February 2004

Everyone would agree that good communication is an essential part of RVing. Technology has now made it possible for us to surround ourselves with cell phones, e-mail, satellite dishes, and many other electronic devices so we can stay in touch with the world from which we are trying to escape.

Dodge, a DaimlerChrysler company, and Airstream, a division of Thor Industries, C847, have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement to market the new Dodge Sprinter Westfalia type B motorhome. The Westfalia, which is built using the Dodge Sprinter van, offers the outdoor enthusiast increased benefits in terms of comfort, convenience, safety, functionality, and quality.

Described as the younger brother of the Bone auto creeper, the new Bone-ster is designed to be durable, comfortable, and unlikely to tip while in use.

The one-piece molded body is made of engineering-grade copolymer and is said to be easy to clean and resistant to gasoline, oil, and almost all common solvents.

I had two nightstands in the bedroom of my motorhome. One three-drawer stand was rarely used, so I decided to make a clothes hamper out of it.

Imagine you have recently purchased a new motorhome and are ready to set off on your dream journey across the continent. You pack the necessary food, clothes, patio furniture, and entertainment equipment.

While in Buffalo, New York, at FMCA’s 70th International Convention this past July, I took the opportunity to test drive two different motorhomes built on GM Vortec 8100-powered foundations from Workhorse Custom Chassis. I also had the opportunity to tour the GM Powertrain Engine Plant in Tonawanda, New York, a suburb of Buffalo.

Effective January 1, 2001, FMCA contracted with MEDEX Assistance Corporation to provide active family and life members with coverage under the MEDEX PLUS Program. This program helps traveling members to effectively manage the complexities and expenses of out-of-area medical and travel emergencies.

As any traveler will tell you, the need for good telephone communication is heightened when the road beckons. To help enhance enjoyment of life on the road and provide peace of mind to members, FMCA began offering an emergency telephone message service in 1982.

What to do about the mail is always a concern for the traveling family. Motorhomers who enjoy extended summer trips or winters in warmer climes and full-timers who travel wherever the winds may take them are especially aware that keeping up with the mail can be a source of frustration and worry.

Who says you need a driver’s license to be a motorhomer? Kids can enjoy the Camper Fun Playhouse manufactured by Step2, a company based, appropriately, in Streetsboro, Ohio. This motorhome wannabe is sure to start young imaginations rolling.

Remco Manufacturing, C1590, has provided motorhome owners with towing solutions for 25 years. Since 1978, when the company introduced its first product, the Drive Shaft Coupling, it has continually developed new products, making it possible for RVers to tow nearly any type of vehicle four wheels down.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast may be short in distance, but it is long in activities for the visitor lucky enough to discover that small section of oceanfront property. Mississippi packs plenty into a small stretch of land.

Oceans are dazzling, but travelers who venture beyond Florida’s beaches into its heartland will find that the state is strung on skeins of water. It’s a good bet that your campsite in Ocala National Forest will be on or very near a creek, river, spring run, canal, or wetland that teems with wildlife.

On one of our earliest trips to see coast redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens), we discovered a huge redwood tree stump, crosscut so that the tree rings could be marked with the corresponding dates of historic events. To our surprise, the marker associated with the year Christopher Columbus discovered America was much closer to the outside bark than to the center of the stump.

Whether or not you are dreaming about becoming a full-timer, if you enjoy reading about RVing or reading about people’s personal experiences, I predict you will find that Steeles on Wheels; A Year on the Road in an RV goes by all too quickly. It’s a fact-filled, practical book spiked with adventure.

The Steeles are Mark and Donia — 50-somethings from the Virginia suburbs near Washington, D.C.

The president of the United States gives a “State of the Union” address each year, usually in January. Along that line, I believe this is a good time for me to address FMCA members on the “State of the Association.”

As I write this article, the committees of our association just completed 10 days of very successful meetings in Cincinnati.

Here we are again at the beginning of another new year. Each January issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine, also known as the Membership Directory issue, includes the “Member Benefits Guide,” a detailed description of FMCA member benefits, along with other information that is published only once a year.

The “Great Architects, Great Houses” article in the November 2003 issue included two maps of Virginia — one on page 117 and another on page 127. In both cases, that state’s Eastern Shore area was inadvertently omitted.

FMC regrets this error.

While driving through town one day, I stopped for a red light, and when I started to move again, the brakes did not completely release on both front wheels.

FMCA’s South Central Area celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Six-State Rally at the Multi-Purpose Events Center (MPEC) in Wichita Falls, Texas, from September 29 through October 2, 2003. Dubbed “Waltz Across Texas,” it was the first Six-State rally held in the Lone Star State since 1992.

The 100%ers chapter of FMCA is a fun-loving group whose membership includes full-timers who have no residence other than their motorhomes. The chapter received its charter on March 6, 1989, and has four founding members still active: R.J.

This month’s column is devoted to discovering the age of trees, also known as the science of dendrochronology. Listed here are 13 tree species found in North America that include some of the oldest trees in the world, although several of the largest are no longer standing.

Change is a fact of modern life, but each day seems to present more challenges for the full-timer. You must be nimble to keep your balance (and your bankroll), and even small changes can mean a big difference in comforts or costs.

Hot and tasty are the key words for winter RV recipes that are quick and uncomplicated. There is nothing more inviting than an appetizing aroma, whether it’s cinnamon and cloves, onions sizzling with fresh peppers, or a long-simmering stew.

It was a war that no one won. It was a time and place where even the men with badges wore black hats.

It’s not on the interstate. It’s not anywhere between here and there.