On May 20, 1927, the Spirit of St. Louis, loaded to the brim with gasoline, lumbered down the runway at Roosevelt Airfield in Garden City, New York. With its single engine roaring, it strained to lift into the air, touched down again, lifted once more, and finally struggled off the ground, climbing slowly.
Archives
-
-
Motorhomers who make their way to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul for FMCA’s 80th International Convention, July 14 through 17, 2008, will find one of the highlights of the event is the impressive lineup of seminars presented.
-
Folks who “Navigate To The North Star State” for FMCA’s 80th International Convention, July 14 through 17, 2008, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, should keep their schedules clear for the evening hours, as they won’t want to miss the incredible entertainment lineup.
-
Greetings from Cincinnati, Ohio. As I write this month’s column, we are in the final two days of committee meetings at the FMCA national office. During the meetings, we stay at the FMCA campground at 3590 Round Bottom Road, located next to the building that houses FMCA’s Member Services Department. Since the campground is my current home, I thought this would be an appropriate time to bring you up-to-date on the functions and responsibilities of that department.
-
On April 2, 2008, FMCA reached a milestone in its history. William and Linda Lancaster joined FMCA and were assigned membership number F400000 by the FMCA computer. It’s impressive that in the association’s 45-year history, more than 400,000 families have joined FMCA.
-
Spider stopper
When I read Sally Peterson’s question in the January 2008 issue (“Unwanted Guests,” page 26) about spiderweb prevention, I thought of the advice given to us when we bought our first RV, which worked out very well. Purchase a dog or cat flea collar and cut it into pieces. Place the pieces in all the different compartments . . .
-
Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. has announced two separate NHTSA recalls.
The first is recall 08V130000, which affects certain 2008 and 2009 Pulse and Icon type C motorhomes manufactured from October 26, 2007, through February 29, 2008. The potential number of units involved is 166.
-
Water leaks
Dear RV Doctor:
Unfortunately, my husband did not properly winterize our 1986 Southwind. When we fill the fresh water tank, we have no problems, but when the water pump goes on, the leaks start. -
Slideout measuring stick
My type A motorhome has a single slideout on each side of the vehicle. I took a wooden yardstick and put marks on it to denote how far each of the slideouts extends. Now, when I pull into a narrow RV parking spot, I use the yardstick to determine whether I can extend the slideouts safely.
-
It all started with an invitation dated October 18, 1965. It began, “Dear Minnesota FMCA members,” and it was from Don Beissel, the FMCA national director at the time, who lived in St. Paul.
-
Camera/Binocular Strap
The Superbungee Camera/Binocular Strap from Skooba Design is said to make carrying a camera or binoculars around your neck more comfortable.
-
National Park Centennial Projects Begin
Â
The first round of national park improvement projects, funded by a combination of public and private funds under President Bush’s National Park Centennial Initiative, began this spring. -
FMCA’s Finance Committee has a broad level of responsibilities. Committee members need to have a firm understanding of FMCA’s financial affairs, serve as a board of review for budgets and salaries proposed by the executive director, recommend investment consultant(s) and review investment performance, and serve on the Audit Committee.
-
Writer and naturalist John Muir is one of our favorite outdoors enthusiasts. He’s been called a “Wilderness Prophet,” as well as the “Father of our National Parks.”
-
Birds tend to be found in predictable locations, and as experienced birdwatchers, we usually look for them in those places. Hawks soar on thermals, and ducks congregate in clusters on lakes and ponds. But the wood duck, as its name implies, is sometimes found on the branch of a tree.
-
New Wireless Phone Laws In California
When driving in California, motorhomers had better think twice before using their cellular phones, unless it’s for emergency purposes or they’re using a hands-free headset.
-
Rating campgrounds
Dear Editor:
The article titled “Campground Hospitality” in the April 2008 issue (page 78) was interesting to read. After seven years of motorhoming, we finally stayed at our first KOA this winter and had a very positive experience, as the writer did. -
Committees! Who needs them? Aren’t they just a bunch of people sitting around arguing about one thing or another? Well, actually, in order to get many things done, FMCA’s Executive Board relies heavily upon the work of its various committees.
-
My family enjoys RVing, as well as fishing, boating, and kayaking. For years, we faced a decision before every motorhome trip: whether to tow the boat or the car behind the coach. We couldn’t take both, and it often came down to leaving the boat behind or renting one at our destination.Â
-
This luxurious diesel pusher stands out among others in its price range by boasting a floor plan with five slideouts, while receiving high marks for handling and cargo capacity.
-
Motorhomers enjoyed a late-February sojourn in Pomona, California, as they participated in FMCA’s 79th International Convention.
-
A capital assortment of attractions fills St. Paul, Minnesota, home to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, where FMCA’s 80th International Convention will take place.
-
Members are the blood flowing through the arteries and veins of FMCA. We’re constantly replenishing our supply, but we’re losing even more than we gain. This is not healthful. We all need not only to recruit new members, but we must learn how to retain them.
