Prior to finalizing the sale of its motorhome division in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. announced NHTSA recall 09V237000, which affects 2005 and 2006 model year Bounder 35E Type A motorhomes manufactured from May 14, 2004, to March 27, 2006.
Archives
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All Cracked Up
Dear RV Doctor:
My living room window was broken when our deck table fell through it during a storm. Do you have to take the whole window out to fix it? It was the bottom portion of the window that broke. -
Awning Elevation
To keep rain from accumulating on my motorhome’s slideout awnings, I decided to blow things up. That is, I began using inflatable rafts.
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Auto aromatherapy
According to product literature, the Karoma line of auto aromatherapy diffusers provides a variety of mood-enhancing scents that will transform your driving routine into a rejuvenating experience.
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Fleetwood Names Indiana New Headquarters, Revamps Web Site
In July 2009, Fleetwood Enterprises’ motorhome division and Goldshield Fiberglass operation were purchased by private-equity firm American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV LP. On August 19, 2009, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from Fleetwood RV Inc. to celebrate the company’s plant reopening in Decatur, Indiana.
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Some small towns in the Western United States became more captivating when their residents left. We call them ghost towns. Even though some brave souls still live in these desolate towns, many are completely deserted, while others have been turned into tourist attractions.Â
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Sitting here in Essex Junction, Vermont, writing this column and watching FMCA members enjoying another great Northeast Area Rally brings to mind what we are all about. We are about each other.Â
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As you are traveling, or possibly as you are planning your travels, you can contact any of these identified members for assistance and support while you are on the road. I have heard wonderful stories of individuals who have taken these members up on their offers and have found the true meaning of family.
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More than a year in advance, several members from The Dolphins chapter gathered to begin planning the group’s 20th anniversary rally. The team set a goal to make the rally a memorable event, and all indications are that the goal was achieved.
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Before jumping in headfirst and suffering the consequences, here are several tips and cautions to help you separate real work-at-home opportunities from pie-in-the-sky scams.
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What follows in this article are steps you should take to winterize your motorhome and protect all of its vital systems, so the vehicle is ready to roll once the trees start budding again.
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There are a few areas of concern on the motorhome that are applicable regardless of whether the vehicle is stored or utilized over the course of a cold winter. Consider the following …
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If you’re the audacious type, winter RVing is not only doable but encouraged! Take the necessary precautions … and you should be able to enjoy your motorhome in even the chilliest winter weather.
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As you turn up the heat and bundle up in extra clothing, don’t forget that your dog or cat may need some extra care also. Having a fur coat doesn’t ensure that it is properly protected from inclement weather.
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The Born Free 20’ Built-For-Two Mini is a full-service Type C motorhome with all of the systems and appointments one expects to find in a larger coach.Â
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Several FMCA members have contacted FMC recently to report problems involving defective rear suspension trailing arms on motorhomes manufactured by the former Monaco Coach Corporation (MCC) and built on Roadmaster R4R and RR4R chassis equipped with the Monaco Gold (also known as R-Way)
suspension. -
Currently, the registry has listings for nearly 7,800 of the 12,921 GMC motorhomes produced between 1973 and 1978.
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Fortunately, for today’s modern RVers, Death Valley doesn’t present the hardship and danger it did for the early settlers or the gold and silver prospectors, although you still have to give the valley its due respect.
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Following are abbreviated resumes for the national vice presidents recently elected or re-elected for the 2009-2011 term.
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2009 Towing Guide Correction
“Towables For 2009†(January 2009, page 50) contained an error in the chart section of he story regarding towing the Chevrolet Traverse (page 53). The chart should have indicated that the Traverse is flat-towable when in all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. -
W22 Brake Caliper Overheating
We own a 2004 National RV Dolphin on a W22 Workhorse chassis manufactured in December 2003. It is among those included in an Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) notice as having a front brake caliper problem.
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Leisure Travel Vans has announced NHTSA recall 09V314000, which affects 2008 Free Spirit 210B and Free Spirit LSS Type B motorhomes manufactured between May 2007 and December 2008. The potential number of motorhomes involved is 40.
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Frustrating Fly Infestation
Dear RV Doctor:
I just purchased my first motorhome earlier this year, a used 38-foot Damon. I have what seems like fruit flies breeding in the black water holding tank. I do not have this problem with the gray water holding tank. Whenever I push the flush foot pedal, the flies come swarming up out of the commode. -
Shoebox Organizers
Don’t throw away those empty shoeboxes. They are great to use in your cabinets to keep small items, such as canned goods, from moving around while you’re driving. -
RV cord sets
Furrion 30-amp and 50-amp power cords now include a patented PullSmart plug handle that is designed to provide a quick, easy, and safe disconnect from the power source, even in wet conditions.
