August 2006

If you’re leery of spiders, you’re in good company. It’s such a common complaint, it has its own name: arachnophobia.

My wife, Barb, and I had the opportunity to attend our first National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) event, the O’Reilly Spring Nationals, at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, March 31 through April 2, 2006. Baytown is near Houston, our hometown.
NHRA events are extremely fan-friendly and fun for all ages.

Gary Bunzer, also known as the RV Doctor, won’t ask you where it hurts, but he will tell you how to fix it. Among RV enthusiasts, his reputation as a technical expert precedes him wherever he goes.

One day my 9-year-old made this excited confession to me. “Mom, I love when you wake us up while it’s still dark, and we drive away.

If you have never heard of the Moravians, it’s safe to say that you’ve never visited Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Winston-Salem is one of the leading urban areas in the state and is a forward-thinking city, but it’s still proudly rooted in its Moravian past.

Hostile Indians, dangerous shoals hidden under the Atlantic Ocean, and notorious pirates combined to make Cape Fear, North Carolina, aptly named for struggling early settlers. However, these days there’s no reason to be skittish about exploring one of the best mid-Atlantic destinations for adventurous travelers.
The Cape Fear Peninsula dips south into the Atlantic Ocean near the state’s southern border.

Before the discovery of fire, life was much different than it is now. During daylight hours early mankind lived an active but precarious life as hunters and gatherers, and after sunset they retreated into the dark, dank safety of their caves.

Sewer hose storageMy motorhome didn’t have a designated space to store the sewer hose. I had to store it in the sewer compartment, which took up a lot of room and kept the compartment damp.
To solve this problem, I mounted a storage pipe for the sewer hose under the coach that is capable of holding 20 feet of hose with the plastic ends still attached.
To do this I used a 10-foot section of 4-inch ABS-plastic pipe.

Folding Bench from Diadora AmericaThe Folding Bench from Diadora America is a portable folding chair that is said to keep occupants covered, rain or shine, whether they’re sitting around the campsite or on the sidelines cheering for their favorite team.
The bench — which comes in one-, two-, three-, and four-seat versions — includes an overhead canopy as well as roll-up side flaps and a removable back panel to protect users from the rain and sun. The seat itself is made of heavy-duty polyester with PVC coating while the canopy, sides, and back are constructed of polyester fabric with a waterproof coating.
Each bench comes with a carrying bag (the bags for the three- and four-seater benches have wheels) and is available in five colors — red, royal blue, forest green, navy blue, and black — and three patterns — sand camo, jungle camo, and U.S.

A pair of Flxible Clipper buses — the same type of vehicle that is depicted on the FMCA logo — were brought out of retirement to be used in the Sony Pictures movie RV, starring Robin Williams and Jeff Daniels. These buses were once used to transport members of the Elizabeth City, North Carolina, high school band.
According to a story in The Daily Advance, the buses used in the movie were two of four Flxible Clippers that were bought for the band by millionaire Miles Clark in the early 1950s.

Forty-three years ago this month, a group of motor coach owners met at Good Will-Hinckley School in Hinckley, Maine, to discuss their common interests and to view a solar eclipse. The group decided to form an association for motor coach owners, and of those in attendance, 18 families signed on as members of the new organization, which they named Family Motor Coach Association.

I am pleased to announce that the MEDEX PLUS emergency medical evacuation assistance program, a free member benefit, will continue for FMCA family members through the year 2008. FMCA recently purchased this coverage for you for this additional year.

Dear Editor:
In the aftermath of the disasters that have struck the United States in recent years, FMCA members often have expressed interest in helping in some way. Having a motorhome at the ready provides a unique opportunity to travel to an area and bring one’s own accommodations and supplies while helping in the recovery effort.

The Aqua Saver from PJB Company is so named because it can save a great amount of water during the process of flushing and cleaning fresh-water tanks on motorhomes and boats. However, after installing and using an Aqua Saver on our coach, I think it also could be called “Time Saver,” “Work Saver,” and even “RV Antifreeze Saver.”
The Aqua Saver is a port that provides a 5.5-inch opening in an RV’s fresh-water tank and thereby allows access to the inside of the tank.

When we write a tips column, we like to test each idea before including it. This one was no exception.

Cooking is more than just a necessity when kids are along for the ride. Youngsters can learn about nutrition, fuel and water conservation, sanitation, and manners.

Whether you travel with children full-time or have kids on board only occasionally, here are ways to make motorhome adventures safer and more fun for adults and youngsters alike.

• Taking the children out on the water? If you don’t have the right size life vests available on board for youngsters, you may be able to borrow some for free thanks to the Life Jacket Loaner Program, which is sponsored by the Boat U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water.
  

RV parking issues keep popping up in Southern California. But RVers spotted one in British Columbia, Canada, and quickly batted it down …
Prince George, British Columbia, overnight parking
City Council on April 24 passed a motion to ticket retailers who allow RVers to park overnight on their lots.

The Anasazi chapter, founded in 1997, is made up of FMCA members from the Phoenix, Arizona, metro area and surrounding cities. Named after the Anasazi people who once inhabited Arizona, the chapter currently boasts 30 member families (coaches), the maximum allowed by the chapter.
This chapter prides itself in having active members.

San Diego, California, is reputed to have the most perfect climate in the United States. Fortunately, the area lived up to its reputation March 24 through 26, 2006, when 10 family members of FMCA’s Golden Spike chapter, along with one guest family, gathered at the Chula Vista RV Resort, C2744, for their big spring adventure.

Dear RV Doctor:
I have an older Hydro-Flame 19,000-Btu furnace; the serial number is 0066957. The thermostat is a Robertshaw CM60.

Q: I had the same problem described in the “Triton Starter Problems” letter that was published in the February 2006 issue of FMC (page 20). I had a 2000 model F-53 chassis with a 22,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).

Load up the basketball team, volleyball team, or half the lacrosse team and head for the playoffs. The 2007 Newmar All Star 3950 motorhome shines with accommodations for eight.