Have A Backup Plan
Dear Editor:
A letter in the August 2016 issue from Don and Martha Copeland (“FMCA Family Is There to Help,” page 12) prompted me to write this letter. In 2001 when my husband and I purchased our first Type A motorhome, I started reading Family Motor Coaching and other RV publications. These periodicals were full of valuable information, and they still are. Back then I was inspired by a letter from a couple that was similar to the Copelands’. One traveler became unable to assist with the RV, and everything came to a grinding halt. So, my husband and I decided that each of us should have specific jobs relative to driving and navigating, connecting and disconnecting the car, setting up and leaving a campsite — but we agreed to learn each other’s jobs as a backup. We double-checked each other as a safety precaution, and we made sure I drove a reasonable amount on all trips.
Five years ago, my husband developed a brain tumor. The surgery was successful, but things will never be the same. I am so thankful that I learned how to manage our motorhome. My husband can no longer drive, but we still travel in our motorhome; I have logged thousands of miles driving it. I have to do practically everything by myself. I have even ventured out without him and traveled with our grandchildren to a variety of locations with our towed car. The “grands” are teenagers now, and they enjoy assisting with all the duties; they love camping! I can’t imagine not using our motorhome and urge other couples to each learn all facets of their camping experience. It sure paid off for us.
Sandy Spacone, F389227
Pinellas Park, Florida
Pinellas Park, Florida
FMCAssist Success Story
Dear Editor:
I am typing this letter with one hand, and I would like to tell you why.
On a recent RV trip, we were in a beautiful campground in New Market, Virginia, called Endless Caverns. I was taking care of some maintenance on my coach, which entailed being up on a ladder. The ladder began to collapse under my feet, which sent me flying. I landed on my left arm and side, breaking my left wrist and arm in several locations. Other FMCA members ran over and called an ambulance. I was transported to a local hospital, only to hear that the arm was so badly broken, I needed to fly home to Florida and have surgery to restore it. Not great news.
The silver lining was that we had the FMCAssist Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance Program to help us out. With two phone calls, we received help in getting our coach transported back home for us by a wonderful couple. We also had a great driver who came from two hours away, in Washington, D.C., to transport us to Reagan International Airport for our flight home (which was booked by FMCAssist). The program took care of all of these aspects of our emergency trip home, and they also got us upgraded seats on the plane, drink coupons, and TSA precheck to get through the lines at airport security. I think the best part was that the folks from Seven Corners, the insurance company responsible for our FMCAssist program, stayed in touch with us during each and every step of the planning. All this took two days, and then we were home and able to begin my medical treatments.
I cannot thank FMCA enough for the help and direction that this program provided to us during our hour of need. My wife and I have told and continue to tell everyone we know with a motorhome about the great support we received and continue to receive through FMCA.
Be safe and have fun out there.
P.S. I was using a telescoping ladder. These open as you pull out the top rung, and as you continue to pull, the second section comes out, and the third, and so forth. I have learned that these ladders have a history of collapsing during usage, just what mine did. Ladder age, dirt buildup, or metal fatigue may be factors. Many RV owners use this type of ladder because it takes up less space, so perhaps we all ought to beware.
Jeff Schwartz, F418884
Pompano Beach, Florida
Safety First
Dear Editor:
I just wanted to thank you all for the advice in the August 2016 “House Calls” column to have the coach’s propane system serviced (“Refrigerator Operation,” August 2016, page 18). I immediately took my coach to my dealer and had him do the service on the refrigerator. I was startled to find that my propane tank had a leak and needed to be replaced. This required a two-week delay of our trip, but you’ll never know how much I appreciate your advice. Everyone should have their propane system checked at least once a year!
