December 2004

Of the many destinations in the Western United States, one location boasts approximately 1,960 miles of shoreline, 161,000 surface acres of water, and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It’s also a national preserve.

The wave graphic emblazoned on the side of this elegant motorhome reveals its identity: Tsunami. The Japanese word for “tidal wave” also refers to a stunning diesel pusher produced by Forest River Inc.
The Tsunami is Forest River’s first high-end type A diesel motorhome, which was introduced to the RV market for the 2002 model year.

Four Winds International, C7457, a division of Thor Industries, has introduced the 38-foot quad-slideout Infinity type A motorhome. The quad-slide design dramatically expands space in the main living area, bedroom, and bathroom, and enhances the bath area with two entry doors — one from the hallway and one from the bedroom.
The new Infinity is built on the Workhorse gas chassis with a 24,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating.

M.M. Newman Corporation offers a full line of spirally cut, expandable cable wrap.

To keep dirt and grime out of the pin holes where my Blue Ox tow bar attaches to the towed vehicle, I came up with this idea. Cut a piece of 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe to the length of the pin hole, and then bevel it down to fit into the hole.

Motorhomes have changed the way millions of people travel, but to those who have a physical disability, the motorhome is nothing short of a freedom machine.
Travel in specially equipped motorhomes has opened a new world to the physically challenged. These vehicles have made it possible for them to travel in comfort and with dignity.

The United States has a fantastic array of museums that chronicle the history, grim sacrifice, and heroic exploits of its military in armed conflicts. Some focus on a particular military branch; others on a major war, a memorable battle, a particular general, or the hard-fought victories of a specific service unit.
Here’s a sampling of military museums in the eastern part of the United States.

Owned and operated by the Mitchell family, Parliament Coach Corporation offers its clients the benefits of more than 30 years of experience in designing, building, and marketing custom coach conversions.
In the early 1970s Harvey and Pat Mitchell began marketing high-line motorhomes under the Mitchell Motor Coach Sales company name. In 1990 they branched out into manufacturing high-line motor coaches after purchasing Vogue.

FMCA’s Executive Board 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 June 2004 issue prior to the election at FMCA’s 72nd International Convention in Redmond, Oregon.

I grip the thick bar of gold, and it’s greasy. It feels somewhat smooth but is irregular and slightly misshapen — no doubt from old casting methods, if not from its three-century soak in salt water.

For the past 19 years, George and Lynn Hudson and Jack and Lois Abernathy, F131334, have co-owned the St. Louis RV Park, C3163.

When planning a trip and deciding what to do with the family pet, many people follow the advice given in the famous credit card ad: “Don’t leave home without it!” In fact, according to a Purina Pet Institute survey, more than 45 percent of dog owners and 16 percent of cat owners travel with their pets. RVers are no exception, as a visit to almost any campground will confirm.
But how safe is the travel environment we provide for them? Until they get used to the RV lifestyle, pets can act differently than at home — more rambunctious, curious, or just plain anxious — and, as a result, they may find trouble in unexpected places.
To uncover potential hazards that could harm your pet, let’s tour a typical RV.

Motorhomers who have been looking for a chance to explore the Texas coast may want to set their sights on Goose Island State Park. This 321-acre facility provides convenient access to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and the towns of Rockport, Port Aransas, and Corpus Christi.
The park’s location makes it popular among anglers, wildlife watchers, and those who enjoy discovering interesting sights and attractions.

Two events prompted my wife, Nancy, and me to consider a smaller motorhome. We both turned 70, and Nancy had a serious hip problem (after six replacements) that was aggravated by climbing up the stairs in our previous type A motorhomes.
During a 26-year period, we have owned nine motorhomes; have driven more than 250,000 miles; have crossed the United State nine times; and probably lived in the various coaches the equivalent of four years.

Several fellow FMCA members have asked me to lend them some wisdom from the legal perspective. While I am not sure I have much wisdom, I certainly have about 30 years of experience — enough to have learned to do what lawyers do best: to think of what can go wrong and try to do things to avoid those nasties.

Try these delicious recipes, each with a secret shortcut or two, as you travel in your motorhome. They’ll save time and mess without letting your culinary standards slip.
Dockside Blueberry Crisp
This recipe, a freebie from the folks at Dockside Jewelers in Juneau, Alaska, celebrates blueberry season in the northernmost state, where this bursting blue fruit can be found growing in the wilderness.

Joining Family Motor Coach Association is probably one of the best investments you will ever make. Our independent outside auditor calculates that we furnish our family members benefits that cost the association more than $90 per family each year.

An important milestone was reached in August 2004 when the total amount of money donated through FMCA’s “Round Up” program passed the $1 million mark. This month I would like to share with you the background and history behind the “Round Up” program and give you information about each of the organizations that benefit from this charitable campaign.
Approximately 17 years ago, the FMCA Executive Committee decided that FMCA should search for a worthwhile cause to sponsor.

“Beat Road Boredom With ‘The World’s Largest’…” (September 2004, page 108) noted that the world’s largest teepee was located in Malad, Idaho, and was 46 feet tall. After the article was published, Gene Hunzeker, F38199, told us that the teepee is no longer on the grounds of Red Hawk Trading (the company that made it).

Q: I am inquiring in regard to the “Winter Storage” letter that appeared on page 22 in the June 2004 “Technical Inquiries” column.
We are new to motorhoming and have a 33-foot 2002 Beaver Monterey. We have had numerous problems differentiating the advice from several sources in the industry in regard to winter storage.

Anyone who has ever been involved in planning and executing an area rally knows that there are several required ingredients. A successful rally depends on large quantities and a careful blending of dedication, patience, flexibility, cooperation, labor, a sense of humor, and prayer.

Last year a group of FMCA members met to discuss the establishment of a new chapter for northern California. The majority of those attending were from the San Francisco Bay area — Silicon Valley and the Central Valley.

Occasionally a story pops up that has remained quiet for years, but by its very nature demands to be told. Such is the case with Cliff Custer, L4949, of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
To begin with, he’s 93 years old and can provide a living history for much of the 20th century.

Flagtail, marsh beetle, blackcap, water torch. Visit the shoreline of most lakes, rivers, marshes, and ponds, and you’ll see areas of these grasslike plants stretching as much as 10 feet high above the water.

The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail only travels through Arizona and California, but it greatly influenced the early history of these two states. The trail runs from Nogales, Arizona, to San Francisco, California, following the route established by Spanish commander Juan Bautista de Anza back in 1774.

In April 2004 this column contained a survey that brought in 300 replies from full-timers. Of these, approximately 15 percent of the responses came from people traveling alone; the rest were sent in by couples, plus a few trios or quartets.

Emptying motorhome holding tanks can be worse than annoying. This fact became even more apparent to my husband, Art, and I last fall during our maiden trip in our first type B motorhome, a 2002 Roadtrek 190 Personal, after downsizing from a 32-foot type A coach.

My wife, Becky, and I have done a lot to our motorhome over the years, but high-definition television is the most fantastic add-on. We love it!

We travel full-time (12 years now) in a 34-foot 1987 Holiday Rambler Monitor.

High-efficiency inverters are here to stay in the RV world. They enable us to watch television, brew coffee, enjoy computing, and perform many other activities aboard our motorhomes without giving them much thought.