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Volume XVII, Issue 5 • September-October 2012

The Offi cial Magazine For Owners Of Heritage, Eagle, Dream, Tradition, Allegiance, Limited & Revolution Motor Coaches

Whether on the road or at rest, an American Coach commands respect. Life’s achievements aren’t always easily won, and we believe that your motorcoach should be an exuberant declaration of success.

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DRIVING YOUR PASSION

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Whether on the road or at rest, an American Coach commands respect. Life’s achievements aren’t always easily won, and we believe that your motorcoach should be an exuberant declaration of success.

Our reputation is something we work hard to maintain. Year after year, American Coach owners rely upon our industry-leading customer support, and innovative engineering and construction. That’s why we’re proud to have the most satisfied repeat customers in the industry.

The honor is all ours. But the glory can be yours.

More than a motorcoach manufacturer, we’re a partner in the pursuit of your passion. Call 800-854-1344 or visit AmericanCoach.com to build a customized American Coach that’s all your own.

LIFE’S ULTIMATE MERIT BADGE.

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5 President’s Message

7 Vice Presidents Message

8 ACA Yahoo Group

9-16 Chapter News

17-19 ACA Fall National Rally - Yuma, AZ

21 Rolling Recipes

2nd Annual Southeast ACA Regional Rally

23 American Coach - Chris Carter

24-25 Escape Ladder for RVs

26-27 Roving Wrencher

28 ACA Scholarship

The Webmaster

31 Rally Schedule & Sites

32 Tips & Tricks

33 Membership Services

34 Chapter Directory

35 Chapter Registration Form

www.myamericancoach.comwww.facebook.com/americancoach

Other links:www.americancoach.comautos.groups.yahoo.com/group/American_Coachwww.acc-fmca.comwww.fl eetwoodrvstore.com

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page 24-25Escape Ladder for RVs

September-October 2012, Volume XVII, Issue 5 [ Contents ]

[ Advertisers ]

ACA ACROSS AMERICA - September-October 2012 3

ACA National Membership:Membership Chairwoman - Debbie Darby1021 Pinehurst Pl., Camarillo, CA 93010805-482-6733 / 805-469-2903

Membership Benefits - Bill Dettmer1509 Tejana Mesa Pl. NE, Albuquerque, NM [email protected]

Membership Services - Janice ThompsonAmerican Coach Association, 1812 Latelia Ct, Trinity, FL [email protected]

ACA National Web Site:Chairman - Doug Thompson1812 Latella Ct., Trinity, FL [email protected]

ACA National Finance Committee:Chair - Laura Bruno1250 Jodi Court, Gardnerville, NV 89460775-265-0468 / [email protected]

ACA National Ambassador Club:Chairwoman - Debbie Darby1021 Pinehurst Pl., Camarillo, CA 93010805-482-6733 / [email protected]

ACA National By-Laws:Chairwoman - Margaret HarkerPO Box 2430 PMB 1512, Pensacola, FL [email protected]

ACA National Policy:Chairman - Chip Aiken1160 Vierling Dr., #345, Shakopee, MN 55379952-807-2290 [email protected]

ACA Scholarship Foundation:Chairman - John Corcoran1051 Caravan Loop, Polk City, FL 33868-5118863-984-0903 / 863-370-0869 [email protected]

ACA National Rally Coordinator:Chair - Jim Graham12245 Susanne Ct., Irvington, AL 36544251-825-9876 / 251-623-4321 [email protected]

ACA National Rally Guidelines:Chairwoman - Mary Corcoran1051 Caravan Loop, Polk City, FL 33868863-984-0903 / 863-206-1418 [email protected]

ACA National Historian:Chairwoman - Ann Beadel8801 FM 45 South, Brownwood, TX 76801325-646-5104/325-998-0431 [email protected]

ACA National Legal Advisor:Chairman - Pete Smoot11444 Waterford St., Los Angeles, CA 90049301-472-1527/310-701-7736 [email protected]

ELECTED OFFICERS:President - Doug Thompson1812 Latelia Ct, Trinity, FL [email protected] President - John Corcoran1051 Caravan Loop, Polk City, FL 33868-5118863-984-0903 / 863-370-0869 [email protected] - Jennifer Goergen621 Rollingwood Dr., Shorewood, IL 60404815-791-0644 [email protected] - Bob Downing808 Holley Lake Road, Aiken, SC 29803803-641-6455 / 803-645-1694 [email protected]

CHAPTER PRESIDENTS:Great Lakes - Scott Kellett2621 Westgate Crescent, Box 821Brights Grove, Ontario N0N 1C0519-869-8181 / [email protected] Wanderers - Bill Makowski2968 N. Manistee River Rd.Grayling, MI [email protected] Pack - Skipper CampbellP.O. Box 1126, Fort Mill, SC 29716803-547-6486 / 803-417-8242 [email protected] Valley - James CatronRR2 Box 255, Butler, MO 64730660-679-4577 / 660-424-0309 [email protected] California - Glenn Caldwell14566 Mono Way, Sonora, CA 95370209-559-8923 [email protected] - Claudia Rutherford1494 Birch Lane, Perkasie, PA 18944215-795-2427 / 267-228-6143 [email protected] - Merritt MosbyPO Box 2182, Florence, OR 97439 925-383-6341 / [email protected] California - Pat Adams23905 Clinton Keith #114-373Wildomar, CA [email protected] Central - Robin Fagala103 South 68th St., Broken Arrow, OK 74014918-357-2775 / 918-521-2658 [email protected] - Bob Frank888 Grande Haven Dr., Titusville, FL 32780321-385-0668 [email protected] - Glen Tilley2075 Doyle Drive, Berthoud, CO 80513970-532-0936 / 720-810-3350 [email protected]

ACA NATIONAL MAGAZINE:Editor - Jane Lihou9121 Atlanta Ave., #637 Huntington Beach, CA 92646714-749-7560 [email protected]

Advertising - Graeme GeeNational Database Coordinator140 Rainbow Drive #4081Livingston, TX 77399312-543-9809 [email protected]

Design & Production - Print Group Inc.1440 W. Skyline Ave., Ozark, MO [email protected]

ACA Magazine - ©2012Volume XVII, Issue 5September-October

The ACA Across America Magazine (USPS 025-025) is pub-lished bi-monthly by the American Coach Association, Pub-lication Department, ACA, 1812 Latelia Ct, New Port Richey, FL 34655 (727) 709-0218, and is funded in part by annual membership dues and paid advertisements. Membership dues are $45 per year. Membership in the American Coach Association is open to owners of American Coach motor coaches only – Heritage, Eagle, Dream, Tradition, Alle-giance, Limited and Revolution.

Periodicals Postage Paid at New Port Richey, FL, and at ad-ditional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER:Send address changes to ACA Across America Magazine, Membership Services, 1812 Latelia Ct, Trinity, FL 34655.

ACA Across America contains advertisements which may be of interest to members- the appearance of any adver-tisement for products or services in this publication shall not be deemed an endorsement of the Association or indi-vidual members. ACA reserves the right to reject or accept, including editing for reasons of space and clarity, letters to the editor, chapter news or articles. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the author(s) alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers of the ACA, the members, the Editor, or Production Staff. Letters and photographs become property of ACA and will not be returned.

4

ACA Across America

This year, due to health related issues, our current vice-president John Corcoran, has elected not to seek the offi ce of president. This is very unfortunate on multiple levels. John and Mary have volunteered in many capaci-ties with us over the years, and have been very instru-mental in helping the club function smoothly for well over a decade. Their inability to continue is not only unfortunate from the health aspect, but it also creates a huge loss in terms of their expertise, experience and dedication to this organization. They will be deeply missed. I’d like to express my most sincere wishes to Mary for a speedy recovery.

With that having been said, we now fi nd ourselves in need of both a president and a vice-president to lead the club through these diffi cult times. If you have questions, thoughts, or just want to discuss candidacy, please feel free to call me at any time. The nominating commit-tee will be seated during the fi rst week of October at the rally. According to the by-laws, a person seeking either of these offi ces must have served either one full year as an elected offi cer in any of the regional chapters or as a national offi cer.

Let’s all put our heads together and fi nd just the right candidates to keep us on track. This is a great organiza-tion and deserves great leadership.

Sincerely

Doug Thompson“Life rocks when your living room rolls.”

It’s hard to imagine how quickly the year goes by. We were enjoying the summer and all of a sudden it’s fall again. Maybe that’s OK though, as this year was a bit of a challenge just staying cool and fi nding reasonably priced diesel along the way.

As you read this, Jan and I will have likely completed a good portion of our meandering 4,000 mile journey to Yuma to attend the fall ACA Rally. The Southern California Chapter has spent a lot of time and effort in the planning of this event, and we look forward to it being a smashing success. We hope you’re planning to attend as well.

