2002

Increasingly, being connected while RVing means we need reliable, speedy access to the Internet. Internet access lets us shop; surf; read the news; pay bills; download movies; and use apps to plan our routes and to find the campgrounds, restaurants, and …

Committees! Who needs them? Aren’t they just a bunch of people sitting around arguing about one thing or another? Well, actually, in order to get many things done, FMCA’s Executive Board relies heavily upon the work of its various committees.

Whether you’re wintering in the Sunbelt or using your motorhome for ski trips and snowshoe hiking, winter appetites call for heartier meals. Here are recipes that are kind to the cook, filled with homemade goodness, and easy on the cleanup crew.
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Sweet Potato Puff
Eggs turn this into a creamier, more substantial side dish than sweet potatoes alone.

FMCA’s Executive Board is made up of the national president, senior vice president, secretary, and treasurer, along with the 10 area vice presidents. FMCA members were able to learn more about the four nationally elected officers when their resumes were published in the June 2005 issue prior to the election at FMCA’s 74th International Convention in Minot, North Dakota.

The FMCA Strategic Plan is alive and well. Many of you will recall that the Strategic Plan was approved by the Governing Board at the 2001 summer international convention in Redmond, Oregon.
The plan was developed over a three-year period by an 11-member select committee.

Our initial contact with any potential FMCA convention site usually starts with the facility’s staff. Such was the case with the Kansas State Fair Association in Hutchinson when we first contacted them in 1999 about the possibility of the fairgrounds hosting an FMCA convention.  The site played host to the South Central Area Six-State Rally that year.
From this initial contact right up to the time the last coach had left the fairgrounds after FMCA’s Motor “Home On The Range” convention in October 2002, I have had nothing but thanks and praise for general manager Bill Ogg and his staff.

Gold was hidden in Arizona’s Bradshaw Mountains; silver, too. And copper, in huge, profitable amounts.

Strange and wonderful things happen in life, and the explanations for why they happen often make for interesting reading. Such is the case not once, but at least twice, with Newell Coach Corporation.
The history of the company — how it got started and why it continues to thrive in the provincial northeast corner of Oklahoma — is a fascinating two-part story.

We drove west toward Vicksburg, Mississippi, roughly following the route that Union General Ulysses S. Grant took during the Civil War as part of his unrelenting campaign to take the city on the hill.

The site was Hutchinson, a city affectionately known as “Hutch” to the 43,000 residents who call it home in south-central Kansas. The event was FMCA’s 68th Premier International Motorhome Extravaganza, which took place October 1, 2, and 3, 2002.

Following its successful 1999 purchase and subsequent upgrade of General Motors’ gas-powered motorhome chassis manufacturing operation, Workhorse Custom Chassis, C8291, ventured into new territory this past July by unveiling its new R Series diesel-pusher chassis to industry insiders gathered in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In an effort to provide motorhome customers with more choices and options, the new Workhorse diesel chassis will be equipped with Cummins engines in three horsepower modes. The standard engine is the 350-horsepower ISC power plant, with an optional 330-horsepower ISC engine also available.

The corner shelves in our motorhome’s shower are in a handy location for bars of soap or shampoo containers. But the shelves are designed to shed water as well as any item placed on them.

The 19th annual Rocky Mountain Ramble was held August 27 through 30, 2002, at the Adams County Regional Park and Fairgrounds in Brighton, Colorado. It was the first event hosted by the newly formed Rocky Mountain Motorcoach Association Inc.

A replacement suspension kit from Holbrook Specialties promises to improve the ride and towability of a Jeep CJ. The asymmetrical springs of the Holbrook LongLeaf spring kit are approximately 10 inches longer than the vehicle’s stock springs.

Many of these “stuffed” recipes can be prepared ahead of time at home and refrigerated or frozen. For safety’s sake, remember to keep everything cold.

Motorhomers who want to explore the natural wonders and rural history of Minnesota may be interested in Shawn Perich’s new book, Backroads Of Minnesota ($19.95, Voyageur Press). The book leads travelers on a scenic tour of the Gopher State, revealing many of Minnesota’s hidden treasures.
Included in the book are more than 30 recommended drives that visit many of the parks, rivers, lakes, and other sites that capture Minnesota’s colorful history.

