September 2002

Traveling with kids can be a delightful experience. Seeing children grow and learn during the trip adds to their parents’ or grandparents’ enjoyment.

Members of the Commercial Council of FMCA come from various sectors of the motorhome industry. The council has members who represent motorhome manufacturers, custom coach conversion companies, component manufacturers, bus shell manufacturers, motorhome dealers, chassis builders, suppliers, and campgrounds.
Last year the Commercial Council created a special subcommittee to develop ideas to try to find out how FMCA member families feel about their motorhomes.

Last fall, we embarked on an incredible journey “Down Under” — a five-week tour coordinated by Bill LaGrange’s Creative World Rallies and Caravans, C1350. Readers may recall our story in last month’s issue of Family Motor Coaching, which told of our adventures in Australia.

Most of Kansas’ original frontier citadels now are abandoned. No infantrymen or dragoons (mounted soldiers) are garrisoned at Fort Scott, for instance, a fortress located in the southeastern part of the state.

The Kansas state song is “Home On The Range,” and FMCA members soon will be turning their moving homes toward Hutchinson, Kansas, to enjoy the association’s Motor “Home On The Range” extravaganza October 1, 2, and 3. These intrepid roamers will be able to identify with the settlers and cowboys who moved from town to town across Kansas.
Kansas is known as one of the biggest producers of grain in the United States; as a place where gunfighters once dueled in the middle of dusty streets; and as a land graced with sunflower fields and beautiful prairie sunsets.

If you receive correspondence in cardboard Priority Mail boxes, don’t just throw them away. Keep them to use as file holders.

When I was growing up, one of the favorite pickup lines of the day was, “Where have you been all my life?” That old line came to mind recently after I had the opportunity to test a new type of radio service that promised crystal-clear sound quality anywhere in the contiguous United States. After giving this new technology a try, I found myself asking: “XM Satellite Radio, where have you been all my life?”
Imagine having 100 channels of your favorite music, sports programs, talk shows, and news at the touch of a button anywhere you happen to be in the contiguous United States.

In 2002 Monaco Coach Corporation designed the diesel-powered Cayman type A motorhome to bridge the price gap between gasoline-powered and diesel-powered coaches. Today, with a manufacturer’s base suggested retail price beginning at approximately $113,000 (for the 30-foot model), the Cayman makes stepping into the realm of diesel-pusher ownership a distinct possibility for many motorhome enthusiasts.

Product information from Advanced Air Systems states: “Vehicle handling, load capacity, mileage, and tread life can be seriously compromised if tire pressure is allowed to drop below recommended levels.” The Powershot ERS portable air inflation system promises to make this important part of coach maintenance a little easier, even when traveling in areas with service stations that lack adequate air compressors, air chucks, and access for large RVs.
The Powershot ERS system includes a lightweight aluminum carbon dioxide bottle equipped with an aluminum handle and a special Powershot Superflow 150-psi regulator. A 20-foot coiled hose connects the regulator to a trucker-style twin-head air chuck and gauge combination that is designed to reach recessed valve stems on dual wheels.

The Family Motor Coach Association is 39 years old this year. Our member-owned organization has grown to include more than 123,000 active member families.

Throughout the four years that I have been serving as FMCA’s executive director, I have been very impressed with the level and quality of insurance that FMCA purchases on behalf of its operations and members. I actually know of a group of motorhome owners who formed an FMCA chapter simply to have their functions and gatherings covered by FMCA’s insurance.

We expect to see hungry birds snag their meaty morsels while flying, when picking through tree foliage, or by scrabbling on the ground. However, the four species of North American nuthatches gather part or all of their sustenance while clinging to a tree trunk — usually upside down.

Here are a number of questions I’ve received from Family Motor Coaching readers during the past few months.
Our family enjoys traveling in our motorhome to big events, concerts, and games, but it’s a royal hassle to track down tickets to each venue. Is there an easier way?
Ticketmaster is a national service that sells seats for concerts, performances, and sporting events and is affiliated with the venues for which it sells the tickets.

One secret to French haute cuisine is its use of sensuous sauces — used sparingly, but to dazzling effect. Here are some simplified ways to make sauces that will add interest, flavor, and eye appeal to easy meals on the go.

In the April 2002 “Executive Notes” column (“How Your Executive Committee Works,” page 10), I referred to the governance of FMCA with respect to the role of the Executive Committee. As in any organization, before the governance can work, there must be a framework that guides, shapes, and molds the workings of the organization.

Do you know how long the Northern Lights have been around? Thousands or millions of years, perhaps? Try 10. But I’m not talking about the aurora borealis — I mean the Northern Lights chapter of FMCA.
Ten years ago FMCA members Bob Korb, F116983, and Don McMillan, F128352, both of Traverse City, Michigan, were having coffee while discussing ham radio, just like they’d been doing regularly for about a year.

Rally masters Martin and Dottie Pierce, L57064, once again saw their vision of FMCA chapters gathering for fun, fellowship, and games come to fruition with April Showers VI, held April 9, 10, and 11, 2002, at Clerbrook RV Resort in Clermont, Florida. This annual rally continues to grow in size, with 110 motorhomes representing nine FMCA chapters this year.
A competitive and friendly spirit was evident during the tournament games that were held throughout the rally.

Q: I had a 1996 Gulf Stream fifth-wheel trailer that had the same problem as David Todd described in his letter (February 2002, page 28). By inserting a bent rod down the toilet drain, you can catch the down tube.

Dear Editor:
All of us at National RV were pleased to receive our June 2002 issue of Family Motor Coaching, in which technical editor Jim Brightly wrote a review of our Dolphin 5355 gas motorhome. We enjoyed his comments about so many of the coach’s features, which he tested as he drove and camped his way from California to Colorado.

Coachmen Recreational Vehicle Company, C328, of Middlebury, Indiana, is helping travel expert Steve Zikman promote his new book,  Chicken Soup For The Traveler’s Soul ($12.95, Health Communications) with the use of a specially painted 2002 Coachmen Cross Country motorhome. Other corporate sponsors include Ford Motor Company and Cracker Barrel.
The 36-foot diesel-powered Cross Country Mr.