Blowout
I am writing to ask your advice about an accident I had June 7, 2009. I purchased my first motorhome, a 2004 40-foot Holiday Rambler Imperial, in April 2009 and used it on a couple of trips for about 3,000 miles. At the time of the accident, it had approximately 56,000 miles on it.
Prior to finalizing the sale of its motorhome division in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. announced NHTSA recall 09V237000, which affects 2005 and 2006 model year Bounder 35E Type A motorhomes manufactured from May 14, 2004, to March 27, 2006.
All Cracked Up
Dear RV Doctor:
My living room window was broken when our deck table fell through it during a storm. Do you have to take the whole window out to fix it? It was the bottom portion of the window that broke.
Awning Elevation
To keep rain from accumulating on my motorhome’s slideout awnings, I decided to blow things up. That is, I began using inflatable rafts.
Auto aromatherapy
According to product literature, the Karoma line of auto aromatherapy diffusers provides a variety of mood-enhancing scents that will transform your driving routine into a rejuvenating experience.
Fleetwood Names Indiana New Headquarters, Revamps Web Site
In July 2009, Fleetwood Enterprises’ motorhome division and Goldshield Fiberglass operation were purchased by private-equity firm American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV LP. On August 19, 2009, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from Fleetwood RV Inc. to celebrate the company’s plant reopening in Decatur, Indiana.
Greetings, FMCA friends. I would like to focus this month’s column on two important items. The first relates to the 65 percent of our Family Motor Coach Association members who do not belong to chapters. Chapter membership has its own rewards and benefits, just like your membership in the association.
At the July Governing Board meeting held during FMCA’s 82nd International Convention in Bowling Green, Ohio, some dynamic changes to the structure and opportunities of chapters were made.
That is how we met Ed and Dorothy Casada, L1404, of Highland, Indiana. The Casadas, both 85, have been members of FMCA for 42 years, having joined in March 1967. They had purchased their first motorhome, a 27-foot Dodge, a year earlier, and some friends recommended that they join FMCA.
Some small towns in the Western United States became more captivating when their residents left. We call them ghost towns. Even though some brave souls still live in these desolate towns, many are completely deserted, while others have been turned into tourist attractions.Â
More than 1,300 species of mistletoe have been identified worldwide, and although some live on only one type of plant, many are less particular. But they all grow on the branches of trees or shrubs and can’t survive on their own.
These easy, tasty recipes will bring “back home again in Indiana†nostalgia to your next motorhome trip.Â
Last year, an article on FMCA.com and in Family Motor Coaching magazine (“A Caveat For Consignment Sellers,†August 2008) reported that typical RV insurance policies contain an exclusion pertaining to motorhomes placed on a consignment lot.
Sitting here in Essex Junction, Vermont, writing this column and watching FMCA members enjoying another great Northeast Area Rally brings to mind what we are all about. We are about each other.Â
As you are traveling, or possibly as you are planning your travels, you can contact any of these identified members for assistance and support while you are on the road. I have heard wonderful stories of individuals who have taken these members up on their offers and have found the true meaning of family.
More than a year in advance, several members from The Dolphins chapter gathered to begin planning the group’s 20th anniversary rally. The team set a goal to make the rally a memorable event, and all indications are that the goal was achieved.
Before jumping in headfirst and suffering the consequences, here are several tips and cautions to help you separate real work-at-home opportunities from pie-in-the-sky scams.
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Motorhomes are built with numerous safety features and protection devices designed to keep the occupants and the vehicle secure. However, if you are unfamiliar with these safeguards and how they work, they can lead to quite a bit of frustration.
If you haven’t yet brought your children or grandchildren to an FMCA international convention, and, specifically, to participate in FMCA’s convention Youth Program, you don’t know what you are missing.
In mid-July, FMCA members enrolled in college. They spent hours in class, relaxed in the student union, participated in extracurricular events on campus, and gathered at parties and other social hours. This special session was termed the “Bowling Green Bash,†FMCA’s 82nd International Convention…
Tiffin Motorhomes puts bunk beds, four slideouts, and pass-through basement storage into this entry-level rear-engine diesel model.
There isn't much you can do to change the price of fuel, but there are things you can do to coax more mileage out of each gallon of fuel you pump into your motorhome. By implementing one or more of the fuel-saving ideas below, you can make your fill-ups last longer, extend your travel plans, and save money.
