Dear Editor:
Charlie Adcock’s “President’s Message” column in the November 2013 issue (page 6) tickled us so much. We started motorhoming about like they did, stunned at the cost. We purchased several motorhomes in a short period of time until we “got it right.” Non-RVing family and friends could not understand why we kept looking and what was wrong with the units we were trading in (there wasn’t anything wrong with them). When we started out we had no idea how many sizes, styles, and amenities were available.
We also enjoyed and agreed with Jerry Yeatts’ Executive Director’s Commentary (page 10).
Keep up the great articles.
Lloyd and Judith Neemann, F204392
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Now’s The Time
Dear Editor:
Jerry Yeatts’ “Executive Director’s Commentary” in November 2013, titled “If I Could Save Time …” (page 10), was excellent. I am making copies for everyone in our chapter (Cuatro Estados) and extras to hand out to friends who keep putting off retirement, buying that motorhome, and chasing that dream. They all believe they have plenty of time, but they don’t!
Perfect example: A very good friend and very physically active outdoorsman retired from his 60-hour-a-week job and two-hour commute in January 2012 and bought a motorhome. He and his wife took several short trips to attend some of our rallies, and then a long trip with mutual friends this past summer. That one was aborted early (in August) because he experienced continued pain issues. It was cancer. He died in October, a week after reaching his 68th birthday.
Everyone seems to think they need to sock away more money in the bank and cannot start living the RV lifestyle with what they have presently. Well, there will never be “enough” money with that attitude.
We bought our first motorhome in 1985 after years of “real” camping (backpacking, tent, van). We decided to take our retirement by the “installment plan” — go until we needed more money, work for a while, and then go back out on the road again. Everyone thought we were crazy to be doing it so young (I was only 41). We started on a shoestring, and we’re still hanging on to that shoestring! We’ve been almost everywhere in this country and logged more than 250,000 miles in three motorhomes. We doubt our grandkids will be able to visit all the places we’ve been.
Di it now!
Dub and Rae Phillips, F124999
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Down To The Last Drop
Dear Editor:
The “Winterizing” article (November 2013, page 42) by Mark Quasius brought to mind a further refinement to the process. If you have access to a sloping driveway or driving area, this may help you drain more water from the motorhome.
I go through the normal draining process, and then I take my coach to a sloping area of the driveway with all drain valves open. I let it sit for two or three minutes on a side-to-side slope. I do this on both sides. Then, I let the coach sit for two to three minutes on a front-to-back/back-to-front slope. Repeat.
I have done this with different coaches and always get more water drained out. It’s not a whole lot, but often a half pint or so. Probably enough to have filled some low spot in the plumbing. Every little bit helps.
Jim Andress, F191514
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Note from Mark Quasius: Each owner may need to tweak the winterization process, depending on the motorhome. In some cases, if you do tilt the coach, it’s important to be sure this has not created any new water pockets. Thank you for your tip!
RV Armor
Dear Editor:
After reading the reply to Gordon Lockwood’s letter regarding new coating on a rubber roof (“House Calls,” December 2013, page 19), I did not let any grass grow under my wallet. I had been researching for several months regarding what to do about the roof on our new-to-us 29-foot 2001 Four Winds 5000. The unit has very low miles for its age, but I was very worried about the old roof and possible future leaks.
The roof was chalking badly but had no black, obviously worn areas. Four Winds/Thor told me to use only Dicor product on the roof and that coating it was my only option. The task of applying the product really did not appeal to me. The “House Calls” letter inspired me, and I visited the RV Armor Web site. Their representative, Hal Baxley, told me the price runs around $100 per linear foot. The EPDM coating that I had to do myself was going to be more than $700, and I would end up having to recoat in a couple years. And I am not getting any younger! Hal forwarded me the names of six owners who have had RV Armor put on their units. All had wonderful things to say about their fairly recent installation experiences.
The work can be done anywhere, and RV Armor representatives go to rallies and conventions to demonstrate and install their product. After weighing the cost of this product versus the lifetime guarantee and transferable warranty and “the last RV roof” claim, I took the leap and called Hal back with my deposit.
As luck would have it, the RV Armor corporate trainer would be near my home north of Houston and would be able to put the RV Armor on my Type C in my driveway in a week.
Rob and Bob, the installers, were awesome: on time, tidy, kind, and communicative. They did exactly what they said they would do. First, they cleaned the roof with their cleaner and removed the air conditioner and the fan vents. Then they applied two coats of red waterproofer, plus proprietary sealants and a gray product. On the second day, they reinstalled the air conditioner and the vent covers, and they applied the “pretty” white coat with thick-nap rollers. It does look fantastic.
I can definitely keep you posted regarding how this roof ages. I expect to travel in this motorhome for at least the next six years, so the confidence of no leaks and no recoating in a few years was an incredibly huge seller. I probably would not have spent this amount of money on a unit that I was not planning to keep and use for a while.
Lara Schwarz, F429483
Spring, Texas
Cummins Service Recommendation
Dear Editor:
While we were pulling out of Turtle Bayou RV Park (a great spot) in Wallisville, Texas, the serpentine belt came off the motorhome’s engine. This required a tow. Prompt, competent service via Coach-Net got us to Cummins Southern Plains in Houston (800-474-7421; 713-679-2220). I just cannot say enough about their service. They had 50-amp power for us, and Jamie Sapp worked us in the next day for what turned out to be an 8-hour project to change a $50 belt.
