2003

Monaco Coach Corporation, C2111, and Playing Mantis, a leading die-cast manufacturer, have teamed up to give anyone with an extra $10 the chance to purchase their very own highline motorhome — albeit quite a bit smaller.
Beginning last September, miniature replicas of Holiday Rambler Navigator, Monaco Executive, Beaver Marquis, and Safari Zanzibar motorhomes have been available under the Johnny Lightning logo, a popular brand of collectibles.
The idea to make miniatures of these motorhome models came from Holiday Rambler engineers Ed Mahin and Ron Nunemaker, both avid die-cast collectors. From there, Monaco Coach Corporation engineers worked with designers at Johnny Lightning, providing technical specifications, photographs, and other information, to make sure the die-casts were as accurate as possible.

Since the “Type A Roundup” appeared in the March 2003 issue, additional models that are available for under $100,000 have come to light. So, we are adding “Chapter Two” this month.
In addition, we have a change to report to the initial roundup.

Some RV enthusiasts are attracted to the idea of driving a smaller type A coach, but they don’t want to sacrifice the comfort that comes with larger units. Recently I had the opportunity to test a Safari Trek 2810 model.

These galley-tested recipes are easy, yet family-pleasing.
Tuscan Chicken
Bring the sunny flavors of Tuscany into a one-pot dish that does not call for potatoes, pasta, or rice.
6 meaty, skinless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 can chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2-teaspoon dried thyme
Medium yellow squash, cubed
Medium zucchini, cubed
16-ounce can white kidney beans (cannellini), drained and rinsed
3 plum tomatoes, diced
Salt, pepper to taste
Freshly snipped parsley (optional)
Brown the chicken thighs in the olive oil, gradually stirring in the garlic. Add the broth, the oregano, and the thyme.

Quick meals can be a disaster if they are not in good balance nutritionally and aesthetically. Here are recipes that provide fast food without sacrificing nutrition, texture, and looks.
Tomato Tortellini
Use meat-filled tortellini or, for a meatless main dish, the cheese-filled variety.
24-ounce can plain tomato sauce (3 cups)
1/2-teaspoon dried basil
1/2-teaspoon oregano
1/2-teaspoon parsley
1/2-teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Salt to taste
8-ounce (1 cup) container real whipping cream, no substitutes
16-ounce package tortellini
Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
Whisk together the tomato sauce, seasonings, and whipping cream.

The splendor of monumental buttes, soaring cliffs, towering spires, and rugged canyons lure visitors to Arizona’s Red Rock country, near Flagstaff. There you can see in form and color how the natural world appeared millions of years ago.

No, this column isn’t about the 55 mile-per-hour speed limit, but a magic number that for many full-timers means the beginning of a drop in expenses as they grow older. Although past surveys I’ve done for this column revealed that the age range for full-timers starts at 4 and extends into the mid-90s, the median age is in the low 60s.

The javelina, otherwise known as the collared peccary, musk hog, or tayaussa, is the only wild, native, piglike animal living in the United States. The name “javelina” is derived from the Spanish word for javelin or sword.

Entertaining, enlightened, engaging? While this group of FMCA members may be so described, these words don’t offer insight into the chapter’s name. Originally, the “E” stood for “Executive.” When the chapter was formed in 1976 as The Executive Southwest Chapter, FMCA members who joined had to own an Executive brand motorhome.

Willard “Will” Whipple, F15, who served as FMCA’s first national treasurer, passed away February 3, 2003, at the age of 78.
Mr. Whipple; his wife, Madora; and sons Larry, Dale, and Gary were among the 26 families that met in Hinckley, Maine, when FMCA was founded in July 1963.
Mr.

Q: I have a Caterpillar 3208 turbodiesel engine in a 1987 Vogue motorhome. The odometer says the motorhome has 100,000-plus miles on it, but I’m guessing it’s closer to 125,000 miles, since the odometer didn’t function properly when I bought the coach in January 2001 (the clock says 3,300 hours).
I recently made a 2,500-mile trip and the motorhome used six quarts of oil.

