January 2004

Many motorhomers already rely on portable computers to find information on the Internet, send e-mail messages to friends and family, and run navigation and mapping software while on the road. With the right setup and software, that small computer can do so much more.

If it looks like a diesel and drives like a diesel, then it must be a diesel, right? Wrong! Totally redesigned and built on the Workhorse W22 chassis, the 2004 Fleetwood Pace Arrow has all the earmarks of a high-line diesel pusher. These features include new graphics, a roofline that is 5 inches higher than that of the previous model, and 22.5-inch wheels and tires.

Georgie Boy is prepared to soar to new heights with the introduction of the 2004 Cruise Air XL. The latest version of this popular diesel pusher offers many upgraded appliance options, new interior wood finishes, redesigned lighting, and a black water tank rinse system.

Luxury motorhome manufacturer Country Coach, C2132, is celebrating its third decade in the RV manufacturing business with the 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Magna. This 42-foot flat-floor, triple-slideout motorhome, which debuted at the annual Country Coach Class Reunion Rally in September 2003, will be offered in a limited production run of 30 units.
“This coach is a culmination of the things people look for in a Country Coach — and then some,” said company CEO and founder Bob Lee.

The Traveler golf pull cart, which weighs just 11 pounds, disassembles easily and folds down to 24 inches long by 12 inches wide by 20 inches deep for convenient storage. Made of welded 18-gauge steel tubing, the cart includes 12-inch removable wheels with steel ball bearings and a width-adjustable axle.

Afraid of misplacing or losing my keys, I needed a place to keep an extra set that was easily accessible. I found it with this push-button box that can be mounted on the motorhome, holds two keys, and is worth its weight in gold.

As noted in last month’s “Type A Chassis: The Gas Pullers” story, only two manufacturers build gas-powered chassis for type A motorhomes today. At least 10 manufacturers are vying for the consumer’s diesel dollar.

What mile-high city is rich in natural and cultural history, has a mild year-round climate, is bisected by one of the most famous highways in the world, can be seen from the world’s longest tram, and hosts the largest and most-photographed hot-air balloon event in the world?
If your answer is Albuquerque, New Mexico, give yourself a pat on the back. Most people associate any reference to a mile-high city with Denver, which lies 450 miles north of Albuquerque.

Some may call it the “Forgotten Coast,” but travelers who visit a 120-mile portion of Florida’s Panhandle will long remember it. The section of coastline in question stretches between Panama City and Tallahassee, from Mexico Beach (east of Panama City) to St.

The milestone achieved in October 2002 underscores how agencies with different agendas can work together to resolve social, economic, and political issues. Those who build diesel engines for motorhomes worked with the federal and state regulatory agencies that determine diesel exhaust emissions standards to achieve that milestone.

It’s nearly twilight on a warm, humid Sunday in late September at East Fork State Park in southwest Ohio. In the campground, about 40 men and women, mostly between the ages of 50 and 75, are gathered outside in a circle formed by picnic tables and chairs.
Their potluck meal is over, and the leftover desserts are a tempting sight.

You’ve watched as pounds seemingly melt off your friends who are on one of the new, low-carb diets. Now, with the help of the late Dr.

Whatever became of those glittering world’s fairs that seemed to appear overnight like fairyland cities? They attracted participants from around the globe, and throngs reveled in the attractions.
World’s fairs are not gone; they are still being held in locations around the globe. But to Americans and Canadians, they may seem to be a thing of the past, as one hasn’t occurred in North America since 1986.
Motorhome travelers today who enjoy nostalgia, history, or even the latest invention still can visit the sites of world’s fairs from times past.

I’m very excited about the plans we have made for FMCA’s 71st International Convention. It will be the first time we have held a convention in the beautiful Southwest city of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Several new events are being planned for this convention, which we’re calling the “Albuquerque Adventure.” Albuquerque offers a unique mixture of cultures, natural beauty, historic attractions, mild and fiery cuisine, museums, and shopping to create an unforgettable visit for everyone attending.
Albuquerque hosts the largest and most photographed balloon event in the world.

One of the greatest benefits of membership in the Family Motor Coach Association is the opportunity to join a chapter. Chapters truly offer the most opportunities for fun and fellowship.

Dear Editor:
A family is an ever-growing life mobile; a formation center for human relationships; a perpetual relay of truth; a museum of memories. All these things a family is, and much, much more.
Have you ever thought about why we are called the Family Motor Coach Association? If you had been in my shoes this past July at the FMCA convention in Buffalo, New York, you would have no trouble answering this question.

Now that we have safely returned from a five-week trip to the Midwest, we want to thank the 25 to 30 FMCA members who cared enough to call, write, or e-mail in response to my plea for help in a letter published in the May 2003 issue (“More Stalling And Surging,” page 28).
The majority of those who responded recommended replacing the fuel pump in the gas tank, which we did. The result was smooth-as-silk performance this year in all conditions and temperatures, including getting stuck in traffic more than once.

Residents of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province, were treated to a phenomenal sight as approximately 750 motorhomes from the United States and Canada crossed the eight-mile-long (12.9-kilometer) Confederation Bridge for the 11th annual Northeast Area Rally. The event, titled “Come Play On Our Island,” took place July 25, 26, and 27, 2003, at Cabot Beach Provincial Park.

Achievers International chapter vice president Marge Mazzone, F217160, had a fulfilling career as a dedicated nurse until a work-related accident changed her life. While responding to an emergency, Marge tripped and fell, cracking the vertebrae in her lower back.

Recently I spoke with two RV industry executives who assess customers’ needs and wants and translate them into product design: Luc Van Herle, motorhome product planning manager for Fleetwood Enterprises, and Patrick Carroll, vice president of product development at Monaco Coach Corporation. I found their comments very interesting.
Van Herle was in the midst of his annual look into a crystal ball to see what motorhomes will look like five years from now.

When we decided to look into the National Scenic Byways Program, we had no idea of the breadth of possibilities. Not just any road qualifies as a National Scenic Byway or an All-American Road, which together have been designated by the U.S.

Can you imagine seeing a half-pound ground squirrel taking on a rattler? Believe it or not, this is normal behavior for a California ground squirrel. You see, when a ground squirrel senses a rattlesnake around, it assesses the situation for a few minutes, and then it gets confrontational.