Waterless P-Trap

Dear RV Doctor:
Recently I was at an RV show, and I noticed that under the lavatory sink there was not a regular P-trap, just a straight fitting or adapter. Any idea what this was? I thought all sinks had to have a water lock to keep the holding tank fumes from getting inside the motorhome.

Kooky Cables

We have a 1986 Fleetwood Limited with three batteries. We need a diagram that shows how to hook up all the wires from the alternator to the battery isolator. For some reason, our cranking battery is discharging while the motorhome is being driven and is not being recharged.

Winnebago Industries Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 10V088000, which affects 2010 model-year Itasca Sunova D33C and Sunstar E30W, and Winnebago Sightseer D33C and Vista E30W motorhomes built from July 16, 2009, through January 14, 2010. The potential number of motorhomes involved is 79.

Vent Fan Tip

Dear Editor:
There is an error in the wiring diagram of the "Cleaner Air" tip in the February 2010 "Tech & Travel Tips" (page 24).  As wired, the fan can run only for a max of 80 minutes, which is the highest limit on the timer. Also, both switches would have to be on for the fan to operate.

FMCA’s 83rd International Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, just concluded, and as I write this we are headed back to the East Coast. I think a great time was had by just about everyone who attended.

During  a motorhome trip, how do you peacefully coexist with other occupants (spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.)?

For those who don’t have a permanent tagalong but still want to explore their surroundings in a smaller car, renting a vehicle is an option. Here are some tips for getting the best deals from the rental companies.

State and federal tax rules change so quickly, even professionals have trouble keeping up. Now more than ever, it’s important to keep taxes in mind all year, not just at income tax time.

Renegade Introduces Ikon

Bristol, Indiana-based Renegade/Kibbi LLC, which specializes in building motorhomes for the racing community, has expanded its product line with the IKON, a new model targeting the general RV market.

Key Protection

The Key Buoy from Davis Instruments Corporation can protect fishermen, boaters, and anyone else who spends time around the water from losing their keys if dropped in a lake or ocean.

It may seem odd to see a “Welcome To The Ark” sign at the entrance to Jim and Clare Fleming’s 2005 Mandalay motorhome, or notice the license plates that read “The Ark” on the front of the coach and on the nearby golf cart. But when you knock on the door and hear a cacophony of barking, cheeping, and squawking coming from inside . . .

Campsite “Garage”

We devised a storage area for our bikes, camping chairs, tables, etc., outside the motorhome by attaching a tarp to the underside of the bedroom slideout using large clamps, and anchoring the bottom with tent stakes and bungee cords.

Noisy Water Pump

Dear RV Doctor:
The water pump in my motorhome is turning on about every couple of minutes without any faucets calling for water. It is also very noisy and vibrates the pipes down the side of the RV. There are no apparent leaks, kinks, etc. What could be the problem?

Treatment Time

I have a 1996 Winnebago motorhome with a Cummins diesel engine. In the fall I filled the fuel tank and added diesel fuel treatment before storing it for winter. The next year we didn’t get a chance to use the motorhome except to drive it maybe 50 miles or so. Will the fuel be okay this year if I top it off again and add some more fuel treatment?

January Cover History No Longer A Mystery

In the March “Readers’ Forum” column, we asked readers to help us identify the photo on the January 2010 cover of Family Motor Coaching. According to Al Conrads, L1236D, the photo was taken the weekend of June 20, 1975, during a 20th Century Wagontrainers chapter rally.

I often think of just how I got started down this road of the RV lifestyle. I had always dreamed of being able to travel wherever and whenever I wished in comfortable surroundings, with amenities such as hot and cold running water, a color TV, and a familiar bedroom and bath.

Several FMCA members have volunteered to use their motorhomes to supply transportation to people who urgently need it. They are doing this through Angel Bus, a nonprofit organization that coordinates compassionate, nonemergency ground transportation for individuals in need. 

Like many other pieces of equipment in an RV, the refrigerator needs periodic maintenance to ensure good performance.

