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As full-time volunteers, we generally spend a month or more in one location, so we prefer to have our awning arms extended straight down to the ground instead of attached to the motorhome. Often, our campsite has a patio, requiring us to use buckets filled with sand, dirt, or gravel as anchors to hold the awning arms in place, as well as the tie-down straps.
So we obtained two white five-gallon frosting buckets for free from a supermarket bakery, decorated them with decals we had from years ago, and “planted” bunches of artificial flowers in them once they were filled.
Editor’s note: During inclement weather, awnings should always be stowed.
Mike & Shar Rau, F273721
Emery, South Dakota

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Eliminating Black Streaks
Stopping windshield streaks with self-adhesive “J” stripTo keep roof water from running down onto the windshield and causing black streaks, purchase a 10-foot piece of “J” strip with a self-adhesive back from a source such as Camping World.

The Skooba Skin from RoadWired is a padded laptop sleeve that quickly converts into a carrying case. The two-in-one bag provides protection for the computer when it’s placed inside another bag or briefcase, or as a stand-alone carrying case.
When a computer is placed in the Skooba Skin’s sleeve, the mirror-image flaps overlap one another — one slides inside the case, the other wraps over the top — and the outer flap is secured via hook-and-loop fastening material.

Monaco Coach Corporation has introduced the newly designed 2007 Monaco Dynasty. One of the most striking additions to the 2007 Dynasty line is the availability of the PanaSuite full-wall slideout in the 43-foot Palace III floor plan.

California State Route 74 — also referred to as the Ortega Highway — runs east from San Juan Capistrano in the southern part of the state. The road’s winding, climbing lanes present a broad spectrum of driving challenges that are perfect for testing the road manners and driving behavior of any vehicle.

Daniel Boone didn’t actually blaze the trail that bears his name; American Indians had used the trail for commerce and raids since before Christopher Columbus landed in America. Boone wasn’t even the earliest non-native American to make the trek.

At this time of year, many of us are traveling in climates where we depend on our RV air conditioners to keep us cool and comfortable. Several steps can be taken to determine whether an RV air conditioner is delivering the appropriate amount of cold air.

On July 17, 1979, on Mount Pinos near Frazier Park, California, we stood by the side of a winding road, peering through our binoculars in total silence. What do you say when you are viewing one of the last survivors of a species, knowing that an ongoing argument would determine its continued existence or extinction?
We had been given directions to this spot from birding friends we had met the previous year, but we knew our experience was a matter of luck rather than skill.

These concoctions are surefire hits for summertime ease. Get your recipe act together and take it on the road!

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Perfect Bran Muffins
Thanks to Marjorie Grubka, F283339, for this practical, delectable recipe.

When a hospital permits RV parking in one of its lots, a difficult medical situation becomes much easier for RVers with medical emergencies or in need of specialized treatment, especially full-timers. Here are firsthand experiences from several FMCA members.
“My husband had cardiac arrest and subsequently bypass surgery while we were on a motorhome trip in Oregon,” said Jeannie Hinton-Gregerson, F175698.

This month the Roll-N-Wheels chapter members are celebrating the group’s 25th anniversary. It’s the largest predominantly African-American chapter of FMCA.
The Roll-N-Wheels chapter was formed from several previous camping clubs dating back to the early 1950s, Offwego and Roaming Homes.

Try looking at an FMCA convention through a child’s eyes. Can you shop for a new motorhome? Not on your allowance.

Dear RV Doctor:
Q: I have an older (1976) RV I am trying to fix up. I would like to know whether it is advisable to use 3/8-inch copper tubing for my stove/oven instead of 1/2-inch.

Q: I’ve been a member of FMCA since the late 1960s, and this is the first time I’ve contacted “Tech Talk.” I am having a problem finding service for my Mountain Tamer, which is an exhaust brake retarder for gasoline engines. The unit was manufactured by Decelomatic Corp.

Dear Editor:
I read each issue cover to cover and thoroughly enjoy the articles and “Tech & Travel Tips.” In the June 2006 issue you have an article about Charlotte/Concord, North Carolina (page 84). Being a native of Charlotte, I read the article with great interest.

In FMCA’s most recent membership survey, Family Motor Coaching magazine once again was ranked first in importance among FMCA member benefits. Recently I identified the need for FMCA members to assist in the recruitment of new members, and what better way to make that happen than by introducing nonmember motorhome owners to this valuable source of information.

