If you happen to run into Jim and Ottilie (Olie) Anstett, F44848, of Loveland, Colorado, and strike up a conversation with this couple, they’ll tell you that motorhoming “changes your life.” You’ll also learn about the benefits of owning a smaller motorhome – and a GMC at that.
We met this couple in 1989 in Canon City, Colorado, at our very first FMCA rally. We arrived with our three children and mixed in slowly with what was primarily a group of retired folks.

DEAR RV DOCTOR:
Our day/night blinds have broken threads. Is there a way to fix or rethread them, or should we purchase new ones? Both living area blinds broke only days apart.
We also have a musty smell and taste in our water.

The January 2007 issue of FMC magazine indicates no special requirements regarding setting up a 2007 Jeep Wrangler for towing four wheels down. I read in a Wrangler owner’s manual that there is now a final step 12 that is included for towing preparation.

Editor’s note: Below are just a few of the comments we’ve received thus far regarding FMC’s new look, which debuted with the May 2007 issue. The magazine staff is currently collecting comments from readers regarding the redesign as we assess the new look ourselves.

As I travel and hear from FMCA members, I find that many of them are concerned that RVers parking in retail establishment parking lots are abusing the concept of “parking,” and that their behavior is jeopardizing the opportunity for the rest of us to park at these facilities when we want to rest and relax before continuing on our motorhome journeys.
“Camping” is a totally different concept and should never be done in retail establishment parking lots. In December 2001 I first wrote an “Executive Director’s Commentary” about the issue, and it is still a good message today.

At FMCA’s 77th International Convention in Perry, Georgia, we held two open forums for members to share their thoughts about FMCA’s future direction — ideas for the Long-Range and Development Committee to study. Topics discussed included membership recruitment and retention, chapter membership promotion and chapter governance, and FMCA conventions and rallies, among other things.
Although we would have liked more participation, we did receive some good remarks.

From 1994 to 2003 Tim Ruddy anchored the Dolphins offensive line, many of those years as center for legendary quarterback Dan Marino. How Tim and his family embraced motorhoming after his retirement from a successful career in professional football is the subject of this three-part story, which began last month.

Rest areas along interstate freeways generally prohibit overnight parking, but many malls, truck stops, fraternal lodges and shopping center parking lots allow it. Always check with local authorities to make sure you’re not breaking any local ordinances.
These notes from FMCA’s Motorhome Parking Etiquette letter pertain to overnight parking at establishments that permit “dry camping” on their lots.

Central Oregon is known for scenery that includes mountains, caves, canyons, and waterfalls. The region is big enough, too, that you will find plenty of room to spread out and have some fun either before, during, or after the FMCA convention in Redmond August 13 through 16.
In Redmond, as throughout this area, good golf is easy to find.

Last year my wife and I were emerging from a Cracker Barrel restaurant when we spotted a distraught woman trying to open her pickup’s hood. Since fairly heavy smoke was billowing from beneath the hood, we ran over to help.

Awhile ago we read of someone having trouble hanging clothes in a closet that has a metal rack with holes rather than a wooden rod. We’ve found that putting the hangers in backward works quite well in this situation.

Funky Colored FlamesTo pump some pizzazz into your next campfire gathering, try adding some color to the event with Funky Colored Flames from Winlow Outdoor Experiences.
According to product literature, a packet of Funky Colored Flames placed into the fire will produce a brilliant display of blue, green, and purple flames. Simply toss the packet into the fire and within minutes the colors will spread naturally through the flames, lasting up to 30 minutes.
A box of Funky Colored Flames, which includes three packets, has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $5.

Newmar Introduces New Models
Indiana-based Newmar Corporation unveiled its new King Aire Diesel Bus and Grand Star motorhome models during the FMCA convention in Perry, Georgia, in March.
The King Aire is built on a Spartan K3 chassis with an independent front suspension system and powered by a Cummins ISX 600-horsepower engine, coupled with an Allison 4000 MH transmission. The King Aire features the new Comfort Drive steering system, jointly developed by TRW Automotive, Spartan Chassis, and Newmar.

If an award for “Ultimate Motor Coach Family” could be given, the Bettens would be in the running. Over the past 42 years, France and Coe Betten have owned 15 motorhomes, have made more cross-country trips and attended more rallies than they can count, and have visited every state in the Lower 48 at least two times over.

The name of this chapter — One Hundred Plus — may leave some folks guessing as to the significance of the number. The answer is fairly simple.