Each year at the fall rally, a nominating committee is seated to select candidates to serve as national offi cers. This year will be a bit different than most. Generally, the person who has served as vice-president will run for the offi ce of president, taking with them two years of experience learning the operation of the organization and getting to know the people who volunteer in all of the other capacities of this great club. It takes an army of people to keep this ship moving forward, folks who serve willingly, giving greatly of their time and talents to ensure we all keep having fun.

Doug ThompsonACA National President

Doug Thompson

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[ President’s Message ]

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6

John CorcoranACA National Vice-President

John Corcoran

As I compose this article, we are at the midpoint of summer. Following a wonderful rally in Sevierville, Mary and I had to keep our travels east of the Missis-sippi. A visit was made to Camp Decatur to present the ACA Scholarship Foundation scholarship to seven high school graduates and children of Fleetwood/American Coach non-management associates who build and service our coaches. The fun was just starting because following that we attended three graduations of grand-children, two from high school and one from college, in both Michigan and Indiana.

The biggest problem with traveling this year was that it was very, very hot. After weeks of 100-plus tempera-tures, we returned to Florida where, believe it or not, it was cooler (90 to 95 degrees). Father time had also reared his head at the start of this year and provided very uncomfortable and painful travel conditions for Mary. Even after investing in six new tires in Indiana for the fall excursion to Yuma, we had to curtail further RV travels for the remainder of the year. Because of the uncertainty of future travel, I have informed the Board of Directors that I will not be seeking the office of ACA President. We hope we will be back enjoying our favorite lifestyle in the spring in time to attend the ACA National Rally in Montgomery, Texas in May 2013.

If you haven’t signed up for the ACA National Rally in Yuma, Ariz. on October 2-7, 2012, please do so as it’s not too late. The Southern California Chapter promises this will be a memorable rally. They have worked long and hard on the preparations, so sign up and see what they have in store for you. Remember, it’s all about having fun.

Don’t forget to enjoy the rest of summer by attending some of the many chapter rallies. And, as you travel, remember to drive safely and we will look forward to seeing you down the road.


[ Vice President’s Message ]

ACA GROUPHello everyone, it’s Debbie & Terry checking in from cyberspace again.

As we write this, it’s the middle of the travel season and we’ve seen several American Coaches up here in Grand Teton Nati onal Park, some we didn’t know and some who were friends that stopped in for a day or two to visit us at the marina before heading off for other desti nati ons. Like the rest of the country, the weather has been warmer than usual this year, and we’re looking forward to cooler temperatures soon. If you’re thinking about taking a wild-west trip next summer, consider a trip to Colter Bay Village in Grand Teton Nati onal Park. It’s a great place, but be sure you reserve early enough to assure yourself a spot in the RV Park; if plans happen to change, you can always cancel. There are so many things to do up here – hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, lake cruises, river raft ing, breakfasts/dinners on Elk Island, and the infamous town of Jackson Hole is nearby for shopping, etc. We have about 30 days left before we head off to Arches Nati onal Park and Canyonlands Nati onal Park, then on to Yuma for the fall rally, so if we didn’t see you this summer, we hope to see you next summer!

ACA GROUPACA GROUPThe AC Yahoo Group conti nues to grow, and has a very healthy discussion atmosphere, with many acti ve parti cipants. Members consistently say how happy they are to have found this forum and how helpful all the ti ps have been in maintaining their own motorhomes. If a questi on can’t be answered by a search, all you have to do is ask it on the forum and you’re likely to get several responses in a short amount of ti me, helping to troubleshoot issues almost as soon as they arise.

Another benefi t of being a member is parti cipati on at the seminars we hold when we att end rallies. Our next seminar will be at the Yuma rally in early October. Of course, you don’t have to be a member to att end, and if you aren’t already a member, you’ll get helpful ti ps on how to sign up and use some of the great benefi ts the AC Yahoo Group provides on the internet, such as the FILES and PHOTOS secti on. In these secti ons you’ll fi nd all sorts of informati on, troubleshooti ng advice, etc. We recently used the fi les secti on ourselves and were thrilled our issue was resolved so easily!

If you aren’t already a part of this great group and you’re interested in fi nding out what it’s all about, we invite you to visit awhile and get to know us and get a feel for the benefi ts derived from our forum. To get to the AC Yahoo site, go to the American Coach Associati on web site at http://www.myamericancoach.comand click on “Links.” Scroll down past the listi ng of American Coach Dealers and click on the link for “American Coach Owners Yahoo Group.” The price is right – FREE – and I can just about guarantee you won’t regret it!

Debbie & Terry

‘06 Heritage

8

The western United States has been in a real heat wave with over 100 degree temperatures for a few weeks now. Luckily for Jeannine and me, we have been traveling along the Southern California coast for a few days. We visited “The Rincon”, a place that many SolCal members know well. It is near Ventura right on the Pacifi c Ocean. For a few miles there are RV’s of all sizes and shapes parallel parked along the right shoulder of old Highway 1. June, July and August is the high season for The Rincon as the weather is a mild 70 degrees with cool breezes. The beach is busy with fi shing, swim-ming, sunbathing and surfi ng.

You sit outside with your favorite beverage and snack looking to the west at the Channel Islands. The surf is soothing and blocks most of the highway noise. Before you know it, it is time to get the barbeque grill ready for steaks as the sun sets below the Pacifi c Ocean. Week-ends can be very busy at this time of year and there are no reservations. Park in the day use area to the north and when somebody pulls out get moving. It is dry camping so come prepared.

Our next stop was to Golden Shore RV Park in Long Beach, another popular place for the SoCal crowd. Golden Shore has a great location at Long Beach Harbor.

Northern CaliforniaThere are miles and miles of bike paths for the cruiser bikes. Jeannine and I had dinner out every night be-cause there are so many inviting places to eat along the shoreline. One evening we ordered food to go and had a nice dinner on a park bench in the grassy park looking out across the bay at the Queen Mary.

To our SoCal friends, sorry we could not look you up. We were in Long Beach for just a few days with a busy reunion schedule. Forty years after high school, you go to bed early too.

NorCal will be having a rolling rally to the ACA Na-tional Rally in Yuma so get signed up now. We have a few members who have emailed me about joining us in Bakersfi eld the fi rst night then in Indio the second night. There is still time to register for the rally so check the ACA website for details.

Happy Travels,Glenn and Jeannine Caldwell


[ Chapter News ]

I’ve seen a lot of changing times in my lifetime. This time however, I want to talk about some of the chang-ing times we’ve experienced in the ACA.

When Carita and I first joined the ACA ( it was called the AE&L then) we had a 1993 plum colored, narrow body, mid entry American Eagle. We joined the North-ern California Chapter and life was good. For many years, Carita and I attended all of the chapter rallies and most of the national rallies.

Changing Times; we were in Reno, with a group of ACA members preparing for a caravan to New York on September 11, 2001. Most of us continued on for that great ACA National Rally.

More Changing Times; the “bubble” popped and took most of the RV industry with it. There are hundreds of stories; some members lost their RV’s, others had to go back to work. The price of fuel increased by up to 400%. The ACA, like other RV groups, felt the shock with lower attendance and less factory support for their rallies. Declining membership also played a big part of these changing times. Many clubs didn’t recover, but we are fortunate to have ridden the wave although not without a few cuts and scrapes.

More Changing Times; the Northwest Chapter has still not fully recovered. Many of you know that I have been the president of the Nor Cal and the American Coach Chapter (ACC) of FMCA. With the death of one and health concerns of the next two NW Presidents I was considered a natural to lead this great chapter. Since becoming the NW President, our chapter has a new web-site and we have had few rallies, the most recent being held in September, 2009 at Lakeside Mon-tana. There was not a good showing. I have attempted to motivate the membership to get more involved and put on a rally or run for office in the NW Chapter but, we are stagnating and kind of stuck in the mud.

Changes; On April 27, 2013, I will turn eighty years old and I plan to resign my position as NW President. What, now what? The Chapter deserves a new, younger, more energetic president with new ideas and style of leadership. I’m afraid that when I resign there will be no one to step up and take a leadership position. Now is the moment, seize the opportunity, call or e-mail me now.

Northwest Changes; I have talked with the NW Board and some of the NW members as well as the Northern California President and some of the NorCal members about the feasibility of at least temporarily combining the two chapters if no one steps up. Although I believe this is a chapter decision, I want a little more in-put before making a final decision. I contacted ACA National President Doug Thompson and asked if I could put our chapter’s predicament on the ACA National Rally Board Meeting agenda in Yuma. I would like the other chapter presidents input and suggestions for our future direction and actions.

NOT a Change; as always I welcome your suggestions or comments. I see three options. The first choice is for someone or group from the NW Chapter to step up and take over the leadership positions. My second choice is let’s try a temporary co-mingle with the North-ern California Chapter for two years or so. The third choice is unacceptable! That is to resign and just let the chapter fade away and die.

Change/no change, what say you? Hope to see many of you in October at the ACA National Rally in Yuma. Travel safe.

