A Fine FMCAssist
This past October, while visiting in Rhode Island and preparing for our return to our permanent residence in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, my wife was hospitalized in Boston for a medical condition that required multiple infusions and close medical supervision, and multiple physicians and nursing appointments in Boston for a three- to four-month period. Driving or flying to Fort Myers Beach was not recommended by her team of doctors, due to a high risk of infection.
A major issue for me was how to remain in the Boston area for her medical treatments and have the motorhome returned to Fort Myers Beach. I remembered the FMCAssist Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance Program provided by FMCA through Seven Corners. Included in the FMCAssist program is a vehicle return benefit arranged and paid by Seven Corners if a member is hospitalized and unable to travel upon release from the hospital.
I contacted Seven Corners and was told the benefit included flying my wife and me to Fort Myers upon notification that she is medically fit to fly. My point of contact at Seven Corners was David Shelton. I cannot express in words how accommodating and understanding David was. He convinced me not to worry about returning the motorhome, as Seven Corners would arrange for it to be transported, and to focus my attention on my wife’s medical needs and her well-being.
The motorhome was picked up within two days and delivered to Fort Myers Beach in three days. Before departing, the Horizon Transport driver told me not to worry and assured me that he would deliver it safe and sound, which he did. After the driver departed Boston, I reviewed the invoice and was moved by a note at the bottom from Horizon Transport to the driver: “This is a medical situation and driver must be sensitive to current customer conditions.”
I am sharing my experience with as many RV owners as I can and will recommend they join FMCA if they are not already members.
Jim Vickers, F357890
Fort Myers, Florida
Not All Water Systems Winterized With Air
I’m woefully behind in my reading, so I just finished reading the “Tech Talk” column in the March 2018 issue. Gary Bunzer mentions winterizing a water system using an air blowout. Given the generic nature of two of your replies there, I feel compelled to remind folks that with a hydronic system such as Aqua-Hot or Oasis, the hot water portion, at least, should never depend on air alone.
The Aqua-Hot manual notes that air alone cannot sufficiently displace all the water in the intricate twists and turns inside the Aqua-Hot unit, and so recommends that RV antifreeze be used to avoid an expensive repair or replacement. In addition, if you have a water manifold, such as I had on a 2007 Beaver motorhome, heed my $400-plus lesson: Even the tiniest bit of water left in there can crack places in the manifold — and it makes a big leak. So, it’s not “one size fits all.”
Larry Nussbaumer, F417974
Westminster, Colorado
Photo Sparks Memories
You ran a wonderful picture of Herbert Lake in Alberta, Canada, in the September 2018 issue (“Rear View,” page 120). It is a special place for me in that my father was named Herbert and we stopped to visit the lake in August 1953 on a motor trip that included driving up the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper and then on to Edmonton and south through Calgary to the United States border.
About four days after seeing the lake, we stayed in Polson, Montana, and early in the evening my father suffered a heart attack and passed away.
My wife, Margaret, was my girlfriend in those days and was traveling with us. We celebrated our 61st wedding anniversary this past August, and we still discuss that trip when reminiscing about what we have done and seen in our lives together.
We sold our motorhome this past February. From 1999 through 2017 we visited 49 states, 10 provinces, and the Yukon Territory! We are now FMCA Associate members, but we attended many rallies and conventions (83 in total) and miss the many friends that we made during those wonderful years.
Rod & Margaret Keech, A263637
Auburn, Indiana
More Saturated Situations
Regarding the letter from Tom LaTour, F465326, called “Saturated Storage” (November 2018 “Tech Talk,” page 14):
I had the same experience with my 2017 Thor Aria, a 40-foot diesel pusher. Whenever I traveled through any kind of rain, I would see the water and road grime accumulate in the bay that is located directly behind the front tires. (The small one behind the steps on the passenger side is not affected.)
The dealership was unable to isolate the cause, but I feel I have determined where it’s coming from. Water is thrown from the tires and is seeping through a spot where the rail in the chassis runs through the top of the storage bays.
I crawled underneath the coach and found material tacked on to the rail from the factory to prevent water from entering the storage area, but it’s obviously not sealed well enough to prevent moisture from running down inside the front wall and accumulating on the bay floor. It was very hard to find evidence, but with a bright flashlight, I was able to see it.
I am pleased to see that you recommended a product — EternaBond — that will adhere to the factory-installed shield. I am hoping that I can cover the faulty areas and eliminate this annoying and mildew-causing problem. I couldn’t think of anything I could use.
Les Vance, F472240
Fort Worth, Texas
I had the same issue with my Thor Tuscany motorhome. When the leak first occurred, I drove back to the Thor factory in Indiana. They told me that the factory seals had apparently failed. I paid them $200 or so to install more rugged seals. I decided to pay the $200 charge, as I was just happy to discover the source of the problem and get it fixed.
A year later, I noticed that some of my basement compartment flooring was seriously warping as the moisture finally dried out from all that water. I immediately wrote Thor and demanded they repair or replace all my warped flooring. After many phone conversations and emails, the company agreed to replace all my damaged flooring, at their expense.
Mr. LaTour needs to keep an eye on his flooring to ensure it does not warp.
Mike Stewart, F377904
Moravia, New York
Before doing extensive research and repair, I’d suggest there likely is another source of the dirty water. We have owned two Type A Winnebago units, and both experienced similar problems. The source of the water was from the rear tires. As they rotated forward, they picked up water and dirt and pumped it through a seam in front of the tire on the rear of the last storage bay ahead of the tire. This seam was easily sealed with marine-grade caulk, and the problem was solved. It does not take much of an opening to get enough water and dirt to flood the underneath areas.
Ric Kessler, F475647
Ormond Beach, Florida
More About George Washington
Kathleen Walls’ article “Memorials To History” (November 2018, page 55) starts with Fort Edwards (in what is now West Virginia) and mentions that “George Washington, then a young colonel in the Virginia militia, learned battle skills in this area during the French and Indian War.” We beg to differ, because the battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening of the French and Indian War.
We were visiting my great-grandpa’s grave in Star Junction, Pennsylvania, and found a brochure about Fort Necessity National Battlefield, located in Farmington, Pennsylvania, on U.S. Highway 40. We stopped and were there for 2 1/2 hours. What a history lesson.
So, Ms. Walls didn’t give the full story. Go visit Fort Necessity and discover all the great history info, if you’re history buffs like we are. See www.nps.gov/fone or call the fort at (724) 329-5512 for more information.
Bob & Cindy Crother, F463212
Noblesville, Indiana