Changes in latitude, changes in altitude determine the flora and fauna.
Where do you look for wildlife? It depends on what you want to see. No one expects to find an alligator in a desert arroyo or a manatee in a mountain lake.

A sampling of regional dishes and slow-cooker creations.
Motorhomers can find local tastes wherever the road leads them. Here are a few more regional favorites that you can make wherever you happen to be parked.

Mosquitoes thrive in most regions of the world and, as hard as it is to believe, humans aren’t their primary targets. Mosquitoes, as much as we love to hate them, are actually an important part of the food chain.

Is your pet a campground annoyance? Owners and nonowners chime in.
This month’s column includes information about tracking down your federal tax refund; how to start you own blog; and comments from our full-timer’s forum concerning folks who travel with their pets.
Get back your tax. The average tax refund check returned to the IRS as “undeliverable” last year was $963.

Several thousand RVers began the New Year by “Getting Their Kicks On Route 66” in Indio, California, during FMCA’s Western Area Rally January 10 through 14. After a long day of driving, it was great to have people waving and welcoming you.

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a three-burner propane stove in my RV that seems to take longer and longer to perk a pot of coffee. I recently took a trip in a friend’s RV and noticed his propane stove perked coffee much faster.

La Palma Puddle
Q: I have been experiencing an intermittent loss of coolant from my motorhome engine. It is a Ford V-10 in a 2000 Monaco La Palma with a total of 14,000 miles.

Correction
An incorrect Web site for accessing RV park reviews was listed in the April 2007 “Full-Timer’s Primer” column on page 110. The correct Web site is www.rvparkreviews.com.

When you retrieved this month’s copy of Family Motor Coaching magazine from the mailbox, you most likely did a double take. While the magazine cover bears the familiar name, the style is completely different, and whereas a motorhome normally takes center stage, this month the focus is on people who enjoy the lifestyle that their home on wheels affords.

Family Motor Coaching magazine is an important benefit for members and friends of the Family Motor Coach Association. The magazine’s first issue was printed in 1964, less than a year after the founding of FMCA in 1963.

Geologically speaking, the Grand Canyon hasn’t changed much over the past hundred years. However, since the 1890s, the breadth and scope of tourism at the famous canyon has seen many turns.

Some 400 horse farms fan out from Lexington, that horse-crazy Kentucky town. On these farms, thoroughbreds kick up their hooves alongside quarter horses, Tennessee walking horses, Arabians, Morgans, Appaloosas, and American Saddlebreds.
Many of racing’s most famous thoroughbreds – Seattle Slew, Nureyev, Spendthrift, Black Gold, and the legendary Man O’ War, to name just a few — were bred here.

The Inspire 360 is a really, really fine coach — in the way it looks, the way it drives, and the elegant habitat it provides at the end of the day. With a base suggested retail price beginning at $307,090, the Inspire 360 also represents value in the high-line motorhome market.

Family Motor Coach Association members who converged at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry for the “Georgia Jubilee” convention, March 19 through 22, 2007, had plenty of reasons to rejoice during their stay. But perhaps the biggest cause for jubilation among attendees was that they were able to enjoy all of the convention activities and not get wet.

If you spend any amount of time traveling the highways and byways in your motorhome, two things will soon become apparent. One, the variety of RVs out there is amazing,…

Attaching batten strips to the inside of a kitchen drawer to hold a cutting board.To create some additional counter space in our kitchen, I added batten strips to the inside of a kitchen drawer to hold a cutting board. The first step was to measure the thickness of the cutting board.

Extendable Scrubber
Power Scrubber from Black & DeckerThe 18-volt Power Scrubber from Black & Decker makes it possible for motorhomers to clean the exterior of their coach without the need for a ladder.
The battery-operated scrubber’s fully submersible and pivoting head allows users to clean almost anything and can be locked into place to reach hard-to-access places. The scrubber extends from 3 feet long to 14 feet long and comes with two 8-inch brushes (one hard, one soft) and a storage bag.
The 18-volt Power Scrubber has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $99.99.
For more information, contact:
Black & Decker
701 E.

FMCA Convention Featured In RV Video Podcast
American RVer — a new television show produced in high-definition video and stereo audio and converted into a video podcast that is then uploaded to the AmericanRVer.com Web site — will feature FMCA’s 77th International Convention (held in Perry, Georgia, in March) as part of its May 2007 and June 2007 shows.
AmericanRVer.com offers a series of videocasts related to the RV industry. Its owners and producers are Jim and Peggy Grich, F342867, broadcast veterans and full-time RVers.

