December 2005

Over the past couple of years, Rexhall Industries has incorporated a revolutionary design in its motorhome lineup: the T-Rex. T-Rex is an apt name for this floor plan, which is available in Rexhall’s RoseAir, RexAir, and Aerbus motorhomes.

Winnebago Industries Inc., C93, celebrated 35 years of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, September 9, 2005. The company (NYSE: WGO), based in Forest City, Iowa, joined the exchange on September 9, 1970.
To commemorate the event, Winnebago Industries company representatives took part in the closing bell ceremony to officially end trading on the exchange floor that day.

The WeatherBuster from Brilliant Bob is an all-season, custom-fit windshield cover that can be used to keep snow and ice off your vehicle’s windshield in the winter and the sun’s destructive rays off its dashboard during clear days.
The cover, which is available for type B and type C motorhomes as well as towed vehicles, installs over the outside of the windshield. The cover’s patented design features handles that are inserted through both front door jambs before the doors are closed and locked.

It’s impossible to get away from it — even in the RV there is still cleaning to do. The problem is finding a place to put products such as window cleaner, furniture polish, etc.

As the great television DIY philosopher Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor has said many times, “Tools provide everything in life!” That may seem a little overstated and oversimplified, but think about it. What in life isn’t touched or affected by a tool of some kind?
So what kind of tools should you have to survive on the road? The following suggestions and lists could help you with that decision, whether you opt for a minimum kit (#1), an essential kit (#2), a recommended kit (#3), an advanced kit (#4), or an in-between tool kit, depending on your comfort level.

In southeastern Utah, a desert area called the San Rafael Swell offers a dramatic, yet uncrowded, look at the powers of nature and ancient humanity.
The “Swell” is an elevated desert land, created over the last hundred million years as tectonic plates moved beneath the earth’s surface. In the latest episode, this area of Utah that was once the bottom of a huge ocean was pushed up 8,000 feet above sea level, creating what are some of the most dramatic landscapes found anywhere today.

It’s been almost 10 years, but I remember it well. I arrived at Vantare (then owned by Mike Guth) to do a coach review for Family Motor Coaching magazine.

When singer Dolly Parton performs, she radiates energy. Her voice is angel-pure and strong, her smile is infectious, and you get the notion that she could stand alone on a Smoky Mountain ridge, far from sound studio trickery, and still captivate everybody within hearing distance.
Like another American country-music icon, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Rebecca Parton came from humble beginnings.

Hot water is a valuable commodity while traveling in an RV. You can ensure it is always readily available by understanding how your motorhome’s water heater operates and performing the necessary upkeep.
The best place to begin is with the water heater system itself.

While motorhoming full-time as a single female, I’ve run into my share of people who can’t believe that I’m comfortable traveling alone. Yes, it can be a challenge, but I’ve discovered it’s not too difficult as long as I remain alert, cautious, and follow a set of traveling rules that I’ve established for myself.

If you love gardening and RVing, now you don’t have to give up one hobby for the other. You can take your appreciation for gardening on the road with you by creating your very own miniature fairy garden.

Two for the price of one is a great deal, right? If you visit Fairfax County, Virginia, you’ll have access to the U.S. capital and plenty of other sight-seeing treasures within the county itself.

Bird-watching is certainly much less expensive than golf. And binoculars and field guides take up much less space in your motorhome than golf clubs.

One needs to read no further than the third paragraph of RVers — “How Do They Live Like That?” ($19.95, OceanView Publishers) to discover that, as the authors write, “This book is not a ‘how-to,’ but a ‘what to’ — what to expect on the roads you’ll be traveling in the months and years ahead.” But this publication, which was written by Lou Stoetzer, Ph.D., and Judy Farrow, F284778, a husband-and-wife team who share a background in the mental health field, is not a collection of road maps.
What began as a survey of couples who are members of the Escapees RV Club grew into more than 18 months of surveys and studies that included singles, RVers with health challenges, and others. Taped focus groups and private interviews added more information.

I couldn’t possibly begin this column without mentioning Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast on August 28. I can’t begin to comprehend the problems the people there have experienced.

This month I would like to provide follow-up information regarding a decision made in 2004 by the Governing Board during its meeting at FMCA’s summer convention in Redmond, Oregon, and the clarifications that were enacted by the board this past August during the convention in Minot, North Dakota.
In the fall of 2004 the Governing Board approved two Bylaws amendments that changed all of the term lengths for national officers from one year to two years. At that time, a proposal was presented for phasing in these elections.

The September 2005 article “Greenville, Ohio: Small Town, Big History” (page 102) contained an incorrect photo credit. The photo of the Lowell Thomas birthplace on page 104 should have been credited to the Darke County Historical Society Inc.
FMC regrets this error

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Thanks To An Honest “Family” Member
Dear Editor:
FMCA’s 74th International Convention in Minot, North Dakota, was, for lack of a better word, awesome!
On Tuesday at the fairgrounds, my new and expensive Sony digital camera and case parted company from my belt.

Incorrect information was reported for NHTSA recall 05V362000 issued by Monaco Coach Corporation, which appeared in the October 2005 issue (page 22). It was stated that the recall affected 22 2004 Monaco coaches.

Dear RV Doctor:
My Generac generator runs fine but no power is generated. One day it worked, and then not the next.

The 13th Annual Northeast Area Rally was held July 13 through 16 at the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts. This year we turned the clock back for a “Fabulous 50’s” celebration that had us reminiscing about the happy days of classic cars and rock ‘n’ roll.

Oklahoma was the land of opportunity back in 1889. Thousands of settlers lined up for a chance to get a free piece of the territory in one day.

It’s been some time since we’ve done a traveling tips column, so out came our inch-thick packet of ideas. Here we go.
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