We finally had our new motorhome, a diesel-powered 40-footer complete with slideouts. Its gleaming-white exterior was emblazoned with beautiful graphics in several shades of brown.

It seems safe to say that if any company can create a coach that offers as much luxury as is implied in the term “mansion on wheels,” it would be Newell Coach of Miami, Oklahoma. Newell builds custom coaches that epitomize luxury and range in price from $700,000 to more than $1 million.

According to Jaimie Hall, author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider’s Guide to Working on the Road ($19.95, Pine Country Publishing), the biggest change in full-timing during the past five years has been the massive growth in the number of people who work on the go. Many went full-timing with the intention of working along the way, but others have returned to the workforce because they want to buy a new motorhome or have found that they truly enjoy working.

Loss of habitat is the number-one threat to native creatures and biodiversity. The introduction of non-native plants and animals to a specific area or region comes in second.

Resealable plastic bags should be high on a traveler’s list of must-have accessories. They provide secure storage for items and do it in a way that saves space.

Q: I would like to know whether a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder, two-wheel drive with automatic transmission, can be towed four wheels down without a drive-shaft disconnect?
Richard Hotard, F301483
Thibodaux, Louisiana
A: We weren’t conducting our annual towing surveys back in 1995, so we don’t have information about specific vehicles from that model year. The information we published then was in more generic terms.

Dear Editor:
I am a resident of Hutchinson, Kansas, where FMCA held its recent convention. I just want to take a minute to express my thoughts about FMCA’s visit here and the impact it had on the people of our community.
You all made a significant financial contribution to Hutchinson by eating in our restaurants and making various purchases in our shops, gas stations, and entertainment facilities — which we very much appreciate.
But what I really wanted to tell you about is the emotional impact your visit had on some of us.

Editor’s note: Mr. Eversmann presented the following report to the FMCA Governing Board during its meeting in Hutchinson, Kansas, this past October.
I would like to provide you a summary of the significant things that have been happening within the Family Motor Coach Association.

In a spacious factory surrounded by cornfields that stretch for miles over the rolling hills of northeastern Missouri, Don and Carol Jenkins, owners of Superbus 1 LTD, C8623, have been making some of the finest motorhomes — “ultimate bus conversions,” Mr. Jenkins calls them — that money can buy.

Q: What kind of information do you have on braking systems for towed vehicles? Can you recommend any system? I have a motorhome with hydraulic brakes and I will tow a Honda Accord.
Don Rader, F169185
Veradale, Washington

A: The July 2001 issue of FMC magazine included an article (“Supplemental Braking Systems,” page 60) that provided brief information about more than a dozen different supplemental braking systems for towed vehicles. The systems were not tested.

Have you ever stopped for fuel and then pulled back on the highway going the wrong way? My wife does it all the time. While she loves traveling and seeing new sights, and enjoys meeting new friends (strangers, to her, are merely friends she hasn’t met yet), she admittedly has no sense of direction.

The “Holding Tank Headaches?” article that appeared in the August 2002 issue (page 68) was not properly attributed to Tony Suddon, its primary author. Mr.

The operating instructions for our Spendide RV washing machine call for using 2 tablespoons or 1 ounce of detergent per load. There doesn’t seem to be an easy way to mark this amount on the liquid detergent cap.

Approximately four years ago, FMCA leaders decided to begin the process of developing a long-range plan and modernizing the association’s governing documents. The first step was to establish a committee of FMCA members who would be charged with bringing forth a plan that would help to direct the association’s future.

The Sidewinder sewer hose support from Camco can keep sewer hoses off the ground and angled for proper drainage even when the terrain is irregular or full of obstacles. The lightweight plastic support features welded seams for stability and long-lasting use, and deep cradles that hold the sewer hose in place without support straps.
No assembly is required to use the Sidewinder; simply open the support and place the sewer hose on top.

A few years back, my wife, Joan, and I flew from Hong Kong to Los Angeles with only brief stops in Tokyo to refuel and in Honolulu to clear customs. Although we fortunately had seats with plenty of legroom, the long flight had taken its toll.

