On the Rail Runner Express, the “beep-beep†sound that signifies that the doors are closing brings to mind the Warner Brothers cartoon “Roadrunner.†The train accelerates, and in a matter of minutes the houses and commerce of Albuquerque disappear. … Eighty minutes later, the train pulls into the historic depot in Santa Fe.
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There’s not much excitement about a four-story high-rise condo (with a view) unless it’s called Pueblo Bonito and is one of the several that are found in Chaco Canyon. Here, massive stone buildings with hundreds of rooms — called “great houses” — are bound to keep fascinating visitors for years.
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Following are a few crafts that you can create by using old puzzle pieces. You can make some just for yourself and a few friends, or you can produce a whole batch and sell them at the next rally craft boutique.
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One theme keeps running through all of the conversations and all of the gatherings and meetings with members. Memories! We have listened and participated in many conversations with many members, and on every occasion, memories come up.Â
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From Father To Son
Dear Editor:
My wife and I have traveled the country by car and camper and now are continuing to do so in a 28-foot Four Winds motorhome. My dad passed his love of travel on to me. I’m using his FMCA family member number, F546, with the “S” on it for “son.” -
Hybrid Towables
I noticed that there are several vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions that can be flat-towed. …Also, I noticed there are a few hybrids that are flat towable. We are interested in getting a hybrid that is automatic and flat towable.
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Caterpillar Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 09E020000, which affects 2003 through 2009 Caterpillar C15 diesel engines manufactured from April 1, 2003, to December 31, 2006, with serial number prefixes BSX, MXS, NXS. The potential number of engines involved is 147,777.
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Barely Moving
Dear RV Doctor:
We just purchased a 2005 motorhome with three slideouts that have rack-and-pinion electric mechanisms. The large living room slideout lifted up awkwardly, went out less than halfway, and made loud noises. We retracted it and tried extending it again, but it would only go out halfway and made both clunking and clicking noises. -
Keeping Critters Away
We spent this past summer in the mountains of Utah, which is just loaded with chipmunks and ground squirrels that would love nothing more than to make a nest inside or under our motorhome. To solve this problem, my husband, George, took the old moth-ball-in-the-storage-compartments trick one step further.
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On August 1, 1984, a group of 35 motorhomers who were single met and formed the Singles International (SI) chapter of FMCA. …Through the years the chapter has continued to serve the needs of motorhoming singles throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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Gloves
Mechanix Wear Inc. Cold Weather Gloves are designed to make working during the cold winter months easier and more comfortable.
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Heritage Motor Coach Resort Announces Grand Opening
Developers of Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama, celebrated the grand opening of the new resort on November 13, 2009.
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When we think of artists, it’s usually for the work they produced. Imagine how much more you could appreciate their work if you had a better understanding of the person who created it. And what better way than to visit the artist’s working studio/home? Here are 13 places where you can see fine art and the environment that brought it about.
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Rest areas have been a part of the United States’ interstate highway system since it was created in 1956. But now motorists might have to drive farther to find a rest stop, and even then it might not be open. States are cutting back on rest areas because of budget constraints.
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Describe a romantic site or getaway you’ve traveled to by motorhome.
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The listings below will serve as the beginning of your search for a place to take your wheels, your willing hands, and your heart. It takes time and patience to do the research and follow-ups required to find the right volunteer role for you.
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Family Motor Coaching magazine’s annual guide to flat-towable vehicles include cars, trucks, and SUVs that have been approved by their manufacturers for flat towing behind a motorhome without major modications.
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Gals On The Go
Dear Editor:
I have to respond to Donna Mollan’s terrific article, “Ladies, Get Behind The Wheel!” (December 2009, page 56), to agree with her statement that women must learn to drive motorhomes. -
Coach Tires
I am experiencing some abnormal wear on the front tires of my 2005 Fleetwood Bounder 38N. These are the original tires and have only 25,000 miles on them. I first noticed the wear approximately a year ago and had them inspected by a tire dealer. The wear is occurring primarily on the second rib in from the outside of the tire.
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Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 09V437000, which affects 2007 through 2009 model-year Roadtrek RSAD, RSAF, SSAD, and SSAF Type B motorhomes built on Sprinter chassis and manufactured between November 9, 2007, and September 30, 2009. The potential number of motorhomes involved is 520.
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Moving Forward
Dear RV Doctor:
I recently purchased a 2003 motorhome. I have emptied the black water holding tank and noticed we still get a bad odor when driving. I do not notice the odor when the unit is parked. Do you have any suggestions on how to correct this problem? -
Travel Planner
As you plan a trip route and your overnight stops, you also need to figure out what campgrounds are located in the area where you will be stopping. Sometimes we can remember the name of a campground that we’ve stayed at before but little else about the facility. To help us organize our campground information…
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Universal Remote
Replace the multiple remote controls needed to operate the audiovisual components in your motorhome with the Acoustic Research Xsight Touch universal remote from Audiovox Accessories Corporation.
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Tiffin Motorhomes Debuts Compact Type A
Tiffin Motorhomes introduced the 28-foot Allegro Breeze Type A motorhome during the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky, this past December. The new model is 17 feet shorter than the company’s top-of-the-line Zephyr but only 9.5 feet longer than a Chevrolet Suburban.
