipped cream and lemon curd frosting. The strawberries didn’t hurt either! We always leave their home about five pounds heavier.

We are spending the night behind the Freightliner facility. They provide electrical hookups and a dump station so customers need not seek hotel accommodations while having work done. We appreciate their thoughtfulness very much.

For those of you that have never seen what is under a motorhome’s skirt, here are a few shots of a typical chassis. It is interesting to see how far in front of the front wheels the driver sits. Considering how far back the engine is, it is no wonder the motorhome is so quiet as we head down the road. By the way, the battery location is for shipment of the chassis and not where they will finally rest.

Winnebago builds motorhomes in a two-story factory. The top floor assembly line is where the “house” is built, while on the ground floor accessories are added to the chassis. At the end of the two assembly lines there is a hole in the ceiling and the “house” is lowered onto the chassis. Pretty cool.

Tomorrow we will do a little sightseeing while they work on the coach.