Motorhomers who want to explore the natural wonders and rural history of Minnesota may be interested in Shawn Perich’s new book, Backroads Of Minnesota ($19.95, Voyageur Press). The book leads travelers on a scenic tour of the Gopher State, revealing many of Minnesota’s hidden treasures.
Included in the book are more than 30 recommended drives that visit many of the parks, rivers, lakes, and other sites that capture Minnesota’s colorful history.

I have now completed one term as president of FMCA and would like to thank everyone for their support this past year. During the Governing Board meeting on September 30 in Hutchinson, Kansas, association business included an election of the four national officers for the 2002-2003 term.

Whether you enjoy following the NASCAR circuit, tailgating with your favorite football team, or carrying along a pair of all-terrain vehicles in your travels, the Fun Mover motorhome from Four Winds International could be a worthy companion. Even a pair of personal watercraft, with the proper “trolleys,” can be transported inside the Fun Mover, kept safe from curious eyes and fingers.

If you’re looking for small-town America, then a visit to the village of Waynesville, Ohio, is in order. Located in the southwestern part of the state, this quaint town is a mecca for those seeking a slower pace.

Traveling by motorhome is a comfortable way to visit different parts of North America. But the cozy confines of your motor coach may cause you to become too relaxed, allowing your natural defenses to slip.

You exit the diner . .

Since the beginning of civilization, man has sought a bigger stick — to protect his family, keep the belongings that were his, and, on occasion, to take the things that weren’t. This most likely will continue until his time on Earth is finished.
In the early morning of July 16, 1945, in the bleak desert near Alamogordo, New Mexico, on a site code-named “Trinity,” man found the ultimate ”stick.” With a flash as bright as a thousand suns and an earth-gouging roar, the first atomic weapon was exploded.

FMCA’s Executive Committee is made up of the national president, senior vice president, secretary, and treasurer, along with the 10 area vice presidents. FMCA members were able to learn more about the four nationally elected officers when their resumes were published in the July 2002 issue prior to the election at FMCA’s 68th Premier International Motorhome Extravaganza in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Some Christmas travel destinations quickly fade from memory, just like shooting stars. Not so with Goliad, Texas, the “Star of the South.” Goliad’s stellar attractions shine year-round, but at Christmas the sights and sounds are out of this world.
Imagine a 253-year-old Spanish mission outlined in 20,000 white lights, a spectacle to behold and photograph.

Winter camping is a snug and cozy time, when meals are more fun to make, because they warm up the interior of the coach and fill it with great aromas. The family is hungrier, fresh from the ski slopes or biking trails.

When you decide to make your motorhome your full-time residence, one part of the process must be to take a look at your insurance coverage. The RV insurance policy you had as a homeowner and part-time motorhomer won’t cover all the bases.

I was watching TV a few months ago when a commercial that flashed across the screen caught my attention. “Hey, Hon, take a look at this,” I called to my wife.

November has been designated “National American Indian Heritage Month” in the United States, so we decided to recommend some sites to visit to help celebrate the occasion. Those who live in or are visiting the Midwest or South will notice that none of the mound-building American Indian cultures are represented in this month’s column.

Some years back, we lived in an area that claimed to be the foggiest place in the United States. Old-timers said the location had been used during World War II to test the ability of pilots to land their planes under extremely foggy conditions, and the airport in the northern California town of Arcata had some of the most consistent fog anywhere.
More recently, we checked some weather maps and found that the area along the northern California coast still is as foggy as we remembered — more than 60 days a year the visibility drops to less than a quarter-mile.

Next to your motorhome’s entrance door, you likely will find a small black-and-gold emblem like the one shown in the illustration. It is the seal of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).

With colder weather creeping up on us, we’re reminded that winter isn’t far off. But for some FMCA members, winter is a lifestyle rather than a season.

South of the busy Tampa-St. Petersburg area, Interstate 75 leads travelers toward a region along the Gulf of Mexico with great beaches but fewer crowds.

Members of FMCA’s Golden Spike and Western Bounders & Buddies chapters have enjoyed many good times at rallies and different outings throughout the years. But every so often there is one exceptional rally that will be talked about long after it’s over.