2012

What was the main reason you decided to buy your first motorhome?

Two questions top the list of queries that I receive from FMCA members. Everyone wonders how much it costs to live full-time in a motorhome, and where to establish a home base.

Mike and Jennifer Wendland’s top 10 rules for surviving and thriving while sharing small spaces.

Thor Motor Coach Offers Open Concept, Island Kitchen Model
Thor Motor Coach has added the 37GT — featuring an innovative kitchen design — to its Challenger line of premium gas-powered Type A motorhomes. The 2013 Challenger 37GT model offers …

Members of the Colorado Columbines celebrated their 20th anniversary as an FMCA chapter July 12-15, 2012, at the Elk Meadows Lodge & RV Resort in Estes Park, Colorado. During this gathering, FMCA national senior vice president Allen Rein and his wife, Glenda, presented chapter officers with a certificate of recognition.

Whistling In Dixie

Dear RV Doctor:
We turn on the water heater only when we need hot water. However, when we do, within a couple of minutes we can hear a whining sound, which seems to come from the propane tank area.

The following companies have recalls detailed in this month's Recall Corner: Prevost Car Inc., Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc., and Winnebago Industries Inc.

Coach Batteries

Several years ago, I bought a 2000 Monaco Diplomat. At that time, the house batteries (four 6-volt) were five months old. I recently replaced them and must have received some bad information somewhere along the line.

Racing Reaction

Dear Editor:
I saw the article “A Fleetwood Photo Finish” in the Family & Friends section of the July issue (page 30), which described a drag race between two motorhomes. What a hoot!

Overall, Family Motor Coach Association remains financially healthy despite a prolonged recessionary period and a decline in membership.  As of this writing, FMCA has investments totaling more than $7.6 million. 

Looking at the calendar recently, my wife, Jean, mentioned that we have been members of Family Motor Coach Association for almost 22 years.  Wow, 22 years! Not as long as some other members of our association but, still, a long time.

Following are abbreviated resumes for the five FMCA national vice presidents who were recently elected or re-elected. (Committee assignments for 2012-13 were not available at press time.)

What do you do as a family, group, or FMCA chapter to celebrate the summertime holidays during a motorhome trip?

It’s been a few years since I dehydrated foods for RV trips, but now dehydrator fever has struck again. Harvest season is the perfect time to travel country roads, attend fruit and vegetable festivals, and buy by the bushel at farmers’ markets.

Elusive Water Tank Drain

Dear RV Doctor:
My wife and I recently retired and are new to the RV lifestyle. We love it so far, but for the life of me, I cannot find the outlet to drain the water out of the fresh water tank so I can sanitize it.

The following companies have recalls detailed in this month's Recall Corner: Entegra Coach and Forest River.

Extended Storage

In the December 2011 issue of Family Motor Coaching, the answer to Don Loudermilk’s “Storage Question” letter (page 20) states that you should place pieces of plywood under the tires of the motorhome when storing it. I have a Prevost XLII with air support…

Making Connections

Dear Editor:
With regard to the "Multiple Water Connections" tip in the June 2012 “Tech & Travel Tips” column (page 25), readers should be reminded not to use plastic "Y" connectors.

Those were the first words on the inside front cover of Family Motor Coaching’s inaugural publication on February 15, 1964. The author, Bob Richter, one of the architects and the first national president of Family Motor Coach Association, was among those who had a vision for an association that would be an information source to thousands of adventurers pursuing a new form of travel.

The first gray and white threads of dawn were just starting to streak across the eastern horizon. It was the third week of July, and Jean and I were getting ready to depart for a rally in North Carolina. The birds had been up for about a half-hour, and the fresh, sweet, moist smell of clover in the field gave a special welcoming perfume to this new day.

FMCA’s 87th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana, this August. What are some must-see stops in the area?

Winnebago Industries Plant Tours

If you happen to be in northern Iowa this summer, make plans to see how a modern-day motorhome is built during a tour of the Winnebago Industries plant in Forest City.

ABS Error

I own a 37-foot 2006 Holiday Rambler Neptune built on a Roadmaster diesel chassis. Occasionally the ABS light comes on. The problem is that the light comes on intermittently.

The following companies have recalls detailed in this month's Recall Corner: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) and Foretravel Motorcoach.

Spin-Welding Alternative

Dear Editor:
The letter in the April 2012 "House Calls" column titled "The Law of Gravity" (page 20) was very interesting. I wanted to note an alternative to spin welding that provides a quick (3-to-5 minute) way to tap into your water tank using our bulkhead blind tank fitting.

My wife, Jean, and I spent some time at the New York Centrals' 35th anniversary rally in Camillus, New York, this past June. While there I met the first president of the New York Centrals chapter, Andrew Mancini, who shared with me some newspaper clippings that included a poem he had written back in 1977. The words remain relevant today.

If you plan to attend FMCA’s 87th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase — nicknamed “Formula For Fun” — August 27 through 30, 2012, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, plan a pit stop in the exhibit areas.