November 2005

You may not guess that San Antonio, Texas, is the eighth-largest city in the United States, but according to census reports, it is. It recently jumped ahead of Dallas in the rankings.

Failing Flange

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a question regarding a toilet flange. The flange that holds my toilet down has rotted away and will NOT hold the bolts that secure the toilet in place.

Bob Tiffin, founder and CEO of Tiffin Motorhomes, has several passions; among them are restoring classic automobiles and building quality motorhomes. A perfect bridge between the two is the Phaeton motorhome, named after a luxury touring car that was built for several decades beginning around the turn of the 20th century.

On May 21, National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration officials, honored guests, and participants caravanned the 90-mile leg from Clinton to Natchez, Mississippi, to help celebrate the official opening of the final segments of the Natchez Trace Parkway. This 444-mile National Scenic Byway and All-American Road stretches from Natchez, Mississippi, through the northwest corner of Alabama to Nashville, Tennessee.

Shurhold Industries has introduced a series of one-handle cleaning kits that are said to provide the tools needed to care for any type of motorhome.
Each kit features a durable Shurhold telescoping handle with the exclusive SHUR-LOK quick-release locking system, which holds the accessories firmly in place so they won’t spin or pop off during use yet allows them to be changed at the push of a button.
The Basic Kit comes with a 6-foot-long handle (extends from 43 inches to 72 inches), a 6-inch-wide soft brush, a Super Floor Mop, an angled floor broom, a 12-inch stainless-steel squeegee, and a tube of Snap-Stick snap and zipper lubricant.
The Intermediate Kit includes a 9-foot-long handle (extends from 63 inches to 108 inches), a 10-inch brush, a 16-inch squeegee, and the other accessories in the Basic Kit.
The Deluxe Kit comes with the same utensils as the Intermediate Kit but also includes a nonabrasive Dip and Go swivel pad infused with Simple Green cleaning solution, plus a towel and sponge made of synthetic PVA material.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Basic Kit is $111.25; the Intermediate Kit is priced at $129.67; and the Deluxe Kit is priced at $172.61.
For more information, contact:
Shurhold Industries
3119 S.W. 42nd Ave.
Palm City, FL 34990-5558
(800) 962-6241
(772) 287-1313
www.shurhold.com

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Rechargeable Spotlights
Black & Decker’s rechargeable V-Power Series spotlightBlack & Decker’s rechargeable V-Power Series spotlights are useful accessories for the motorhome or towed vehicle in case of an emergency or a power failure, or when performing work outdoors at night.

Using a plastic bag as fluid catcherI have rented and owned several motorhomes, and it seems that they all require a funnel with a long flexible tube to facilitate servicing the engine, transmission, and generator fluids. Funnels such as these are inexpensive and are available at any auto parts store.
The problem is, once you have used the funnel, you can’t clean out the long flexible tube, because there is a screen at the funnel end and the tube is corrugated.

In the spirit of Lewis and Clark and their explorations 200 years prior, several thousand families embarked on a voyage of discovery and headed to North Dakota in mid-August for FMCA’s “Dakota Expedition” convention. Once there, they circled the wagons and set up camp at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot for the better part of a week.

You’ve finally found the motorhome that meets all of your wants and needs. You’ve negotiated a reasonable price and a good trade-in, so what can you do to make your transition as smooth as possible? Or how can you make sure a previously owned coach is worth the asking price? The answer is to thoroughly inspect the unit before you buy it.
When buying a previously owned coach, you should examine it meticulously prior to signing a contract.

Kirwan Elmers, L145, has been in the driver’s seat for decades. Throughout his journey, he has accumulated decades of fascinating memories associated with motor coaching, FMCA, and individuals he’s met along the way.

Here’s a hot tip for road gypsies who yearn for new destinations south of the border: Pack up and head for San Felipe, in Baja California, Mexico, where the motto is “No Bad Days.”
The destination is relatively new, but the culture and ambience are not: a peaceful inland sea; majestic mountain views; and a protected, unusual desert ecosystem. And best of all is the unhurried pace, with 320 days of sunshine each year in which to enjoy it.

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 2005 issue prior to the election at FMCA’s 74th International Convention in Minot, North Dakota.

At each international convention, FMCA hosts youth centers that are open to all children between 2 and 18 years of age where they can enjoy videos, games, and friendship with other traveling youth. This past summer’s convention in Minot had more than 100 youth in attendance.
On Monday, the first night of the convention, the Teen-Age Travelers (TATS) held their annual election of youth officers.

NX2, a product development software system created by UGS Corporation, has revolutionized the way companies in the aerospace, automotive, and other high-tech industries do business. This three-dimensional design, engineering, and machining “product suite” is said to reduce the number of man-hours it takes to bring a new concept to market.

Homeowners can throw a load of laundry into the washing machine as necessary. Motorhome vacationers typically bring dirty laundry back to their stationary home after a trip.

The word “allegro” is a musical term that calls for a quick and lively tempo. Back in 1972 when Bob Tiffin began designing and building motorhomes, his wife, Judy, who had a background and education in music, suggested that they name the coach the Allegro.

At first glance, it seems as though everyone on Sanibel Island, Florida, has a penchant for keeping their eyes on the ground. A closer look reveals that all of their bending over has a purpose.
Find the seashell; stoop; and snatch it.

I’m indeed honored to be your new national president. The Governing Board elected me on Monday, August 15, in Minot, North Dakota, as the 18th person to hold the position and the first to be elected for a two-year term.

Editor’s note: Mr. Eversmann presented the following report to the FMCA Governing Board during its meeting in Minot, North Dakota, this past August.
I am pleased to share with you an update on Family Motor Coach Association and activities that have been occurring related to its operation since we last met.

Dear Editor:
While we were traveling in Missouri on May 23, 2005, the refrigerator in our 2004 Fleetwood Pace Arrow completely quit. Outside the temperature was 86 degrees and climbing.
We called Coach-Net and they were helpful right from the beginning.

Q: I have a 1992 30-foot Newport motorhome from Cobra. Unfortunately, the coach is an orphan as Cobra went out of business around the mid-1990s, and one side of my windshield has a crack in it.

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a question regarding a toilet flange. The flange that holds my toilet down has rotted away and will NOT hold the bolts that secure the toilet in place.

Howdy, partner! What a powwow we had during the Great Lakes Area Spring Spree (G.L.A.S.S.), held May 26 through 29 at the Berrien County Youth Fair in Berrien Springs, Michigan. I’ve never seen so many covered wagons (motorhomes) in one place.

Iowa is the home state and scope of the Midwest Trailroaders chapter. And just like the state’s peaceful farmland atmosphere, its members enjoy relaxing activities.
Chapter secretary-treasurer and newsletter editor Bob Burgstrum, F141465, said the chapter holds rallies each month between May and October.

Ohio is home to the Family Motor Coach Association’s headquarters, and to many native Buckeyes who ventured afar but never forgot the tastes of fresh-picked Ohio sweet corn, farmhand casseroles, and sweet Amish desserts. Ohio’s Hocking Hills area, southeast of Columbus and near Wayne National Forest, is only a few hours from Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis.

Manatees, or, if you prefer, sea cows, are clearly warm-water creatures. That’s why they spend most of their lives in the shallow coastal waters off Florida.

If this month’s “Window on Nature” column sparked your interest in seeing manatees firsthand, here are some of the most highly recommended locations. Even though manatees are endangered, they’re not difficult to find.