stuplich

No! That is incorrect! The point I was trying to make in an earlier post is this: Many of the "bennefits" have been eliminated/reduced over the years, (ie: FMCAssist and now the fact that only "new members" get a FMCA discount on the price of CoachNet). What one gets from FMCA is no longer worth the FMCA annual membership fee.........(aka: the point at which I will not be renewing my membership). Mel

But, it cost the price of an FMCA membership to get the $10 off of the CoachNet price. How is that an "advantage"?

I got 6 Miclelins at my local Sam's Club for less than the FMCA "advantage" price, (in June of '12} Sam's Club had to order them..... (as the tire dealer would have had to if I had used the "FMCA Michelin advantage tire program"). Just because FMCA says it is an "advantage" does not mean that it is.

camperken So what you have to do to get one of the FMCA advertised/promoted "benefits" year after year (a 10% discount on Coach Net), is: "Pretend" you're not renewing / that you are a "new member"..... in other words LIE! Are you OK with that?. Mel

Herman Mullins F 302225 I joined FMCA 10 years ago for the "benifits". Unfortunately, all of the benifits I enjoyed have been modified or eliminated to a point where a FMCA membership offers nothing of value to me....(even the magazene has nothing that is not readily availabe elsewhere). I will not be renewing my membership. BTW, should I decide to, I can attend nearly any rally for a small additional fee, (without paying yearly to FMCA). End of rant. Mel

It's your money....spend it howerver you want to! I was disappointed/underwhelmed by the one rally we attended 9 years ago. At least Nick Russell and his Gypsy Journal Rallies have not lost touch with real RVers. Every "benefit" that FMCA offers/offered, except the magazine, are available elsewhere,(usually for less $$). Even magazine is not what it used to be. IMO the best thing about FMCA is that it is not mandatory.

One thing YOU DO NOT GET is a better price. Don't assume there is an advantage if you belong to FMCA, contact CoachNet and ask!

Sam's Club, (not Good Sams Club), saved me $150 off the FMCA Michelin program price.

I just recieved a renewal notice from CoachNet. When I phoned them I found that they do not offer a discount to FMCA members. Not to long ago FMCA discontinued FMCAssist. What value is a FMCA membership? I see no reason to renew when my FMCA membership expires. Any one want a 11 year old cheap plastic "Goose Egg".

I have often raised both front tires off the ground while camping, (never the rear). Last June when a local Michelin dealer installed 6 tires, on my 22,000# coach, they used my three RVA jacks to lift the tires off of the ground, (all at one time)! They removed all 6 wheels and my coach remained that way for over 4 hours, (until they mounted and spin balanced all six). This was all done on their asphalt parking lot, (without jack stands)! I was not happy about that, but no harm apperars to have been done. Mel '96 Safari Sahara, 35' diesel

Which is it? I have been told that when converting to TranSynd (or a TES-295 approved fluid), the new fluid needs to be thrown away after 25,000 miles and replaced with more new TranSynd (or a TES-295 approved fluid), before it will "be good for 300,000 miles before another transmission fluid change is needed". Is that TRUE? Mel '96 Sahara, M3060 Allison, 250 hp 3126 Cat,128,000 miles

Sorry about the double post!

Can anyone tell me the difference between the XZE and XZE2 Michelins. Are either, or both, available in a 9R22.5? Is the price similar for either or is one (the XZE2?) much more expensive? Thanks Mel

Two days ago my Cat dealer changed my ECM mode from "Manual mode" to "Latch mode", but there is a problem! The ECM printout verifies that "Latch mode" IS programed into the ECM, however the PacBrake and cruise control do not operate as though it has been changed. It operates as if it still in Manual mode. With throttle CLOSED (not accelerating), and the cruise control power switch "ON" (which it MUST be use Latch mode), when the PacBrake power switch is turned "ON", the gear "Select" display goes to 2, the PacBrake engages (butterfly closes), and the coach decelerates, and downshifts. (if the cruise is set, it disengages). It does NOT "coast" because the PacBrake activates. It will however, accelerate with throttle application. APPLYING the throttle returns the gear "Select" display to the higher gear that was preset, and disengages the PacBrake (opens the butterfly). Closing/releasing the throttle results, immediately, in deceleration and PacBrake engagement once again! It acts as though it is getting a signal that the brake lights are on,(they are NOT), and my brake lights DO NOT come on with the PacBrake powerswitced 'ON". My Cat tech is baffled and I don't want to pressure him much, because he did the programing to Latch mode at NO CHARGE. (It is true, you do get what you pay for. LOL) Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks Mel Stuplich The coach is a '96 Safari Sahara with a Cat 250hp 3126. Update added 8/9/11 Today, my Cat dealer changed the mode in the ECM from "Latch" to "Coast" in an effort to get it working. SAME result, It operates as though it is still in "Manual Mode". Mel

