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My wife and I decided that when staying in a campground, we should have a means of quickly summoning help to our RV during an emergency. So, I ordered two key fobs online for less than $4. In less than a minute, I programmed them to activate our Ford F-150 pickup. Using hook-and-loop straps, we mounted one fob over the bed and one by the entry door. Now, in an emergency we can press the alarm button on a fob and cause our truck’s lights to flash and the horn to blow continuously. This alerts people to check on us and also directs emergency personnel to our location.

Despite an interruption in their travels, this couple never lost their enthusiasm for RVing or the special camaraderie they enjoyed with other motorhomers.
 

Little did we know 40 years ago when we purchased our first camper, a 16-foot travel trailer, that we would be enjoying the RV lifestyle as we are today. Since we first towed our little Fleetwing to county parks for the weekend, we have owned seven RVs, each one a bit bigger than the last. Six years ago we sold our primary residence and became full-time motorhomers.

My parents, Henry (Hank) and Kathleen Baron, F908, were part of what could be called FMCA’s “first generation.” In 1963, with hard work and an exceptional spirit and vision of family fun and opportunities, this couple from Edina, Minnesota, converted a 1946 Aerocoach bus into a 33-foot motorhome.

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Perhaps you’re enjoying the warmth of Arizona, and your working years are in your life’s rearview mirror. But now, you may be searching for something new to do. Or maybe you’re still in the thick of employment, and your beloved motorhome is going nowhere as a result.

Check out the latest RV Products for May 2017!

Get the lastest news and notes for May 2017.

The Wendlands recently experienced damage to their motorhome as a result of a chunk of tire thrown up by a semi, prompting them to be more aware of highway debris and to advocate for change.

From side dishes to entrees, menu choices abound.  

Do you have an “RV blooper” that you’d like to share?

Follow these recommendations to keep your motorhome rolling along safely.

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.

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).

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Recall Corner

The following companies have recalls delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Forest River, Rev Recreation Group, Thor Motor Coach.

Odor Origins

Dear RV Doctor:

I attended one of your recent motorhome maintenance talks. You spoke about ways to reduce or eliminate sewer odor. One recommendation was to replace the P-traps with HepvO waterless sanitary valves. While I can see the value in getting rid of gray-water odor, I thought the real sewer odors came from the black-water system, which just has the toilet connected to it. I have not used a motorhome yet, so all of this is theoretical for me, although I have smelled it in marine pplications. Can you please clarify?

The Cuatro Estados chapter held its 30th anniversary rally September 9 through 14, 2016, at Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The park maintains the look and feel of a trading post from the 1950s and ’60s. Forty-six people attended the anniversary party on September 11.