More Praise For FMCAssist
Dear Editor:
I want to praise FMCA for furnishing the FMCAssist Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance Program for members. We read the letters in the magazine, but figured we would never need it, right? Wrong. Something can happen to any one of us, and it did happen to my wife, Lee. On August 11, 2016, she suffered a pulmonary embolism during a Hi Plains chapter rally in South Fork, Colorado, and was taken to Del Norte, Colorado, by ambulance.
I called FMCAssist before she was airlifted to Pueblo, Colorado. I told the case manager at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo about this benefit, and when Lee could be moved, FMCAssist arranged a Learjet to take us to Amarillo, Texas. No hassle, no more calls; they took care of everything. Two flight nurses accompanied her to the hospital bed in Amarillo.
Lee passed away on October 3, but I am so thankful we had this coverage. It really takes a lot of problems away from the stricken, and the family.
I am so proud of my FMCA family, and proud to be an active member.
Van Bradford, F191778
Gruver, Texas
Invitation From The Travlin Texans
Dear Editor:
I’m the president of the Travlin Texans chapter. Our chapter would like to expand its membership by attracting new members or by affiliating with one or more FMCA chapters for joint rallies.
What we like to do: Our chapter likes to socialize, play games such as Hand and Foot, Pegs and Jokers, various games of dominoes, etc. We normally prepare some meals in the rally room and also eat out as a group. In addition, we like to visit attractions near the rally park.
Where we meet: Our chapter membership is drawn from central Texas, with most members from the Houston, Austin, and Dallas regions. We generally try to meet in central Texas and to vary the rally locations to make sure that travel time for all members averages out over a year.
Combining chapters: We would like to have joint rallies with interested FMCA chapters. After several successful joint rallies, a decision could be made to formally combine chapters or just continue joint rallies. We would be flexible with respect to how often we meet, when we meet, etc., in order to facilitate joint rallies with other chapters.
New members: Anyone interested in joining our chapter is invited to attend a rally to meet us. Our first three rallies in 2017 are in Terrell, March 7-10; in Fredericksburg, April 4-7; and in Spring, May 16-19.
We invite individual FMCA members to consider joining our chapter and any FMCA chapter near the central Texas area to consider holding joint rallies with us. Perhaps we can modify currently scheduled rally dates to facilitate a joint rally.
Contact me, Steve Gallun, by email at gallun@gallun.net, or call me at (512) 970-4763 for more information.
Steven Gallun, F255103
President, Travlin Texans
Dripping Springs, Texas
Michelin Success
Dear Editor:
Buying new tires for my motorhome through the FMCA Michelin Advantage Program was the simplest process I have ever used to make this kind of purchase. From FMCA and Michelin to Fleet Tire in Knoxville, Tennessee, this worked EXACTLY as described. I applaud FMCA for making the purchase totally seamless.
Thank you.
Brad Taylor, F460121
Kingston, Tennessee
Going The Extra Miles
Dear Editor:
On Thursday, October 6, 2016, we evacuated our central Florida home, which was being threatened by Hurricane Matthew. With an undetermined destination, we drove our motorhome northwest and ended up spending the night in Dothan, Alabama. The next morning, engine coolant greeted us on the ground at the rear of our diesel coach. Our second phone call was to Four Star Freightliner in Dothan.
We arrived there within 30 minutes. They assessed the situation and found that the water pump was bad, but the repair part was two hours away at another dealer. Sending a technician to pick up the part was extremely expensive, and no rental cars were available in the Dothan area for us to pick up the part ourselves. (We had not towed our car on this trip.) Just when we thought Monday looked like the earliest that the repair could be completed, we learned that the Dothan shop’s parts manager had made arrangements with the parts manager at the other dealership to meet halfway so we could get the part. We were back on the road by 3:30 that same afternoon!
We appreciate all of the staff members we dealt with. This was truly honesty and integrity at its best!
If you are ever in need of RV assistance, be sure to stop at Four Star Freightliner (1507 Reeves St., Dothan, AL 36303; 334-793-4455, 800-239-8785; www.fourstarfreightliner.com). They’ll treat you right, and maybe they’ll be able to “pull the rabbit out of the hat” like they did for us.
Jeff & Pam Whittington, F291389
Davenport, Florida
Remembering Beaver Coach
Dear Editor:
Are Beaver coaches still being manufactured? In my opinion, they were some of the nicest, most beautiful coaches made. We had a 1997 Beaver for five wonderful years and sold it in 2002. Wish we still had it.
Richard Mullins, F170112
Via Email
Editor’s note: The Beaver Marquis and other Beaver motorhomes are not currently being produced. The Beaver brand has had several owners since Beaver Motor Coach was established in the mid-1980s. Parent companies have included Monaco, Navistar, and REV RV Group. REV currently produces Fleetwood, Holiday Rambler, Monaco, and American Coach motorhomes; REV bought the Beaver name from Monaco along with other Monaco and Holiday Rambler brands, but didn’t utilize it.
