December 2002

You exit the diner . .

Whether you enjoy following the NASCAR circuit, tailgating with your favorite football team, or carrying along a pair of all-terrain vehicles in your travels, the Fun Mover motorhome from Four Winds International could be a worthy companion. Even a pair of personal watercraft, with the proper “trolleys,” can be transported inside the Fun Mover, kept safe from curious eyes and fingers.

Motorhomers who want to explore the natural wonders and rural history of Minnesota may be interested in Shawn Perich’s new book, Backroads Of Minnesota ($19.95, Voyageur Press). The book leads travelers on a scenic tour of the Gopher State, revealing many of Minnesota’s hidden treasures.
Included in the book are more than 30 recommended drives that visit many of the parks, rivers, lakes, and other sites that capture Minnesota’s colorful history.

The Sidewinder sewer hose support from Camco can keep sewer hoses off the ground and angled for proper drainage even when the terrain is irregular or full of obstacles. The lightweight plastic support features welded seams for stability and long-lasting use, and deep cradles that hold the sewer hose in place without support straps.
No assembly is required to use the Sidewinder; simply open the support and place the sewer hose on top.

The operating instructions for our Spendide RV washing machine call for using 2 tablespoons or 1 ounce of detergent per load. There doesn’t seem to be an easy way to mark this amount on the liquid detergent cap.

Have you ever stopped for fuel and then pulled back on the highway going the wrong way? My wife does it all the time. While she loves traveling and seeing new sights, and enjoys meeting new friends (strangers, to her, are merely friends she hasn’t met yet), she admittedly has no sense of direction.

In a spacious factory surrounded by cornfields that stretch for miles over the rolling hills of northeastern Missouri, Don and Carol Jenkins, owners of Superbus 1 LTD, C8623, have been making some of the finest motorhomes — “ultimate bus conversions,” Mr. Jenkins calls them — that money can buy.

On hot days, mothers watch their toddlers play at an interactive fountain at the Tammany Trace trailhead in Mandeville, Louisiana. The water spouts triggered by “lily pad” buttons are in a paved area outlined in the shape of Lake Ponchartrain.

South of the busy Tampa-St. Petersburg area, Interstate 75 leads travelers toward a region along the Gulf of Mexico with great beaches but fewer crowds.

FMCA’s Executive Committee is made up of the national president, senior vice president, secretary, and treasurer, along with the 10 area vice presidents. FMCA members were able to learn more about the four nationally elected officers when their resumes were published in the July 2002 issue prior to the election at FMCA’s 68th Premier International Motorhome Extravaganza in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Next to your motorhome’s entrance door, you likely will find a small black-and-gold emblem like the one shown in the illustration. It is the seal of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).

I was watching TV a few months ago when a commercial that flashed across the screen caught my attention. “Hey, Hon, take a look at this,” I called to my wife.

Some Christmas travel destinations quickly fade from memory, just like shooting stars. Not so with Goliad, Texas, the “Star of the South.” Goliad’s stellar attractions shine year-round, but at Christmas the sights and sounds are out of this world.
Imagine a 253-year-old Spanish mission outlined in 20,000 white lights, a spectacle to behold and photograph.

Since the beginning of civilization, man has sought a bigger stick — to protect his family, keep the belongings that were his, and, on occasion, to take the things that weren’t. This most likely will continue until his time on Earth is finished.
In the early morning of July 16, 1945, in the bleak desert near Alamogordo, New Mexico, on a site code-named “Trinity,” man found the ultimate ”stick.” With a flash as bright as a thousand suns and an earth-gouging roar, the first atomic weapon was exploded.

When you decide to make your motorhome your full-time residence, one part of the process must be to take a look at your insurance coverage. The RV insurance policy you had as a homeowner and part-time motorhomer won’t cover all the bases.

Traveling by motorhome is a comfortable way to visit different parts of North America. But the cozy confines of your motor coach may cause you to become too relaxed, allowing your natural defenses to slip.

If you’re looking for small-town America, then a visit to the village of Waynesville, Ohio, is in order. Located in the southwestern part of the state, this quaint town is a mecca for those seeking a slower pace.

I have now completed one term as president of FMCA and would like to thank everyone for their support this past year. During the Governing Board meeting on September 30 in Hutchinson, Kansas, association business included an election of the four national officers for the 2002-2003 term.

A few years back, my wife, Joan, and I flew from Hong Kong to Los Angeles with only brief stops in Tokyo to refuel and in Honolulu to clear customs. Although we fortunately had seats with plenty of legroom, the long flight had taken its toll.

Approximately four years ago, FMCA leaders decided to begin the process of developing a long-range plan and modernizing the association’s governing documents. The first step was to establish a committee of FMCA members who would be charged with bringing forth a plan that would help to direct the association’s future.

The “Holding Tank Headaches?” article that appeared in the August 2002 issue (page 68) was not properly attributed to Tony Suddon, its primary author. Mr.

Q: What kind of information do you have on braking systems for towed vehicles? Can you recommend any system? I have a motorhome with hydraulic brakes and I will tow a Honda Accord.
Don Rader, F169185
Veradale, Washington

A: The July 2001 issue of FMC magazine included an article (“Supplemental Braking Systems,” page 60) that provided brief information about more than a dozen different supplemental braking systems for towed vehicles. The systems were not tested.

Members of FMCA’s Golden Spike and Western Bounders & Buddies chapters have enjoyed many good times at rallies and different outings throughout the years. But every so often there is one exceptional rally that will be talked about long after it’s over.

With colder weather creeping up on us, we’re reminded that winter isn’t far off. But for some FMCA members, winter is a lifestyle rather than a season.

Some years back, we lived in an area that claimed to be the foggiest place in the United States. Old-timers said the location had been used during World War II to test the ability of pilots to land their planes under extremely foggy conditions, and the airport in the northern California town of Arcata had some of the most consistent fog anywhere.
More recently, we checked some weather maps and found that the area along the northern California coast still is as foggy as we remembered — more than 60 days a year the visibility drops to less than a quarter-mile.

Winter camping is a snug and cozy time, when meals are more fun to make, because they warm up the interior of the coach and fill it with great aromas. The family is hungrier, fresh from the ski slopes or biking trails.

November has been designated “National American Indian Heritage Month” in the United States, so we decided to recommend some sites to visit to help celebrate the occasion. Those who live in or are visiting the Midwest or South will notice that none of the mound-building American Indian cultures are represented in this month’s column.