rossboyer

About 5 years ago, I heard that Caterpillar was testing an electric drive train on a D3 dozer. Haven't heard any results since.

Should be easy to do. On my coach I have one of the big 6 conductor and big center posts. One of those is unused, so just add +12 volt line;, but add a diode to restrict the towed's battery feeding back to the coach. Don't know what tow bar you have, but I think you can contact Roadmaster for information or look on their web site for wiring diagrams. I think they sell a complete kit to charge a towed vehicle's battery. Just because you have Blue Ox shouldn't make any difference.

Should be easy to do. On my coach I have one of the big 6 conductor and big center post trailer connector. One of those is unused, so just add +12 volt line, but add a diode to restrict the towed's battery feeding back to the coach. Don't know what tow bar you have, but I think you can contact Roadmaster for information. I think they sell a complete kit to charge a towed vehicle's battery.

If you were to have 5,000 watt load of 120 volt items that would be 417 amps of 12 volt load on your batteries and generator. My diesel motor home only has a 170 amp generator. So I doubt that your battery bank and generator will keep up. A 2,000 watt load would be 167 amps from your battery bank and generator. I have a 2,000 watt msw. I doubt that even with my residential refrigerator that I pull more that 1,000 watts. The frig pulls 4.1 amps at start up or about 500 watts. Don't forget to add about 10% loss in changing from 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC. The equations is P=IE or POWER (WATTS) EQUALS CURRENT (AMPS) TIMES VOLTS

I have an Equinox and would have that problem if I didn't pull one fuse. Later I replaced it with a switch. You can also fix the problem by adding a charge line from the coach to the towed battery.

Herman. Thank you making positive comments. We need all posters to look for the good.

I did go to the link you posted. At the top it states that it was posted by Chris Dunphk not Chris Smith. The article goes on to say that a person could sign up without a motor home. Maybe we should all rethink about this issue. If this benefit brings in new members, why would we need to open membership to all RVs? Why not look at the positives instead of being critical of the organization when one of the 5000 released the information prematurely not the FMCA Staff. I was present when this benefit was discussed at the May Executive Board meeting, but I didn't go out and blast the world to create a nightmare for the staff. Testing the system by announcing to 5000 is good not negative. Those 5000 were current members, so the announcement did go to the membership. It was one of those that caused this issue.

Chris Smith did not leak the post on rvmobleinternet, he did correct the cost once it was lowered to be sure accurate information was posted.

If the Governing Board recommends the change, a ballot will be in the September issue of Family Motor Coaching. So every membership will be able to vote.

There are a few that do just that, but I have been uncomfortable in some of those. Tended to want only $1m motor homes and wouldn't let in high dollar Class C's like Renegade.

The Family Motor Coaching side of FMCA is a for profit corporation, but the amount of profit has a limit to maintain the not for profit FMCA side.

In the FMCA Atlas, FMCA campgrounds are indicated. Those will handle motor homes. Of course there are non-FMCA big rig, too.

Mine are at the door. Not all coaches are like yours.

Usually two switches. One disconnects the chassis battery and the other disconnects the coach batteries.

I switched to FMCA Roadside Assist this past March after going to their seminar in Chandler. The supplier is VAS which use to do Coachnet. They answered all my questions. The only difference I see is that Coachnet covers any vehicle you are driving and FMCA Roadside Assist covers listed vehicles and the cost is less than half. Over the years I have had AAA, Good Sam and Coachnet. The only reason I switch was cost. All seemed to work.

I think back then Sherman-Williams was the supplier for their paint. I had a Harney Coach Renegade. SMC was the parent company of Trek, Safari, Renegade and Beaver. When I needed paint, Sherman-Williams used a color gun and mixed paint to match. I could not tell the new paint from the old. This may be the best way to get the paint particularly if the old paint has faded.

