Every motorhome is built with an emergency exit such as a window or door at the opposite end of the vehicle’s normal entry. This is required in the event that an emergency such as a fire exists in the area of the normal entry.
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A look at Family Motor Coach Association and the motorhome lifestyle through the years, as portrayed in past issues of Family Motor Coaching magazine.
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Lubrication And Solar Charging
Dear RV Doctor:
I’m looking for the name of a lubricant that won't attract dust. Also, how do I determine whether the solar panels on my motorhome roof are working and whether there is a charge controller? -
The following companies have recalls detailed in this month's Recall Corner: Daimler Trucks North America (Freightliner Custom Chassis), Prevost Car Inc., Thor Industries Inc. (Airstream), and Winnebago Industries Inc.
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V-10 Temperature
We purchased our 2008 Itasca 32H Sunrise in September 2007. It is built on a 2007 Ford chassis with a V-10 engine, and it has been driven 47,800 miles. On five different occasions during the past 12 months, the water temperature gauge has risen toward or into the red zone.
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The View From A Bicycle
Dear Editor:
I applaud the “Sharing the Road” article in the October 2012 Family Motor Coaching (page 54). My first RV had two wheels — a bicycle. I toured with a tent, sleeping bag, and clothes. Among my travels was a trek 4,200 miles from Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine. Most nights were spent in campgrounds. -
February is National Heart Month in the United States. With FMCA members on the road to exciting destinations across this continent, we may wish to take a moment to reconsider the familiar quip that the best thing our spouse makes for dinner is reservations at a restaurant. The number-one killer among adults is cardiovascular disease.
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The sound of the wind rushing past the front of the motorhome changes every now and then as the direction of the coach changes; the cruise control is set to the “sweet spot” speed for our 500-horsepower Cummins engine, where the fuel economy is 8.1 miles per gallon.
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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.
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Mike Wendland shares his list of RV-related goals for the new year.
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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.
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Pet Life Jacket
The Outward Hound Life Jacket from The Kyjen Company will keep your dog safe whenever it’s around bodies of water.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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? -
The following companies have recalls detailed in this month's Recall Corner: Fleetwood RV Inc., Thor Motor Coach, and Tiffin Motorhomes Inc.
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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.
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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. -
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Replacing the coolant at recommended intervals and maintaining the system helps to ensure trouble-free travel.
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“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.
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“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.”
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Updated information regarding the many benefits and services available to members of Family Motor Coach Association.
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A look at Family Motor Coach Association and the motorhome lifestyle through the years, as portrayed in past issues of Family Motor Coaching magazine.
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This small Hill Country town attracts visitors with live music and a laid-back atmosphere.
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FMCA’s 87th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Indianapolis, Indiana, offered attendees the perfect mix of things to see and do, while allowing ample opportunities for fun and fellowship with friends.
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Branson, Missouri, brings music to mind. And no wonder! The "Live Music Show Capital of the World" boasts more than 30 state-of-the-art theaters offering more than 100 shows brimming with country, gospel, pop, and rock music.
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A new RV manufacturing trend seems to be motorhomes that fit in the 33-foot to 34-foot length range with a sticker price below $200,000. Thor Motor Coach brings the Palazzo right into this market niche. It appears that the company’s designers have done their homework, with another excellent addition to their diesel lineup.
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A motorhome chassis contains hundreds of moving pieces. The engine, transmission, axles, and other parts that help to propel these large vehicles down the road all require lubrication to keep everything in working order. Each component has its own unique job to perform, and the lubrication required to facilitate its operation varies greatly.
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If you use your motorhome to travel to sporting events, where do you go and what activities do you enjoy once you get there?
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In 1513 Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida while searching for the legendary Fountain of Youth. In 2013 the state will observe its rich Spanish heritage and cultural diversity during a celebration titled Viva Florida 500.
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I have to admit, I had my doubts about a life of RVing in a Type B motorhome.I was sure it would be fine for weekend getaways, but as the Open Mike tour and my Roadtreking.com blog took off and it became apparent that we were going to be traveling a lot more than I first planned, we secretly wondered whether the 22-foot Roadtrek RS-Adventurous we bought would be big enough.
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Winnebago Industries Resurrects Minnie Winnie
Winnebago Industries Inc., based in Forest City, Iowa, has reintroduced the iconic Winnebago Minnie Winnie name with the launch of a new value-priced Type C product line that has a targeted manufacturer’s suggested retail price starting at approximately $60,000.
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Hand Lotion
Participating in outdoor activities during the cold winter months can be harsh on your hands. Skin Therapy Cream from Outdoor Hands LLC is said to prevent and provide relief for dry, cracked skin.
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Each year, Achievers International, an FMCA chapter that was established in 1986 for motorhomers with physical disabilities, designates a charitable organization to help. Typically, the chosen charity is based in the host city for FMCA’s Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase event.
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We are the proud owners of a classic GMC motorhome. These RVs were built between 1973 and 1978 by General Motors Corporation. On Memorial Day weekend earlier this year, we had hundreds of people touring our motorhome at a car show.
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Imagine, 45 years ago, inviting every “house car” or motorhome owner you could locate in the Denver, Colorado, area to your home for a get-together to share the passion for camping in a house on wheels. Howard and Jerre Ferrin of Golden, Colorado, did just that, creating a spark on July 23, 1966 . . .
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Virginia “Ginny” Smith, L71987, wife of Dan Smith, national vice president, Rocky Mountain Area, from 1989-1992, died on July 27, 2012, in Mesa, Arizona. She was 91.
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Battery Filling
RV batteries need regular service, and sometimes they are mounted in a location that makes it difficult to see into the cells to determine whether they need water. For years, I used a flashlight and a mirror attached to a stick, which wasn’t easy to do.
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Patch, Repair, Or Replace?
Dear RV Doctor:
We own a 1999 National RV Tropi-Cal motorhome. The gray water tank leaks when it reaches about two-thirds full. The tank was installed on the chassis over the gas tank. The floor and bathtub were then installed over the water tank. Because of this installation, there is no way to get to the gray water tank to repair it.