Dear Editor:
I’m not sure that Edward Wiseman, who wrote the letter in the February 2003 issue, was on the same State Route 89A that I have driven (“Mountainous Arizona Roads,” page 174).
We live in the San Diego area and drive to Sedona through Prescott and on to Flagstaff and back. We have done this eight or 10 times over the last 25 or so years.
We drive a 28-foot Roll-A-Long, and our first time over we were pulling a Toyota Land Cruiser.

Sometimes I just have to sit back and marvel at what this association has accomplished over the past 40 years. Recently my wife, Sharon, and I were able to attend two area rallies.

Much has been said and written over the last several years regarding the importance of proper weight and balance of recreation vehicles, or more specifically in our case, motorhomes. This is a complicated issue, to be sure, but I will attempt to clarify it from a layman’s perspective.

The Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, New York, a suburb of Buffalo, will host FMCA’s 70th International Convention. We have dubbed it the “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” convention.

With spring arriving throughout most of North America, it’s time to think of gardens once again. Discovering a serene and cheerful collection of plants always is pleasant, and the experience can be further enriched when the plantings reflect the tastes of past generations.

Early in July our motorhome crossed the Canadian border north of Bellingham, Washington. We cleared customs with no problem, and the favorable exchange rate when changing U.S.

It seems that many of us accumulate packets and albums of photos that we have organized by trip. After awhile, it can become frustrating to have to look through all of these separate collections when all you really want to do is show someone several places from a single state.

Have test you ever watched a camping neighbor open an RV storage compartment door to retrieve the TV cable and literally empty that compartment by yanking out every other piece of gear stowed in there? Leveling blocks, camp shovel, sewer adapter, lawn chairs, toolbox, front doormat, et al, come tumbling out, tied together with an umbilical of kinked TV cable that was coiled haphazardly and stuffed into the compartment.
As comical as that might seem, you’d be surprised at how often such scenes play out every day in the campground. And perhaps it’s even happened to you.

It’s easy to be skeptical when you read that a tourist destination has something for everyone. That’s pretty unlikely, you might think.

Its scenery is enhanced by old Southern mansions, tree-lined boulevards, and an oceanside location. No wonder Beaufort (pronounced BEW-fert), a picturesque hamlet in South Carolina, has served as the setting for many motion pictures, including Forrest Gump.

Soon after the first S-Series automobile rolled off Saturn’s Spring Hill, Tennessee, assembly line in 1990, the name of General Motors’ newest company became quite familiar to motorhomers. Why? Because Saturn was the first manufacturer to specifically approve its automatic-transmission-equipped vehicles for flat towing.

During a recent rally, our outside entrance handle broke. I went to several camping stores to find a replacement handle, but the $70 to $100 price seemed a bit steep.

The Motion Control Unit from Super Steer is designed to reduce the roll, sway, and bounce that can be encountered when driving over bumps, dips, and uneven road conditions in an air-bag-equipped motorhome. The Motion Control Unit, which is installed at each air suspension bag, is engineered to control the high-velocity thrust of air released from the air bag.

National RV Inc., C3451, citing a move back to basics, has resurrected the popular Tropi-Cal brand as an attractively priced triple-slideout diesel model and revamped its Sea Breeze and Sea Breeze LX gasoline-powered motorhomes. These changes were unveiled during the National RV Trade Show this past December in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Tropi-Cal, which was a gas-powered line, returns as a diesel pusher priced at approximately $150,000.

To the average motorhome enthusiast, the name McKenzie may not ring familiar. That’s because, until recently, the company’s focus has been on building quality towable RVs.

When Alfa Leisure Inc. introduced its Alfa See Ya motorhome a couple of years ago, I took an initial look at the new model for Family Motor Coaching (“The Alfa See Ya Diesel Pusher,” October 2001, page 78).