According to the American Pain Foundation, more than 26 million Americans between the ages of 26 and 64 experience frequent back pain. Couple a sensitive back with a day seated in a motorhome, and back pain can really prevent you from enjoying your travels.
If you’re intrigued by American history, take time to explore the village of Sandwich, Massachusetts, one of the most picturesque and historic villages in the land of the Pilgrims.
Norcold Recall Clarification
The “Recall Corner†column in the July 2009 issue (page 20) included information regarding two Norcold refrigerator recalls. Both involve the cooling units.Â
Toilet Paper
We used the “right brand†of toilet paper for quite a while, but then something happened and apparently we switched brands. That did not sit well in the black water holding tank. So, can you tell us what the right brand of toilet paper is?
Newmar Corporation has announced NHTSA recall 09V260000, which affects 2008 Kountry Star diesel pusher; 2008 and 2009 All-Star mid-engine and Ventana diesel pusher; and 2009 and 2010 Dutch Star diesel pusher motorhomes manufactured from April 16, 2007, to April 22, 2009.
Rubber Or Wax
Dear RV Doctor:
I am replacing the closet flange seal under the toilet in my coach. I need to know how the seal goes in. Does it sit in the flange ring on the floor? Or do you first fit it around the toilet horn? The old seal was just sitting on top of the floor. Is that the right way to install it?
Bulb-Changing Tool
My motorhome has very small halogen light fixtures, and my fingers are too big to remove the bulbs.Â
All-purpose knife
The new 460 Gamut knife from Buck Knives is a versatile knife that has myriad uses.
The Gamut may look like an 8 1/2-inch fixed-blade knife, but the partially serrated 3 7/8-inch clip blade folds into a compact 4 5/8-inch size that’s easy for carrying in its nylon sheath.
Pleasure-Way Passes Production Milestone
Pleasure-Way Industries, based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, announced the completion of its 10,000th motorhome on May 27, 2009.
The theme for the 2009 Great Lakes Area Spring Spree, also known as the G.L.A.S.S. Rally, held May 21 through 25 at the Berrien County Youth Fairground in Berrien Springs, Michigan, was “Let’s Race In Time at G.L.A.S.S. 2009.â€
Following is an update about Family Motor Coach Association and activities that have been occurring related to its operation since we last met. As of June 30, 2009, FMCA’s active membership count was 102,511 families, and the last membership number assigned was F408890.
Thank you for your trust and confidence in electing me as FMCA’s new national president. I appreciate having the opportunity to serve you for the next two years. We face many challenges in the immediate future; however, I don’t believe the challenges are so large that we, as a strong association, cannot overcome.
We often beat the heat on a sunny day under a shady tree next to a small pond or a meandering stream. As we relax, we get to watch the antics of one of the oldest insect species living today — the dragonfly.
{loadposition DisplayAds} Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) members make purchases throughout the year, and they consistently rely on Family Motor Coaching magazine when making those decisions. Family Motor Coaching readers…
A discussion covering the operation and troubleshooting of ice makers — both stand-alone units and those built into absorption refrigerators.
The Konigseders’ love for the RV lifestyle then led them to acquire an old 1954 Greyhound GM 4104 bus chassis (with 2 million miles on it) from Greyhound and convert it into a family motor coach in 1968. The conversion took a year to complete, and Frank Jr. candidly admits that it proved to be an adventure.
Make a family trip this summer to Toronto, and bring the entire crew. Here’s a glimpse of attractions to please everyone from 8 to 80.
Try the word search, word scrambler, picture identification challenge and more. Two pages of fun … Kids’ Section PDF
Fix that leaky water line without completely removing the refrigerator by following the instructions in this do-it-yourself project.
Multiple Pump Switches
Dear RV Doctor:
I need to add a third water pump switch in the toilet area of my RV. As of now I have a three-way switch on the master control panel and another three-way switch in the outside plumbing compartment.
It is hard to believe my two-year term as FMCA’s national president is already concluding. These last two years have passed so quickly, and I can honestly say I am sad to see them come to an end. I have such fond memories and will always look upon this as a special time.
As members know, FMCA is a wonderful organization to belong to. It enables us to better enjoy and utilize our motorhomes; helps us to learn more about them; and provides a means for us to meet other folks who are as keen on RVing as we are.