Perplexing Propane Problems

Dear RV Doctor:
I am having a problem with the pilot light on my motorhome’s hot water tank. I can light the pilot, but when I turn the dial to the “On” position, it takes a moment for the ignition. And when the propane gas finally reaches the pilot light area, the combustion is so strong that it blows out the pilot light and the main heating flame.

The company with a recall detailed in this month’s column is Fleetwood RV Inc.

How Long And How Fast?

I tow a 2008 all-wheel-drive Saturn VUE XR that’s equipped with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. When preparing the vehicle to be towed, I place the transmission in “neutral” with the ignition key in the accessory position and pull the ignition fuse so the battery doesn’t go dead.

Shut Off The Fridge

Dear Editor:
In “Refrigerator Leveling” (March 2011 “House Calls,” page 20) the RVer was worried about the refrigerator becoming unlevel while the coach was being driven on hills and mountains. My answer to that would be to never run the refrigerator when you are driving.

Hello from Cincinnati.  As I write this month’s commentary for our June issue of FMC magazine, I reflect back on the past few months as to what our staff has accomplished since my arrival here in January.  I can report that things are moving at a fast pace, and many good things are happening behind the scenes at FMCA . . .

My messages in the past few issues have focused on the motorhome lifestyle, and, indeed, that is what FMCA is all about.  But there is more to FMCA than simply traveling, meeting old friends, and making new friends.  For many of you, it is about becoming involved.

Great music and many fun activities will greet those planning to attend FMCA’s 86th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, which will take place August 10 through 13, 2011, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

The 2011 election of FMCA National Officers will be held August 10, 2011, at FMCA’s 86th Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase in Madison, Wisconsin. The Nominating Committee has submitted its slate of candidates. Although balloting is restricted to National Directors and National Officers …

In Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys children’s mystery novels, an “old river road” always seemed to play some part in the mystery at hand. Wisconsin has its own river road, the Great River Road, and it, too, is surrounded with mystery. But in this case it’s the kind that goes hand in hand with the magic of travel and discovering new places.

One hour west of Madison, Wisconsin, site of FMCA’s 86th Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase this August, two of the most fascinating homes in the entire United States await discovery. The little town of Spring Green is home to this mismatched pair, because two very different architects were drawn to the same lush, green foliage and rolling hills.

With retro-vintage looks, but built with a revolutionary and innovative bottom-to-top, bumper-to-bumper production process, the 2011 Monaco Vesta is being unveiled at numerous RV shows across the United States to oohs and ahhs from all levels of the industry.

When you’re stopped on the side of the road in need of assistance, it’s important that the proper personnel and equipment be sent to tend to your special situation. To do that, the service provider or towing company needs detailed information about your motorhome so that they make educated decisions about your dilemma and respond accordingly.

Vent fans enable motorhome owners to remove stale air, food odors, and that stuffy feeling without running the air conditioner. View a chart that shows the features and models currently on the market.

Do you recycle when on the road?

Here are some easy ways to use the simple spiral as a way to turn everyday dishes into something more special.

Every time we see Canada geese flying overhead, we are reminded of our personal calendar of seasons, which is much more inexact.

Clinton Birthplace Home Established As National Historic Site

The President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site in Hope, Arkansas, was officially announced as the 394th park in the National Park System following legislation signed by President Obama on March 30, 2009.

Fish Lure Enhancer

According to product literature from Lunkerhunt, Spicy Bites scent capsules are made for anglers looking for a long-lasting attractant to enhance their tubes or lures.

William H. Davern, A49346, who served as Rocky Mountain Area national vice president from 1996 through 1999, passed away on March 1, 2011, in Tucson, Arizona.

Screen Door Handle

The screen door on my motorhome can be opened only with the outside handle. To solve this problem, I made a handle pull, which was inexpensive and easy to do.

Frozen Holding Tanks

Dear RV Doctor:
I think I really messed up. Last night the temperature dropped to minus 5 degrees. I thought about the fresh water and left it dripping at a faucet, but I never thought about the black and gray holding tanks.

Companies with recalls detailed in this month’s Recall Corner are Caterpillar Inc., Entegra Coach, Prevost, Thor Motor Coach, and Winnebago Industries Inc.

Refrigerator Facts

I have a 1996 American Eagle with a Dometic side-by-side refrigerator. It won’t maintain the cold when in the electric mode. The freezer works fine, but the refrigerator does not stay cold.   

So Many Swirls!

Dear Editor:
I noted with a longstanding interest the comments by Mel Smith (“Simplify Exterior ‘Designs,'” Readers’ Forum, February 2011, page 12) about RV exterior designs. For years I have been puzzled by the freestyle swirls, appliques, and paint treatments on motorhomes and RVs in general.

In order to shed more light on the operation of FMCA, I thought it would be a good idea for each department director to write a little something about his or her background and to explain the responsibilities associated with their position and how the staff plays a key role in what gets accomplished.  I have asked Pamela Kay, director of communications, to start this off. 

One of the great benefits of being an FMCA member is the wonderful staff we have doing the work of the association in Cincinnati.  Have you ever thought about how many weeks and days go into 42 years of service?  Well, it is a bit mind-boggling.

Some parts of the United States come up in conversation among travel buffs more often than others, and Door County, Wisconsin, ranks as one of them. But is this a worthwhile destination for motorhomers? We think so!

Good news! This August, the Family Motor Coach Association will hold its 86th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Madison, Wisconsin. And “Mad Town,” as the city is affectionately called, is a place where you do not need “mad money” to see most attractions. Many are free!

Family Motor Coach Association’s 85th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, held March 14-17 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, provided RVers a jump-start to spring as they assembled for fun, friendship, education, and entertainment in the heart of the Peach State.

Not often does a service provider have a positive impact on all segments of a given industry. The RV Safety & Education Foundation (RVSEF) fits that bill nicely within the RV industry. RVSEF is not only the RVing public’s best friend, but many motorhome builders in the RV industry have benefitted from its dedication as well.

With the 2011 Platinum II and the 241XL DT floor plan, Coach House has hit a sweet spot in the luxury Type C motorhome market; the coach carries a price tag of approximately $173,000 when fully equipped.

Describe a memorable attraction or scenic view that you accidentally discovered during your motorhome travels.

We love our motorhomes, and for most of us, it takes a truly special destination to make us sleep anywhere else when we travel. But every so often we find a location worth bragging about to our traveling friends.

Stay up-to-date on the latest information for saving money on fuel, choosing a home state, finding a physician, and more.

Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort Under New Management

Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort, an exclusive Type A motorhome resort located in Webster, Florida, 45 miles west of Orlando, is now under the management of Bella Terra Realty Holdings LLC (BTRH).

Motion Sickness Relief

Queaz-Away Travelers’ Wristbands from Davis Instruments Corporation are a nondrug aid for people who suffer from motion sickness when traveling along bumpy, twisting roads.

FMCA members who attended the Great Eastern Area Rally (GEAR), held October 20 through 24, 2010, at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, donated food and cash to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina.

Medical Information

Here is a suggestion about carrying or having your medical information with you at all times.

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a Magnum inverter in a 2007 Monaco motorhome. On shore power and generator power, all the receptacles check “good” using a three-light plug-in tester. However, when the electrical system is on inverter power, the receptacles show an open ground on both circuits.