The 2015 election of FMCA national officers will be held July 29, 2015, at FMCA’s 92nd Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Madison, Wisconsin. Read the resume of each of the candidates.
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Many questions should be considered before buying a lot for your motorhome.My wife, Jennifer, calls our Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL our “Adventure-mobile.” And maybe because of that attitude, I’ve tended to live in the moment a bit more often than I should. As soon as I got in the motorhome and we took off, I let my guard down and went into vacation mode. This is not a good idea for prolonged periods of time. I learned that the hard way.Carefree Communities Donates To VeteransThe fourth annual Carefree’s Got Talent competition finale raised $25,000 to support Disabled American Veterans (DAV), which helps military veterans obtain benefits and disability compensation. The March 24 event in Lakeland, Florida, drew nearly 2,000 competitors and attendees.Stackable CookwareGraham Dalton was competing in an around-the-world yacht race in 2007 when it dawned on him that pots and pans don’t have to be round and difficult to store. Soon after, he launched Smartspace Cookware.How do you practice the custom of leaving a campsite, campground, or other place you visit better than when you arrived?How do you practice the custom of leaving a campsite, campground, or other place you visit better than when you arrived?
Since 2009, the Professional R.V. Vendors chapter (PRVVC) has organized food drives at Family Reunions and regional rallies. As a result, tons of nonperishable food and thousands of dollars have been donated to food banks that serve needy people. Last year alone, the chapter collected more than a ton of food.
Our FMCA experience began in 2007 when we purchased our first motorhome, a 40-foot, 2008 Winnebago Tour. We joined FMCA without knowing much about the organization, except that it represented many people who were active RVers.
Owners Manual TabsWe recently bought a 2005 motorhome, and the tab dividers in the spiral-bound owners manual were bent, worn, and hard to read. After some research, we found the perfect item for making the manual look better and easier to use . . .Furnace Blows FusesDear RV Doctor:I just purchased a 1993 RV. The heater works, but it blows fuses after about five minutes of operation. It has a 15-amp fuse, and I replace it with the same. Any ideas?The following companies have recalls delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Airstream Inc., Forest River Inc., Newmar Corporation, Thor Motor Coach, Tiffin Motorhomes.Suggested Stops Along The Blue Ridge ParkwayDear Editor:The article about the Blue Ridge Parkway in the March 2015 issue (“Springtime On The Blue Ridge Parkway,” page 74) was an excellent description of this 469-mile route.As we all find ourselves using technology more and more (especially in our mobile lifestyle), it only makes sense that a platform such as RVillage.com would emerge, making it easy for RVers to have “meet-ups” wherever we roam. With more than 20,000 members signing up in just a few months, RVillage is growing at a viral rate not seen before in the RV world.As I was pondering what to write about this month, I recalled a conversation I had with a dear friend of mine, Jean Pryor, L12913. We were discussing her long association with FMCA, and she told me that she had written about what FMCA and family mean to her. She gave me permission to share her letter, and I do so now.A Murphy bed, a large rear bath, and an open floor plan set this Type B wide-body motorhome apart.
What is the most unusual or intriguing tourist attraction you have visited?
Are you a bake-and-take cook? Whether the prepping is done before a trip or you assemble things in your galley on the go, a motorhome has everything you need for safe, convenient, jump-start meals.
As the 2015 travel season shifts into high gear this month, I’ve been tweaking my tech — adding new gadgets, downloading apps for our various mobile devices, and redesigning the systems we use in our Type B Roadtrek motorhome as we head out for what will be another year of crisscrossing the country.National Parks Set Attendance RecordsAmerica’s national parks broke attendance records in 2014, with 292.8 million visits. That surpassed the previous record set in 1999 when parks saw 287.1 million visits.Ice MakerThe ice machine cometh. Dometic’s HZB-12 is a compact machine that cranks out 26 pounds of ice every 24 hours.A GMC Motorhomes International chapter convention drew the owners of approximately 120 GMC motorhomes to the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in Chippewa Falls from September 27 to October 2, 2014.During their 60-year marriage, Tony and Geri Innocenti, F56315, rarely were apart. Whether at church, in their motorhome, at FMCA rallies and Family Reunions, or at home in Victoria, Texas, they were an inseparable pair.Concealed Control PanelEasy access to a motorhome’s control center is a necessity. However, a panel located at eye level on an interior wall detracts from the coach’s décor.Extra Exterior ReceptacleDear RV Doctor:I've owned a couple of older Type A motorhomes that had a 120-volt weatherproof outlet on the outside of the coach. The outlets were handy for powering the awning lights, a radio, or even an exterior light for reading outside in nice weather.The following companies have recalls delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Newmar Corporation, Winnebago Industries.Battery ChargingThe 12-volt house batteries failed on my 2004 Georgie Boy 38-foot diesel pusher. Using my multimeter, I found that the batteries were charging only when the coach engine was running.Smart Car TransmissionDear Editor:In the "Towables For 2015" article (January 2015, page 44), the Smart Fortwo listing states in footnote 2 that the vehicle "is equipped with an automatic transmission that allows the driver to select either manual shifting or automatic shifting options." That is incorrect.I recently searched the word “fun” on the Internet, and I couldn’t find anything that identified an age when people should stop having fun. In fact, I read a quote from an unknown author stating, “You don’t stop having fun because you get old; you get old because you stop having fun.It did not take me very long to decide what to write about this month. Since we observe Memorial Day here in the United States in May, it seemed appropriate to write about veterans.