From 1994 to 2003 Tim Ruddy anchored the Dolphins offensive line, many of those years as center for legendary quarterback Dan Marino. How Tim and his family embraced motorhoming after his retirement from a successful career in professional football is the subject of this three-part story.

With six or fewer ingredients, it’s possible to whip up amazing dishes quickly and with minimal cleanup. If you’re watching your diet, however, be aware that many convenience foods contain far too much salt, sugar, and heaven knows what else.

It was tough to decide which of the several hundred great state parks to include in this month’s column. The only restriction we placed on ourselves was that we could choose only one park from each state.

We live in a world where the word “diet” is associated with eating less to lose weight. But the word diet is never used in this sense when discussing the smallest birds in North America.
A hummingbird must eat half of its weight in food every day.

This month’s column examines what a Health Savings Account is and how it’s used, along with revelations from several members of our full-timer’s forum on how they save money on camping expenses.
Medical savings accounts
For full-timers under age 65, medical insurance can be a big stumbling block. Although little publicized and even less understood, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) now cover more than 5 million people.
Basically, an HSA is a tax-free savings account that one would use in combination with a high-deductible health insurance policy.

When evaluating potential convention sites, FMCA considers many factors. One is whether the locale has laws restricting the sale and display of motorhomes by out-of-state dealers and manufacturers.
Some U.S.

The largest chapter in FMCA is based on Freightliner chassis ownership, and currently has more than 5,500 member families. The Freightliner Chassis Owners Club began in 1994 as the Oshkosh Owners Club. The late Irv Steele, F36538, purchased a diesel motorhome on an Oshkosh chassis and helped form the group, which became an FMCA chapter.

For more than a decade, members of FMCA’s Gold Diggers chapter have traveled to Indio, California, in early January for the Western Area Rally. Chapter members volunteer to help welcome rally attendees by stuffing goodie bags with everything folks would need to enjoy the event, as well as their stay in the city of Indio.
In addition to the good times we have as volunteers, our chapter also loves to participate in the annual rally parade that is traditionally held on the second day of each Western Area Rally.
Typically the theme for the following year’s rally is announced shortly after the conclusion of the current year’s rally, which gives participating chapters plenty of time to plan their parade presentation, with the objective of landing the top trophy for their entry.

Dear RV Doctor:
I just purchased your book, The RV Owner’s Handbook; thanks for the wealth of information. I own a 27-foot motorhome and am about to embark on the “spring shakedown” and want to recaulk any external caulking that might have cracks or leaks, etc.

Noisy Brakes
Q: I have a 1998 36-foot Fleetwood Pace Arrow. I am having a problem with my front brakes.

An incorrect price was listed for the i-Antenna 300 from ANW Devices in the March 2007 “RV Products” column (page 48). The price of $374.95 was for the antenna itself, not for both the antenna and the LinkGauge kit.

By the time you read this commentary, FMCA will have finished up what I refer to as the “snowbird” portion of the rally year.
Each winter, sizable FMCA area rallies take place in Indio, California, in January and in Brooksville, Florida, in February. And then FMCA typically holds its first International Convention of the year in either February or March; this year, we gathered in Perry, Georgia, March 19 through 22.
The Western Area hosts the Indio rally, and this year the theme was “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.” The Brooksville rally, hosted by the Southeast Area, had a theme this year of “A Sweetheart of a Rally.” These two rallies have parades and decorations relating to their themes and, like other area rallies during the year, really make attendees feel as though they are part of the celebration.
I hope you were among the 4,000 or so families who attended the “Georgia Jubilee” at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry last month.

In our daily lives it seems as though we — figuratively speaking — either are entering a storm, in a storm, or exiting a storm. Life deals us many storms.

Years ago in a gift shop, when I first saw Precious Moments figurines — those little waiflike porcelain children with oversized heads and teardrop-shaped eyes — I found them so adorable, I bought two. They could have been portraits of my son as a toddler, with their big soulful eyes and wistful expressions.
Many people who acquire the figurines are downright passionate about them.

By April 1862, the American Civil War had been under way for a year and any thought that the conflict would be short or easy had faded. The North and the South learned the true horror of war when the two sides met in a terrible melee near Shiloh Methodist Church in southern Tennessee.

On January 11, 2007, the RVing world lost a hero. John C.

During our many years of extensive motorhome traveling, potential tire problems were always a nagging concern. We try to stop about every two hours to perform a visual exam of the towing equipment and the tires, but this really doesn’t help much if a tire is deflating in between stops.