Fit for any toy-loving RV family, the Newmar Canyon Star 3920 is built around fun, without sacrificing occupants’ comfort. At its core are excellent living accommodations, and the built-in garage section is suited to house just about any purposeful off-road vehicle.

They say location is everything, and Oregon’s capital city is certainly proof. Nicely situated on the banks of the meandering Willamette River in the middle of the fertile Willamette Valley, Salem is both pretty and convenient.

Cape May, New Jersey, is a historic Victorian town that attracts visitors who enjoy the outdoors. Along with beautiful beaches, this small ocean community has a big reputation as a bird-watchers’ paradise. Many varieties of fish bite year-round; plus shopping, great restaurants, and loads of historical sites also vie for attention.

In December 2008 the RV world learned of a change in ownership involving a familiar coach conversion brand. Featherlite Coaches, known for its Sanford, Florida-based Featherlite Vantare’ private coach conversions, was purchased by Amadas Coach of Suffolk, Virginia.

You might think a church with the name “Cathedral of the Plains” would be a grand structure, and it is. You also might expect to find it in a large city, but you won’t. The big church with the majestic moniker is in Victoria, Kansas, a small farming community approximately 200 miles west of Topeka.

Some may opt for larger coaches with multiple slideouts and abundant storage areas; others may downsize to smaller motorhomes to economize their lifestyle. Either way, well-informed RVers in the market for a new motorhome will want to know about the new offerings from several of the independent chassis manufacturers.

The conscientious motorhomer knows that a requirement at the start of each season is to perform the process we call “dewinterizing.” Yes, if you were meticulous last fall, you must be equally diligent in the spring and properly dewinterize the motorhome.

Winnebago Industries’ new model created using the popular Sprinter chassis features clever storage and safety-belt-equipped seating for six.

Motorhomers who convene in Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 22 through 25, 2010, will celebrate good times, great friendships, and the joys of RV travel. Part of the fun will be the opportunity to explore display after display of motorhomes, components, accessories, and all things RV-related.

January Cover Evokes Mystery And Memories

Dear Editor:
We would like to know where and when the photo on the cover of the January 2010 issue of Family Motor Coaching was taken. I’m certain it is circa 1975. I see what looks like my father’s Winnebago, and my aunt and uncle are in the photo, so my curiosity is up.

Leaky Ice Makers

We have two U-Line ice makers; one is installed in our Safari motorhome and the other in our trawler yacht. We purchased the one in the trawler new; the ice maker on the motorhome came to us 10 years old. Each of these units leaks like a sieve inside the cabinet when the water fills the cube tray.

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation has announced NHTSA recall 09V461000, which includes XC motorhome chassis manufactured from March 6, 2007, through December 11, 2009. The potential number of motorhome chassis involved is 2,749.

Prewired For A Generator?

Dear RV Doctor:
We are considering adding a generator to our coach. We have heard our model is prewired for one, but we are not sure. How do we tell, and what type should we get?

Bug Buster

We keep a small, portable vacuum attached to the wall of our motorhome. We use it for small cleanups, of course, but our favorite use for it is to suck up mosquitoes and flies that invade the motorhome.

Multifunction Watch

The Traileader Jet watch from Tech4o includes a number of features especially useful to outdoor enthusiasts.

Buddy Gregg: Industry Icon

Buddy Gregg, founder and president of Buddy Gregg Motor Homes Inc., passed away on December 30, 2009, at his home in Frisco, Texas. He was 69.

What is your favorite Southwest destination (park, city, tourist attraction, etc.)?

I open the door and step out into the quiet, dark, crisp air that has descended over the campground while we slept. The dawn is just about to break over the distant mountains, and I can barely discern the outline of the giant trees that surround my motorhome. 

The Heartland Execs. chapter ventured east to the Washington, D.C./Capitol KOA Kampground in Millersville, Maryland, September 13 through 18, 2009, to visit many of the landmarks and treasures located in and around America’s capital city.

Our favorite owl is a comical character, with an eternally quizzical look on its face. It has bright yellow eyes, prominent white eyebrows, and long unfeathered legs.

Let’s take a recipe ramble down memory lane with these old-time favorites.