*A description of the OverDrive library app in the January 2018 “Tech & Travel Tips” column (page 27) was incorrectly attributed. It was sent in by Kahleen Dillon, F406904.
*The photo that accompanied “Towing Jeep Grand Cherokee,” an update in the “Readers’ Forum” column (January 2018, page 17), incorrectly showed another Jeep model.
FMC regrets these errors.
GM service bulletin 17-NA-348, which became available to consumers on November 1, 2017, describes the revised flat-towing procedure that was developed to eliminate the wobble that sometimes occurs when flat towing 2010-2017 Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines. After following the revised procedure, at least one Equinox owner reported smelling burning brake pads. GM’s response: “Unless owners have experienced a wobble with the original (owners manual) procedure, they do not need to switch to the revised bulletin. If they have already switched to the revised bulletin, they can either continue to follow that bulletin, or switch back to the original procedure if experiencing any brake pad smell issues. The revised bulletin is absolutely safe to follow, however, if owners experience the brake pad smell, they should return to the original procedure. GM engineering is currently exploring reasons for why that may be happening.”
Updates will be posted in the Technical section of FMCA Forums. Search: “Update: Flat towing 2010-2018 Equinox and 2010-2017 Terrain.”
To obtain GM service bulletin 17-NA-348, send an email to jjohnston@fmca.com.
After our annual list of flat-towable vehicles went to print (“2018 Towing Lineup,” January 2018, page 50), we learned that the 2018 Honda Accord, when equipped with a manual transmission, can be towed four wheels down behind a motorhome. The vehicle’s Sport trims (1.5-liter and 2.0-liter engines) are available with manual transmissions. The speed limit when flat towing the vehicle is 65 mph; there is no distance limit. The Accord is 192.2 inches long; the 1.5-liter Accord Sport has a curb weight of 3,155 pounds.
Subaru Flat-Towable?
Dear Editor:
I’ve just looked at the “2018 Towing Lineup” (January 2018, page 50). No Subaru models are listed. Can you tell me if this is because you haven’t received towing information from Subaru, or whether Subaru has changed to no longer support four-down towing?
John Koenig, F441264
Box Elder, South Dakota
Editor’s note: In August 2016, Subaru told FMCA that the company no longer recommends flat towing any of its vehicles behind a motorhome. The company provided no reason, despite our repeated requests for an explanation. Therefore, our 2017 and 2018 towing guides have not included Subaru vehicles.
Dear Editor:
We often hear about RV dealers that do not provide service on RVs they did not sell. We had a major issue with the toilet in our motorhome while traveling last October. One dealer told us it would be next April before they could check it, because we did not buy from them. However, Northside Family RV in Lexington, Kentucky, said they would see what they could do the next service day.
They worked on it all day and even past closing time to finish the job, so we could meet our next commitments. They were professional and really good people to work with.
We recommend Northside Family RV (1630 N. Broadway, Lexington, KY 40505; 859-299-8386, www.northsidervs.com) to others who might need RV sales or service in the Lexington area.
David Schwab, F291493
West Branch, Michigan
Dear Editor:
On December 20, my wife and I left our home in the Catskill Mountains of New York in our 2005 Winnebago Journey motorhome for a three-month trip. As usual, we made our first stop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
When we are staying only one night, we open only the bedroom slideout and the kitchen slideout. The next morning, a Thursday, the kitchen slideout would not retract. I could hear the hydraulic pump working, but the slide did not move. When I checked with the campground office about a mobile repair facility, they recommended S&S RV Service, about 2 miles from the campground.
About 20 minutes, later George Scott, the owner of the company, showed up. After he was unsuccessful, he called a technician named Frank at HWH Corporation, and they both attempted to resolve the issue. After a couple of hours, George was able to get the slide moving. But he said it was only a temporary fix and recommended that we bring the RV to his shop the next morning.
Next day, the Friday before Christmas, we arrived at the shop. Again George contacted Frank at HWH and again they attempted to resolve the problem, without success. Because Monday was Christmas, they would not be open again until Tuesday. We were only four hours from home, so we decided to take our car and head back.
But Saturday morning, I received a call from George. He said that knowing we were planning to cancel our trip, he decided to go back to the shop to check what he thought might be wrong. He did figure it out, and on Tuesday the coach would be ready for us to pick up and continue our journey as planned.
I figured the cost would be about $2,000, so I was surprised that it was only about half of that. Because of George’s honesty, I am writing to let everyone know about S&S RV Service, 40 Knight Road, Gettysburg, PA, 17325; (717) 334-0149.
Lou Silverman, F432496
South Fallsburg, New York
Dear Editor:
We were in Michigan, returning home from a trip out West, and noticed a tire was leaking. When we removed the hubcap, we saw the stem was between the tires and was twisted, causing a slow leak. We found Pomp’s Tire Service in Marquette, Michigan, on the Friday before Labor Day. The place was packed with customers, but they got one of their technicians to check our tire out. Within an hour, he had removed our tire, changed out the stem, and checked for leaks.
They could have made us wait until the other customers were serviced, but they recognized we had a long drive yet and helped get us on our way. I recommend Pomp’s (105 W. Hampton St., Marquette, MI 49855; 906-228-3876; www.pompstire.com) if you’re ever in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and need tires.
Tom Markee, F462362
Dewitt, Michigan
Dear Editor:
I would like to say thank you for the FMCAssist Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance benefit that comes with FMCA membership. My husband was in North Carolina with his son and two brothers for a football game, and ended up in the hospital and unable to make his flight back. I called Seven Corners for advice and assistance. I was totally amazed by their genuine concern for my situation and the speed with which they were able to arrange a flight for me to the hospital and a flight back for both of us when he was discharged.
All transportation to the hospital and to and from airports was ready and waiting for us when needed. I am so thankful to you for this benefit, and to Seven Corners. The agent I worked with was incredible. I have nothing but praise for her and the help she arranged for us. Thank you, everyone!
Jude Dawes, F301140
Punta Gorda, Florida
Dear Editor:
I extend a big thank you to FMCA; former FMCA national president Charlie Adcock; and REV Recreation Group and vice president of aftermarket service Steve Heim.
I purchased my second Fleetwood Expedition 38B in 2015 after trading in my 2013 model. We had several problems with the new unit and tried unsuccessfully to get them resolved. I put together a letter to several Fleetwood executives and sent a copy to FMCA president Charlie Adcock, whom I had met at an FMCA rally.
I cannot tell you how pleased I was that Charlie called me personally to tell me he would do what he could. He got me in touch with Steve Heim, who promised that they would make me a happy customer.
I’m a widow with six kids. We have been living the full-time RV life for 2 1/2 years. The RV had some minor problems and a few major ones, and RV dealers either didn’t make the repairs or made things worse.
REV stood behind their product and did so much to correct the issues. The biggest was the full-wall slideout, which had to be rebuilt. Fleetwood put us into a loaner RV on their lot, so the kids and I didn’t have to be out of our unit by 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. each day so they could work on it, or sit in their lobby all day with our five (yes, five) cats! Everyone at the REV factory service center in Indiana was so nice to us. Although we gave up much of our summer, they went above and beyond in taking care of us.
So, it looks like we are keeping our Fleetwood Expedition as our home for another few years as the kids and I continue to “road school” our way across America.
Thank you, FMCA, for caring about your members and thank you, REV Recreation Group, for standing behind your products.
Susan M. Davis, F457287
Kalispell, Montana