In early 2016, Beaver’s assets, including the name, intellectual property, and right to build, were purchased from REV RV Group by Ty Kelly, owner of Beaver Coach Sales and Service in Bend, Oregon — the same city where Beaver Motor Coach got its start. Mr. Kelly has owned the dealership since 2001.
“We don’t have immediate plans to go into production in any way, but at some point, absolutely. That’s been my goal forever,” he said. “We’re just taking it slow, (seeing) what happens with the economy. But we definitely at some point have plans to do something. And we intend to have every bit the quality of coach that Beaver always had.”
Electrical Short Fixed In Short Order
Dear Editor:
While two starting batteries were being installed in my motorhome, a wiring harness accidentally struck a battery terminal, which shorted some of the engine electronics and prevented the coach from starting. The coach spent several days at a repair shop, but technicians were not able to resolve the problem.
I called Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison in Fort Myers for assistance and had the coach towed to them on a Friday afternoon. Monday morning, they called and said the coach was repaired. Service manager Randy Brooks was most helpful and straightforward, and the tech who ran the diagnostics, Michael Keith, has 20 years of experience with Allison transmissions. He said a fuse was blown on the CPU controls. A $1.79 part and less than an hour’s time were all they needed.
I recommend Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison, 2305 Rockfill Road, Fort Myers, FL 33916; (888) 812-4440, (239) 332-3100; www.fdda.com.
William G. Sullivan, F421700
Punta Gorda, Florida
Florida RV Shop Helps Far And Wide
Dear Editor:
I want to express my sincere gratitude for the technical and logistical assistance I received from Independence RV in Winter Garden, Florida, while I was on a trip through Canada and Alaska, June-August, 2016.
I have a 2006 Newmar Dutch Star, and my traveling companions have a 2003 Newmar Kountry Star diesel pusher. I had a problem with my leveling jacks, and Independence RV steered me in the right direction. I was able to fix the problem after ordering a display from HWH. I cannot say enough good about the customer service I received. Chris, Zach, and Justin are extremely knowledgeable and they made sure I got the correct parts. They also sent a slideout controller for my friends’ Kountry Star, which fixed their problem. And when they had an AC power issue, Independence expeditiously sent a transfer switch to us in Alaska. The service folks, Don, Andy, and Paul, have helped me with a slideout issue as well.
You can always call Independence RV and get help no matter what the problem (877-281-8452; 407-877-7878; www.independencerv.com). Even though I live in Jacksonville, Florida, where there is a local dealer, I choose to go 150 miles south to Independence RV for any service I need. Quite simply, I trust them. I encourage others to benefit from their expertise and outstanding service.
Steve Colt, F353322
Orange Park, Florida
Ready And Waiting To Help
Dear Editor:
While traveling recently in northern Arkansas, my motorhome’s engine began having problems and eventually quit. An RV dealer in Hardy, Arkansas, referred me to Joe’s RV in Bono, Arkansas, 45 miles away. The RV was towed to Joe’s and arrived at 9:00 p.m.
Joe was waiting for us — his business closes at 5:00 p.m. — and he put the coach in a bay that he had cleared for us.
The next morning he put all of his techs on our coach, and they found that the alternator was not putting out enough current and the battery had a bad cell. After the battery and alternator were replaced, everything worked fine. Before we departed the next day, Joe checked that the new alternator was putting out the proper current and that the battery was fully charged.
If you are having motorhome problems when you are in northern Arkansas, contact Joe’s RV (215 Harry Drive, Bono, AR 72416; 870-932-1036). You will be pleased with his service.
Herb Currie, F144858s
Bryan, Texas
Repairs “Fit In” And Done
Dear Editor:
This summer we took a three-month trip across the country and back in our motorhome. On our way from California to Utah, the RV’s “check engine” light started coming on consistently. In the beginning of our three-night stay in Salt Lake City, we inquired at a local diesel repair shop, Auto-Motion, about performing a diagnostic test on our engine. They had a week-and-a-half backup in their schedule but agreed to try to fit us in the morning of our departure.
We arrived at the shop at 8:00 a.m. and did not have to wait long before they performed the test, which turned out to be inconclusive. Because they were already booked with jobs for the day, they suggested that we give them time to investigate the issue between jobs while we took our car to leisurely spend the day. When we returned at the designated time, they had found the problem: dirty fuel filters. They had us on our way before the end of the day.
We truly appreciated that they took the time so that we could continue without delay. The “check engine” light never came on again.
If you find yourself in the Salt Lake City area and in need of repairs, we highly recommend Auto-Motion (8054 S. State St., Midvale, UT 84047; 801-561-3601; www.automotionutah.com).
Dave & Wanda Fizer, F429547
Morgantown, West Virginia