If it seems as though FMCA’s president spends a lot of time on the road, you’re right. Much of it is for convention-related business.

Glenn Troyer said he had never worked on an RV production line when he made the bold decision to form his own fifth-wheel travel trailer manufacturing firm. With RV production expert Paul Miller, Mr.

With the rising prices of fuel, food, and RV site rentals, it’s easy to find yourself arriving at a vacation destination and realizing you may not be able to do as much as you’d planned. Well, there’s good news.

America’s love for the automobile has no bounds. For more than a century it has been a national passion.

Every time I remove the battery from my cell phone I break a fingernail or need to find something thin to pry it out. I now use a short length of ¼-inch ribbon that I place in the battery well before inserting the battery on top, allowing the two ends of the ribbon to extend out the sides.

R3 wireless backup camera systemRoadmaster USA Corp. has introduced the VR3 wireless backup camera system to provide drivers with an unobstructed view of the area behind their motorhome when backing.
The VR3 camera lens bolts to the vehicle’s rear license plate and has a 110-degree horizontal viewing area and an 80-degree vertical viewing area for complete coverage behind the motorhome.

Creative Mobile Interiors, C9705, based in Columbus, Ohio, recently finished restoring a major piece of music memorabilia when it returned the MCI tour bus that carried legend Johnny Cash and his band from 1979 to 2003 to its original condition.
The bus, known as “JC Unit 1,” was purchased by vintage coach collector Dave Wright of Pinehurst, North Carolina, in late November 2005, and he drove it directly to CMI for restoration. “I would not entrust this job to anyone else,” Mr.

“You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression,” an old saw advises, and the people at Travel Supreme Inc. have taken this advice to heart.

If you’re leery of spiders, you’re in good company. It’s such a common complaint, it has its own name: arachnophobia.

The Aqua Saver from PJB Company is so named because it can save a great amount of water during the process of flushing and cleaning fresh-water tanks on motorhomes and boats. However, after installing and using an Aqua Saver on our coach, I think it also could be called “Time Saver,” “Work Saver,” and even “RV Antifreeze Saver.”
The Aqua Saver is a port that provides a 5.5-inch opening in an RV’s fresh-water tank and thereby allows access to the inside of the tank.

When we write a tips column, we like to test each idea before including it. This one was no exception.

Cooking is more than just a necessity when kids are along for the ride. Youngsters can learn about nutrition, fuel and water conservation, sanitation, and manners.

Whether you travel with children full-time or have kids on board only occasionally, here are ways to make motorhome adventures safer and more fun for adults and youngsters alike.

• Taking the children out on the water? If you don’t have the right size life vests available on board for youngsters, you may be able to borrow some for free thanks to the Life Jacket Loaner Program, which is sponsored by the Boat U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water.
  

RV parking issues keep popping up in Southern California. But RVers spotted one in British Columbia, Canada, and quickly batted it down …
Prince George, British Columbia, overnight parking
City Council on April 24 passed a motion to ticket retailers who allow RVers to park overnight on their lots.

The Anasazi chapter, founded in 1997, is made up of FMCA members from the Phoenix, Arizona, metro area and surrounding cities. Named after the Anasazi people who once inhabited Arizona, the chapter currently boasts 30 member families (coaches), the maximum allowed by the chapter.
This chapter prides itself in having active members.

San Diego, California, is reputed to have the most perfect climate in the United States. Fortunately, the area lived up to its reputation March 24 through 26, 2006, when 10 family members of FMCA’s Golden Spike chapter, along with one guest family, gathered at the Chula Vista RV Resort, C2744, for their big spring adventure.

Dear RV Doctor:
I have an older Hydro-Flame 19,000-Btu furnace; the serial number is 0066957. The thermostat is a Robertshaw CM60.

Q: I had the same problem described in the “Triton Starter Problems” letter that was published in the February 2006 issue of FMC (page 20). I had a 2000 model F-53 chassis with a 22,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).

Dear Editor:
In the aftermath of the disasters that have struck the United States in recent years, FMCA members often have expressed interest in helping in some way. Having a motorhome at the ready provides a unique opportunity to travel to an area and bring one’s own accommodations and supplies while helping in the recovery effort.

I am pleased to announce that the MEDEX PLUS emergency medical evacuation assistance program, a free member benefit, will continue for FMCA family members through the year 2008. FMCA recently purchased this coverage for you for this additional year.

