Burner Orifice Redux

Dear RV Doctor:

I enjoyed your “RV Water Heater Maintenance” article in the May 2012 issue of FMC magazine (page 40) very much. I do have one question. When I remove the water heater main burner orifice to clean it, should I use any pipe thread compound, sealant, etc. when screwing it back in?

The following companies have recalls detailed in this month's Recall Corner: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) and Foretravel Motorcoach.

Spin-Welding Alternative

Dear Editor:
The letter in the April 2012 "House Calls" column titled "The Law of Gravity" (page 20) was very interesting. I wanted to note an alternative to spin welding that provides a quick (3-to-5 minute) way to tap into your water tank using our bulkhead blind tank fitting.

My wife, Jean, and I spent some time at the New York Centrals' 35th anniversary rally in Camillus, New York, this past June. While there I met the first president of the New York Centrals chapter, Andrew Mancini, who shared with me some newspaper clippings that included a poem he had written back in 1977. The words remain relevant today.

This month’s column is devoted to a few updates or reminders about some of FMCA’s member benefits — an EOB for FMCA members, if you will. FMCA continues to look for ways to enhance your member benefits, while taking into consideration the future of this great association.

If you plan to attend FMCA’s 87th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase — nicknamed “Formula For Fun” — August 27 through 30, 2012, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, plan a pit stop in the exhibit areas.

Northern Indiana supports a large enclave of Amish and Mennonite families. In fact, more than 20,000 Amish live in the area. Amish beliefs forbid them from using modern-day conveniences in various forms; Mennonites are generally more modern and use cars and electricity. All are known for their excellent work ethics and quality craftsmanship, and many are employed in the local RV manufacturing plants.

At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, visitors can admire historic vehicles and ride on the world's most famous raceway.

When you think of American Coach — the luxury motorhome division of Fleetwood RV — chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the American Eagle. The American Eagle has always been a popular American Coach model, and you’re bound to find at least one in every busy campground.

The next time you are traveling along Interstate 94 in southwest North Dakota, be sure to see this collection of huge and whimsical outdoor sculpture. 

It's no secret the RV industry has experienced substantial change over the past few years. One of the positive stories involves Fleetwood RV, which evolved from the former Fleetwood Enterprises. 

The 1920s are remembered as a time of high living, snazzy dressing, and fast driving. Back then, the place to go to get that fast and flashy car was Auburn, Indiana, called “The Hub of Transportation.”

Does your pet have a travel routine during motorhome trips?

Traveling with pets is easier than ever. More campgrounds accept pets these days, and off-leash exercise areas are more readily available. Many other changes affect pet travel, too, some of them good and some more troublesome.

Great music and fun activities are in store for those attending FMCA’s 87th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Indianapolis this summer.

Go RVing Vignettes Entertain, Inform Consumers

Custom-produced RV travel and camping vignettes are a key element of Go RVing’s all-new “Away” campaign, which launched in February 2012.

If your motorhome is equipped with 12-volt incandescent and/or fluorescent lighting, you can reduce battery draw significantly by switching to light-emitting diode (LED) illumination.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Amazing Cleaner from Bio-Kleen Products Inc. is a multipurpose cleaner that is said to lift dirt and remove stains from vinyl, leather, carpet, canvas, and fabric.

Wedding bells rang during the Sandpipers’ chapter rally March 2 through 4, 2012, at Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions ranch in Myakka City, Florida. John Judy, national director of the chapter, and Josephine Jones were married at the ranch on March 3.

In 2011, Family Motor Coach Association and Fantasy RV Tours teamed up to launch the FMCA Tour Connection, powered by Fantasy RV Tours. This FMCA benefit offers members the opportunity to embark on FMCA-member-only RV caravans, rallies, and cruises at discounted rates, and also to receive an FMCA discount on any other Fantasy RV Tour event .

When their beautifully tended vintage motorhome began to show its years, a California couple resisted the temptation to buy a new coach, opting for a makeover instead.

Multiple Water Connections

Here’s a very handy idea that we use almost every day. It’s a Y faucet connector that attaches to the city water source at the campground. It has separate on and off valves — one for the hose that runs to the motorhome connection and the other for a shorter length of hose.

Motorhomes have been equipped with holding tanks for fresh water and black or gray water since the first coaches were built. And the monitoring systems used to keep track of the fluid levels in these tanks haven’t changed much during the past 40 years.

Load Bearing

Dear RV Doctor:
How do you put a load on a generator in the winter? You recommend running the air conditioners to exercise the generator, but that doesn't seem practical during the cold winter months.

Ford 2012 Escape, Fusion No Longer Towable

Family Motor Coaching recently learned that Ford Motor Company has amended its information concerning flat-towing 2012 Ford Escape and Fusion vehicles equipped with front-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive, or all-wheel-drive systems (excluding hybrid models). In February 2012 the company published an Owner Guide Supplement for these vehicles that was sent to current owners.

