January 2015
Out Of Step
I have a 2006 National RV motorhome. The automatic retractable steps worked as they should until I shut the door recently and the steps wouldn’t retract. What should I look for? What would make them not work?
Family Motor Coaching magazine's annual guide to flat-towable vehicles includes cars, trucks, and SUVs that have been approved by their manufacturers for four-wheels-down towing behind a motorhome without major modifications.
Ask a guy what he wants for Christmas, Father’s Day, or his birthday and odds are the answer will not be socks, a tie, or a really cool sweater. The more likely choice: tools. Many of us just have to have more, because with the right tool, we can fix anything.
In a few short months, FMCA members will be arriving in Pomona, California, anticipating fine entertainment, motorhome exhibits and related displays, enlightening seminars, and that most valuable commodity of all: each other’s company. All of these are mainstays at FMCA international events.
Just a few miles from Interstate 70 near Vail, Colorado, is the wide, broad valley of the East Fork of the Eagle River. It’s dotted with weathered concrete foundations and crisscrossed neatly by a grid of roads. This was Camp Hale, training center for the 10th Mountain Division, the Army’s elite winter warfare unit of World War II.
Are your chapter rallies getting a bit stale? Are you doing the same things over and over? If so, how about a cardboard boat race? This may not work for everybody, but it sure was a success for our chapter.
It’s another dreary winter day. The kids look up from their electronic devices and moan: “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.” The weather is unappealing, so you avoid telling them to go outside and get some fresh air. It’s an indoor day. Again. What can you do?
You’ve heard that you can’t judge a book by its cover, and that can be said for the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting in Phoenix, Arizona. It is housed in a rather plain, single-story building, but its simplicity belies what’s inside — nearly 300 years of mechanized firefighting history.
Makeshift Rain Hat
I find those free motel shower caps so useful. They fit over a ball cap, making a perfect emergency rain hat.
Happy New Year to my FMCA Family! Can you believe that another year has slipped by? Sometimes I feel like I’m racing against a clock. I have so many things I still would like to see happen in FMCA, and it seems as though time is running out on me.
On the third Monday of January each year, America pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a pastor; an activist; leader in the Civil Rights movement; and, equally as important, a humanitarian.
November Notes
Dear Editor:
I almost always read the “President’s Message” columns. I find Charlie Adcock’s messages particularly enjoyable and encouraging. Thanks for sharing not only the "good" stuff but also the challenges we can relate to. It's helpful to us newbies and part-timers.
The following companies have recalls delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Entegra Coach, Newmar Corporation, Tiffin Motorhomes.
Electrical Malfunction
Dear RV Doctor:
My Safari is always “on” in some electrical fashion. This problem has now escalated to the point where I cannot start the motorhome.
Members of FMCA’s Northern Lights chapter enjoyed a great rally September 4-7, 2014, at Frankfort Crystal Lake RV Resort in Michigan. The campground owner and crew did a fantastic job of welcoming us to the new resort on Lake Michigan.
While camp hosting at Foscue Creek Campground in Demopolis, Alabama, Tony and Marijke Schellenbach, F83597, have met many nice people. They can now count Ernest and Ruth Aulick among them.
The Gateway Getaways and Ozark Ridge Runners chapters enjoyed a joint rally May 19-23, 2014, in Branson, Missouri. Thanks go out to those who planned the event, Don and Joyce Sturms of the Ozark Ridge Runners and Mark and Linda Boka of the Gateway Getaways.
Elite Resorts at Citrus Valley in Clermont, Florida, was the setting for a rally June 6-8, 2014, at which members of FMCA’s Sandpipers chapter marked 20 years of motorhoming fun.
Liquid Dispenser
Bottles, bottles, and more bottles. One way to eliminate some of that clutter in the shower and kitchen is with the Classic Dispenser 3 from Better Living.
Boondockers Welcome, C12795, which launched in 2012, now includes more than 800 North American locations that offer RVers free overnight parking on private property. RVer hosts and guests can connect online at www.boondockerswelcome.com, which was started by Marianne Edwards and her daughter, Anna Maste.
This is peak time for cabin fever, and it has hit us big-time. Cabin fever, as described by Wikipedia, is “a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in a small space, with nothing to do for an extended period. Cabin fever describes the extreme irritability and restlessness a person may feel in these situations.”
At a typical campground get-together, meat sizzles on the grill or a turkey hisses in the deep fryer while a table is set to receive side dishes that everyone brings. You don’t want to miss a minute of the party, so recipes should be fuss-free and easy to self-serve.
Where's a great place to get a piece of pie in your hometown or on the road?
Thor Motor Coach (TMC) designers have applied technologies from the company’s Type A toy haulers and put them to good use when creating Type C models. One model, the Outlaw, is offered in Type A, Type C, and Super C floor plans for 2015.