IMO, "KISS" is always less expensive, and less trouble in the long run. A tag, (third), axle is just another "add on". It allows the coach builder to overload the chassis above its designed capacity. I would recommend a coach with a single rear axle, ample cargo capacity, a liveable floor plan and few, (or no), slides. (A slide requires a hole in the side "a hole in the side is A HOLE IN THE SIDE", and has to affect the rigidity of the box)! Also, a tag requires two additional tires, to maintain and replace, both of which skid sideways slightly at every turn! Mel '96 Safari, Sahara, 35'

More time has past, more FJ purchases made, more problems have occurred. I have decided to skip FJs altogether until they stop LYING to us. I got my last fill-up at a Love's near Des Moines, IA. when my GPS routed me to a former F-J, recently converted to a Love's. Love's allowed $125 of diesel on one swipe of my Discover Card when F-J, a day earlier, allowed only $75 each card swipe. (It is time to stop blaming the Card company's and put the blame for low dollar pump shut offs back on F-J where it belongs). When the promoted "AUTOMATIC PUMP" START fails at one FJ, the promised "CASH PRICE WITH CREDIT CARD" doesn't work at another and the advertised diesel "THREE CENT/GAL DISCOUNT" is not given at a third FJ location, ALL within the same week, SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG. Pilot/FJ CLAIM that they want the RVers business but HOW can we believe that when their performance HAS EXPOSED ALL OF THEIR PROMOTED RV BENEFITS......AS LYES! IT IS TIME FOR A MORATORIUM ON Pilot/Flying J purchases. Mel Stuplich, 20 year FJ custumer/NO MORE

All is all WARM and FUZZY at Pilot/Flying-J? When one reads the F-J website detailing (bragging about) the various benefits of the F-J RV Rewards program and the procedures for obtaining same, it SURE LOOKS GOOD! (Many of the posts on this and other forums simply repeat (echo) the info that F-J provides). I have found that just because they say (advertise) it, IT DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE! The FACT remains that it seldom WORKS as stated and one must spend much additional time at each fuel stop to get the pump started and secure the discounts advertised. Further, when I look up my purchase history on the F-J website, it displays my 6 fuel stops, in 2011, and shows the number of gals of propane I purchased at two of those stops but DOES NOT show ANY of the more than 400 gal of diesel that I have purchased!(so much for that BENEFIT?) MY DISCOVER credit card gives me 5% cash back but so far F-J has only gotten Visa to allow more than a $75 purchase, without having to re-swipe or go into the store, wait in line, and see a counter person. Without that additional 5% F-J's, and Pilot's, prices (even with 3 cent/gal off of the cash price) are to HIGH! Pilot/F-J has been a real circle jerk since the reorganization (read as "DISorganization") began. Mel Stuplich

I filled my coach last Monday at the RV island pumps in Tulsa OK. I used my my Discovery credit card and my Flying-J RV Real Value Member card. The diesel pump did start, as it should, when those 2 cards were swiped. (all 3 times)! Those 3 pump starts (and the 3 printed receipts) where the only convenient thing that occurred at this entire one hour stop. I swiped 2 cards, pumped 20 gal ($75.00) and the pump shut OFF.... Swiped 2 cards again, pumped another $75.00, ANOTHER shut down...A third swipe, of 2 cards, 4 more gallons, FINALLY FULL! Next, I checked the printed receipts,.. NO DISCOUNT!... I went into the store and waited in line at the counter........I asked for my 3 cent discount on my 44 gal purchase. After the clerk read my receipts, and my RV card, she apologized and put 48 cents in my hand.(She had calculated ONLY a 2 cent/gal discount, and ONLY on ONE, of the two, 20 gal receipts and the 4 gal receipt). (24 gal) I told her I had purchased a total of 44 gal, she checked the receipts, said "Sorry" and gave me another 40 cents. I told her AGAIN that I was SUPPOSED to get THREE CENTS A GALLON. She called a manager over and he said that the TWO CENTS (84 cents) WAS CORRECT. When I questioned him, he suddenly realized that it was DIESEL and told her to give me another 44 cents. ALL THAT FOR $1.28. I also tried to check my RV Real Value account using the F-J in-store Kiosk, (as the F-J website states is required). My account has an ERROR message and has had, at EVERY F-J fuel stop, since I began this trip, in Dec, 2010. It is getting HARDER and more IRRITATING to remain a F-J customer! THANKS FMCA, Mel Stuplich