June 2011
Shut Off The Fridge
Dear Editor:
In “Refrigerator Leveling” (March 2011 “House Calls,” page 20) the RVer was worried about the refrigerator becoming unlevel while the coach was being driven on hills and mountains. My answer to that would be to never run the refrigerator when you are driving.Hello from Cincinnati. As I write this month’s commentary for our June issue of FMC magazine, I reflect back on the past few months as to what our staff has accomplished since my arrival here in January. I can report that things are moving at a fast pace, and many good things are happening behind the scenes at FMCA . . .
My messages in the past few issues have focused on the motorhome lifestyle, and, indeed, that is what FMCA is all about. But there is more to FMCA than simply traveling, meeting old friends, and making new friends. For many of you, it is about becoming involved.
Great music and many fun activities will greet those planning to attend FMCA’s 86th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, which will take place August 10 through 13, 2011, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
The 2011 election of FMCA National Officers will be held August 10, 2011, at FMCA’s 86th Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase in Madison, Wisconsin. The Nominating Committee has submitted its slate of candidates. Although balloting is restricted to National Directors and National Officers …
In Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys children’s mystery novels, an “old river road†always seemed to play some part in the mystery at hand. Wisconsin has its own river road, the Great River Road, and it, too, is surrounded with mystery. But in this case it’s the kind that goes hand in hand with the magic of travel and discovering new places.
One hour west of Madison, Wisconsin, site of FMCA’s 86th Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase this August, two of the most fascinating homes in the entire United States await discovery. The little town of Spring Green is home to this mismatched pair, because two very different architects were drawn to the same lush, green foliage and rolling hills.
With retro-vintage looks, but built with a revolutionary and innovative bottom-to-top, bumper-to-bumper production process, the 2011 Monaco Vesta is being unveiled at numerous RV shows across the United States to oohs and ahhs from all levels of the industry.
When you’re stopped on the side of the road in need of assistance, it’s important that the proper personnel and equipment be sent to tend to your special situation. To do that, the service provider or towing company needs detailed information about your motorhome so that they make educated decisions about your dilemma and respond accordingly.
How Long And How Fast?
I tow a 2008 all-wheel-drive Saturn VUE XR that’s equipped with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. When preparing the vehicle to be towed, I place the transmission in “neutral†with the ignition key in the accessory position and pull the ignition fuse so the battery doesn’t go dead.
The company with a recall detailed in this month’s column is Fleetwood RV Inc.
As we approach the summer season, our travels often take us toward open water, preferably areas that include sand dunes and ocean breezes. Some of our favorite places are managed by the National Park Service, but rather than being national parks, they are called national seashores and national lakeshores.
The full-timer’s life differs from that of individuals who use their RV to vacation, take an extended trip, or even set out on a lengthy sabbatical. That’s why this column focuses on problems specific to those who live their life on the go. Here is some of the latest news and views for full-timers.
NeXus RV Sets Open House Dates
NeXus RV, C12206 (FMCA commercial member), a new motorhome manufacturer that offers direct sales to consumers, will hold an open house at its facility in Elkhart, Indiana, from June 20 through 30, 2011.
Shoe Moisture Eliminator
According to product literature, Stuffitts Shoe Savers will help eliminate moisture and odor from shoes to keep them smelling fresh.
Margaret Goodman, F44592, wife of former Western Area national vice president Bill Goodman, recently passed away. She was 97.
A Hilly Billy Wedding was the highlight of the Fingerlakers chapter’s 37th annual Officers Rally in upstate New York. Sixty-six members and guests attended the three-day rally held October 8 through 10, 2010, at the Genesee Country Campground in Caledonia, New York.
Jack C. Schneiker, L2150, a longtime member of FMCA who, along with his wife, Belle, recruited more members to the association than any other family, died at his Tucson, Arizona, home on April 1, 2011. He was 87.
Securing Storage Compartment Struts
The screws used to attach the gas struts on my motorhome’s outside storage compartments kept coming loose.
Perplexing Propane Problems
Dear RV Doctor:
I am having a problem with the pilot light on my motorhome’s hot water tank. I can light the pilot, but when I turn the dial to the “On†position, it takes a moment for the ignition. And when the propane gas finally reaches the pilot light area, the combustion is so strong that it blows out the pilot light and the main heating flame.Vent fans enable motorhome owners to remove stale air, food odors, and that stuffy feeling without running the air conditioner. View a chart that shows the features and models currently on the market.