Please Lord; give our men and women in service to our country your safety and guidance. Please also give our elected leaders the strength and wisdom to bring stabil-ity to our country and peace to the world. Amen.

Thank you,

Merritt Mosby, PresidentNorthwest Chapter

Great LakesSummer is quickly coming to an end and my favorite time of the year is approaching. For me, there’s nothing like the beauty of fall here in the midwest. We’ve had one of the driest summers on record, so we’re hoping for some rain to strengthen the grass for the coming winter.

In June, Bill & Mary Riggs hosted a chapter rally in

10

[ Chapter News ]

The ACA National Rally at Yuma is fast approaching and Bill Dettmer has graciously volunteered as Wagon Master for a pre-rally at Lazy Days RV Resort in Tuc-son. The Southern California Chapter has been working hard to make sure that there will be plenty of fun times at a great five star resort in Yuma. We hope to see you all at both of these fine gatherings. Information is on the web page under “Rallies”.

This is a very good pricing for the pre-rally from our friends at Lazy Days in Tucson. It is on the way for most folks from the east and just an easy three hour drive from to Yuma. And for those of you who have never been to Lazy Days RV Resort in Tucson, it is a class act. There are a lot of things to see and do in old town Tucson and lots of very good eating establishments, plus a very good selection of fine western stores.

It has been a very difficult year for some of our mem-bers, with the tough economy and price of fuel. But, the economy is improving, the housing market is get-ting better and let’s hope that fuel prices remain stable. Hopefully we will all be able to travel more next year. It is time to start thinking about where to go to get out of the winter weather. The southwest is a great place to hang your hat for the winter. There are several areas to consider including Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and even Quartzsite. You can check it out at the Southwest Chap-ter Quartzsite Rally the end of January. Laura and Joe Bruno have done a lot of work to put this together for all of our pleasure. This is one of the fun things to do in the winter in Arizona. I will guarantee you will have a grand time with a lot of very nice folks. Please come and join us. Please keep our Armed Forces in your prayers. They deserve our respect and thanks.

Charles V. (Chuck) Weart President Southwest Chapter

SouthwestSpringfield, Illinois. While the attendance was lower than normal, I can’t remember enjoying a chapter rally more than this one. We had no idea there was so much to do in Springfield; highlighted are activities relating to President Abraham Lincoln. Since Bill is a docent at the Lincoln Museum and Library, we started our journey there (probably one of the most interesting and well designed museums I’ve ever visited). We tour the home that the Lincolns raised their children in and the Old Capitol Building where Mr. Lincoln served in the House of Representatives. One evening, we attended a flag-lowering ceremony at President Lincoln’s tomb. We also had a personal, behind-the-scenes tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana Thomas home. Fascinating! It was a great chapter rally. If you ever get a chance to visit Springfield, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

By the time you read this issue, the Great Lakes Chapter will have descended on the Sunnybrook RV Resort in South Haven, Michigan for our fall chapter rally. We’ve been looking forward to this one for a long time. It is a beautiful area of Michigan (of course, what area of Michigan isn’t beautiful….) and we have some great rally hosts - John & Marita O’Malley, Tom & Jodie Salter, Bob & Margaret Bos, Dick Mason and Lloyd & Marla Koning. Just can’t wait…

Other big GLC news is our new officers. Scott Kellett has replaced me as President and Bill Riggs has followed Scott as Vice President. Lou Benhart has stayed on as our Treasurer along with his other half, Mary Jo, remaining our Membership Chair. Jennifer Goergen continues as Secretary and our newsletter editor. With these folks at the helm, Great Lakes will continue to be the fun, family-like chapter we’ve always enjoyed. Congratulations and thank you for being willing to serve our great GLC chapter and the ACA organization.

In the meantime, on behalf of the Great Lakes Chapter, we wish all of you many miles of good health, good friendships, peace and love.

Bev DeAngelis forScott Kellett, President


[ Chapter News ]

Hil and James are online (with a little assistance). Way to go guys! They say it has been hot, hot, hot in the Sand Hills and so dry that their hay crop is way down. They sold some cattle to help conserve their pastures. They have been fortunate that there have not been fires near them. They attended a big cattle show in Grand Island and they will be at Camp Decatur around the end of August.

Cindy Nitch has been busy selling jewelry, but not do-ing much traveling. She and Hans will be attending the FMCA Six State Rally in Shawnee, Okla. at the end of September.

Larry Baker and Sheila visited the Tillers on their way west and will also meet more friends in Colorado. They were on their way to Logan, Utah. They will be home by the end of September and they are hoping that it finally rains before they get there. We do too!

The Moores traveled with Larry and Sheila Baker to Saskatchewan for a fishing trip. They also rode ATV’s in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming for ten days. They encountered lots of road construction and fol-lowed many pilot cars... so much so that it caused their motor home to overheat and quit! After being towed 126 miles the radiator cap was determined to be the cul-prit and was replaced. They were on their way, only to get a mile down the road when it stopped again. They went back to the shop to find a frayed serpentine belt… probably the problem all along. They then went on to Cody to meet up with the Roloffs and they plan to be in Gutherie, Okla. in September.

The Wolfs went to Macinaw Island after the ACA Rally in Sevierville, Tenn. They celebrated their 50th wed-ding anniversary. They also attended their 50 year high school reunion. The drought has affected them as well, and they have not been able to enjoy the boat this year. They will head to Minnesota for the sugar beet harvest and then on to Yuma for the winter.

Missouri ValleyNancy Cromer says she and Harry have been busy with family and friends at the lake. They went to Norfolk, Neb. to return their grandson to his parents and then on to Iowa to visit more grandchildren. They made a stop at Blue OX in Pender, Neb. The new suburban needed fitting.

Betty Land continues her treatments. Please remember her in your prayers. She reports she is managing pretty well. Hope to see you soon Betty.

We have been hugging the A/C at home this summer. The only things around our house that have liked this summer have been the jalapenos and tomatoes! They have outdone themselves, although some of them are about the size of golf balls. But, they are still tasty. Ev-erything else in the garden bit the dust. I fully expected to see the corn popping on the cobs. Like Larry Baker, we are hoping for rain, lots of rain!

We wish save travels to all our members and friends.

Jim Catron, President

12

[ Chapter News ]

This has been a great summer season for all the Happy Wan-derers, beginning in Sevierville, Tennessee with one of the best rallies that we have ever had. The participants from our chapter are still talking about it. Once again, I want to thank all those who attended for your help and generosity.

The ACA National Rally in Yuma, Arizona is coming up next on our agenda. With all the scenery and places to visit nearby, it should be a very good rally. Unfortunately, Betty and I will not be able to attend because of a previous commitment so we wish everyone a good time which I’m sure you will have. Plans are not complete for a pre-rally at Yuma. We now have a signed contract for our usual 15 sites at Lazy Days Rally Park in Seffner, Florida. The dates are confirmed for January 20th thru the 22nd, leaving on the 23rd. I know many of you are looking forward to this rally and have already made your res-ervations. You might keep in mind that there are other ACA rallies around our dates that you might want to attend.

I found the article about RV fire safety in the last issue to be timely and interesting. It came at a time when we lost lives to a fire that was started by a blown tire. I hope all of you read the article and take the safety of your passengers seriously. You never know when something like that can happen, so have an escape plan in mind just in case. You should know how to open the emergency windows in your coach model.

For your information, I have discovered that the gate valve on my Jake Brake is frozen in the open position so that it will not close when the Jake Brake is applied; you might want to check yours next time out. I was coasting down a hill, turned on the brake and let the transmission down shift then toggled the switch back and forth to see if I felt the effects of the brake and found that it was only down shifting the transmission but not applying the exhaust brake itself.

Sorry I won’t be seeing you in Yuma but I’m looking forward to seeing you in January. Take care and drive safe.

God Bless our troops where ever they are and we thank you for keeping our land safe and free. Make sure and vote in November to keep our free-doms and our rights that our country was built on.

Bill Makowski President – Happy Wanderers

Happy WanderersI’d like to introduce myself as the new president of the Northeast Chapter: My name is Claudia Rutherford. My husband Jack and our Golden Retriever, Tater and I travel in our 2011 Tradition. We have three children, scattered about the country from our hometown in Perkasie, Penn. to Longmont, Colo., with a son in Lima, Ohio. We are so excited to be a part of the ACA, and particularly to get more involved with the North-east Chapter.

We have most recently been to the ACA National Rally in Sevierville, Tenn., enjoying pre-rallies there, and we are at the FMCA rally in Indianapolis as I write this. We pre-rallied in Rising Sun, Indiana for the past week with the ACC chapter, meeting up with old friends and making new ones! Another one of our members, the Waxes have also been traveling all summer visiting friends from our chapter and then heading west thru Michigan, Montana, Yellowstone, Utah, Arizona and many more gorgeous spots across our country. Unfor-tunately the ACA Rally in Yuma is a bit far for us, but we are looking forward to Estes Park, Colo. in Septem-ber 2013. Then we are starting to plan the national rally which will be in the Northeast for spring 2014. If you have any ideas, we would love to hear them.

