new members - Montana Owners Club

jpkelpe · 01-03-2005, 09:05 AM

We are Paul and Jan Kelpe from Omaha NE. Paul is a retired teacher and Jan is still working--can't convince her to quit. We have two sons, both married. One lives locally and the other one just got out of the Army as a Captain (yes he was in Iraq and Kuwait) and now lives in Virginia. We had a 24 ft Four Winds express and after going to the North American Rally in Hutchinson, KS last summer we decided on a Mountaineer after looking at many different fifth wheels. We just got ours the end of October so have only had it out once before the winter, to Branson, MO. So far we really like our choice, anxious to be able to take it out when the winter goes away her in NE. We actually did a lot of reading of postings prior to our decision purchase and really learned a lot from them. there were no towel bars in the bathroom (stool area). What have some of the other owners done with this minor problem. We haven't been able to figure out exactly how to mount any.

Glenn and Lorraine · 01-03-2005, 09:28 AM

Welcome Paul and Jan from Omaha to the MOC Family.

Other than a towel bar on the shower door, which we lost when they installed a new shower, there were no towel bars in our rig either. I did place a few hooks on the back of the water closet door and that helps. I am presently trying to figure out a better location. If I come up with anything else I'll let everyone know.

lawrenceb42106 · 01-03-2005, 10:28 AM

Welcome Paul and Jan to the forum.

As for a towel bar we went to Home Depot and got one for the house use. We installed it on the shower enclosure next to the bathroom sink. Tried using epoxy to hold it on but it failed to last over 2 trips. We went to a RV supply store and got some double stick tape and installed it on the glass, then used silicone around the brackets to seal it off. So far it has been up for 2 years with no problems. Hope this will work for you.

sreigle · 01-03-2005, 10:49 AM

Welcome aboard, Paul and Jan!

Ours also had no towel rods of any kind, just the little towel ring near the sink. We added two towel rods on the back of the water closet door, on the toilet side. I used toggle bolts to hold them in place. They've been there over two years and are just as strong as the day I put them there.

Be sure to check out the section about the 2005 rally near Reno, NV, in early October. The 2004 rally was our first and was fantastic. We had 67 Montanas/Mountaineers there. Really had a great time.

Joyce H · 01-03-2005, 12:03 PM

Welcome to the forum Paul & Jan. I found a triple towel rack that hangs over the edge of the shower stall (or could be hung over the toilet or closet door). I believe I found it at Linens N Things. When we are ready to travel we just unhook it and lay it on the bed or put it in the closet. Has worked well for us and prevents putting any holes in the walls. We have had our unit almost two years and I am still reluctant to start screwing things to the walls or doors. TeeHee However now that we are semi full-timers I think I will have to break down and mount a few pictures, etc. May you have many happy miles in your new wheel estate!

stiles watson · 01-03-2005, 02:25 PM

Welcome to the Forum. Excited for you about your new rig. Towel racks? We tried the hang-over-the-door type. I kept running into the thing when walking past the water closet door. Out!! Out!! Blasted rack!!

I am going to try towel hooks mounted high in the WC because the vent is always open and the fan is frequently running. This is to carry water vapors from drying towels out the vent.

I have thought about just drying the wet towels in the dryer and then tossing them into the laundry.

Sunshine · 01-04-2005, 04:18 AM

Wecome to the Forum. Our 3255RL has only the towel ring next to the sink, and we have been tossing around ideas to solve the lack of a towel bar. Thanks for bringing up the subject - I think maybe we will try the over the door rack, only hang it on the shower stall and remove it when we are on the move. I too am reluctant to put holes in the wall. The exchange of ideas on the Forum is great!

VanMan · 01-04-2005, 05:15 AM

For the towel bar, I purchased two oak towel bars from WalMart. I cut the length of the rods to fit the inside of the bathroom door (we have a 305FKS TT). I mounted them with GOOD double-back tape (100% contact then trimmed with a razor knife)and a couple of screws. I tried several kinds of hollow wall fasteners, but none worked - so the end fittings now also cover up some nasty holes !! I also added their oak soap dish, toothbrush holder, towel ring, and several "shaker peg" coat hangers throughout the rig. Pix posted at

http://community.webshots.com/user/lmvanman

Sunshine · 01-05-2005, 03:44 AM

Thanks for the information and picture. Good idea.

jpkelpe · 01-05-2005, 03:49 AM

thanks a lot for the input. am glad to know that some of the ideas we had thought of actually work. since we are pretty new to this type of camping we have lots to learn. I had used a spring type bar at the side (my bar was too long for the wall in front of the room) but the towels were sort of in the way. Now Paul has a new "honey do" job. I have to say this sure beats tent camping and camping with Boy Scouts.

Montana_2802 · 01-05-2005, 04:04 AM

HI ,WE ARE JIM AND HALLIEJEAN FROM RIVERSIDE CA WE PURCHASED A 2004MOUNTAINEER A YEAR AGO, LOVE IT BUT HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH IT I HAVE PUT MORE MILES ON IT BACK AND FORTH TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS THEN FOR MY OWN USE . HAVE BEEN RETIRED OVER A YEAR AND HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO GO MUCH .HOPE THINGS ARE BETTER THIS YEAR .THIS IS ARE5TH RV HAD A HOLIDAY RAMBLER LIKED IT BUT HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ROOF SO GOT RID OF IT . THE 297 5ER HAS ALOT OF ROOM IN IT LOVE THE 2 SLIDES AND IT PULLS GREAT ,HAD A 85GMC W/454 TO PULL WITH BUT IT LOVES GAS SO I PICKED UP A1996 DODGE W/CUMMINS AND HAD ABANKS KIT PUT WORKS GOOD NOW

SAndreasen · 01-05-2005, 09:09 AM

Welcome to MOC! Me wife (Sharon) and I are both retired science teachers. We live in Cherokee, IA but also belong to the WI-EN Miata owner's club that meets in Omaha. We have a 2003 315 RLS TT Mountaineer that we pull with a 2002 Chevy 2500HD with an 8.1 with the Allison. We love camping a lot and the Chevy does a GREAT job of towing. You'll like it! Have fun camping.

jpkelpe · 01-05-2005, 09:40 AM

Paul was a science teacher too, Westside schools in Omaha. retired after 33 years. taught Jr-Hich science most of the time, was also the energy engineer for 10 years.

Sunshine · 01-06-2005, 03:05 AM

Welcome to the Forum.

Just148 · 01-07-2005, 02:02 AM

Welcome to the club.

Montana_2913 · 01-26-2005, 02:23 AM

I stumbled across this post about the lack of towel rods. What we did as a temporary fix until we find towel rods we like was to put another shower rod (tension rod) in the shower to hang wet towels on to dry. Works for now.

stiles watson · 01-26-2005, 01:08 PM

Great idea, Six. Sounds like a great space saver too.

rames14 · 01-26-2005, 01:25 PM

Welcome Paul and Jan/Jim and Halliejean -

Hope that you enjoy the forum and your Mountaineers.

BillyRay · 01-27-2005, 06:50 AM

welcome...and nice pics VANMAN

jrgwdenner · 01-28-2005, 03:31 AM

We also use an over-the-door type of shower bar system that we hang over the side of the shower stall. I added a small piece of sticky velcro on the glass to secure it as it does sway a bit when you take the towels off.

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