November 2015
Born Free Founder John N. Dodgen Dies
Shortly after he founded Born Free Motorcoach in 1969, John N. Dodgen decided to test the company’s first prototype motorhome by driving to British Columbia with his family. They had traveled only 20 miles north of Born Free’s Humboldt, Iowa, factory, when a store clerk told Mr. Dodgen a story that compelled him to turn around.
Shortly after he founded Born Free Motorcoach in 1969, John N. Dodgen decided to test the company’s first prototype motorhome by driving to British Columbia with his family. They had traveled only 20 miles north of Born Free’s Humboldt, Iowa, factory, when a store clerk told Mr. Dodgen a story that compelled him to turn around.
Tight-Grip Hangers
Maybe it’s not the most serious of motorhoming hang-ups, but it’s an aggravation, nonetheless: hangers that fall off the closet rod when you hit a rough patch of road, leaving clothes in a rumpled heap.
Seaside traditions and historical homes make this South Carolina city a popular destination.
Amid the bayous and crawfish, members of the GMC Motorhomes International chapter of FMCA gathered at the Patterson Civic Center and Kemper Williams Park in Patterson, Louisiana, from March 27 to April 2, 2015, to celebrate the unique motorhome and enjoy the hospitality of southern Louisiana. The chapter’s convention attracted more than 90 GMC motorhomes.
RVers can mitigate the negative effects of emergencies with some careful planning.
The Georgia Funseekers chapter of FMCA celebrated its 25th anniversary August 13-16, 2015, at the Charleston KOA in Ladson, South Carolina, a suburb of Charleston.
When the Gulf Coasters chapter holds a rally, it officially runs from Friday to Sunday, although members typically start arriving on Wednesday. Such was the case when the chapter held its 30th anniversary rally June 19-21, 2015, at Anchors Aweigh RV Resort in Foley, Alabama.
At a discount store, I spent $4 for four silver-colored sun shades, which came with suction cups. Each shade is 51 inches by 24 inches. They overlap to completely cover my windshield, and they are easy to install.
A/C Fan Runs Continuously
Dear RV Doctor:
We have a 1998 motorhome with an Airxcel air conditioner and a Coleman-Mach thermostat. The thermostat controls — low, high, and automatic fan — work fine. We are able to turn the unit off with the thermostat. The system cools and heats fine. Our problem is the unit will not turn off by itself no matter what temperature we set. What is the problem?
We have a 1998 motorhome with an Airxcel air conditioner and a Coleman-Mach thermostat. The thermostat controls — low, high, and automatic fan — work fine. We are able to turn the unit off with the thermostat. The system cools and heats fine. Our problem is the unit will not turn off by itself no matter what temperature we set. What is the problem?
A new motorhome based on the Ram ProMaster chassis joins the stable of Type B models produced by this Ontario, Canada, manufacturer.
Fiat Chrysler Addresses Jeep Issue
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has issued “Customer Satisfaction Notification P73,” which is directed at owners of certain 2005 through 2010 model-year Jeep Grand Cherokee and certain 2006 through 2010 model-year Jeep Commander vehicles equipped with a Quadra-Trac II full-time active four-wheel-drive transfer case. The notification may be of interest to FMCA members who tow those vehicles four wheels down behind a motorhome.
A museum recalling a nautical disaster, Johnny Cash’s newly opened boyhood home, and an Ernest Hemingway residence are within a few hours of each other.
The following companies have recalls delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Newmar Corporation, Thor Motor Coach, Winnebago Industries.
DC Wiring For CPAP Machine
Dear Editor:
In the September 2015 “Tech & Travel Tips” column (page 27), Ralph Fullenwider, F248513, describes how he installed an inverter to power a CPAP machine (“Inverter Addition”). We purchased a new motorhome in 2013 that, unlike our old coach, did not have an inverter. I also sleep with a CPAP machine, so we were faced with the same issue.
Adventures, misadventures, and fun shared by four widowed RVers determined to continue motorhoming.
The Yeatts household has established a wonderful Thanksgiving tradition over the past few years, opening our home to neighbors, friends, and family the day after Thanksgiving to enjoy a meal, share some laughter, and commemorate the beginning of a crazy holiday season.
Pioneers from the original American colonies found a paradise in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, a region called the Piedmont. Today the area around Morganton, North Carolina, lures motorhome travelers with scenic drives, a wine trail featuring five boutique wineries, state parks with leafy campsites, small-town festivals, and farm markets that spill over with local produce.
Don't you just love holidays? Those special days set aside on the calendar to remind us of the events, people, activities, or accomplishments that we are encouraged to commemorate and celebrate in various ways as a nation and as individuals. The next one coming up is on November 11, set aside as Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the United States.
One of the most interesting things about this motorhome lifestyle Jennifer and I have been part of for the past four years is the ease with which we have been making friends. In the culture at large these days, it’s not so easy to do. The world is hectic, way too fast-paced, impersonal.