Lloyd and Bea Monroe have been busy planning a NE Chapter rally for the last weekend of September in Cape May, N.J. We still have a few spots left! I am getting used to planning two years out, but it’s not easy to wait for all the fun! We are looking forward to making more new friends as we travel and we’re having a blast!!

Claudia Rutherford, Northeast Chapter President

Northeast


[ Chapter News ]

From Beverly Petty: With the arrival of summer, our group is out and about and on the move. So many of our members were traveling, most of them enjoying the luxury of their beautiful American Coach Motorhomes. Some of our members stayed local (Long Beach, Palm Desert) and others went north to the Coos Bay and the FMCA rally. Other travels include British Columbia, Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, and a few made it all the way to Europe – OK, not in the motorhome! Lately we’ve been getting down to brass tacks on the rally extravaganza that we will be hosting at The Palms RV Resort in Yuma, Arizona. The Steering Committee will be meeting to review our checklist and ensure every detail has been planned and there will be no (or maybe only a few) hiccups! Obviously we hope you are planning to attend because we know you will have a wonderful time.

BIG NEWS! RV World in Yuma, Arizona is providing us with T-shirts for every attendee. Wow! It’s been a while since T-shirts were offered during a rally. Big thanks go out to RV World and their continued commitment to our American Coach Association. RV World is also providing (including preparing) a Mexican dinner for us and a car show. Not to be outdone, The Palms RV Resort is sponsoring the Red Solo Cup social following the car show that includes hot dogs and beer. In honor of our long-time friends and ACA members John and Sue Thomas, who lost their lives in a motorhome fire, our own 32-year Los Angeles County (retired) Fire Fighter SoCal member, Ben Petty, is providing a fire safety seminar. While we can let time ease the pain of missing John and Sue, we shouldn’t let the passing of time dull our senses and forget how important it is to learn how we can avoid injury or worse with a fire in our motorhomes.

As I sign off with my last article as President of the Southern California Chapter, let me introduce Ms. Pat Adams, our new SoCal President. Pat has been very active in our club and has been a phenomenal secretary during the last two years. Joining her on the board is Debbie Darby, Vice President; Susan Rose back for her next term, but this time as the club’s Secretary; and a newbie Brianne Brissette as the Treasurer. Congratulations and thank you for your time and commitment to the SoCal Chapter of the ACA.

Southern CaliforniaFrom Pat Adams: I would like to introduce myself to all the members of the ACA family. My husband Gary and I purchased our 2008 American Tradition in August 2007 at the FMCA in Redmond, Oregon while traveling with our friends, Willie & Marilyn Morris, who also are Ameri-can Coach ACA members. Since taking ownership of our American Coach, five years has flown by and we’ve made so many wonderful, life-long friends who have welcomed us into this great owners group. Our home chapter is SoCal, and we are active members of NorCal, Southwest, and the Northwest chapters as well. The rallies and the traveling with other American Coach owners have all been memorable. We’ve made long term friends with so many of you since joining this great owner’s club.

Our chapter is looking forward to hosting the “Cruise the Palms” National Rally in Yuma, Ariz. As Beverly mentioned, we are planning a fantastic rally for all the attendees. We have a great agenda lined up for all to enjoy. Our group is such hard workers and believes in this owners club values and our plan is to have a great rally for all. Additionally, we will be working on plans for a 2nd Annual Western Regional Rally at the Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort in February 2013 (immedi-ately following the Quartzsite Rally). The regional rally, if anything like last year, will bring a ton of fun and we hope many of you will join us once again.

As I begin my term as SoCal Chapter President, I will do my best to represent our members in the most professional manner as possible and look forward to meeting many new ACA members as we continue to be proud owners of our American Coach. Also, at this time I would like to acknowledge the hard work of our immediate past president, Beverly Petty, who did an outstanding job during the past two years.Best travels to all and be safe out there!Patricia (Pat) Adams

14

[ Chapter News ]

Hot summer greetings from the South Central Chapter to everyone across America. Summer is here with a ven-geance. We, along with most of our chapter area, are in a severe drought with some members experiencing the extreme or exceptional categories of drought. We have joined with friends and neighbors for a rain dance but as Will Rogers once said, “the successful outcome of a rain dance depends on the timing”, so we will see how it goes.

We are still working on our fall rally to be held at the Winstar Casino RV Resort in Thackerville, Okla. on September 24-26, 2012. This will be a short rally with limited activities but, there is a great golf course and antiquing nearby and, of course, the casino for fun and good food.

Our membership seems to be holding steady during these difficult times. We have lost members for vari-ous reasons and we certainly hate to see them go but we have also gained new members who come to us with new ideas and a willingness to be a part of this tremen-dous association. It is a great joy to be a part of a group of folks who are like minded and enjoy travelling this great country in our American Coaches.

Our Wagon Masters for the next national rally have been working hard to provide an outstanding experi-ence in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Tony Todd and Mary Jane Hebert along with the committee chairs are now in the detail stage of preparation. We anticipate a great group of vendors, seminars, activities along with terrific food and fun. Stay tuned for more information and make plans to join us at the Lake Conroe KOA in Montgomery, Texas in April 2013.

South CentralAs we watch our local and national news each day, we see and hear the worst of the worst. But, watching the young men and women who have worked so hard to perfect their skills and talents on the world stage of the XXX Olympiad makes me believe we do have a future generation who will continue our traditions and free-doms. I was thrilled to see the American delegation enter the stadium. Seeing the excitement on their faces and knowing the effort they made to get to this point makes me excited for our future. I always had the same feelings standing near a formation of soldiers. These are dedicated young people who understand hard work and commitment for the continuation of traditions and free-doms of the great United States of America.

Our members are scattered across the U.S. during this travel season, having fun, seeing the sights and visit-ing with friends and family. We hope all of our ACA friends are doing the same. Please be safe as you travel and watch out for the “other guy”.

Remember our soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Merchant Marines who provide the USA with services and protection each day across the globe.

Until next time, may God bless America!Robin Fagala, PresidentSouth Central Chapter


[ Chapter News ]

Summer is now at its peak and we have had a great time traveling in our coach. We stopped in Kentucky dur-ing the “Route 127 Yard Sale”. That is quite an experi-ence as it extends almost 650 miles from Michigan into Alabama. You can find anything and everything along the way. It’s hard to travel more than about 30 miles in a day with yards full of stuff and dealers galore. I wouldn’t drive my coach along that road during the sale but staying in a nearby RV park and driving our car made a good way to stop wherever we wanted and re-turn to the comforts of our coach at night. We’ve now made it into upstate New York to visit family and will soon turn around to head south.

Along the way I’ve had a few minor problems with the generator and its slide mechanism. When I needed help, a quick note on the Yahoo Group brought me the right answers. I know Debbie & Terry put a lot of effort into making it a fun and extremely helpful site. If any of you haven’t joined yet, you’re missing out on one of the great benefits included in your ACA membership. Check out their column in this issue for instructions on how to join.

The SEACA annual Christmas rally at Sun-N- Fun in Sarasota is our next scheduled event. The registration form is available on line at either the SEACA or ACA websites. Thursday night will be a welcoming party. On Friday we have the upper deck on the Marina Jack reserved for a fabulous luncheon cruise. Saturday night begins with a happy hour and our Christmas gift ex-change followed by a catered dinner. There are only 30 full hook-up sites available for this rally so get your ap-plications in early. Decorate your coach and come join us for what promises to be a fun start to your holiday season. Further details on the rally will be sent to the participants.

Ray and Pauline Shea from Southeast have done a great job in putting together the ACA Eastern Regional Rally in Tampa in January. This is open to all ACA members and I hope we’ll have a great response to it from mem-bers of all the chapters. There are 100 full hook-up sites plus possibly more with electric only. The event coin-cides with the annual Tampa RV Super Show. Included in the price will be three receptions and dinners, two evenings of entertainment and a departure day break-fast. The Southeast Chapter will also hold its annual

Southeast

By the time you read this message, summer, with its heat and humidity, will have moved into cooler tem-peratures and a touch of fall in the air. It is a favorite time of year for many of us as it means more pleasant adventures in the coach.

Mac Pack welcomed the beginning of a new season by spending a week at the five-star rated Hearthside Grove RV Resort in beautiful Petoskey Michigan. The Rose family who owns the resort is very familiar to ACA. The have attended many of our national rallies and are best known for their expertise in scooping ice cream faster than anyone. Hearthside Resort and northern Michigan are beautiful. If you have not visited the area and resort, then put it on your bucket list!

As the holidays approach, Mac Pack plans to begin the season at our Holiday Rally in Virginia Beach. It is a great place to spend some time with our Mac Pack fam-ily before the madness of Christmas is upon us.