Forty-three years ago this month, a group of motor coach owners met at Good Will-Hinckley School in Hinckley, Maine, to discuss their common interests and to view a solar eclipse. The group decided to form an association for motor coach owners, and of those in attendance, 18 families signed on as members of the new organization, which they named Family Motor Coach Association.

My wife, Barb, and I had the opportunity to attend our first National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) event, the O’Reilly Spring Nationals, at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, March 31 through April 2, 2006. Baytown is near Houston, our hometown.
NHRA events are extremely fan-friendly and fun for all ages.

Gary Bunzer, also known as the RV Doctor, won’t ask you where it hurts, but he will tell you how to fix it. Among RV enthusiasts, his reputation as a technical expert precedes him wherever he goes.

One day my 9-year-old made this excited confession to me. “Mom, I love when you wake us up while it’s still dark, and we drive away.

If you have never heard of the Moravians, it’s safe to say that you’ve never visited Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Winston-Salem is one of the leading urban areas in the state and is a forward-thinking city, but it’s still proudly rooted in its Moravian past.

Hostile Indians, dangerous shoals hidden under the Atlantic Ocean, and notorious pirates combined to make Cape Fear, North Carolina, aptly named for struggling early settlers. However, these days there’s no reason to be skittish about exploring one of the best mid-Atlantic destinations for adventurous travelers.
The Cape Fear Peninsula dips south into the Atlantic Ocean near the state’s southern border.

Before the discovery of fire, life was much different than it is now. During daylight hours early mankind lived an active but precarious life as hunters and gatherers, and after sunset they retreated into the dark, dank safety of their caves.

Sewer hose storageMy motorhome didn’t have a designated space to store the sewer hose. I had to store it in the sewer compartment, which took up a lot of room and kept the compartment damp.
To solve this problem, I mounted a storage pipe for the sewer hose under the coach that is capable of holding 20 feet of hose with the plastic ends still attached.
To do this I used a 10-foot section of 4-inch ABS-plastic pipe.

Folding Bench from Diadora AmericaThe Folding Bench from Diadora America is a portable folding chair that is said to keep occupants covered, rain or shine, whether they’re sitting around the campsite or on the sidelines cheering for their favorite team.
The bench — which comes in one-, two-, three-, and four-seat versions — includes an overhead canopy as well as roll-up side flaps and a removable back panel to protect users from the rain and sun. The seat itself is made of heavy-duty polyester with PVC coating while the canopy, sides, and back are constructed of polyester fabric with a waterproof coating.
Each bench comes with a carrying bag (the bags for the three- and four-seater benches have wheels) and is available in five colors — red, royal blue, forest green, navy blue, and black — and three patterns — sand camo, jungle camo, and U.S.

A pair of Flxible Clipper buses — the same type of vehicle that is depicted on the FMCA logo — were brought out of retirement to be used in the Sony Pictures movie RV, starring Robin Williams and Jeff Daniels. These buses were once used to transport members of the Elizabeth City, North Carolina, high school band.
According to a story in The Daily Advance, the buses used in the movie were two of four Flxible Clippers that were bought for the band by millionaire Miles Clark in the early 1950s.

Load up the basketball team, volleyball team, or half the lacrosse team and head for the playoffs. The 2007 Newmar All Star 3950 motorhome shines with accommodations for eight.

Mary Ellen Johnson, F354444, wrote: “When we travel in our motorhome we almost exclusively cook outside over the campfire, portable gas grill, or Coleman stove. It would be great to see some campfire/outdoor recipes.” I’m happy to comply.

This time of year a traveler’s thoughts turn to cooler places, in a literal sense. We already had felt the relaxation of watery surroundings as we planned and wrote this column.

Looking to save a little money this year? Here are some tips that can help you keep more of what you have in your pocket.
Emergency cash
Not yet the age of 59-1/2, but you need your IRA money right now? According to a column in the April 2006 issue of Entrepreneur magazine, you can tap into the funds without penalty for outlays such as disability, medical bills, buying your first home, converting to a Roth IRA, or paying for higher education. But there are so many rules, limits, and exceptions, it’s best to work with an IRA expert at your bank or brokerage to make sure you’re not hit with unexpected taxes or penalties.

Travel savings
Our first stop at a new destination is always the visitors center, chamber of commerce, or tourist information center.

Hard as it may be to believe, there are more than 30 species of sparrows listed in our favorite North American field guide. That number may grow, as it’s been rumored that several of them are about to be split into separate species.