Greetings, FMCA friends. I would like to focus this month’s column on two important items. The first relates to the 65 percent of our Family Motor Coach Association members who do not belong to chapters. Chapter membership has its own rewards and benefits, just like your membership in the association.
Monthly Archives
November 2009
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Caravan Salon 2009 Enjoys Record Turnout
Organizers of Caravan Salon 2009, an international trade fair for recreation vehicles and camping equipment, reported record participation at this year’s event, held August 29 through September 6, 2009, in Düsseldorf, Germany.
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What famous person would you like to go motorhoming with, and why?
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Las Vegas Motor Coach Resort Clarification
Dear Editor:
FMCA has a huge following among our 407 site owners here at Las Vegas Motor Coach Resort, so I received a number of calls from our owners regarding an error that appeared in the September 2009 “RV News & Notes†column (“Signature Resorts Acquired,†page 38). -
Blowout
I am writing to ask your advice about an accident I had June 7, 2009. I purchased my first motorhome, a 2004 40-foot Holiday Rambler Imperial, in April 2009 and used it on a couple of trips for about 3,000 miles. At the time of the accident, it had approximately 56,000 miles on it.
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Prior to finalizing the sale of its motorhome division in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. announced NHTSA recall 09V237000, which affects 2005 and 2006 model year Bounder 35E Type A motorhomes manufactured from May 14, 2004, to March 27, 2006.
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All Cracked Up
Dear RV Doctor:
My living room window was broken when our deck table fell through it during a storm. Do you have to take the whole window out to fix it? It was the bottom portion of the window that broke. -
Awning Elevation
To keep rain from accumulating on my motorhome’s slideout awnings, I decided to blow things up. That is, I began using inflatable rafts.
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Auto aromatherapy
According to product literature, the Karoma line of auto aromatherapy diffusers provides a variety of mood-enhancing scents that will transform your driving routine into a rejuvenating experience.
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Fleetwood Names Indiana New Headquarters, Revamps Web Site
In July 2009, Fleetwood Enterprises’ motorhome division and Goldshield Fiberglass operation were purchased by private-equity firm American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV LP. On August 19, 2009, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from Fleetwood RV Inc. to celebrate the company’s plant reopening in Decatur, Indiana.
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RV cord sets
Furrion 30-amp and 50-amp power cords now include a patented PullSmart plug handle that is designed to provide a quick, easy, and safe disconnect from the power source, even in wet conditions.
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At the July Governing Board meeting held during FMCA’s 82nd International Convention in Bowling Green, Ohio, some dynamic changes to the structure and opportunities of chapters were made.
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That is how we met Ed and Dorothy Casada, L1404, of Highland, Indiana. The Casadas, both 85, have been members of FMCA for 42 years, having joined in March 1967. They had purchased their first motorhome, a 27-foot Dodge, a year earlier, and some friends recommended that they join FMCA.
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Some small towns in the Western United States became more captivating when their residents left. We call them ghost towns. Even though some brave souls still live in these desolate towns, many are completely deserted, while others have been turned into tourist attractions.Â
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More than 1,300 species of mistletoe have been identified worldwide, and although some live on only one type of plant, many are less particular. But they all grow on the branches of trees or shrubs and can’t survive on their own.
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These easy, tasty recipes will bring “back home again in Indiana†nostalgia to your next motorhome trip.Â
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Last year, an article on FMCA.com and in Family Motor Coaching magazine (“A Caveat For Consignment Sellers,†August 2008) reported that typical RV insurance policies contain an exclusion pertaining to motorhomes placed on a consignment lot.
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Sitting here in Essex Junction, Vermont, writing this column and watching FMCA members enjoying another great Northeast Area Rally brings to mind what we are all about. We are about each other.Â
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As you are traveling, or possibly as you are planning your travels, you can contact any of these identified members for assistance and support while you are on the road. I have heard wonderful stories of individuals who have taken these members up on their offers and have found the true meaning of family.
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More than a year in advance, several members from The Dolphins chapter gathered to begin planning the group’s 20th anniversary rally. The team set a goal to make the rally a memorable event, and all indications are that the goal was achieved.
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Before jumping in headfirst and suffering the consequences, here are several tips and cautions to help you separate real work-at-home opportunities from pie-in-the-sky scams.
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Utah’s rugged, dramatic canyons and cliffs are beautifully revealed on this unparalleled trek.
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There are a few areas of concern on the motorhome that are applicable regardless of whether the vehicle is stored or utilized over the course of a cold winter. Consider the following …
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If you’re the audacious type, winter RVing is not only doable but encouraged! Take the necessary precautions … and you should be able to enjoy your motorhome in even the chilliest winter weather.
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As you turn up the heat and bundle up in extra clothing, don’t forget that your dog or cat may need some extra care also. Having a fur coat doesn’t ensure that it is properly protected from inclement weather.
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The Born Free 20’ Built-For-Two Mini is a full-service Type C motorhome with all of the systems and appointments one expects to find in a larger coach.Â
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Several FMCA members have contacted FMC recently to report problems involving defective rear suspension trailing arms on motorhomes manufactured by the former Monaco Coach Corporation (MCC) and built on Roadmaster R4R and RR4R chassis equipped with the Monaco Gold (also known as R-Way)
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Currently, the registry has listings for nearly 7,800 of the 12,921 GMC motorhomes produced between 1973 and 1978.
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Fortunately, for today’s modern RVers, Death Valley doesn’t present the hardship and danger it did for the early settlers or the gold and silver prospectors, although you still have to give the valley its due respect.
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These motorhomers from California have perfected the art of flat-towing their treasured classic automobiles.
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The luxury RV dream is a continuing reality, thanks to companies such as Marathon Coach, the world’s largest luxury bus converter and dealer.
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According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), every year approximately 480 people in the United States die from carbon monoxide poisoning, and another 15,200 end up in hospital emergency rooms from breathing this poisonous gas.Â
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What follows in this article are steps you should take to winterize your motorhome and protect all of its vital systems, so the vehicle is ready to roll once the trees start budding again.
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Once close to abandonment, this former mining town is now known for its history, shops, and restaurants — and an occasional ghost.
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On July 20, 2009, the Governing Board of FMCA approved the following Bylaws Amendments in Bowling Green, Ohio.
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From the city water inlet to the showerheads — and everything in between — learn how to keep your motorhome’s fresh water system in excellent condition.
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Following are abbreviated resumes for the national vice presidents recently elected or re-elected for the 2009-2011 term.
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2009 Towing Guide Correction
“Towables For 2009†(January 2009, page 50) contained an error in the chart section of he story regarding towing the Chevrolet Traverse (page 53). The chart should have indicated that the Traverse is flat-towable when in all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. -
W22 Brake Caliper Overheating
We own a 2004 National RV Dolphin on a W22 Workhorse chassis manufactured in December 2003. It is among those included in an Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) notice as having a front brake caliper problem.
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Leisure Travel Vans has announced NHTSA recall 09V314000, which affects 2008 Free Spirit 210B and Free Spirit LSS Type B motorhomes manufactured between May 2007 and December 2008. The potential number of motorhomes involved is 40.
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Frustrating Fly Infestation
Dear RV Doctor:
I just purchased my first motorhome earlier this year, a used 38-foot Damon. I have what seems like fruit flies breeding in the black water holding tank. I do not have this problem with the gray water holding tank. Whenever I push the flush foot pedal, the flies come swarming up out of the commode. -
Shoebox Organizers
Don’t throw away those empty shoeboxes. They are great to use in your cabinets to keep small items, such as canned goods, from moving around while you’re driving.