2011

Sneaky Circuitry

I am working on an electrical problem in a friend’s 2003 Holiday Rambler Traveler 26RB2. On the wall by the outside door is a push-button switch, whose purpose is to disconnect the coach battery from everything but the refrigerator and the inverter. 

Waste Management Notes

Dear Editor:
I enjoyed “Waste Management, Part 2” (January 2011, page 60). It seems to be timely regardless of when the reader takes the time to delve into the depths of this sensitive topic.  I would like to offer two additional suggestions.

In the past two issues of Family Motor Coaching, I wrote about the Czarsty family and our motorhoming experiences. This month, among other topics, I want to focus on the staff who keep FMCA’s national office humming, and on Brad Koshland, F313666, FMCA’s new executive director, who began work on January 3.

Have you ever had an unusual “stowaway” in your motohome?

With late January and early February being the coldest time of the year in North America, many people are beginning to ask how much longer winter will last. If you’re tired of the tentative predictions given by media weather forecasters who change their opinion weekly, go to the one reliable source for a definitive answer. Just ask a groundhog.

For years, thousands of RV travelers have made a living on the go by temping, writing, crafting, etc. Then the Internet opened new professions while reaching a whole world of potential customers.

Carefree RV Resorts Offers Military Discount Program

Carefree RV Resorts, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, announced that it will offer permanent 50 percent nightly discounts to active and veteran military service members and their families at its 35 parks in Florida, Texas, New Jersey, North Carolina, and California.

Members of the Heartland Execs. chapter found themselves at the beautiful Dakotah Meadows RV Park in Prior Lake, Minnesota, September 12 through 17, 2010, for a terrific fall gathering.

Seeping Shower Stall

Dear RV Doctor:
We have a 2007 Damon Daybreak with a “hex” shower stall that is leaking. The leak is coming from somewhere in the glass section framing or where the shower sides, glass, and plastic connect to the bottom section.

Companies with recalls detailed in this month’s Recall Corner are Fleetwood RV Inc. and Forest River Inc.

Electrical Nightmare

I have a 2003 Monaco Dynasty motorhome with an electrical problem that has puzzled just about everyone I’ve spoken with about it. It all began more than two years ago when I started the generator and the engine to return to Canada. The inverter began to sound an alarm…

Winterizing The Water System

Dear Editor:
In the November 2010 issue of Family Motor Coaching, the “House Calls” column (page 18) mentioned using blowout plugs to winterize your coach’s water system. These are excellent devices and will remove water from most, but not all, places in your coach.  

Have you ever thought about all the adventures (or should I say misadventures?) you had when you first started motorhoming? Well, I’ve been thinking about that, and I have to admit that many of the errors we made can be traced back to me.

Tires are perhaps the most overlooked and the most vulnerable component on an RV. They also are the most important. They are the vehicle’s contact point with the road, serving as the foundation for your house on wheels. As such, they should be given the same attention and care as the vehicle’s engine, suspension, transmission, and other systems.

When you overload a motorhome, the extreme weight can cause axle bearings to fail prematurely; shorten tire life; allow unsafe swaying in crosswinds or on curves; increase driver fatigue; and cause the suspension to sag by putting undue wear on its components.

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 2010.

FMCA’s Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, to be held March 14 through 17, 2011, in Perry, Georgia, will give FMCA members an opportunity to share laughter, music, and camaraderie while enjoying the exciting array of performers who have been scheduled throughout the event.

Family Motor Coaching magazine’s annual dinghy towing guide to flat-towable vehicles include cars, trucks, and SUVs that have been approved by their manufacturers for flat towing behind a motorhome without major modications.

FMC magazine’s January 2011 Motorhome Regulations chart contains the following information for all 50 U.S. States and the Canadian provinces and territories: speed limit, length, height, width, combined length, license type required, and reciprocity granted (for license).

What do you enjoy listening to as you’re traveling down the road in the motorhome?

Although we often go hiking in search of birds and mammals, many times our best looks come through the picture window of our motorhome or just outside the windows of our home office.

Stephen Fried’s new book, Appetite for America, is the story of Fred Harvey restaurants, once found at every major rail station in the Western United States. Mr. Fried’s book isn’t a cookbook, although it does have several recipes. It’s a treasure for travelers, historians, nostalgia buffs, and those who love the Old West.

River Raisin National Battlefield Now A National Park

River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe, Michigan, was officially announced as the 393rd park in the National Park System. The War of 1812 battlefield was set aside by Congress with legislation signed by President Obama on March 30, 2009.

Foul Battery Odors

Dear RV Doctor:
On a recent camping trip, our motorhome was connected to 30-amp shore power. During the night, our carbon monoxide (CO) alarm went off. Since there was no stove or furnace operating, I concluded the alarm must be defective. I did notice the coach battery compartment was warm to the touch.

Powerless

My 1991 motorhome is built on a Ford chassis with the 460-cid engine. It will go about 20 miles and then lose power, and I have to keep my foot on the gas feed to keep it running. It’s like it is not getting enough gas.

“Round-Up” Gratitude

Dear Editor:
ProLiteracy would like to thank all of the members of the Family Motor Coach Association who have donated to our organization by rounding up their membership dues.

As I sit in my motorhome and reflect on recent events, I can’t help letting my mind drift back to the summer of 2009. Charlie Schrenkel had just been elected FMCA’s national president, and I had been elected national senior vice president. We were overjoyed at the honor of being selected to lead FMCA.