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When the FMCA national Bylaws were being revised in 2003, a subcommittee of FMCA members studied the Code of Ethics and how it should appear in the newly formatted Bylaws. The current Code of Ethics is now the last page of the Bylaws. The subcommittee gave the following explanation for condensing the Code: “The FMCA Code of Ethics (Appendix A) is combined with current Article IV, FMCA Code of Ethics to become FMCA Member Code of Ethics. The proposed FMCA Member Code of Ethics takes into consideration the broad responsibilities of FMCA with regard to operating a motor coach and respectfully treating fellow motor coach owners. The deletion of the specific rules for operating a motor coach makes the document timeless, without need for constant review and updating.”

FMCA will hold its first Road Chef Contest, produced by Rollin' On TV, at the association's 86th Family Reunion in Madison, Wisc., in August. Valuable prizes await the three finalists chosen to prepare a one-pot meal in 30 minutes or less. Send in one of your favorite recipes by Friday, July 15 … you could be donning your chef's hat in Madison to put your recipe to the test — and possibly win the title of Best Road Chef! How to enter and more details: FMCA seeks best Road Chef

Google Map shows the route north to Limon and then west as 19 miles shorter with exactly the same drive time as taking 87 and picking up I25 at Raton. The plus about the Limon route: avoids most of the mountains. The negatives: a couple of small towns and some not so good road surfaces (at least when we took it last summer on our way home to Texas from Redmond, OR). We often choose the less beaten path (fewer Interstates) and would probably repeat the route we took. Brett

Well explained. Best: Caterpillar ELC (BTW that is what I use in my Caterpillar powered motorhome). Acceptable: A low silicate for diesel coolant meeting the ASTM D6210 specs. This coolant requires monitoring and adding SCA. UNaccpetable: High silicate coolant for automobiles-- like the normal Prestone you get at Walmart. And the possibility that they used this one is the reason I recommended verifying by part number what they used! BTW, I think you will find that Cummins and Detroit Diesel have very similar requirements. Here is a link to Prestone's website-- as you can see, they make a wide range of coolants, many for automobiles and light trucks (not intended for diesels) as well as the correct coolant for you diesel. If you click on a coolant and then on "Instructions" you will get a better feel for what is required. This is AFTER you find out exactly what Prestone product the dealer used. http://www.prestone.com/products/antifreeze_coolant/product_list Brett

Again, you need to find out what "regular antifreeze" was used. Regular automotive antifreeze (high silicate) is NOT OK. Low silicate coolant for diesels is OK and if it tests low on SCA, SCA can easily be added. Retest and add more if needed. The test strips are only about $1 each. Find out the coolant part number they used. Post it here for us to research or look it up yourself. Again, your Caterpillar owners manual will give the MilSpecs that coolants must meet for your engine. Brett

Welcome the FMCA Forum. First question-- do you have one or two RIDE HEIGHT VALVES in front. Ride height valves control air flow to the air bags. One axle will have one ride height valve the other will have two. We need to know if the fronts are supplied by the same or two different valves on your chassis. Brett

Just from a scientific standpoint, there is one large bit of information missing from that write-up. What concentration Hydrogen Peroxide are they using in those quantities. There is a huge range of products you can easily purchase ranging from the diluted stuff in the drug store, to stronger concentrations for hair bleaching to even stronger commercial concentrations. To give a volume without % doesn't tell us much. But, like Bill, I will stick with chlorine as my tank disinfectant when I need to sanitize my potable water tank. And I do that anytime the water in the tank is over 2 weeks old in the summer or 3 weeks old in the winter. Brett

Great post, Clay, This is what the Forum is all about. While it may or may not be the OP's problem, it most certainly will help someone in the future. Brett

Darrell, Welcome to the FMCA Forum. In a word, YES, you need to change the coolant if someone put in regular Prestone like you would buy at Walmart for your automobile. That is a high silicate cooant with no SCA and is NOT approved for your engine (or most other diesel engines for that matter. Pull out your Caterpillar "Operation and Maintenance Manual" that came with the coach (or pick up one from any Caterpillar dealer). It has a section on the cooling system and includes the mil specs of approved coolants. Prestone does make a "low silicate for diesels coolant with SCA", but it sure isn't the regular stuff you can get at most Walmarts. Many manufacturers make coolants that meet these specs. You might also want to consider switching to Caterpillar ELC. No SCA adding/testing is needed and it is good for 6 years vs 3 for regular low silicate coolants. Brett