January 2013 will find many of us at the ACA East-ern Regional Rally. Mac Pack will continue the fun in February at Everglade Isle RV Resort in Everglades City, Florida. Our rally is being held during the historic Seafood Festival. Come join us - you won’t believe the quantity and variety of seafood that is available.Safe travels everyone.

Skipper CampbellMac Pack

Mac Pack

meeting and election of officers on Saturday morning during the rally so we look forward to a good atten-dance from our members.

Safe travels to all. May God bless our troops and bring them all home safely.

Bob FrankSEACA President

16

[ Chapter News ]

CRUISE THE PALMS!

Fall 2012 ACA National Rally in Yuma, Arizona

October 2 – 6, 2012

The Palms RV Resort

While I love summer, I am looking forward to fall because the Southern California Chapter is having a big party and you’re invited! Yes, we are hosting the Fall National Rally in Yuma, Arizona on October 2nd -‐ 6th (disembark on the 7th). We’re a bit excited since we’ve never had a national rally in Yuma. It will be a

new experience for everyone with new places to see and new and unique events.

I was perusing the agenda and getting excited about what we have planned! Of course we will have plenty of food with four full breakfasts, three fabulous dinners, and a welcome social with heaps and heaps of appetizers. You can sign up for the poker run through town and enjoy lunch along the way.

Following the Mexican dinner sponsored by RV World on Wednesday, we invite you to B-‐I-‐N-‐G-‐O, always

a popular event at SoCal Rallies. We wanted all of our ACA friends to have as much fun as we have with BINGO, so join the fun Wednesday night.

Put on your boogie shoes, first for a practice with a line dancing class, and then the real deal – music and dancing – following our cocktail party and dinner on Thursday.

What I’m really looking forward to is the car show on Friday sponsored by RV World followed by the Red

Solo Cup social sponsored by The Palms RV Resort. Hot Rods, Hot Dogs, and Cold Beer

– now there are three things that really go together:

+ + =

We’ve got some seminars planned, including the very timely topic on motorhome safety and exit

strategies. Something we all should know how to do.

This resort has everything, so you can enjoy your entire visit inside the park: swimming pools, spas, a deli, billiards, library, dog parks, chipping green, tennis courts and competition rated shuffle board

courts. But if you want to venture beyond the resort, there is lots to do and see in the vicinity.

• Take a birding and photography tour. • Hop on a jet boat and visit the lower Colorado River. Take a narrated day trip and see 32 scenic

miles of the Lower Colorado through the beautiful Imperial Wildlife Refuge. The trip includes

stops at a mining cabin built in the 1800’s and Indian petroglyphs. • Have lunch at a real Mexican Restaurant. Bring your passport and travel south to Mexico! Los

Algodones, situated near the borders of both southeastern California and southwestern Arizona,

has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years due in part to inexpensive shopping and restaurants. Algodones is dusty, colorful and fun.

• Wander through a flea market. The Arizona Market Place in Yuma covers 40 acres with over

1000 shaded selling spaces.

• McPhaul Swinging Bridge: The "Swinging Bridge to Nowhere" is a Yuma oddity. Originally constructed by Yuma County and the State of Arizona in

1929, it was built to allow users of the Yuma-‐to-‐Quartzite road (now Highway 95) to cross the Gila River. This suspension bridge, with a span of 798 feet, is no longer used after the road was diverted. Although damaged

in 1990 by fire, this bridge outlasted its replacement which was destroyed by the flood of 1993.

On your way to Yuma

From the East: There is much to see in New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns is a great stop. If you time it just

right and get there right before dusk, you can see the bats fly out of the cavern for their evening meal of insects. If you arrive a little early, take the walking tour of the cavern complete with your own personal audio tour. In Las Cruces be sure to walk around in historic old Mesilla Village. And White Sands

National Monument is almost too beautiful to be real with white sand the color of snow.

From North: Stop at Four Corners, a region of the United States where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meet. The majority of the Four Corners region is part of semi-‐autonomous indigenous American Indian

nations, the largest of which is the Navajo Nation, followed by Hopi, Ute and

Zuni Indian nations.

From Mid-‐West: You have lots of choices, but if you are anywhere near the I-‐80 truck stop (Exit 284 Walcott, IA), you should stop in. It is a huge facility

with a movie theater, restaurants, fast-‐food, shopping and much more. Then I’d suggest you head to Colorado and take a scenic drive through this beautiful state.

On your way home from Yuma


This resort has everything, so you can enjoy your entire visit inside the park: swimming pools, spas, a deli, billiards, library, dog parks, chipping green, tennis courts and competition rated shuffle board

courts. But if you want to venture beyond the resort, there is lots to do and see in the vicinity.

• Take a birding and photography tour. • Hop on a jet boat and visit the lower Colorado River. Take a narrated day trip and see 32 scenic

miles of the Lower Colorado through the beautiful Imperial Wildlife Refuge. The trip includes

stops at a mining cabin built in the 1800’s and Indian petroglyphs. • Have lunch at a real Mexican Restaurant. Bring your passport and travel south to Mexico! Los

Algodones, situated near the borders of both southeastern California and southwestern Arizona,

has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years due in part to inexpensive shopping and restaurants. Algodones is dusty, colorful and fun.

• Wander through a flea market. The Arizona Market Place in Yuma covers 40 acres with over

1000 shaded selling spaces.

• McPhaul Swinging Bridge: The "Swinging Bridge to Nowhere" is a Yuma oddity. Originally constructed by Yuma County and the State of Arizona in

1929, it was built to allow users of the Yuma-‐to-‐Quartzite road (now Highway 95) to cross the Gila River. This suspension bridge, with a span of 798 feet, is no longer used after the road was diverted. Although damaged

in 1990 by fire, this bridge outlasted its replacement which was destroyed by the flood of 1993.

On your way to Yuma

From the East: There is much to see in New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns is a great stop. If you time it just

right and get there right before dusk, you can see the bats fly out of the cavern for their evening meal of insects. If you arrive a little early, take the walking tour of the cavern complete with your own personal audio tour. In Las Cruces be sure to walk around in historic old Mesilla Village. And White Sands

National Monument is almost too beautiful to be real with white sand the color of snow.

From North: Stop at Four Corners, a region of the United States where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meet. The majority of the Four Corners region is part of semi-‐autonomous indigenous American Indian

nations, the largest of which is the Navajo Nation, followed by Hopi, Ute and

Zuni Indian nations.

From Mid-‐West: You have lots of choices, but if you are anywhere near the I-‐80 truck stop (Exit 284 Walcott, IA), you should stop in. It is a huge facility

with a movie theater, restaurants, fast-‐food, shopping and much more. Then I’d suggest you head to Colorado and take a scenic drive through this beautiful state.

On your way home from Yuma

After the rally, well it’s a great time to head into California and sample all that the Golden State has to offer. In less than four hours you can be in San Diego, a beautiful city with charming neighborhoods. The historic Gaslamp Quarter has much to offer with its 16 blocks of grand Victorian-‐era buildings and home to more than 100 of the city’s finest restaurants. Stroll through the amazing Del Coronado hotel, a beachfront luxury hotel just across the San Diego Bay from San Diego. Watch Navy ships head out to sea while enjoying a picnic on the grass on Shelter Island. Head to the world famous San Diego Zoo and see the Pandas. San Diego can keep you occupied and entertained for days.

Head inland and visit wineries in Temecula or take a guided architectural tour of the Mission Inn in Riverside. It’s not quite the season for Palm Springs and Palm Desert, so it’s the perfect time to visit (less people, less traffic), and there are plenty of RV places to park, plug in and play.

Mark your calendars, make plans, and just get out there. Enjoy your beautiful American Coach and all of your friends you have met along the way by being a part of this great organization. Join us on this Fall Cruise!

See you there!

Beverly Petty

Publicity Chair

18

The Service Request form is available online at myamericancoach.com


LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: DO YOU HAVE A RECIPE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

If so, please send it in to your editor: [email protected] or Jane Lihou • 9121 Atlanta Ave., #637

Huntington Beach, CA 92646

This recipe had become a family favorite. Jim Corbin and I were sitting and waiting for a table during the ACA Rally in Mobile, Ala. To keep our appetites at bay, we were served these barbequed oysters together with some liquid refreshment. One hour and two dozen oysters later we were seated. I don’t remember the dinner but I do remember these delicious oysters. Here is the recipe as I reconstructed and refi ned it.

one dozen oystersbutter fl avor sprayProgresso Italian Style Bread Crumbs or equivalentgarlic powder and salt to tastefreshly grated Romano cheese

Shuck the oysters and leave them in the hollow side of the shell.Mix the bread crumbs in a shallow bowl with garlic powder and a little salt to taste.Lay out the oysters on a tray. Using a spoon, scoop an oyster out of its shell and roll it around in the bread crumb mixture. At the same time spray the empty shell with butter fl avor spray.Move the oyster from the bread crumb mixture back into its shell. Sprinkle with fresh grated parmesan cheese. Repeat with all of the oysters.

