akadeadeye

All good comments and many good suggestions. As a businessman and past president of several trade organizations I have learned that a Board of Directors basically knows very little about what the membership wants, especially in a large membership organization like FMCA. 70,000 members is HUGE. Listen to the percentages. If only 20% belong to a chapter, don't spend any money supporting chapters. Let the chapters support themselves. If a significant percentage don't go to rallies or conventions, don't support them beyond the support of the attendees. I resent paying my dues when I know a significant portion of them goes toward programs I will never use. A far better system, it would seem to me, is to price basic membership dues with options to add other subscriptions. Even if the $25 for FMCAssist goes to $35 on a choice basis I am sure those that want it will still subscribe at the higher figure. Thought should be given to adding even more "discount" programs. With 70,000 members FMCA HAS to be enticing to partner with to numerous RV and Travel related companies. The more the merrier. This is what will grow membership IMHO. "You want that lithium battery/solar panel combo package for $4,900? How about joining FMCA for $45/year and get it from our lithium/solar panel partner for $4,120?" This kind of incentive driven membership program is what will halt the bleeding and will grow the organization membership to 100,000. For heaven's sake folks, there are more RVs being manufactured per day than ever before. Think outside the box and sign them up with give away memberships on ANY new coach or trailer for a year and beat the bushes for discount partners such as mentioned above. There are potentially dozens. After a short while RV owners will figure out they can't afford NOT to be a member of FMCA. As they say, "re-imagine the organization". The old ways are gone!! Give them choices they WANT. Don't make them pay for benefits they DON'T WANT. It is insanity to continue doing the same thing month in and month out and expecting different results. On the contrary, they will be the same results as you are experiencing now. Loss in members. THIS CAN BE TURNED AROUND!! But not by faith alone or cheering on the sidelines. Radical changes need to be made. NOW. Just my 2 cents. Don

You bet I am!! But very jealous that I'm still in Texas in August and a lot of my friends are in Colorado! We have all but given up on getting to CO this year although we may sneak up there in late September and maybe to Davis Mountains and Lajitas, TX. It depends on RV park availability and completing a bunch of things I have going on here. We're planning a trip to Banff and Vancouver next Spring but that, too, may be put on hold because of campground availability there and along the way. Hey, I'm not getting any younger. This virus stuff needs to be contained so we can all get on with traveling. Are you going to Telluride? Don

I have to agree with Richard. We have never had a problem in the West. We have had numerous problems in the East, along with attitude problems with Eastern RV Parks and Campgrounds. Just too many people there.

Blanksam Sounds like a nice trip. I would recommend IH-70 right through Denver and the mountains. It is gorgeous scenery. There are some steep grades but nothing you can't handle in your Open Road. It would be nice to detour off of IH-70 on Hwy 191 in Utah to see Arches National Park, Canyonlands NP, Capitol Reef NP, drive Hwy 12 over the Hogback Highway then see Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park before heading north to Salt Lake. I can't help you with the best route to Glacier. We plan to go there ourselves next spring on our way to Banff, Alberta. Don

Thanks to all. Rather embarrassing to let this get in this condition. I will see how it charges and holds a charge. Thank you all for your comments. Don

I am usually very good about checking my liquid cell house batteries the first of every month. This spring/summer I somehow let it go 3 months. I checked them today and 3 of the four needed just a little water. The fourth was completely dry. All three cells were well below the plates if not all the way dry. These are Interstate batteries about 2 years old. I have never seen any water level below the plates before. Is this battery toast? Faulty battery? Don

Brilliant!

Bill, "realey"?

triglycerides? Is that a new Blue Bell flavor?? Don

Carl, as long as you can get a Storms Burger and fries to go life should be fine. Don

I am truly befuddled and confused with all of the closings, cancellations, shelter in place rules, etc. This is not intended to be a rant, nor a political statement by any means. I just wonder if I am missing something with all of the reactions to this Covid-19 virus versus the annual and seasonal flu. Here is an article by and about Michael Levitt, a Nobel laureate and Stanford biophysicist. The following statement was taken from the article. "But he also blames the media for causing unnecessary panic by focusing on the relentless increase in the cumulative number of cases and spotlighting celebrities who contract the virus. By contrast, the flu has sickened 36 million Americans since September and killed an estimated 22,000, according to the CDC, but those deaths are largely unreported." https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-03-22/coronavirus-outbreak-nobel-laureate So, why is our country at a standstill over Covid-19, with 46,548 cases and 540 deaths versus the flu with 36 million cases and 22,000 deaths? These numbers just don't make any sense to me. What am I missing? Don

Trespassers beware!!

Exactly Herman. Ours is a 2009 Newmar Allstar 4188 with a lift and a back door. Bathroom is totally wheelchair accessible and my wife can push her wheelchair down the aisle when the slides are in. Only three of these made by Newmar at that time. However, Newmar has been making wheelchair accessible units since then in the Canyon Star and Dutch Star models. Maybe more. We met Maylon Miller in Nappannee, IN in 2010 and asked him to continue making these models. I guess he thought about it and took it to heart. Don

Thanks Brett. And, thanks to the other replies. Don

Going from 1,100 ft. to 8,000-9,500 feet and temps from 90's to 40's lowered my tire pressures 5 to 8 psi. Should I adjust to the pressures I usually carry? Don

Thanks to all. I will test for power and see if I can extend the cylinder that way. Don

Herman it is the inside step cover.

Herman, i guess I wasn’t clear enough. This issue has to do with the inside steps at the front door, not the wheelchair lift. Don

Our inside step on our motorhome won't elevate. I lifted the step manually and looked underneath the step and saw that the "piston" had become disconnected from the housing at the step wall. I found four tiny screws loose. But I couldn't get the "piston" extended in order to see if I can fasten it back. How do you release this piston, or is it fried? Don

Thanks for all the replies. This gives me something to chew on. Don

Manholt, Actually, I talked to Texas Custom Coach today and will be seeing them this Friday. I think they will be able to help me out. I am about 20 miles from them. Thanks for the reminder. Don

To Those Who Know What They're Doing Our 2009 Newmar Allstar needs an electronic makeover. We have replaced two TVs. Now they don't work without unplugging RCA connectors and plugging in different ones depending if we need satellite or DVD. Our tuner/receiver is a Jamo. They don't make them anymore. No HDMI connections. There is a 4-plex tuner box on top of the Jamo that directs signal to the 4 TVs. Our satellite dome is a Winegard In-motion model, 9 years old, not very dependable. We have DISH. I want more state of the art equipment. Two new TVs is no problem. Tuner receiver, routing to 4 TVs so wife can watch DVD in the bedroom and I can watch satellite elsewhere, HDMI cabling? Anyone have a makeover plan? I would very much appreciate it. I have been to 3 reputable RV service shops and no one has been cabable of suggesting anything. Thanks in advance. Don

Here is a link to a document created by the inventor/engineer of Comfort Drive at TRW, Mr. Ken Sherman. Don Comfort Drive.pdf