If you ever need diesel service, they will do you right.
Doug Freeman, F410602
Prescott Valley, Arizona
Eastern Area Rally Rendezvous
Editor’s note: The following letter was sent to us in both French and English, so we are publishing it in that manner. The third gentleman signing the letter, Jean Poirer, is the president of the Allo Quebec chapter.
Dear Editor:
Au dernier Great Eastern Area Rally de FMCA à York, Pennsylvanie du 9 au 13 Octobre dernier, le chapitre Allo Québec était représenté par deux de ses membres, soient M. Roland Giroux (Laurence) et M. Serge Trottier (Yolande).
Tout au cours du long weekend, les représentants de Allo Québec ont participé à plusieurs ateliers traitant de sujets variés tel que voyage en Alaska, entretien de VR, modifications intérieures de VR, les avantages d’être membre FMCA etc. Aussi ils ont bien apprécié leurs rencontres avec la haute direction de FMCA. Ils ont eu l’occasion de discuter avec le nouveau Président National M. Charlie Adcock et le Vice-président M. Jon Walker.
Serge et Roland ont beaucoup aimé la philosophie de M. Charlie Adcock et de M. Jon Walker qui désirent rencontrer le plus de membres possible lors de différents rally et en d’autres occasions. Leur approche est de favoriser les rencontres sociales entre les membres et surtout de mieux faire connaître les nombreux avantages d’être membre de FMCA.
Félicitations au président et aux membres de l’exécutif FMCA ainsi qu’à l’exécutif et aux nombreux bénévoles qui ont fait de GEAR 2013 un très beau succès.
Bonne journée,
Roland Giroux, F316525
Serge Trottier, F424186
Jean Poirer, F323975
At the Great Eastern Area Rally in York, Pennsylvania, from October 9 to 13, the Allo Québec chapter was represented by two of its members, Mr. Roland Giroux (Laurence) and Serge Trottier (Yolande). Throughout the long weekend, representatives of Allo Quebec participated in several workshops on various topics such as travel in Alaska, RV maintenance, RV interior modifications, the benefits of being a member of FMCA, etc.
Also they enjoyed their meetings with senior management of FMCA. They spoke with the new FMCA national president, Mr.Charlie Adcock, and vice president, Jon Walker.
Serge and Roland really liked the philosophy of Mr. Adcock and Mr. Walker, who wish to meet as many members as possible at rallies and other occasions. Their approach is to promote social encounters between members and to raise awareness of the benefits of being a member of FMCA.
Congratulations to the president and members of the FMCA Executive Board, as well as the executive and many volunteers who made GEAR 2013 a great success.
Good day,
Roland Giroux, F316525
Serge Trottier, F424186
Jean Poirer, F323975
A Spring Fest In West Texas
Dear Editor:
Motorhomers who are in western Texas in early spring, our best time of year, should be sure to include Fort Clark Springs in their plans. Located in Brackettville, Texas, Fort Clark Springs is a gated leisure community set on a decommissioned Army base. Stay for a day or for the entire week. A full-service RV park is on site, with plenty of other amenities to enjoy. The community has a freshwater pool, golf course, and hiking and biking trails.
Fort Clark Days will take place Saturday, March 1, through Sunday, March 9, 2014, rain or shine. Fort Clark Days (www.fortclarkdays.org) is a week of fun for the family as well as the community. The festival kicks off with a 5k run and concludes with a melodrama presented on the final Sunday afternoon in one of Fort Clark’s historic landmarks, The Post Theatre. A chili cook-off is held during the week, and a living history encampment, the main attraction, will be set up on Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8.
For more details, visit www.fortclarkdays.org or call (830) 563-2493.
Sue Martin
Fort Clark Days Cochair
E-Mail: Stansuemartin1@Earthlink.Net
Analog Gauge Repair
Dear Editor:
This note is for all who have an older, analog motorhome dashboard.
My coach is a 1965 MCI MC-5A, and the tachometer stopped working. I found the sending unit to be okay, so the tach head was in question. My MCI group suggested Dick’s Speed-O-Tach (1900 N. McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281; 480-994-9022; www.dicksspeedotach.com). Other shops said my tach could not be serviced, but Russ Kingdon at Dick’s Speed-O-Tach said to send it.
The day after the shop received the unit, it was open on the bench and being repaired. Three days later I had the tach head back in the dash counting rpm as it should.
Look them up; they can fix it!
Jonathan Fine, F298935
Sunrise, Florida
Corrections
The photo credit for the 2015 Monaco Dynasty on the January 2014 cover was incorrect. The photographer was Ty Adams.
The editors also omitted the following paragraphs from the “Other Discounts” section of the “Member Benefits” article published in the January 2014 issue (page 136).
FMCA participates in Costco Wholesale’s National Membership Programs. That means FMCA members who join the membership-only warehouse club as a new member can receive coupons for free products and other savings valued at more than $50. Including:
- Free Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken
- Free Kirkland Signature Spring Water or Drinking Water, 35 16.9-ounce
- Free Kirkland Signature 48-pack “AA” batteries — and more!
In addition, Costco shoppers save money on thousands of brand-name items daily, from fresh foods and health and beauty items to clothing and electronics.
Please go to www.fmca.com/join-family-motor-coach-association/member-benefits/3657-costco-wholesale-national-membership-program to print the application and view existing member offers.
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