Preheat the barbeque to about 400 degrees. Place the oysters on the grill and cook until the parmesan cheese is melted and brownish color and the oysters are thoroughly cooked.

Barbequed Oysters ala Mobile

Tony StellerACA 4635

The Second Annual Southeast ACA Regional RallyRally dates: January 16th-20th, 2013 (Same dates as the Florida RV SuperShow)

All ACA chapters and members are welcome- this is a regional event -

Lazydays RV/Rally Park- TampaThe rally has been extended this year to correspond with the SuperShow.

Rally fee includes four nights of camping, three dinners and two nights of entertainment. Beer and wine will be provided on three nights. Breakfast and Lunch available at Lazydays Café.

The 2013 Florida RV Supershow is expected to be bigger and better than ever:http://www.rvbusiness.com/2012/08/fl orida-rv-supershow-space-up-12-for-2013/) The SuperShow is at the Florida State Fairgrounds- fi ve miles from Lazydays.

There are a limited number of sites available and anticipate a sell out! We already have four chapters represented and nearly one third of the spaces are reserved! – Act NOW to save your spot- download registration and service form at: http://www.myamericancoach.com/rallies/rallies.htm - C U There!!!!!


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22

Hello from Decatur! It’s hard to believe that summer is almost gone and fall is right around the corner. It seems like just yesterday that we were together enjoying the scenery in the great Smokey Mountains. Since then, we have experienced dry conditi ons here in Indiana and much of the mid-west. While the summer has been dry, there certainly has been no drought in the preparati on of our 2013 models. At the Sevierville rally we introduced 2013 Traditi on and Revoluti on models, and 2013 Eagle and Heritage models are now shipping to the market.

The 2013 Heritage will be introduced during the NASCAR race in Bristol at the end of August. Some of the highlights of the Heritage include a new 45’ fl oor plan we are calling the 45N. The new 45N is a full wall slide, bath and ½, with a fi replace and all new interior design appointments. We have added a single source touchscreen Silverleaf Monitor panel that allows you to control most of the onboard systems including air conditi oning, heati ng, inverter, batt ery monitoring, tank monitoring and more. The new 2013 Eagle also received a signifi cant amount of interior updati ng this year including; bathroom wainscoti ng, decor mirrors and accents. Of course, as unveiled in Sevierville during the rally, all American Coach models are now shipping with the Liberty Chassis and an integrated chassis soluti on from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporati on (FCCC).

Now that the full complement of American Coach brands are in the market, we are really excited to hear what you think about the new 2013 models. So, please conti nue to forward your ideas and product suggesti ons for future models. The easiest part of our jobs is to listen to your ideas and suggesti ons, then fi gure out ways to make our coaches bett er. Anyti me you see me, Kyle McCrary or any American Coach representati ve at a rally or other event, please take a minute to tell us

what you like (or don’t like) and what you would change or improve in your next coach. Or, feel free to send me a note anyti me at chris.carter@fl eetwoodrv.com.

Please join me in congratulati ng Steve Heim on his promoti on to Vice President of Customer Experience. Twenty eight years ago, Steve was an associate in the tool-crib at the Paxinos, Penn. facility. For those of you who know Steve, it is no surprise that this promoti on comes about because of his dedicati on, work ethic, and conti nual drive to improve and exceed expectati ons in everything he does. As the VP of Customer Experience, Steve is the senior-most executi ve responsible to ensure that each and every customer is delighted with the American Coach experience.

Just a reminder… our American Coach Factory Service Center in Decatur now off ers Diesel Chassis Maintenance & Repairs. We are warranty service authorized to work on and repair Spartan Chassis and Freightliner Custom Chassis. We have ASE Certi fi ed Chassis Technicians on board who will perform a warranty authorized service, engine oil changes, chassis lube, brake & exhaust repairs and generator service. We off er a 29 point visual inspecti on that includes a thorough review of your chassis components including suspension parts, hoses, belts, fl uid levels, air system, fuel system, brakes and much more. If you are planning a trip to Decatur, please call our service group at 1-800-435-7345 and they will be happy to help you.

We have been working on an updated American Coach website and we expected to be up and running before the end of July, but it has taken just a litt le longer than expected. I believe that you will fi nd it to be worth the wait so keep checking it out at www.americancoach.com.

One way to keep track of any updates or recent acti viti es of your American Coach team is to stay in touch with us by checking our American Coach Facebook

page. Please make sure that you “like” us and tell your friends where to fi nd our page. Find us at: htt p://www.facebook.com/americancoach.

As a self-proclaimed “product guy”, the main focus of my job is planning features and content for future model years. While the “product” may bring us together over a common interest, ulti mately it is the camaraderie and friendships developed with ti me that we cherish the most. In the end, relati onships we have with each other end up being the most special aspect of being an American Coach owner and a member of the American Coach Associati on. That is why it is always diffi cult to learn about the sudden passing of an ACA member and friend or to hear about someone having to make the decision to “hang up” the keys as father ti me has caught up with them. For those who are hanging it up, we want you to know that we are truly thankful for you friendship and your ti reless dedicati on to making ACA what it is today. We are here because of you. It is also very exciti ng to meet new members and develop new relati onships with people who have decided, like most of you ACA “old ti mers”, that owning an American Coach and being a part of the ACA is a prett y cool thing to do. For those of you who are “newbies” to ACA, we welcome you to the American Coach family. We are looking forward to seeing you at an upcoming rally.

On the behalf of the 1100 hard working families in Decatur, Indiana, thank you for being an American Coach owner. Travel well I hope to see you all in Yuma!

Regards,

Chris Carter

Chris Carter


An escape ladder for an RV is helpful in the event that an emergency condition, such as a fire, exists in the area of the normal entry. An emergency exit such as a window or door is built into the RV in the

opposite end and the opposite side of the normal entry. This, in many cases, opens high above the ground making it a dangerous and scary exit point. An escape ladder can facilitate the egress from the emergency exit. The owner of the RV should spend time with the occupants to familiarize them with the

emergency exit procedures.

This escape ladder should be light, flexible, strong, sturdy and simple to use for all sizes of people. The top rung of the ladder must be at a distance from the bottom of the exit provided by the RV manufacturer to allow the occupants to get a foot set comfortably and safely on this top rung and get

the second foot and leg situated so that egress from the RV can be accomplished.

Attached are some photos of an escape ladder which has been built using pieces from a Kidde Model KL-‐25 Escape Ladder (although a KL-‐35 could be used) that was designed for use to exit a second story window of a Home or Business. First Alert also manufacturers a similar ladder. These ladders can be

purchased from stores like Home Depot, Lowes or Sears for about $30.00 and can be simply modified.

Tools required: 5/16” wrench, 7/32drill, knife or scissors, ruler

1. Loosen and remove nuts and washers from the u-‐bolts holding straps to the attachment hooks. Pull the u-‐bolts out of the holes and return the washers and nuts to the u-‐bolts; this may prevent you from losing these pieces as you will be re using them in a later step.

2. Drill the concave end of the rivets, using the 7/32” drill, which holds the bottom part of attachment hooks to the top part. The rivet can then be pushed out and the bottom and top parts can be separated.

3. Drill a set of 7/32” diameter holes spaced 1 and 3/16” apart in the top part of the attachment hooks; as shown in the pictures. This allows the straps to be reattached to the top part of the

attachment hooks and the top step of the ladder to accommodate most occupants. 4. Reattach the step straps to the top part of the attachment hook. Be sure that the hook arm and

the step stand offs are located in the same direction. Tighten the nuts so that they are fully on

the u-‐bolt. 5. Open the emergency exit and place a prop between the window and the sill to hold it open. (I

used a 24” venetian blind turner rod for this purpose. It should be stored in the same vicinity as

the ladder to insure that it is available when needed for an emergency escape.) While setting up the escape ladder and practicing egress, place a blanket or towel over the window sill and down the outside of the RV to prevent damage to your RV.

6. Hang the escape ladder outside of the RV by placing the attachment hooks over the sill of the emergency exit. You should now be able to comfortably exit the RV and land on the ground safely.

7. Now, if you are happy with the results, determine how long you want the ladder to be and cut off the straps on each side just below the bottom step. You may want to stick some felt or

ESCAPE LADDER FOR RVs

24

rubber padding on the pad of the step stand offs and buy 12” of 1.5” ID rubber tubing and slide it up the attachment hook below the strap where the ladder touches the outside of the RV to

prevent marking of the RV outside finish. 8. Good luck, I hope that you will never have the need to use this escape ladder. Please store it

close to where you will need it. Practice often to be sure that your occupants are familiar with

the availability of the exit, the exit continues to open easily, the escape ladder is available and that you all can exit easily.