FMCA’s partnership with RV Alliance America (RVAA) and the Recreation Vehicle Safety Education Foundation (RVSEF) has enabled hundreds of FMCA members to become safer motorhomers. FMCA gives members the chance to take courses offered by these two organizations at FMCA international conventions and many area rallies.
The RV Safe Driving Course, cosponsored by RVAA and FMCA, is an eight-hour classroom seminar that helps participants improve their driving skills.

Ready-mix convenience foods are always a plus for cooks who don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. But making your own mixes might be more economical, and you can prepare them in quantities that are right for your needs, and know that they are fresh.

At least three companies have marketed a stand-alone, built-in ice maker for the RV industry. The first serious effort was a product that carried the Instamatic label and was equipped with a 120-volt-AC Freon compressor unit made by U-Line.

We’ve had a fascinating couple of months finding out about some of the weird insects that live in North America. Last month we wrote about cicadas, surely the loudest insect singers.

You’ll know you’ve reached the little town of Leavenworth, Washington, even before you see the signs. First you’ll spot the rows of gingerbread-style buildings standing shoulder to shoulder, and hear the distant sounds of oompah bands.

The Legislative Advisory Committee has accomplished a good deal over the past few years. For one, we now have a cadre of fellow member volunteers who stand ready, on an as-needed basis, to assist other FMCA members who may be experiencing parking rights problems.

The Coughenour (Cohen-hour) brothers of North Carolina have been traveling together in their motorhomes for nearly a quarter of a century. All three — Aubrey, F6479; Charlie, F105311; and Clarence, F64660 — enjoy the lifestyle.

Q: My wife and I just purchased a 29-foot 1997 Flair motorhome, and now we’re looking for a vehicle with an automatic transmission to tow “four wheels down” behind the motorhome. We want a used vehicle that is towable without the odometer rolling up miles, and one that doesn’t require frequent stops to care for its drivetrain.

The “Towables For 2003” article (January 2003, page 66) contained inaccurate information about the Dodge Dakota 4×4. The listing should have indicated that both the manual and automatic transmission versions of this four-wheel-drive vehicle can be flat towed without modification.
In addition, since the article was published, FMC has learned that Mercedes-Benz USA is now advising that none of its automobiles should be flat towed.

As I approach the 10th anniversary of my retirement from the United States Marine Corps, I have had several opportunities to witness firsthand the rebirth of patriotism in this wonderful country of ours. I also have had three opportunities to participate in ceremonies recognizing the contributions of former service members.
The first occasion arose this past year when Genny Lucky, L26, a fellow member of the Woman Marine Association, asked me to unpack my Marine Corps dress blue uniform and assist her in the Memorial Day ceremony she conducts at the G.L.A.S.S.

Since I became president of FMCA, I have emphasized three primary areas that I believe deserve our attention and resources: new member recruitment; the quality of new motorhomes and of motorhome service; and member services. This article will focus on new member recruitment efforts.
Some have asked, “Why do we need new members? We are big enough now.” We need membership growth for several reasons, and I will expound upon two.
First, we lose approximately 15,000 members per year.

Whether you are a weekend traveler or a full-timer, your health — and the possibility that you may need health care — follows you wherever you go. No matter whether you’re in your hometown or on the road, it’s your responsibility to provide accurate information about your medical history when you need urgent health care.
While traveling through Colorado in our motorhome during the summer of 2001, I became acutely ill.

Some might picture San Juan Capistrano, California, as a wistful town anchored in the past. And why not? Nestled among the tawny hills, strawberry farms, and eucalyptus trees, it is the home of the famed 1776 Mission San Juan Capistrano — the “Jewel of the Missions.” But that is only part of the story.