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Caravan Salon 2009 Enjoys Record Turnout
Organizers of Caravan Salon 2009, an international trade fair for recreation vehicles and camping equipment, reported record participation at this year’s event, held August 29 through September 6, 2009, in Düsseldorf, Germany.
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What famous person would you like to go motorhoming with, and why?
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Greetings, FMCA friends. I would like to focus this month’s column on two important items. The first relates to the 65 percent of our Family Motor Coach Association members who do not belong to chapters. Chapter membership has its own rewards and benefits, just like your membership in the association.
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At the July Governing Board meeting held during FMCA’s 82nd International Convention in Bowling Green, Ohio, some dynamic changes to the structure and opportunities of chapters were made.
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That is how we met Ed and Dorothy Casada, L1404, of Highland, Indiana. The Casadas, both 85, have been members of FMCA for 42 years, having joined in March 1967. They had purchased their first motorhome, a 27-foot Dodge, a year earlier, and some friends recommended that they join FMCA.
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More than 1,300 species of mistletoe have been identified worldwide, and although some live on only one type of plant, many are less particular. But they all grow on the branches of trees or shrubs and can’t survive on their own.
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These easy, tasty recipes will bring “back home again in Indiana†nostalgia to your next motorhome trip.Â
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Last year, an article on FMCA.com and in Family Motor Coaching magazine (“A Caveat For Consignment Sellers,†August 2008) reported that typical RV insurance policies contain an exclusion pertaining to motorhomes placed on a consignment lot.
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Motorhomes are built with numerous safety features and protection devices designed to keep the occupants and the vehicle secure. However, if you are unfamiliar with these safeguards and how they work, they can lead to quite a bit of frustration.
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If you haven’t yet brought your children or grandchildren to an FMCA international convention, and, specifically, to participate in FMCA’s convention Youth Program, you don’t know what you are missing.
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In mid-July, FMCA members enrolled in college. They spent hours in class, relaxed in the student union, participated in extracurricular events on campus, and gathered at parties and other social hours. This special session was termed the “Bowling Green Bash,†FMCA’s 82nd International Convention…
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Tiffin Motorhomes puts bunk beds, four slideouts, and pass-through basement storage into this entry-level rear-engine diesel model.
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There isn't much you can do to change the price of fuel, but there are things you can do to coax more mileage out of each gallon of fuel you pump into your motorhome. By implementing one or more of the fuel-saving ideas below, you can make your fill-ups last longer, extend your travel plans, and save money.
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According to the American Pain Foundation, more than 26 million Americans between the ages of 26 and 64 experience frequent back pain. Couple a sensitive back with a day seated in a motorhome, and back pain can really prevent you from enjoying your travels.
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If you’re intrigued by American history, take time to explore the village of Sandwich, Massachusetts, one of the most picturesque and historic villages in the land of the Pilgrims.
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Norcold Recall Clarification
The “Recall Corner†column in the July 2009 issue (page 20) included information regarding two Norcold refrigerator recalls. Both involve the cooling units.Â
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Toilet Paper
We used the “right brand†of toilet paper for quite a while, but then something happened and apparently we switched brands. That did not sit well in the black water holding tank. So, can you tell us what the right brand of toilet paper is?
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Newmar Corporation has announced NHTSA recall 09V260000, which affects 2008 Kountry Star diesel pusher; 2008 and 2009 All-Star mid-engine and Ventana diesel pusher; and 2009 and 2010 Dutch Star diesel pusher motorhomes manufactured from April 16, 2007, to April 22, 2009.
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Rubber Or Wax
Dear RV Doctor:
I am replacing the closet flange seal under the toilet in my coach. I need to know how the seal goes in. Does it sit in the flange ring on the floor? Or do you first fit it around the toilet horn? The old seal was just sitting on top of the floor. Is that the right way to install it? -
Bulb-Changing Tool
My motorhome has very small halogen light fixtures, and my fingers are too big to remove the bulbs.Â
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All-purpose knife
The new 460 Gamut knife from Buck Knives is a versatile knife that has myriad uses.
The Gamut may look like an 8 1/2-inch fixed-blade knife, but the partially serrated 3 7/8-inch clip blade folds into a compact 4 5/8-inch size that’s easy for carrying in its nylon sheath. -
Pleasure-Way Passes Production Milestone
Pleasure-Way Industries, based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, announced the completion of its 10,000th motorhome on May 27, 2009.
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The theme for the 2009 Great Lakes Area Spring Spree, also known as the G.L.A.S.S. Rally, held May 21 through 25 at the Berrien County Youth Fairground in Berrien Springs, Michigan, was “Let’s Race In Time at G.L.A.S.S. 2009.â€