Pictures showing an RV ESCAPE LADDER in position on a 2000 American Eagle.

Location of Holes and Straps Full ladder and Prop

If you have questions call 703 625-‐2180 or e-‐mail [email protected].

ESCAPE LADDER FOR RVs


THE ROVING WRENCHERBy Joe Bruno • [email protected] • 775-790-3260

As with most of us who motorhome, my wife and I have “pants work” and “skirt work” assignments, and blue and pink responsibiliti es. When the front TV quit (which is my blue responsibility), I knew that doing the replacement meant the ti me had come to divert my att enti on away from the mechanical stuff I enjoy, and address some of those inside pink things my wife had also been wanti ng done

Of course, doing a TV replacement became a much greater job…what guy in his right mind only changes out a TV without doing some other upgrades that he’s been dreaming about? My fi nal list included:

� Replace the kaput 40” Sony TV with a much lighter (50 lbs. less) 46” Samsung 8000 Smart HDTV with lots of new-fangled features.

� Install a Kenwood AM/FM/Sat radio (with remote control and compati ble with our existi ng Sirius receiver) just below the new TV; and a Samsung sound bar just below the radio.

� Replace the dash-mounted Navion 5000 with a SilverLeaf 440 unit.

The new TV not only fi t in the same space as the old one, but left enough room to have the new radio and sound bar installed just below. We had the new TV drop-shipped to Greg Mies, of From Trees to These, who did his always masterful cabinet work for this job. (Greg indicated to us that in the last few years, he has done almost 250 TV change outs). The photos here show the old TV, the new TV, and the new radio and sound bar.

Replacing the Navion with the informati on-rich SilverLeaf unit involved making a couple of additi onal modifi cati ons. To improve the driving scan, I had already installed a dedicated rear-view monitor on the top left corner of the

driver’s dash and transferred the feed from the lower, in-dash Navion. And, I replaced the Pressure Pro ti re monitors with SmartTire monitors, which provide both PSI and inside-ti re temperature readings. The photos show our dash with the new SilverLeaf unit installed.

Now that I was surrounded with all these new gadgets, I turned to my wife’s wish list. Laura’s top-of-the pink list included:

� Replace the driver-side and passenger-side sofas.

� Replace the dining chairs (one already had a cracked back).

� Replace the beige-toned carpeti ng with a brown sugar-toned carpeti ng.

� Replace the galley faucet with a hi-rise, pull-out faucet.

Laura had already decided she wanted to replace the driver-side sofa with recliner chairs. She really liked the Amish-made Lambright Comfort Chairs, so she contacted Vernon Lambright (of Lambright Comfort Chairs) just outside of Shipshewana, Indiana. Vernon worked with her to build two recliners covered in her choice of a top grade of ultraleather. One of the chairs is a powered wall-hugger, which reclines to any positi on; the other is a rocker-recliner for those ti mes when Laura simply wants to rock her cares away...

We were so impressed with the quality of the new recliners, we convinced Mr. Lambright to build a residenti al sofa to replace our passenger-side, jack knife-style sofa (which Laura had always been very unhappy with). While we dry-camped at his shop, Vernon and his crew took two days to measure, build and install a very well-made, very comfortable, and beauti ful sofa, covered in the same ultraleather as our recliners. The best part was a price signifi cantly less than the Flexsteel and Villa sofas we had previously seen.

By Joe Bruno • [email protected] • 775-790-3260

This Was an Inside Job

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26

For the dinett e chairs, Laura contacted Robert Miller of REM Industries in Wakarusa, Indiana (who specializes in RV dinett e chairs). She found a chair style she liked, and provided the ultraleather fabric to match the new sofa and recliners (which she had already purchased from Vernon Lambright at a very good price).

The last touch for the driver-side slide was to have Greg Mies install drawers between the new recliners and wood wainscoti ng on the inside walls behind and alongside the recliners. These photos show the new recliners, sofa, and dinett e chairs.

On the new carpeti ng, we worked with Greg Mies who arranged for us to order the new carpet from Habegger in Decatur, Indiana. When it came in, Greg’s carpet/fl ooring guy did the re-carpet work while we remained parked at Greg’s shop.

The fi nal item on the pink list involved getti ng Greg, with his thinner-than-me physique, to crawl under the sink and accomplish the faucet replacement. Laura chose a bronze Moen faucet, which is pictured here.

Now I am a happy camper; I have a happy wife; what more could I ask for? Oh, I’m very sure that I can come up with something else!!!


ACA WebsiteThe Webmaster’s Report

ACA ScholarshipFoundation

We would like to thank the Missouri Valley Chap-ter of ACA for their generous donation to the ACA Scholarship Foundation this summer. Many chapters have drawings or raffles at their chapter events to help raise funds for our scholarship program and believe me, it is much appreciated.

The ACA Scholarship Foundation is a tax advantaged 501-c-3 Corporation and any contributions you make to this very noble cause are tax deductible (consult your tax advisor to confirm this). This is also a good way to honor the memory of someone special. Due to your personal generosity and the generosity of chapters, we were fortunate to award seven $1000 scholarships this past May to children of the associates who build and service our coaches. We would like to keep up this trend. I encourage all chapters and their membership to participate in this worthy cause either by holding raffles or other fundraisers, indi-vidual contributions, or group/chapter contributions. Please help us continue this show of appreciation for the children of the associates that keep our lifestyle rolling.

If you have any ideas on how to grow our program or would like to assist, please contact me either by e-mail ([email protected]) or telephone (863-370-0869). Thank you in advance for your continued support.

John CorcoranPresident, ACA Scholarship Foundation

I hope you are all enjoying your summer travels. We spent quite a bit of the summer in the mountains near Smoky Mountain National Park. Still hot, but certainly a bit more tolerable than some places in the midwest.

I recently sent out two emails to promote the ACA Na-tional Rally in Yuma, one in August the other in Septem-ber. I just wanted to assure you that this type of email is intended to inform you of opportunities to attend a fun and interesting event with your fellow ACA members. We do not sell our mailing lists or our email lists, and we do all we can to prevent commercial operators from get-ting access to either. We protect your privacy in every regard.

We check each email address for validity before we send out notifications or information, and this time we had 78 addresses bounce from our current membership roster. So, as you have time, please log in to your ACA member-ship account and check your email address for spelling and accuracy. It is important that we maintain current information to be able to keep you informed. On the other hand, should you not want these occasional emails from the association, simply let membership services know, and we’ll remove your email address from the database.

When you go to the rally page on the website, you’ll see that more rally masters are sending us their registration forms for posting on the site. If you are hosting a rally and would like information posted for you, please send in Word format to: [email protected]. We are happy to help you get the word out.

Sincerely,

The Web Guy

“Life Rocks when your living room rolls”

28

ACA National Fall RallyThe Palms RV Resort, Yuma, ArizonaOctober 2 – 6, 2012

Cruise on down to The Palms! The Southern California Chapter is gearing up for the ACA Fall National Rally at The Palms RV Resort in Yuma, Arizona. This is a spectacular park with level sites, full hook-ups, wide streets and a host of amenities: a beautiful ball-room which we will use for our dinners and membership meeting, 2 heated pools a lap pool and a play pool, 2 spas, tournament rated billiards room, championship rated shuffleboard courts, fit-ness center, card/game room, putting green, library, craft rooms, and two dog parks! Gosh I got carpal tunnel syndrome just typ-ing that extensive list of amenities. Even if you don’t go on a tour, play golf, or attend a seminar, there will be plenty to do inside the park! Stay tuned and ensure you have marked your calendar to attend our ACA National Fall Rally in sunny Arizona!

Southeast ChapterSun-N-Fun, Sarasota, FloridaNovember 29 – December 2, 2012

We will be having our annual Christmas rally in Sarasota. This is always a great event and well attended. We have planned an opening gathering on Thursday, luncheon cruise on Friday and gift exchange and a catered dinner on Saturday. Come get in the Christmas spirit with your Southeast friends. Bob & Mary Ann Frank are hosting the events and the details and application are available on both the SEACA and ACA websites.

Mac Pack Christmas RallyHoliday Travl-Park, Virginia Beach, VirginiaDecember 3 - 7, 2012

What a way to begin the Christmas season. Virginia Beach prom-ises us many beautiful sights, some great food, some last minute shopping and a new place to explore. December is always a busy month for everyone, so take a little down time for yourself and spend it with your RV friends during this special time of the year. More details to come. What a way to begin the Christmas season. Christmas Lights, places to shop if you still need that last minute gift, treats for the tummy and time to spend with our RV family. Look for additional details to come, but make sure you put this rally on your Christmas List.

ACA Eastern Regional Rally Lazy Days, Tampa, FloridaJanuary 16 -20, 2013

We have 100 sites reserved for this event. The rally fee includes 4 nights at Lazy Days campground, 3 dinners with beverages, 2 nights of entertainment and breakfast the final morning. This rally is always well attended and will include the annual meeting for the host Southeast Chapter. Further information and applications are available on both the ACA and SEACA websites. Ray & Pauline Shea are hosting this event.

