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.
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Archives
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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
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Flashlight
The Gorillatorch from Joby Inc. is a hands-free flashlight that can be formed to attach to just about anything and provide illumination for any situation.
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Newell Coach Models Styled By Designer Jason Hill
Newell Coach Corporation, based in Miami, Oklahoma, announced that it has begun production of its 2011 models, with retail deliveries scheduled for the beginning of 2010. The new models feature updated styling by …
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We are looking ahead to a new year that introduces more motorhomers to FMCA than ever before. To help accomplish this goal, we are kicking off a recruitment campaign in earnest on January 1, 2010. It is called “A Dozen Does It.” For every 12 new FMCA members a chapter signs up, the chapter will receive a prize package.
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In 2008, when FMCA’s leaders worked on the budget for the 2009 calendar year, changes suggested to balance the budget included a proposal that members using the Mail Forwarding Service begin paying a portion of its associated costs.
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The “Oklahoma Pow-Wow,†the 36th edition of the Six-State Rally (also known as the South Central Area Rally), was a great success. Just as the American Indians powwow each year to celebrate their heritage, FMCA members gathered at the …
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Many people think of deserts as large areas of drifting sand, but actually only about two percent of North America’s deserts contain sand dunes. … Many dune areas are now state or national parks and monuments with easy access, but a few require travel on dirt roads. Always check locally before leaving the paved highways.
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This story isn’t about the latest equipment and accessories found in model-year 2010 motorhomes. This is a peek into the future, thanks to technology insiders who answered my call for a look into the crystal ball. … here are some predictions as to how full-timing will be safer, greener, and more fun in future years.
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On July 20, 2009, the Governing Board of FMCA approved the following Bylaws Amendments in Bowling Green, Ohio.
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These motorhomers from California have perfected the art of flat-towing their treasured classic automobiles.
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The luxury RV dream is a continuing reality, thanks to companies such as Marathon Coach, the world’s largest luxury bus converter and dealer.
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According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), every year approximately 480 people in the United States die from carbon monoxide poisoning, and another 15,200 end up in hospital emergency rooms from breathing this poisonous gas.Â
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Utah’s rugged, dramatic canyons and cliffs are beautifully revealed on this unparalleled trek.
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Once close to abandonment, this former mining town is now known for its history, shops, and restaurants — and an occasional ghost.
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From the city water inlet to the showerheads — and everything in between — learn how to keep your motorhome’s fresh water system in excellent condition.
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Las Vegas Motor Coach Resort Clarification
Dear Editor:
FMCA has a huge following among our 407 site owners here at Las Vegas Motor Coach Resort, so I received a number of calls from our owners regarding an error that appeared in the September 2009 “RV News & Notes†column (“Signature Resorts Acquired,†page 38). -
Blowout
I am writing to ask your advice about an accident I had June 7, 2009. I purchased my first motorhome, a 2004 40-foot Holiday Rambler Imperial, in April 2009 and used it on a couple of trips for about 3,000 miles. At the time of the accident, it had approximately 56,000 miles on it.