June 2008

My family enjoys RVing, as well as fishing, boating, and kayaking. For years, we faced a decision before every motorhome trip: whether to tow the boat or the car behind the coach. We couldn’t take both, and it often came down to leaving the boat behind or renting one at our destination. 

Tow Bar Pin Reminder

Some of the simplest things we learn from experience. Returning home from a trip, we were flagged down by a passing motorist who noticed that the car we were towing was weaving. After stopping we discovered that one of the pins that connect our tow bar to the towed vehicle was missing.

Multifunctional Handheld GPS

The ONIX 400 handheld GPS receiver from Bushnell Outdoor Products is touted in product literature as the first to include satellite photography as well as XM NavWeather coupled with XM Satellite Radio.

RV Toy Book

Family Motor Coaching readers who recall an article about RV toys in the September 2006 issue (“RV Toys: Not Just Child’s Play,” page 92) may enjoy a new book written by the same authors, FMCA members John Brunkowski and Michael Closen

Committees! Who needs them? Aren’t they just a bunch of people sitting around arguing about one thing or another? Well, actually, in order to get many things done, FMCA’s Executive Board relies heavily upon the work of its various committees.

The coasts of the United States are rich in lighthouses. We’ve always enjoyed visiting lights, photographing them, and learning their history. But with more than 800 lighthouses to choose from, it’s tough to see them all.

Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap. Experts say you can tell what a woodpecker is doing by listening to the speed and frequency of its drumming. Tap, tap, tap. Quiet, irregular drumming occurs when the bird is harvesting insects.

Few foods are more versatile for cooking on the go than tuna. Carry it fresh, frozen, or in cans or pouches. Serve it hot or cold, fancy or plain. Make a simple meal from a can of tuna and a pile of crackers.

Under the premise that Frustrated Maestros do not need a reason to make music together, just a chance to play, Pete Eckhardt, president and music director of the Frustrated Maestros Eastern Sharps and Flats chapter, decided to create such an opportunity.

What’s your favorite campground?

Growling Oven

Dear RV Doctor:
I have an Atwood RV range. It is a Wedgewood model. I’m curious why the oven sometimes makes a growling sound rather than the smooth hissing sound that an LP-gas oven usually makes.

Country Coach Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 08V119000, which affects some 2004 to 2008 Affinity, Intrigue, and Magna motorhomes manufactured from May 2003 through January 2008.

This luxurious diesel pusher stands out among others in its price range by boasting a floor plan with five slideouts, while receiving high marks for handling and cargo capacity.

Motorhomers enjoyed a late-February sojourn in Pomona, California, as they participated in FMCA’s 79th International Convention.

A capital assortment of attractions fills St. Paul, Minnesota, home to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, where FMCA’s 80th International Convention will take place.

Members are the blood flowing through the arteries and veins of FMCA. We’re constantly replenishing our supply, but we’re losing even more than we gain. This is not healthful. We all need not only to recruit new members, but we must learn how to retain them.

A slow-paced, back-to-nature experience awaits RV travelers along the state’s western edge.