Family RVing Magazine
  • FMCA.COM
  • CONTACT US
familyRVing
  • in this issue
  • tech
    • Tech talk e-newsletter archives
    • more tech talk
  • Digital editions
  • towable guides
  • Classifieds
  • contact
    • contact us
    • advertise with us
    • media room
  • FMCA

Family RVing Magazine

Readers’ Forum: May 2011

May 1, 2011

So Many Swirls!

Dear Editor:
I noted with a longstanding interest the comments by Mel Smith (“Simplify Exterior ‘Designs,'” Readers’ Forum, February 2011, page 12) about RV exterior designs. For years I have been puzzled by the freestyle swirls, appliques, and paint treatments on motorhomes and RVs in general. Puzzled because they do not appear to be a necessity; seem to be uncoordinated with the body design they adorn; use colors that do not always match the image of the coach builder’s marketing; and are mandatory, not optional. Too often, the appliques may fade or peel, detracting from an otherwise integral coach body.

His call for solid body color or two-tone paint is one that soundly deserves hearing by manufacturers. However, to go further, FMCA is a boundless resource for RV historical knowledge. Are there members, manufacturers, or anyone else out there who can explain how this got started and why it has been perpetuated? Are there RV makers willing to offer unadorned coach bodies, either painted or left basic white, without being special-ordered?

Art Bailey, F350431
Belen, New Mexico


Dear Editor:
I also dislike slashes and swirls on the exterior of today’s motorhomes (“A Simple Exterior Is Best,” Readers’ Forum, April 2011, page 16). The exception can be very pleasing. Take our 2004 Safari Trek, for example. It has elicited many favorable comments from other owners.

Thomas Lynch, F238025
San Jose, California


An Assist From Gravity

Dear Editor:
For Linda Frederickson, who has water pour into her Fleetwood Bounder when the slideout is retracted after a heavy rain (“House Calls,” March 2011, page 20): this can happen with Fleetwood products. The awnings are short and often do not overhang the slideout much, so when it rains, the capillary action off the roof adds to the presence of more water on the top of the slideout. What to do?

Raise the front jacks slightly so the front of the coach is tilted just a bit higher than the rear when parked. A hair away from the center bubble is enough. Before getting ready to depart after a rain, raise the front jacks a bit more so the water will roll off the top of the awning and the slideout. The raising of the coach should not be that much that it will cause the slideout to be stressed when retracted. After awhile you will learn what degree works best.

I learned to keep my coach very slightly higher in the front. It saves a lot of hassles and capillary action elsewhere. I also put a longer awning on the slideout and adjusted the tension to keep the awning tight when the one on it wore out. Sometimes the slideout topper awning is loose and will flap in the wind. This just adds to the problem.

Toni Calzone, F363961
Rockville, Maryland


Cooling System Issue

Dear Editor:
I appreciated the article titled “Cooling System Basics” (March 2011, page 38), but writer Peter D. DuPre neglected one failure mode with which I had an unfortunate encounter. While driving down U.S. 101 in Oregon, we began to smell coolant coming from the air-conditioning vents. At the side of the road, we discovered a stream of antifreeze coming from a vent tube in the evaporator/heater core. We continued on, hoping that we would have enough coolant to make it to a service location. Naturally, this was not the case, and soon the low-coolant alarm went off. Since we had full water tanks, we were able to refill the coolant tank and continue down the road. However, the low coolant light reappeared not too much farther on.

I decided it was time for a little roadside emergency surgery. We pulled to the side of the road, and I disconnected the hoses as they went into the heater core and plugged them with two 1/2-inch socket extensions from my toolbox, clamped them with hose clamps, refilled the radiator, and, voila, the problem was solved. Since it was the height of summer, we continued our trip and had the core replaced when we finally returned home.

After the repair, I spliced shutoff valves into both the feed and return hose of the heater core so that if the problem recurs, I can easily shut off the water flow. This has the added benefit that I can make sure that no coolant flows through the heater core during the summer, allowing maximum cooling. This was a fairly minor change, but it gives me peace of mind to avoid future roadside repairs.

I hope this helps someone avoid standing on a highway shoulder with semis whizzing by at 65 miles per hour.

Steve Haeffele, F380753
Palmetto, Florida

Peter D. DuPre’s response: Heater core failures happen more often than most RVers might expect, and repairs can be time-consuming and expensive, because access to the core is sometimes difficult. Luckily for you, the service access port in your motorhome allowed you access to the problem area so you could effect an emergency repair and get the vehicle to a service facility.

I have to say, however, that although I’ve experienced heater core failures in the past, I’ve never experienced the situation where the scent of engine coolant comes out of the air-conditioner vents. But when the failure happens in or at the box where warm or cold air collects and is distributed into the passenger compartment, it is a very real possibility. Your solution to avoid future problems is a creative one and you’ll probably never need to use it, since those types of failures are relatively rare.
Perhaps your problem will serve as a reminder to FMC readers to check the heater hose condition and the heater core during their annual inspections. Thanks for your letter.


