April 2017

When it was time to part with their 16-year-old Type C motorhome and get a new one, Chuck and Susan Speyerer, F384878, couldn’t find a replacement they liked. So Chuck decided to build his own.

Less than three weeks before Houston, Texas, hosted the 2017 Super Bowl, members of the WesTex chapter held a rally in the area. The rally, from January 17 to 20 at Advanced RV Resort in Pearland, was attended by 39 chapter members. Hosts John and Virginia

The Monaco Northwest chapter held its fall 2016 rally at O’Sullivan Sportsman Resort in Othello, Washington, from September 12 to 16. Kathie Balogh, FMCA national vice president, Northwest Area, presented the chapter with its 30-year certificate.

Towing A Silverado

In the owners manual for my 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the flat towing instructions say to remove the negative battery cable. How do I get power to the Even Brake to stop the truck?

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Apps For The RVer

Convenient, helpful, and even safety-enhancing programs are available for your smartphone or tablet.

Perhaps the biggest change we’ve seen in our five years of very active RVing is how apps for our smartphones and tablets have come to be essential to our motorhome lifestyle.

Snowbirds Assist Habitat For Humanity

Snowbirds staying at Rincon Country West RV Resort in Tucson, Arizona, spend part of their winters building Habitat for Humanity houses. During the winter of 2015-16, volunteers helped build 14 homes for low-income families; this past winter, they helped construct 13 more.

Packing Cubes

A meticulously organized motorhome maximizes space and minimizes stress. Which is where Mumi packing cubes come in. Made of 70 percent laminated nylon fabric and 30 percent nylon mesh, the cubes can be used to store clothing, jewelry, batteries, cables, and more.

Vintage Birds

“It’s not old; it’s vintage!” is the motto of these owners of Blue Bird motorhomes.

Do you recall the beautiful bus-style Blue Bird Wanderlodge? If so, you may also remember that these motorhomes were built at the Blue Bird plant in Fort Valley, Georgia.

In November 2016, members of the Allegheny Mountain chapter were saddened by news of the devastating wildfires that were consuming thousands of acres in the beautiful Gatlinburg, Tennessee, area and much of Sevier County. The flames caused 14 deaths, nearly 200 injuries, and hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. One chapter member went online, found the phone number of a church in the affected area, and called to see whether it was providing direct help to fire victims. That call resulted in one of those small miracles we often take for granted.

Napkin Holder

At a table setting, it’s easy to present a paper napkin in a pretty butterfly shape. Just slip the folded napkin through the tines of a fork. The napkin will be safer from breezes, too. Similarly, you can use the tines of a fork to hold a recipe card. Also, placing the edge of a crisp taco shell into the tines keeps the shell upright while it’s being filled.

2017 Continental Not Flat-Towable

The 2017 Lincoln Continental is not approved for four-wheels-down towing, a Lincoln spokesman confirmed in a February 17 email to Family Motor Coaching. That is a reversal from the information published in the 2017 Lincoln owners manual (first printing) and in the Ford/Lincoln 2017 RV & Trailer Towing Guide.

It’s Time To Go RVing!

For those who placed their motorhomes in mothballs for the winter, April often is the time when thoughts turn to prepping it for spring travels and hitting the road. In case you missed it, last month’s issue of the magazine contained an article about “dewinterizing” an RV and getting it ready for the travel season ahead (page 46).

FMCA’s Future

Hello, My Fellow FMCA Family. We recently sent some vital information to members of FMCA’s Governing Board and to chapter presidents that we want to share with the entire membership via my column this month.

Follow these recommendations to keep your motorhome rolling along safely.