Welcome to the FMCA Forum. There are two battery banks on your coach -- each bank could have one or more batteries. Chassis battery(s) start the coach. Think of it as the same as the one in your car or truck. The other is the house battery(s). They supply the "house needs," such as 12 VDC lights, water pump, PC boards on many appliances, etc. I assume you are talking about the house battery bank. Some are 12 VDC batteries, some are two 6 VDC batteries wired in series to make a 12 VDC battery. Most owners manuals for motorhomes are not complete with wiring schematics. Since you can do a lot of damage by hooking up the house battery incorrectly, you might swing by an RV repair shop and have them point out the positive and ground connections. Brett

Actually, barring extreme humidity, an A/C should be able to give a minimum of 15 degrees and usually 20 degrees F lower outlet than intake temperature. Again, to the OP, please post temperature delta A/C intake vs outlet. Brett

I like this answer. Specing a "hold down" for normal travel leaves it as a flying object in an emergency. FAR better to permanently secure it so there are no worries in an emergency. Brett

I agree with Bill. Start at the beginning-- verify that the two A/C's you have are working properly. You can start, even before taking it to a dealer. Get an A/C thermometer. Record temperature at the air return. Record temperature at the closest outlet with the A/C set to high. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU FIND. And absolutely the first thing to check is that the filter(s) are not clogged. Second is that the ducting is connected properly to the A/C unit. Brett

Welcome to the FMCA Forum. Are you running your generator when this occurs? If so, your battery charger/converter will also be charging the batteries and may be "fooling" the idiot light. Try turning off the generator or turn off the breaker to the charger/converter if on a separate breaker. Brett

1 newton meter = 0.7375621 foot-pound 27 X 0.7375621= 19.9 ft-lbs. Brett

Yes, but to see what is involved in your installing one on your Accord, go to this Roadmaster website and download the appropriate complete installation instructions so you can make that decision. http://www.roadmasterinc.com/vehicle_guide/tow_bar_brackets.php Brett

You should be able to find an appropriate muffin fan in either 12VDC or 120 VAC. Brett

You can trace the air line from front air plenum up to the horn solenoid or from the horns down to the solenoid. After you determine how it works (whether the horn button supplies the GROUND (more common) or 12 VDC positive to the solenoid, you can disconnect the wire from the horn button and apply ground/12 VDC positive. That will quickly tell you if the solenoid is bad or if there is problem in the wiring, horn button or steering column. Brett

During FMCA's Madison Family Reunion, Aug. 10 to 13, 2011, FMCA will be offering a text messaging service to deliver important messages to you. We can send text messages to your cell phone to alert you to special events, severe weather, event cancellations, changes in venue and other news. There is no cost to sign up. The only charges you incur are the normal fees charged by your mobile service provider for receiving text messages. Sign up for the text messaging service online. Or, sign up by texting the word "madison" to 313131 (or 393939 for Canada).

Free Wi-Fi high-speed Internet access is now available to FMCA members who stay at FMCA's national office campground in Cincinnati. The FMCA Campground has 15 full-hookup (50-amp electric) sites for members to use free of charge. All sites are on paved surfaces. Maximum stay limit: two days per month. The campground is located behind the Round Bottom Road office building, which houses the Member Services department, the Mail Forwarding operations and storage facilities. The campground address is: 3590 Round Bottom Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 Members should always call ahead before arriving at the campground. Occasionally the campground is occupied by FMCA chapters holding rallies or by members of the Executive Board and various FMCA committees. So, call ahead before visiting. FMCA members are welcome to tour the main FMCA office building on Clough Pike as well as the Round Bottom Road office. Members should not drive their motorhomes to the Clough Pike office, however, because its parking lot cannot accommodate them. For more information about using FMCA's campground or touring the offices, e-mail membership@fmca.com or call (800) 543-3622 and ask for the Member Services department.

Family Motor Coach Association has announced that Jerry Yeatts, director of conventions and commercial services, has now assumed responsibility for membership services as well. Mr. Yeatts will take on responsibilities formerly handled by Beverly Spurgeon, who retired in March after 42 years of service to the association. “Beverly will be greatly missed at FMCA. She quite capably oversaw FMCA’s member benefits program and helped to ensure excellent service for the FMCA membership for many years,” said Bradford Koshland, FMCA executive director. “Jerry has been serving FMCA members through his planning of FMCA’s outstanding biannual events, and in his expanded leadership role, he will now be able to use his broad-based talents to further serve members and to help FMCA to reach out to motorhome owners from throughout North America who have yet to join the FMCA family.”