We’re flying down an unbending highway, 100 miles from nowhere in the vastness of southwestern Texas — near Big Bend National Park, to be precise. I’m wondering whether this is worth it, as we barrel along under a hard sky that fades out the prairie ahead.
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When properly placed and installed, awnings create shady areas that can substantially lower temperatures and increase the comfort level outside a motorhome. But they do even more by protecting surfaces from sun damage; reducing the need for air-conditioning; keeping rain from patio areas; and enhancing a motorhome’s visual appeal.
Motorhomers who attend FMCA’s summer Family Reunion will be so glad they get to stay awhile in Madison, Wisconsin, once they see it. This pretty city is situated between two lakes. Summer days bring fresh breezes, and nights reveal lights reflecting on the water.
East of Pomona, California, is a city full of homes built by wealthy citizens at the turn of the 20th century.
Thank you for your interest in subscribing to Family Motor Coaching magazine, the official publication of the Family Motor Coach Association. The magazine is free to FMCA members (no subscription…
The journey or the destination? This Type B motorhome from the Winnebago Touring Coach division just might satisfy both needs.
What is your main motivation for motorhome travel?Recent changes in the life insurance industry may be especially beneficial for full-timers. The trend is toward less red tape and lower rates, according to Brian Greenberg, president and founder of Scottsdale, Arizona-based True Blue Life Insurance, www.truebluelifeinsurance.com.
When I look back over the past three years and the 80,000 miles we have traveled in our small motorhome, I have one major regret. We should have started earlier, years ago, when the notion of exploring North America in a motorhome first grabbed hold of my soul.Marathon Plans To Increase ProductionThanks to strong sales in 2014, luxury bus converter Marathon Coach plans to increase production by 50 percent in 2015, with further growth expected in 2016, president and owner Steve Schoellhorn said.Collapsible BowlsWho doesn’t want more storage room in the RV? Prepworks Thinstore Collapsible Storage Bowls free up valuable space. They come in a set of three sizes. When not in use, the plastic bowls get smaller simply by pressing on them.The Suwannee Valley Vagabonds chapter marked its 25th anniversary with a rally January 9-11, 2015, at Oaks ’n’ Pines RV Park in Lake City, Florida.When their son and daughter competed on the rodeo circuit, Geraldine “Geri” Ann Innocenti and her husband, Tony, F56315, traveled by motorhome to events mostly within an hour of their Victoria, Texas, home.The Central Florida Roadrunners chapter gathered October 17-19, 2014, to celebrate its 40th anniversary at Travelers Rest RV Resort and Golf Course in Dade City, Florida. Twenty-five coaches attended.
Cost ComparisoIf you pay for electricity at a campsite but wonder whether it would be more economical to operate your refrigerator on propane, here’s how to make an approximate cost comparisonMultiple TV Failures
Dear RV Doctor:I have a 2010 Winnebago Aspect that I purchased new in 2011. I have been through three televisions. A TV repairperson checked them and said the inverters failed on all three. One repair technician found it odd that there is no insulation behind the entertainment center.The following company has a recall delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Newmar Corporation.Gen Set InfoThe December 2014 “Readers’ Forum” column (page 16) mentioned that any generator with two legs of 120 volts AC could be connected to provide 240 volts AC output. Twenty years ago I went through this with Onan, and they said the generator absolutely was not designed to do that.The Real Cost And Value Of Motorhoming
Dear Editor:In the February 2015 “RV News & Notes” column (page 45), you included the results of a study commissioned by Recreation Vehicle Industry Association about motorhome vacation cost versus other forms of vacation travel (“Motorhomes Shine In Vacation Cost Study”).My wife and I have enjoyed watching "NBC Nightly News" with anchor Brian Williams for many years. In fact, I try to make it home from the office in time to catch the familiar and soothing fanfare of John Williams' composition The Mission, which accompanies the opening credits of each broadcast.Well, here it is the first week of February, and I’m trying to write this column for the April issue of FMC magazine. From the time I am writing this to when you end up reading it, Gloria and I will have been to many places.
Whether you prefer land or water, you are sure to find “the real Florida” at this nature preserve near Sarasota.
Easter is not only a wonderful holiday to revisit your favorite springtime haunts, but it's also a time of creation and new life. The painted egg is one of its happiest symbols.
The area we call Zion National Park was designated a national monument in 1909. Ten years later, it was expanded and became a national park — Utah’s first.
Owning a motorhome allows us to seek out special places, and we frequently choose destinations that have played a role in history. Recently we visited Sky City on New Mexico's Acoma Pueblo …
These devices prevent breakers from tripping by monitoring power usage and adjusting electrical loads.