-
A slow-paced, back-to-nature experience awaits RV travelers along the state’s western edge.
-
Budgeting is a way of life for most RVers, whether you’re new to the traveling life or are an experienced snowbird. Saving money as you travel will provide a bit of extra cash to use for fun. And who can say no to that? Here are a few money-saving tips from seasoned roadies.
-
Understanding the workings of your propane system and how to keep it operating properly can help you enjoy safe, trouble-free performance from your motorhome’s appliances.
-
I must admit I was a bit worried about what sort of report I’d give you in this month’s column, because I knew I’d be writing about the 79th International Convention in Pomona, California, the first convention that I was responsible for as FMCA president. Boy, was my apprehension misplaced.
-
For many years, Flying J Travel Plazas have been offering holders of the Flying J R.V. Real Value Card a penny discount on the purchase of gasoline and diesel fuel. The Flying J R.V. Real Value Card also entitled you to a 5-cent-per-gallon discount on all propane purchases.
-
Coach Connection
I was hoping you could recommend a motorhome transportation company or companies that could move my motorhome (which isn’t running right now) from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Amarillo, Texas.
-
Country Coach Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 08V119000, which affects some 2004 to 2008 Affinity, Intrigue, and Magna motorhomes manufactured from May 2003 through January 2008.
-
Growling Oven
Dear RV Doctor:
I have an Atwood RV range. It is a Wedgewood model. I’m curious why the oven sometimes makes a growling sound rather than the smooth hissing sound that an LP-gas oven usually makes. -
Tow Bar Pin Reminder
Some of the simplest things we learn from experience. Returning home from a trip, we were flagged down by a passing motorist who noticed that the car we were towing was weaving. After stopping we discovered that one of the pins that connect our tow bar to the towed vehicle was missing.
-
Multifunctional Handheld GPS
The ONIX 400 handheld GPS receiver from Bushnell Outdoor Products is touted in product literature as the first to include satellite photography as well as XM NavWeather coupled with XM Satellite Radio.
-
RV Toy Book
Family Motor Coaching readers who recall an article about RV toys in the September 2006 issue (“RV Toys: Not Just Child’s Play,” page 92) may enjoy a new book written by the same authors, FMCA members John Brunkowski and Michael Closen
-
The coasts of the United States are rich in lighthouses. We’ve always enjoyed visiting lights, photographing them, and learning their history. But with more than 800 lighthouses to choose from, it’s tough to see them all.
-
Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap. Experts say you can tell what a woodpecker is doing by listening to the speed and frequency of its drumming. Tap, tap, tap. Quiet, irregular drumming occurs when the bird is harvesting insects.
-
Few foods are more versatile for cooking on the go than tuna. Carry it fresh, frozen, or in cans or pouches. Serve it hot or cold, fancy or plain. Make a simple meal from a can of tuna and a pile of crackers.
-
Ultra-Low-Sulfur-Diesel Date Compliance Correction
The article titled “Ultra-Low-Sulfur Diesel Fuel†in the April 2008 issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine(page 62) incorrectly stated that all diesel fueling stations in the United States and Canada are now selling …
-
Under the premise that Frustrated Maestros do not need a reason to make music together, just a chance to play, Pete Eckhardt, president and music director of the Frustrated Maestros Eastern Sharps and Flats chapter, decided to create such an opportunity.
-
-
With a little planning and some common courtesy, you and overnight motorhome guests can get along.
-
Ever stay at a campground and wish you didn’t have to leave? Or, conversely, have you ever left a park wishing your experience had been better? Well, coming soon to a campground near you may be a chance to provide feedback about your stay.
-
More than 700 rural islands make up Washington’s San Juan Archipelago, and four of those — Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and San Juan — are reachable in about an hour by auto ferry. Your motorhome can go, too.
-
If the letters we’ve received in the past year or so are any indication, most of you already know that any diesel engine manufactured after January 1, 2007, must use ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel. In addition, diesel fuel suppliers and stations …
-
The Type B is the smallest self-contained motorhome. Appealing fuel economy ratings and a growing list of interior amenities are among the attractive attributes of today's Type Bs. They also have the extra advanatage of fitting into parking spaces sized for standard automobiles. In this roundup …
-
Just about anyone who has seen the 1977 science fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind will think about it when they first see Devils Tower, located in northeastern Wyoming. But after you park your motorhome in the lot, thoughts of alien spaceships fade to black.
-
Probably one of the sweetest things about small children is the tiny shoes they wear. Use these tricks to make cute little boots even more precious.
-
Along the banks of a north Florida river lies a park set aside to honor America’s first popular songwriter.
-
Nearly 20 years after the release of Field of Dreams, visitors still come to the Iowa site where the beloved movie was filmed.
-
Probably the most visible and welcome benefit of membership in FMCA is the magazine that arrives in our mailboxes each month. From the very beginning, the founders of FMCA realized that the association needed a tool for communicating with its members.