Correction

"Niagara Falls, From The River Up" (May 2012, page 60) contains an error introduced during the editing process. It incorrectly states that the Niagara River flows south, from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. Actually, the opposite is true: the river flows north, from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.

Ah, those college days. Ohio University, my alma mater, had a tradition that was carried on from the 1950s to the 1980s involving J-Prom. In honor of this springtime event, fraternities and sororities put on little traveling shows around campus.

It is 6:45 p.m. on April 16, 2012. The weather is absolutely beautiful here in central Pennsylvania as I write this. I grew up in this part of the world, and learned the lessons of life from a caring grandfather and grandmother with whom my brother and I spent most of our summers and holidays.

What strategy can you suggest to keep motorhomers on the road despite rising fuel costs?

RV travel is a team sport, always best when children play a role in planning the trip, preparing meals, looking for nature specimens, and sharing tall tales around the campfire. Here are some recipes that are simple enough for children to make, yet delicious enough for the whole family to enjoy.

Grand Canyon Walking Tour App

Geographic West, an online magazine dedicated to presenting the beauty of the western United States, announced that it has released its first apps for Apple and Android smartphones at their respective app stores. The Grand Canyon Walking Tour app is a point-by-point descriptive and photo tour of the Grand Canyon South Rim.

Archery Set

The Faux Bow from Marky Sparky Inc. is a fun archery toy set designed to make it easy for kids to hit the target every time.

Since 2010, Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky, has hosted ChallengerFest, a weekend of drag racing and car shows for folks who own Dodge Challengers.

The Coaches For Christ – South Central chapter began in 2005 while R.G. Wilson, L21025, was FMCA’s national president. Since then we have gathered for two rallies each year — one in April and one in September.

Checklist Holder

We keep our “Take List” right beside the motorhome’s ignition so we won’t forget items we need on the trip. It is held there with a stick-on clamp that can be purchased at any mass merchandise store.

Temperature A-Risin’

Dear RV Doctor:
How do I raise the water temperature on my Precision Temp continuous water heater? I see no adjustable thermostat. The water heater is working, and it’s suitable for a quick shower in the summer, but the water is not hot enough for washing up.

Ford Escape, Fusion Clarification

In the ”Tech Talk” column of the June 2012 issue of FMC (page 18), it was reported that Ford Motor Company had published an Owner Guide Supplement in February 2012 that indicated 2012 Escape and Fusion vehicles with front-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive, and all-wheel-drive systems should no longer be towed four wheels down behind a motorhome.

Rapid Radiator Repair

Dear Editor:
We have a 2010 Fleetwood Discovery on a Spartan chassis. While we were in Florida this past winter, the radiator began to leak.

Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July in the United States, holds different meaning for different people. For some, this American holiday represents a midway point for summer vacations. … Yet, for others, it is a symbol of the true meaning of living in a free society. On the first day of July, Canada celebrates in a similar fashion for Canada Day, frequently referred to as Canada’s birthday.

 The Executive Board has just completed our spring meetings at the Cincinnati, Ohio, national office as I write this month’s column. A lot of work was completed during those nine days. My wife, Jean, and I were at the office for about two weeks before the meetings began.

Exploring Alaska by motorhome is without doubt an adventure beyond words. This is especially true for those who prefer to travel at their own pace, blazing their own trail, seeking opportunity to explore Mother Nature’s most prized wilderness wonders.

Traveling with children or grandchildren is an experience that cannot be replaced by phone calls or Skype, or even visits at your home. In the Midwest, southern Indiana offers an abundance of fun, family-friendly attractions to help make time spent together fun and interesting.

While you may be many years removed from your days of sitting through lectures or studying for exams, you never stop learning. This is especially true when it comes to the motorhome lifestyle. Perhaps that’s why the seminars presented at FMCA Family Reunions attract such large and captive audiences.

Two pages of puzzles and fun related to dinosaurs. Print and enjoy!

The first three letters of Winnebago are “w-i-n,” and the company has created a real winner with the Itasca Sunova 30A, a compact yet fully featured 31-foot-1-inch motorhome.  

A step-by-step guide to replacing your existing RV refrigerator with a 120-volt-AC residential model.

Keep your motorhome’s electrical system safe from the evils of "dirty" electricity by using one or more power protection or voltage-boosting devices.

Fleetwood RV introduced the 33-foot-11-inch, 102-inch-wide Excursion diesel pusher last November at the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s National RV Trade Show. Following its debut at the Louisville, Kentucky, show, the 2013 coach was driven …

Stop by the Smokejumper Visitor Center in Missoula, Montana, to learn about the men and women who risk their lives to put out blazes in remote locations.

Before heading out this travel season, make sure you have a plan and know what to do if you encounter severe weather.