The packets for Governing Board members have been sent and those that haven't should receive them soon. Back to the issue of the Governance Tab on the web site. While there is some sensitive information that should not be open to all members just because it is premature to be announced. I do feel that the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws and the Member and Volunteer Handbook (which contains the Policies and Procedures) should be available for all members. Minutes of meetings (once approved) should be available, too. The Governance of FMCA: The Governing Board is the highest authority of the organization. The FMCA Executive Board members (15) and the Chapter's National Directors are members of the Governing Board. The National Directors elected by their chapter to represent the chapter at the Governing Board meeting which is held once a year at the summer convention, this year Indianapolis on July 12th. The Chapter also elects an Alternate National Director that should attend the Governing Board meeting. If the National Director is not present or has to leave the floor of the Governing Board meeting, the Alternate has voting rights to represent the chapter. If neither the National Director or Alternate can attend the meeting, the chapter can elect a temporary Delegate to be the chapters representative. If for some unforeseeable event happens, the Chapter President can appoint a temporary delegate, but only in the window of 22 days through 7 days before the Governing Board Meeting. During this years Governing Board Meeting, the issue of towables is of concern for may members. The actual change is from 'motor homes or motor coaches' to 'recreational vehicles". As National Director, I think we should vote to recommend to the membership adoption of the changes to the Articles and the Constitution. The Bylaw changes if approved by the Governing Board will be Provisos pending the approval by the membership of the Articles and Constitution which will be in the September issue of Family Motor Coaching sent to the members. The majority of the returned ballots will determine the outcome. Back to the Governance: Between Governing Board Meetings the FMCA Executive Board acts for the Governing Board to conduct the business of Family Motor Coach Association (the not for profit part of the business) and Family Motor Coaching (the for profit part of the business). The FMCA Executive Board members are the President, Senior Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 10 National Vice Presidents. The 10 National Vice Presidents are elected by their respective Area Associations. The four officers are elected by the Governing Board at the Governing Board meeting. Next are the 10 Areas which are geographical except for the INTO area which include all of FMCA. The National Vice President is also the President of the area's association. The chapters within that geographical area belong to that area association. The chapters that belong to the INTO area are usually special interest or manufacturer brand specific. And finally the individual members are represented via their National Director elected by their chapter. Less than 40% of the membership belongs to a chapter; therefore, what about the remaining members, how are they represented? The National Vice President for their area is their representative. And don't forget the membership has control of the organization by their vote on Articles and Constitutional matters. Hopefully, this information will aid in understanding the architecture of our organization.

That is what I said. Changes to the Articles of Corporation and the Constitution are voted upon by the whole membership. The Governing Board either votes to recommend the changes to the membership or rejects it. If the decision is to recommend, then a ballot would be sent to the membership in the September (I think) magazine. But the Governing Board can also approve or reject the Bylaw changes as a Proviso. If the membership approves the Constitution change and the Governing Board approved the Bylaw Provisos, the Bylaws will be changed without further action. While there are three documents included in the Proposal 3, I do not see any issue in doing so.

The proposed change to the Constitution is voted upon by all members. The proposed changes to the Bylaws is voted upon by the Governing Board not the Executive Board.

I cannot help you picking a model, but our Samsung RF197(no longer produced) is on it's third year on a XANTREX 2000 MSW inverter, no extra batteries. When on the road we run the inverter and when stopped we use shore power or the generator. If on the generator, we can turn off the frig and only gain about 2 to 3 degrees overnight. Best improvement we ever made.

You are correct. I still like the AF-1.

How about Statts Mills RV Park at Ripley, WV 304-373-0030. I have never been there, but my phone app states that they accept Big Rigs.

By personal experience I have had a professional driver pick up a members coach to drive it from Indiana to Florida. A pre-drive safety check was conducted including fluids checked. It took the driver 3 days to deliver the coach which is very reasonable. The firm was Horizon from the Elkhart. Brett is correct that you can have driver of your choice, but you may not have a legal recourse if an accident happens. So far I have not heard any negative comments about the FMCAssist drivers.

We cannot attend. Melanie and I are hosts for the Past National Office Chapter dinner from 4-7.

We have found good results baking convection only by lowering the temp 25 degrees. We do have a oven under the cook top that stores pans and snacks. I think we actually baked in it twice and found that the bottom gets too hot. The convention is much more uniform cooking.