This FMCA chapter welcomes owners of diesel-pusher or Super C diesel motorhomes and holds an annual event filled with helpful technical info.
By Roger Smalley, F447932
January 2023
The Ramblin’ Pushers group has been in existence for 32 years. It was established by mechanically adept do-it-yourselfers who gathered at a campground and assisted each other with maintaining their diesel-pusher motorhomes.
The chapter’s mission is to provide information to our members and participants regarding the safe operation and proper maintenance of their diesel motorhomes and to enhance their ownership experience. We accomplish this by hosting an annual event where we present a curriculum of technical seminars that explain coach systems and describe simple repairs that can be performed by competent owners.
Because RV weight is crucial to safe operation, on-site coach weighing was offered during the event.
The Ramblin’ Pushers Maintenance Session (MS) is held at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana. Located in northern Indiana, Goshen lies in the heart of the RV manufacturing and Amish communities. Representatives from many of the local firms support the MS by presenting seminars, answering questions, and operating a booth in our vendor area.
Membership in the Ramblin’ Pushers chapter and attendance at the MS is open to owners of any brand of diesel pusher or Super C diesel-powered motorhome.
The dates for the 2023 Maintenance Session are as follows: May 3, early parking; May 4, arrival; May 5, sessions begin; and May 11, departure day.
Nick Gilliam and Linda Lampe examined vendor merchandise during last year’s MS.
Registration includes seven nights of camping in a full-hookup site with 50-amp or 30-amp electric (depending on registration date). We host morning hospitality (breakfast and announcements) at 8:00 a.m. from Friday through Wednesday during the event. A food-truck vendor offers a selection of hot food items for lunch. Late afternoons often include a sponsored social event with heavy hors d’oeuvres and a variety of refreshments.
We invite vendors of merchandise that RV owners may find useful, as well as service providers who can perform uncomplicated repairs on your RV site. We also invite local RV dealers to become sponsors of the Ramblin’ Pushers and to bring new and used inventory (any brand of diesel pushers or Super C diesels) to offer for sale at the MS.
In addition to technical presentations, various lifestyle seminars rounded out the schedule.
While our mission is focused on the operation and maintenance of our motorhomes, we understand that technical sessions are not appealing to everyone. Consequently, we also have a rich menu of craft classes and RV lifestyle sessions that include RV cooking using convection-microwave ovens, air fryers, and pressure cookers; trip planning; coach interior cleaning and decorating; and other topics that make RVing more pleasant with a personal touch. Some of our sessions are gender-specific, such as “Tips and Tricks for Women by Women,” and others less so.
For more information about the Ramblin’ Pushers and the MS, please visit www.ramblinpushers.org. There you will find an invitation to the MS and a registration form. Follow the links, and we’ll see you in Goshen next May!