June 2015
Electric Receptacle Issue
My 2000 Four Winds Infinity has two electric receptacles mounted underneath the cabinets above the kitchen sink. The receptacles work only when they want to. It makes no difference if the coach is on battery power, generator, or shore power.
Carefree Communities Donates To Veterans
The fourth annual Carefree’s Got Talent competition finale raised $25,000 to support Disabled American Veterans (DAV), which helps military veterans obtain benefits and disability compensation. The March 24 event in Lakeland, Florida, drew nearly 2,000 competitors and attendees.
As I was pondering what to write about this month, I recalled a conversation I had with a dear friend of mine, Jean Pryor, L12913. We were discussing her long association with FMCA, and she told me that she had written about what FMCA and family mean to her. She gave me permission to share her letter, and I do so now.
As we all find ourselves using technology more and more (especially in our mobile lifestyle), it only makes sense that a platform such as RVillage.com would emerge, making it easy for RVers to have “meet-ups” wherever we roam. With more than 20,000 members signing up in just a few months, RVillage is growing at a viral rate not seen before in the RV world.
Suggested Stops Along The Blue Ridge Parkway
Dear Editor:
The article about the Blue Ridge Parkway in the March 2015 issue (“Springtime On The Blue Ridge Parkway,” page 74) was an excellent description of this 469-mile route.
The following companies have recalls delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Airstream Inc., Forest River Inc., Newmar Corporation, Thor Motor Coach, Tiffin Motorhomes.
Furnace Blows Fuses
Dear RV Doctor:
I just purchased a 1993 RV. The heater works, but it blows fuses after about five minutes of operation. It has a 15-amp fuse, and I replace it with the same. Any ideas?
Owners Manual Tabs
We recently bought a 2005 motorhome, and the tab dividers in the spiral-bound owners manual were bent, worn, and hard to read. After some research, we found the perfect item for making the manual look better and easier to use . . .
Our FMCA experience began in 2007 when we purchased our first motorhome, a 40-foot, 2008 Winnebago Tour. We joined FMCA without knowing much about the organization, except that it represented many people who were active RVers.
Since 2009, the Professional R.V. Vendors chapter (PRVVC) has organized food drives at Family Reunions and regional rallies. As a result, tons of nonperishable food and thousands of dollars have been donated to food banks that serve needy people. Last year alone, the chapter collected more than a ton of food.
How do you practice the custom of leaving a campsite, campground, or other place you visit better than when you arrived?
How do you practice the custom of leaving a campsite, campground, or other place you visit better than when you arrived?
Stackable Cookware
Graham Dalton was competing in an around-the-world yacht race in 2007 when it dawned on him that pots and pans don’t have to be round and difficult to store. Soon after, he launched Smartspace Cookware.
Touring the United States by motorhome can add to your knowledge of places and things. Put that knowledge to use by tackling the following trivia questions. The accompanying answers have been verified as much as possible, though a few are debatable.
My wife, Jennifer, calls our Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL our “Adventure-mobile.” And maybe because of that attitude, I’ve tended to live in the moment a bit more often than I should. As soon as I got in the motorhome and we took off, I let my guard down and went into vacation mode. This is not a good idea for prolonged periods of time. I learned that the hard way.
The 2015 election of FMCA national officers will be held July 29, 2015, at FMCA’s 92nd Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Madison, Wisconsin. Read the resume of each of the candidates.
Ready to hit the road after another pleasant camping experience, you turn the key in your motorhome’s ignition and . . . pffft. Dead battery. It can happen if you’re boondocking or if you’re plugged in to a campground pedestal. But it can be avoided, too.
Even RVers who are enjoying the freedom of the open road need a place to receive old-fashioned paper envelopes. Whether you are the kind of RV traveler who stays for months at a favorite campground each year, or you spend only a few weeks in any one location, having an actual physical mailing address is still a necessity in the modern world.
The Itasca Tribute and the Winnebago Brave are the nameplates affixed to two 1960s-inspired product lines that feature an entirely new design. These motorhome brands bring back fond memories for veteran RVers who may remember when the original Brave motorhome impacted the RV industry a generation ago and helped promote the concept of driving an RV rather than pulling a trailer behind a car or truck.
Against the backdrop of the San Bernardino Mountains, the 487-acre facility known as Fairplex welcomed motorhomers to Pomona, California, to experience these highlights and more during FMCA’s 91st Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, March 26-29, 2015.
Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin’s largest lake, features six unique lighthouses. The biggest town along the lake is Oshkosh, located on the western edge. The far southern edge of Lake Winnebago is slightly more than an hour’s drive from Madison, Wisconsin, where FMCA members will meet for the 92nd Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase July 29-August 1.
Family Motor Coach Association members who are “flying” to Madison, Wisconsin, to attend the next Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, July 29-August 1, may want to land for a while in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Oshkosh is approximately 86 miles north of Madison (a 1-hour-and-40-minute drive) near beautiful Lake Winnebago.
Miles of motorhomes will converge in Madison, Wisconsin, toward the end of July and make that city a capital for fun. The reason? FMCA is holding its 92nd Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase at the city's Alliant Energy Center, July 29-August 1.
Do you travel with young children or grandchildren? If so, you’ll want to know that planning is well under way for the Youth Program at FMCA's Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase July 29-August 1 in Madison, Wisconsin. We are scheduling outings for children between 6 and 16 years of age.