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If you have owned more than one motorhome, which has been your favorite, and why?
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This story goes back a ways, but you can learn from it. My old man sure did. He learned never to trust my driving again, especially in a motorhome.
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Membership in the Family Motor Coach Association brings with it a wealth of benefits that are of value to the motorhome traveler. All FMCA members should take the time to read through this guide to ensure that they are taking advantage of everything their association has to offer.
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Great museums and attractions await FMCA members who visit New Mexico’s largest city this March for the association’s 83rd International Convention.
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Tourism folks say that north-central New Mexico is among the most popular regions for visitors, and it’s easy to see why. The views, high in the mountain desert, have become part of Americans’ expectations of what the West is all about, where dramatic sunsets and ancient Indian pueblos have inspired artisans for centuries.Â
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Thousands of FMCA members will assemble in Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 22 through 25 to celebrate the motorhome lifestyle during the “Albuquerque Fiesta,†FMCA’s 83rd International Convention. And what a party it will be!
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There’s no question that Daytona Beach, Florida, is often associated with NASCAR and racing of many kinds and types. But you will discover when visiting this seaside destination that Daytona is much more than that. After the race fans have gone and this oceanfront playground returns to its usual, laid-back self, the other side of its personality emerges.Â
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Whom should you contact for travel information when planning a motorhome trip? To answer that question, the staff at FMC has compiled this list of tourism offices in the United States and Canada. The following information was accurate as of December 2009.
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FMC magazine’s January 2010 Motorhome Regulations chart contains the following information for all 50 U.S. States and the Canadian provinces and territories: speed limit, length, height, width, combined length, license type required, and reciprocity granted (for license).
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Somewhere around mile marker 55 of life, many people begin to notice a few rattles, pings, and knocks coming from their mental engine. At times, that hot-rod brain that served them so well in their youth can perform more like a rusty jalopy as the years go by.
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Happy 2010 to you! I hope that all of you have a healthy, happy new year and, for that matter, had a good holiday season.
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Chapter members in 81 motorhomes (plus some who stayed at a nearby motel) traveled to the York Fairgrounds in York, Pennsylvania, for the Penn Coachmen chapter’s 40th anniversary rally Thursday, August 13, through Sunday, August 16, 2009.
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Although it may be difficult to appreciate the concept while you’re at the operating end of a snow shovel, ice crystals and the snowflakes they form are things of beauty, often perfectly symmetrical — sometimes simple, other times wonderfully complex.
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When you see an FMCA goose egg affixed to a motorhome in a campground, why not get acquainted with the folks who own the coach and swap recipes? These great ideas come from FMCA members who excel at good cooking.
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Shortly after we moved to the Southwest, the real adventures began. At ages 65 and 67, with neither of us having ever owned an RV before, Sandy and I pooled funds again and bought a new 32-foot motorhome.
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A bright butterfly flashes by you, and then another of dazzling brilliance comes along. You realize you are in a most uncommon place. Such are the sights along a side street in Homosassa, Florida.
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Jayco has nicknamed the 2010 Precept the “Escape Artist.†Since this Type C motorhome is based on the popular and economical Sprinter chassis, Escape Artist is a solid and succinct sobriquet for this high-mileage hustler, which I had an opportunity to inspect at a recent Las Vegas RV show.
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It is a stunning place, with grand vistas and enticing alcoves. Its colors sometimes resemble the work of a mad artist who shoveled his paint on the canvas with a trowel. At other times, it appears to be the work of a careful beautician combining just the right hue of base and final makeup for maximum enhancement.
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In the world of RVing, I have heard many myths about certain tasks that are said to be gender-specific. Many women have commented that driving their motorhome would intimidate them. They fear that their husbands would criticize their driving and that operating a motorhome is not a feminine thing.
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Like the names of so many places across North America, Kissimmee is an American Indian word that melodically resonates on the tongue. (It’s pronounced with the accent on the second syllable.) The word is thought to mean “long water” in the original. Lake Kissimmee is also a place that offers easily …
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By understanding how your motorhome’s slideouts work, and taking the time to maintain them, you can enjoy trouble-free operation for years.
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Good old-fashioned spelling bees are not just for kids anymore. Adult spelling bees can be great entertainment at happy hours, fundraisers, and even chapter rallies. The largest and most renowned adult spelling competition is the AARP National Spelling Bee.
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Workhorse Chassis Brake Clarification
The “W22 Brake Caliper Overheating†letter in the November 2009 Tech Talk column included information about an Office of Defects (ODI) investigation relating to Bosch front disc brake caliper problems on certain Workhorse chassis.
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Slideout Awnings
Some of the awnings over my slideouts are loose on the ends, but tight in the middle. When the wind starts to blow, the ends flap and create noise inside the motorhome.
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A Flawed Finish
Dear RV Doctor:
We purchased a 1992 Coachmen Type A motorhome about four years ago. Since it is parked outside all the time, 90 percent of the clear-coat finish has peeled off (except for the bumpers), and the decals have faded and are severely cracked. -
Emergency Information Card
In the event we were ever in an accident while sightseeing away from our motorhome, no one would know the name of the campground where it was parked. So I created an information card that we carry …Â