Backup: Happens when you forget to empty the holding tank
Byte: What could happen if loose animals at the campground are surprised
CD: What you used to pay for your new motorhome
Chip: Munchies to eat at the campfire

Compress: Something you do to garbage
Computer: Keeps the savvy RVer in touch
Crash: What could happen when the copilot gives inaccurate directions
Dot matrix: Danny Matrix’s wife
Enter: Northern slang for the Southern “C’mon in, y’all”
Floppy disk: A loose hubcap

Hard drive: Any day trip longer than 250 miles
Keyboard: Place with hooks where you hang your assortment of keys
Laptop: Where the grandchildren like to cuddle up
Log on: Tossing another log on the campfire
Mainframe: The steel frame your motorhome body is bolted to

Megahertz: When one of the basement doors drops on your head
Memory: Something you lose with age

Microchip: What’s left in the munchie bag

Modem: What the grounds crew at the campground did with the blades of grass
Monitor: Rear camera necessary for backing up that big coach
Mouse: A critter that finds holes the factory promised didn’t exist
Net: Something a woman puts on her head to preserve her hairdo

Port: Red wine

Prompt: What the wait at a one-dump station is not
RAM: Cousin of a goat
Screen: Should come with the windows

Software: Tissues, toilet paper, and paper plates

Virus: The flu

Web: A spider’s home and a motorhome wife’s nemesis

Windows: Something you want plenty of even though you hate to clean them.

They say you can’t take it with you, and for a while it seemed they were right. I have been an avid model railroader for more than 50 years.

Freightliner Custom Chassis, C1905, rolled out its new top-of-the-line Powerliner II diesel-pusher tag-axle chassis with a ZF-designed independent front suspension (IFS) system for the media to inspect and test during RVIA’s National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky, December 3 through 5, 2002.
This is the first time Freightliner has used components from the German-based ZF Friedrichshafen AG in its chassis. ZF provides transmission, suspension, and steering products to manufacturers in the automobile, construction equipment, heavy truck, transit, marine, and aviation industries.
According to representatives of Freightliner Custom Chassis, the RL75EM double-wishbone IFS system offers a significant reduction in vehicle roll and steering effort, which, when combined with a reduction in unsprung mass, results in a superior ride, increased comfort, and improved handling characteristics.

Three remote and highly scenic west Texas mountain locations can take you back in time, away from busy freeways, crowded campgrounds, and large metropolitan areas.
Big Bend National Park, Davis Mountains State Park, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park are situated between the huge bend in the Rio Grande at the Mexican border and the New Mexico state line, southwest of Carlsbad. Each of the three areas has its own personality, and all host motorhomers year-round.

FMCA members interested in exploring what’s new in the realm of motorhomes and RV products will want to take stock of the exciting array of exhibits that will be set forth at FMCA’s 69th International Convention. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 21, 22, and 23, more than 100 coach manufacturers and in excess of 400 companies that market RV accessories, components, and services will present their wares in Pomona, California, site of FMCA’s “California Dreamin'” convention.

It is bucolic, pastoral, and rustic. Cattle, horses, and vineyards dot the rolling hills of the lovely, lively community of Paso Robles, California.

With inflation slowly creeping upward each year, you would think the group of entry-level type A coaches costing less than six figures would be shrinking right along with the dollar. Not so.

Here’s an idea for a built-in flagpole to display your flag on your motorhome while parked. Sew a sleeve on your flag and slip it over your motorhome’s CB whip antenna.

The Coleman Shade Lodge can provide a shady retreat for any outdoor activity. Measuring 12 feet by 14 feet when set up, the hexagon-shaped Shade Lodge offers 6 feet of headroom around the perimeter and 7-1/2 feet at the center.

VISIT FLORIDA, the official tourism marketing corporation for the state of Florida, has published the newly revised Worth the Drive guidebook, containing 17 self-guided driving tours of the state.
The tours are designed to take travelers off the beaten path and help them discover some of Florida’s best-kept secrets. They meander through undiscovered Florida, from American Indian sites and pristine natural areas to historic restaurants and cultural attractions.
The tours are categorized as Theme Tours; Road Tours; and City Tours with day trips to surrounding areas.