Friendly Awning Assistance

Dear Editor:
On December 26, 2010, en route from Lake City, Florida westward, we encountered extreme high winds. While we were crossing the Escambia Bay Bridge at Pensacola, Florida, the wind pulled the awning out and ripped the canvas, making it necessary for us to stop and tie everything down.

Upon arriving in Mobile, Alabama, we went to Johnny’s RV Service Center (5688 U.S. 90, Theodore, AL 36582; 251-653-1049), where we met Charles Wilson, service manager.

After viewing the awning, Mr. Wilson suggested we let him remove the rest of the old canvas and said that when we returned home to Florida we could have a new torsion spring and canvas installed, if we wished. He did all of this with a smile and an “If you’re this way again, stop by.” A nice campground is located a couple of miles away from the shop.

If you’re ever in the Mobile, Alabama, area, Johnny’s RV is the place to go.

Talbot & Iva Gray, F114563
Lake City, Florida

{loadpositionEndBlurbReaders}

previous post
An Authentic Auction At Hubbell Trading Post
next post
Rear View: June 2011

You may also like

Family Reunion Entertainment

January 1, 2011

Joint Rally Unites Chapters In Oregon

March 1, 2011

Tech & Travel Tips: October 2011

October 1, 2011

Bisbee “” A Town On The Hills

December 1, 2011

Family & Friends: “Mommy, This Is My Room”

July 1, 2011

RV Products: June 2011

June 1, 2011

RV News: May 2011

May 1, 2011

Wounded Marine Triumphs, “Inch By Inch”

February 1, 2011

Thor Daybreak

September 1, 2011

Remembering Bill Davern

May 1, 2011




Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube

FMCA on Social Media

  • "Winter! Some love it, some hate it. Winter is a time when there is a stillness in the air but there is also a dryness which can lead to issues with our immune system. Couple that with shorter days, lack of sunlight (which can lead to low energy levels), layers of clothing to keep our skin from absorbing the nutrients of Vitamin D from the sun (crucial for maintaining a strong immune system), and lack of proper hydration due to not feeling thirsty (caused by to cooler temps and less perspiration); ALL of this can lead to our immune systems
  • "We were stranded along a narrow road near Bryce Canyon, Utah. The location was not a good place for cellular service, but I was able to contact Roadside Rescue and arrange for a tow after driving our towed vehicle to the town of Bryce. I had to speak with several people at Roadside Rescue, but each person I spoke with was respectful and courteous. The tow was set up and our rig taken to a place that promptly took care of the repair and we were back on the road in 24 hours."⁠ ⁠ Michael & Lynn Noonan (F448134)⁠ ⁠
  • Do you have a campground that you find yourself returning to year after year? What do you love about it so much? ⁠ ⁠ With FMCA, you can save on overnight stays at HUNDREDS of different campgrounds across North America. Tap the link in our bio to learn about the different campgrounds where you can save money, just for being an FMCA member!⁠ ⁠ - @natehitstheroad⁠ ⁠ #fmcaRV #rvclub #rvliving #rvlife #rv #rvtravel #fulltimerv #gorving #camping #rvthereyet #homeonwheels #wanderlust #travel #adventure #explore #homeiswhereyouparkit
  • Let
  • #throwbackthursday to the sixth FMCA convention, way back in July, 1969. The convention took place at the Traverse City Civic Center in Traverse City, Michigan and featured RV displays, seminars, vendors, and lots of entertainment. ⁠ ⁠ Fast forward 52 years and 96 conventions to today. We are getting ready for FMCA
  • In remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr., let us remember to honor his legacy by continuing to take steps toward equality and righteousness within ourselves, our communities and our nation. That means that we must recognize the human dignity in all of the people we encounter along our journeys.⁠ ⁠ “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”-MLK⁠ ⁠ ⁠
  • There are only 3 days left before the early-bird deadline for FMCA
  • Hit ♥️ if you think campfires in the morning don
  • Volunteering is a great way to spend your time during retirement or over long summer or winter breaks. It provides you with a means of staying active, meeting new people, and feeling productive all while giving back to a cause that you choose! For an inside look at what volunteer life is like as a retired RVer, check out our latest FMCAdventure blog - The Benefits of Volunteering as an RVer. Tap the link in our bio to read it now!⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #fmcaRV #rvclub #rvliving #rvlife #rv #rvtravel #fulltimerv #gorving #camping #rvthereyet #homeonwheels #wanderlust #travel #adventure #explore #homeiswhereyouparkit #rvblogger

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Tech Talk: FMCA To The Rescue!

  • Livin’ The Life: January 2021

  • A Fun-Size Book Library

banner
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

@2017 - FamilyRvingMag. All Right Reserved.


Back To Top

FMCA members have access to exclusive articles and RV tips, plus a digital library of RVing know-how. For full access to website content, plus must-have travel benefits, join FMCA today and get instant access to Family RVing magazine.

If you already have a membership with us, sign in now to get full access!

Join Now Sign In