Bill Cox, F434880
Rio Rico, Arizona
Vital Hitch Connections
Dear Editor:
I am writing in regard to Joe and Carole Martinez’s experience with a disconnected hitch that was dragged for two miles (“Readers’ Forum,” September 2016, page 10) and the support they received from Roadmaster. I would like to add that when I do technical briefings and write articles for our chapter newsletter, I always recommend that you cross your cable/chains underneath the hitch, so that if it disconnects from the RV, it will not drop to the ground.
In addition, it’s best to connect your breakaway cable to the motorhome and not to the hitch. If the hitch were to become disengaged from the RV and you have the breakaway cable attached, it would be useless.
Ed Burrows, F192818
President, California Pacers
Agoura Hills, California
Fond Camping Memories
Dear Editor:
We read in Family Motor Coaching about a family’s camping experiences. It encouraged us to tell our story.
When our sons were 4 and 8 years old, respectively, we vacationed in a rented high-low trailer. That continued for many years, and then we bought a van. That continued until my husband became disgusted when we had to park near the campground rest rooms, as the van had no bathroom facilities.
As retirement approached, we purchased a 1976 Palm Beach GMC motorhome. This felt like luxury. In the years that followed, we arranged to take our granddaughters to a different location each summer. They soon were involved in church and band camps, and we found ourselves traveling alone.
My brother-in-law worked for the U.S. Forest Service, and we were introduced to volunteers in the national forest campgrounds. The first summer we worked with other couples at Holly Bay Campground in Kentucky’s Daniel Boone National Forest. All four couples enjoyed each other, and all returned the following year. Then we spent six weeks at Elizabeth Furnace Campground in Virginia, and the next summer, we moved on to Kinzua Dam in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. The last volunteer vacation was at Mount Adams in Washington. All the locations were educational and enjoyable. We took side trips to explore many interesting places on our days off.
Now, at the age of 90, we will soon drive our GMC to Florida with a “for sale” sign in the window and with many wonderful memories.
Richard & Phyllis Holley, F64266
Marietta, Ohio
A Repair At The Campsite
Dear Editor:
While on our summer trip to Maggie Valley, North Carolina, we experienced what could have been a showstopper. The flush cable on our Thetford toilet broke. After working for about 45 minutes at 11:00 at night, I was able to strip the cable so that the toilet could be flushed using a pair of pliers — a temporary fix.
Upon arriving at our campground in Maggie Valley, I noted they had a mobile RV tech company listed in their information, and we contacted them. They arrived on the same day, complete with a repair kit and the necessary tools. They even took those extra steps when removing the toilet to ensure that any mess was kept to a minimum.
In less than an hour, the toilet was disassembled, the repair kit was installed, and everything was back in the coach and double-checked for leaks. When presented with the bill, I remarked to my wife that I was sure it would have cost nearly twice as much had I taken it to a repair facility, and even then we would have probably had to wait several weeks.
It is not often one strikes up a relationship with an RV tech; however, this time it was different. Mike and his wife, Denise, shared some time with us, and we got some great tech tips for future concerns.
If you’re in the Maggie Valley area, we can highly recommend Michael Witt, a master certified RV technician, of RV Trailer and Motorhome Repair (828-380-0887, www.rvtrailerandmotorhomerepair.com). His diagnoses are spot-on, and his professionalism is beyond many we have come across in our 18 years of motorhoming.
Douglas C. Pearson Sr., F348649
Hilliard, Florida
Subaru Says “No” To Flat Towing
Family Motor Coaching magazine has published its annual towables guide since 1999, and each year, the list of vehicles that can be towed four wheels down behind a motorhome has included various Subaru models that are equipped with a manual transmission. The list is based on information FMC receives from each manufacturer, including Subaru. However, Subaru has recently changed its stance. A statement that FMC received from the company in August said that Subaru of America can no longer recommend dinghy towing, and all Subaru cars should be towed on a flat bed.
Correction
In the August 2016 “RV News” column (page 44), the area code published for LiquidSpring LLC, which makes CLASS suspensions for motorhomes, was incorrect. The correct telephone number is (765) 474-7816.
FMC regrets this error.