How do you monitor severe weather while you are traveling in the motorhome or parked at a campsite?Call them canapés, appetizers, or midnight snacks. Nibbles and noshes seem to be the first provisions to disappear during a motorhome trip. Snacks are also the likeliest place for diets to die and food budgets to bulge. Let’s try to do better than greasy potato chips and chemical-laden cheese crisps.For RVers, it’s difficult to find a more popular state than Florida. But it’s equally difficult to find a spot on the beach that isn’t crowded and built up with high-rises and condos as far as you can see in most directions. That’s why we have fallen in love with Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
Jayco Offers New Floor Plans
Jayco has introduced new floor plans for its Type C Redhawk and Type A Precept motorhome lines.Bottle, Can OpenerTwist tops, flip tops, and metal caps can be difficult to open on plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass bottles, especially for folks with limited hand strength or arthritis. Magic Opener perhaps can help.The Florida Roll’n Gators chapter holds an annual Christmas rally that traditionally has included a gift exchange, with members abiding by a $10 limit. But the December 10-14, 2014, rally at Silver Palms RV Resort in Okeechobee, Florida, was different.The Oregon River Ramblers chapter celebrated its 15th anniversary during a rally held September 12-14, 2014, at Port of Newport Marina RV Park in Newport, Oregon.The Lebanon Valley Expo Center & Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was the setting for the Penn Coachmen chapter’s 45th anniversary rally July 17-20, 2014. Seventy-six members attended. Ron and Carol Becker served as rally masters.The Lebanon Valley Expo Center & Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was the setting for the Penn Coachmen chapter’s 45th anniversary rally July 17-20, 2014. Seventy-six members attended. Ron and Carol Becker served as rally masters.The California Pacers chapter of FMCA marked its 25th anniversary with a rally from September 24-28, 2014, at Wine Country RV Resort in Paso Robles, California. The wonderful event was filled with fun and laughter, as are all of our rallies.Level ParkingWe all know the importance of the motorhome being relatively level when parked — for efficient operation of the refrigerator and also for comfort inside the RV. Normally, when settling in to a new site, the driver has to move the motorhome back and forth while the copilot stands next to the bubble levels inside and gives directions to help level the vehicle.Sticky Leveling SituationDear RV Doctor:We have a 2007 “new to us” Georgetown motorhome. We have used the Lippert Components leveling system five times — during the walk-around at the dealer when we picked it up (worked fine); that evening at a campground (worked fine); in our driveway a couple of weeks later (all jacks stuck down); camping a couple of weeks later (worked fine); and during an end-of-season trip (rear jacks stuck down).The following companies have recalls detailed in this month's column: Allied Recreation Group, Prevost Car Inc., Winnebago Industries Inc.Owners Manual InfoI have a 2011 Sportscoach Pathfinder. Have you seen a specific year and model owners manual for this coach? All I have is a generic motorhome manual from Coachmen for all types of motorized RVs, and it is too general in its content.CorrectionsFMCA 2014 Convention HistoryThe “FMCA Convention History” in the January 2015 issue (page 320), which lists previous FMCA convention dates, locations, and coach counts, erroneously indicated that the 89th and 90th Family Reunions in Perry, Georgia, and Redmond, Oregon, respectively, occurred in 2015.The late Jan Hooks was a comedian who became known for hilarious sketches on NBC-TV’s long-lived comedy show, “Saturday Night Live” (SNL). One of the most memorable performances of her time on this show was when she portrayed Brenda, a waitress who served a cowboy played by Alec Baldwin.
As the saying goes, time marches on. As I write this, national senior vice president Jon Walker, Gloria, and I have just left the Western Area Rally in Indio, California. We are getting ready for the Southeast Area Rally in Sarasota, Florida, in February, and we expect we will have a great time with many of you there.It’s called the Blue Ridge because, from a distance, this ancient mountain range looks pale blue. To European explorers, it was the first great barrier to the way west. To the mountain folk who made it their home (both Indians and settlers), it provided a good living, if you knew its secrets. To modern travelers it holds “America’s Favorite Drive.”This month, FMCA members will arrive in the city of Pomona, anticipating many pleasurable activities scheduled during the association's “California Gold” Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, March 26-29. That includes two nights of top-notch entertainment attendees won't want to miss.Use this treasure map to learn which companies will display motorhomes and offer RV-related products and services during FMCA’s upcoming Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Pomona.This innovative Type B+ motorhome offers contemporary styling on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis.The performance of ammonia absorption refrigerators, which are common in motorhomes, can be affected by several factors. Some, such as the weather or grandchildren who frequently raid the fridge, may not be within your control, but most are.Where's a great place to get a piece of pie in your hometown or on the road?At a typical campground get-together, meat sizzles on the grill or a turkey hisses in the deep fryer while a table is set to receive side dishes that everyone brings. You don’t want to miss a minute of the party, so recipes should be fuss-free and easy to self-serve.FRVA members have access to exclusive articles and RV tips, plus a digital library of RVing know-how. For full access to website content, plus must-have travel benefits, join FRVA today and get instant access to Family RVing magazine.
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