I recently had the opportunity to listen to Jim Carroll, widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading global futurists and an expert regarding trends and innovations. He spoke to attendees of the 2012 Kampgrounds of America (KOA) Convention and Expo in Orlando, Florida.
Monthly Archives
January 2013
A look at Family Motor Coach Association and the motorhome lifestyle through the years, as portrayed in past issues of Family Motor Coaching magazine.
Updated information regarding the many benefits and services available to members of Family Motor Coach Association.
Family Motor Coaching magazine's annual guide to flat-towable vehicles includes cars, trucks, and SUVs that have been approved by their manufacturers for four-wheels-down towing behind a motorhome without major modifications.
An informal history of the start of Family Motor Coach Association, written by the man whose vision and leadership resulted in the formation of what would become an international organization for motorhome owners.
The following article by Mr. Scott appeared in the premier issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine, published February 15, 1964. Mr. Scott’s dedication to FMCA during the 13 years he served as the association’s first executive director, beginning in March 1965, was instrumental in the sustained growth and viability of the organization
Family Motor Coach Association’s logo features a rendering of a Flxible bus, a vehicle that was popular for motorhome conversion when FMCA was formed 50 years ago. Here’s the story of how I became a full-time RVer and why a similar, 50-year-old Flxible bus entered my life and will eventually become my full-time home on wheels.
“We choose to go to the moon.” President John F. Kennedy’s words, spoken in 1962 in Houston, Texas, still echo through the decades. He continued, “Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there.”
“Exercise is not fun.” “There isn’t time when we're on the road.” “I can’t exercise in an RV.” I’ve heard these quotes and similar comments from many other RVers we’ve met during our road trips. Motorhome owners offer a variety of reasons (excuses?) for not doing as much physical exercise as they should on the road.
Replacing the coolant at recommended intervals and maintaining the system helps to ensure trouble-free travel.
Whom should you contact for travel information when planning a motorhome trip? To answer that question, the staff at FMC has compiled this list of tourism offices in the United States and Canada. The following information was accurate as of November 2012.
FMC magazine's January 2013 Motorhome Regulations chart contains the following information for all 50 U.S. States and the Canadian provinces and territories: length, height, width, combined length, license type required, and Web site.
I hope this column finds you all well and looking forward to a great 2013. I am writing this from central Florida, where Jean and I have a motorhome pad that we occasionally have the opportunity to visit. Weather here is much warmer than what we left behind in Pennsylvania.
Satisfied Michelin Owner
Dear Editor:
I have to tell you how pleased I am with FMCA's Michelin Advantage Program. I recently used it in Jacksonville, Florida, where we live, at a company named TCI Tire Center. They were great and there was no hassle of any kind.Fridge Facts
The refrigerator in our motorhome works sporadically. During our last trip, it didn’t work at all. We took the RV to a home appliance store and the diagnosis was that they needed to “burp the fridge,” because of the ammonia within the sealed system.
The following companies have recalls detailed in this month's Recall Corner: Fleetwood RV Inc., Thor Motor Coach, and Tiffin Motorhomes Inc.
Manually Extending A Slideout
Dear RV Doctor:
The slideout motor on my Challenger motorhome is not working, which means I have to manually operate the slideout. The owners manual does not give instructions on how to do this. Do you know how?Day-Night Shade Repair
While we were on the road in our 2003 Fleetwood Southwind, we stopped at a campground in Ohio for the night. When getting ready for bed, I reached over and tried to close the shade in the bedroom. I heard a snap — I had broken the plastic anchor that holds the string for the shade.
Members of the New York Centrals chapter celebrated the group’s 35th anniversary during a rally at the Camillus Elks Lodge in Camillus, New York, June 14 through 17, 2012. New York Centrals members are from throughout central New York and southern Canada and have a rally the third weekend of most months from May through October.
The 39th Six-State Rally, presented by the Six-State Rally Association (SRA), took place at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma, September 26 through 29, 2012.
The second annual Country Coach Friendship Rally, presented by Country Coach Friends Inc. (CCFI), an international chapter of Family Motor Coach Association, brought 170 motorhome owners to the River Bend Resort in Harrisburg, Oregon, near Junction City, for five days of rally fun, July 24 through 28, 2012.
Pet Life Jacket
The Outward Hound Life Jacket from The Kyjen Company will keep your dog safe whenever it’s around bodies of water.
Airstream Launches Interstate Model In Canada
Airstream announced that its popular Interstate Type B motorhome model will be available in Canada beginning in spring 2013.
Mike Wendland shares his list of RV-related goals for the new year.
In preparation for times when you need to fall back on an emergency food supply, here are recipes to help with planning, stowing, and cooking.