Online retailer Amazon made news when company representatives unveiled plans to one day use drones to deliver packages. Consumers, too, have noticed that advances in technology have made drones affordable for people looking for an interesting hobby.
We’re flying down an unbending highway, 100 miles from nowhere in the vastness of southwestern Texas — near Big Bend National Park, to be precise. I’m wondering whether this is worth it, as we barrel along under a hard sky that fades out the prairie ahead.
When properly placed and installed, awnings create shady areas that can substantially lower temperatures and increase the comfort level outside a motorhome. But they do even more by protecting surfaces from sun damage; reducing the need for air-conditioning; keeping rain from patio areas; and enhancing a motorhome’s visual appeal.
Motorhomers who attend FMCA’s summer Family Reunion will be so glad they get to stay awhile in Madison, Wisconsin, once they see it. This pretty city is situated between two lakes. Summer days bring fresh breezes, and nights reveal lights reflecting on the water.
East of Pomona, California, is a city full of homes built by wealthy citizens at the turn of the 20th century.
Thank you for your interest in subscribing to Family Motor Coaching magazine, the official publication of the Family Motor Coach Association. The magazine is free to FMCA members (no subscription…
The journey or the destination? This Type B motorhome from the Winnebago Touring Coach division just might satisfy both needs.
What is your main motivation for motorhome travel?Recent changes in the life insurance industry may be especially beneficial for full-timers. The trend is toward less red tape and lower rates, according to Brian Greenberg, president and founder of Scottsdale, Arizona-based True Blue Life Insurance, www.truebluelifeinsurance.com.
When I look back over the past three years and the 80,000 miles we have traveled in our small motorhome, I have one major regret. We should have started earlier, years ago, when the notion of exploring North America in a motorhome first grabbed hold of my soul.Marathon Plans To Increase ProductionThanks to strong sales in 2014, luxury bus converter Marathon Coach plans to increase production by 50 percent in 2015, with further growth expected in 2016, president and owner Steve Schoellhorn said.Collapsible BowlsWho doesn’t want more storage room in the RV? Prepworks Thinstore Collapsible Storage Bowls free up valuable space. They come in a set of three sizes. When not in use, the plastic bowls get smaller simply by pressing on them.The Suwannee Valley Vagabonds chapter marked its 25th anniversary with a rally January 9-11, 2015, at Oaks ’n’ Pines RV Park in Lake City, Florida.When their son and daughter competed on the rodeo circuit, Geraldine “Geri” Ann Innocenti and her husband, Tony, F56315, traveled by motorhome to events mostly within an hour of their Victoria, Texas, home.The Central Florida Roadrunners chapter gathered October 17-19, 2014, to celebrate its 40th anniversary at Travelers Rest RV Resort and Golf Course in Dade City, Florida. Twenty-five coaches attended.
Cost ComparisoIf you pay for electricity at a campsite but wonder whether it would be more economical to operate your refrigerator on propane, here’s how to make an approximate cost comparisonMultiple TV Failures
Dear RV Doctor:I have a 2010 Winnebago Aspect that I purchased new in 2011. I have been through three televisions. A TV repairperson checked them and said the inverters failed on all three. One repair technician found it odd that there is no insulation behind the entertainment center.The following company has a recall delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Newmar Corporation.Gen Set InfoThe December 2014 “Readers’ Forum” column (page 16) mentioned that any generator with two legs of 120 volts AC could be connected to provide 240 volts AC output. Twenty years ago I went through this with Onan, and they said the generator absolutely was not designed to do that.The Real Cost And Value Of Motorhoming
Dear Editor:In the February 2015 “RV News & Notes” column (page 45), you included the results of a study commissioned by Recreation Vehicle Industry Association about motorhome vacation cost versus other forms of vacation travel (“Motorhomes Shine In Vacation Cost Study”).