Southwest ChapterIf It’s January, It Must Be Quartzsite • Quartzsite, ArizonaJanuary 24 – 28, 2013

We’re making some big changes for this annual rally! First, we are at a new location - Rice Ranch, where we’ll have full hook-ups (50 amps, sewer and water) and bigger spaces for everyone. An added plus is that Rice Ranch is even more convenient to the vari-ous Quartzsite happenings than our previous location. Next, the dates of this upcoming rally will coincide with two big Quartzsite events: the Quartzsite RV Show, and the QIA Pow Wow. Come and join us (and don’t forget to bring your Buddy Coach friends) for some genuine Southwestern Hospitality!In addition to lighting the “big grill” for our famous rib-sticking, rib-eye steak barbeque, we’ll also be using it for hamburgers, hot dogs and Italian sausage on another night. And, we are planning easy-does-it surprises for the remaining nights’ repasts!Each morning we’ll be serving up that eye-opening Cowboy Coffee with fresh donuts and a campfire to get your day going; and each evening we’ll have our big gatherings around the campfire to share stories with friends.Our arrival date is Thursday, January 24th, and we’ll be departing Monday, January 28th. If you would like to stay longer, you will be able to make arrangements with Rice Ranch to do so.We are looking forward to seeing you in Quartzsite!!! For ques-tions or more information, contact Laura Bruno at 775-790-3261, or email her at [email protected].

Happy Wanderers ChapterLazy Days, Tampa, FloridaJanuary 20 - 23, 2013

The Happy Wanderers have 15 sites set aside for this great annual occasion. We will have the usual cook out, eat out and pig out events. There have been several sites spoken for already so make your reservation soon and watch for further information.

Date Location ChapterSept. 21 - 24, 2012 Thackerville, Oklahoma South Central ChapterOct 2 - 6, 2012 Yuma, Arizona ACA National RallyNov 29 - Dec 2, 2012 Sarasota, Florida Southeast ChapterDec 3 - 7, 2012 Virginia Beach, Virginia Mac Pack ChapterJan 17 - 20, 2013 Tampa, Florida Eastern Regional RallyJan 24 - 28, 2013 Quartzsite, Arizona Southwest Chapter

[ ACA Rally Schedule & Sites ]


1. When you purchase bananas, take them

apart when you get home; They will last longer.

If they are really green and you want them to

ripen faster, leave them connected at the stem;

they will ripen faster.

2. Store open chunks of cheese in aluminum

foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold.

If mold does form, you can scrape it off and

still eat the cheese without any changes in the

fl avor.

3. Peppers with three bumps on the bottom

are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers

with four bumps are fi rmer and have a stronger

fl avor.

4. Add a teaspoon of water when frying

ground beef. It will help pull the grease away

from the meat while cooking.

5. To make omelets or scrambled eggs

rich, add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream,

cream cheese or heavy cream before beating

the eggs.

6. Add garlic immediately to a recipe for a

light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe

if you want a stronger taste of garlic.

Organizing Your Coachby Debbie Darby

7. To make easy deviled

eggs, put the cooked yolks in

a Ziplock bag. Add all the other ingredients

and mix thoroughly. Cut the tip of the baggie,

squeeze the fi lling in each egg and just throw

the baggie away! You can make the fi lling

ahead and stuff at the last moment before

serving.

8. When reheating refrigerated or leftover

bread, pancake, muffi ns, etc, put a cup of

water in the microwave with the bread product.

The increased moisture will keep the food

moist and it will also heat faster.

9. Before you pour sticky substances into a

measuring cup, fi ll with hot water. Dump the

water, but don’t dry the cup. Next add your

peanut butter, Karo, etc and see how easily it

comes out.

10. To keep cilantro fresh, snip root ends

and place in a glass of water (so the ends

are in the water). Place in the side door of the

refrigerator.

Solutions To YourMotor Coach Needs

Full Service RV Repair

Kevin [email protected]

715 S. Sugar St. • Celina, Ohio 45822

Cruisingamericarvserviceco.com

[email protected]@frontier.com

Cruisingamericarvserviceco.comCruisingamericarvserviceco.comCruisingamericarvserviceco.com

32

• Credit Card Services •You can join or pay your annual

dues with a Master Card or Visa on the ACA Web site*. We’ve taken

precautions to ensure it’s safe and no one will have access to your

credit card information.

• Membership Roster/By-Laws •Membership Roster & By-Laws can

be viewed and downloaded from the ACA Web site*. Please note we

no longer mail out either unless one is requested by mail or e-mail.

• Free Web Site Advertising •Members can place a classified “coach for sale” advertisement

on the ACA Web site. Best of all, it’s FREE!

• Membership Badges •New members receive their

Membership Badge(s) - they are FREE - with their New Member

Welcome Letter. Existing members who wish replacement badges must order them directly from

McBee’s - see below.

• Change Phone or Address •Change and/or view your personal membership information on the

ACA Web site*

All ACA mailings, including the ACA Across America Magazine, are mailed to the address listed in the

ACA Roster data base.

If you don’t have a computer (or hate to use one) just call or mail us and we’ll make any necessary changes or corrections for you.

Need Swingers, Badges or Ovals?It’s easy: Mail your order along with an enclosed check (US $), including your correct ACA Membership Number, to the following:

McBee’s • 909-336-2325 • PO Box 660, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352• Swingers @ $2.00 each • Badges @ 5.50 each • Ovals @ $16.00 each - Prices include shipping and sales tax.

Questions? send e-mail to [email protected]

* Type in www.myamericancoach.com - on the home page, click on Membership Tasks and follow prompts.

Jan Thompson, ACA Membership [email protected] (501) 858-9564(727) 364-5327

Please join with us in welcoming the following new members to the American Coach Association since our last magazine:

Tony & Christine Galic, Allan & Deborah Meyer, Ron & Sheri Martinez, Lloyd Knecht, Robert & Cindy Madore, Don & Carol Millard, Graham Dolder, Dan Clemente, Mike & Vicki Tkach, Peter Pena, Joe Romeo, William & Caroll Orler, Brad & Debbie Reiter, Warner & Marilyn Allen, Robert & Kay Borg, Roger & Doris Burns, Donna Smeidt & Stuart Kerr, Chris Gentile, Larry & Violet Ault, Charles Gian, Mike & Dianne Kugler, Richard & Kimberly Shamel, Steve & Kim Palin, Carolyn Frederick, Gene & Jackie Anderson, Jim & Sandi Anderson, Joy McDaniel, William & Mary Ann Smith, Glenn & Linda Miller, Norm & Nancy Olson, Roger & Betty Ratliff, David & Glenda Morrison, Timothy & Patricia Male, James & Charlene Goldade, Mark & Kendra Marquez, Kenneth & Donna VanBramer, Jackie Healey, Jeremiah & Janet Wood.

[ Membership Services ]


• NortheastMaine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts,Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,Delaware & Maryland Bob Hershman, Membership Chair2415 Continental Dr.Warrington, PA 18976215-343-2448 • cell [email protected]$8.00 Initiation Fee$12.00 Annual Dues-less $1.00 prorated per month after July

• Mac PackKentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina,South Carolina & TennesseeMarlene Shamel, Membership Chair279 Stonegate LaneMocksville, NC [email protected]$8.00 Initiation Fee$12.00 Annual Dues, due July 1

• SoutheastMississippi, Alabama, Georgia & FloridaSandy & Peter Galligan, Membership Chair10946 Rain Hollow Ct.Trinity, FL [email protected]$8.00 Initiation Fee$12.00 Annual Dues

• Great LakesMinnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,Michigan & Southern Ontario, CanadaMary Jo Benhart, Membership Chair1905 Marketview - #307Yorkville, IL 60560630-553-0102 Cell: [email protected]$10.00 Annual Dues, due by July 1$5.00 after January 1

• Missouri ValleyNorth Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa & MissouriDonna Catron, Membership ChairRt.2, Box 255Butler, MO 64730Cell: 660-424-0309 Jim: [email protected]$15.00 Annual Dues due by July 1

• South Central Chapter:Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma & TexasDavid Parsons, Membership Chair201 Muskogee TrailMadisonville, LA 70447985-845-8476 • [email protected]$6.00 Initiation Fee$12.00 Annual Dues less $1.00 prorated per month after January

• SouthwestColorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Southern Nevada and UtahLaura Bruno, Membership Chair1250 Jodi CourtGardnerville, NV [email protected]$8.00 Initiation Fee$12.00 Annual Dues less $1.00 prorated per month after July

• Southern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaBrianne Brissette, Membership Chair7534 Rock Crest LaneHighland, CA [email protected]$5.00 Initiation Fee • $15.00 Annual Dues, due June

• Northern CaliforniaNorthern California and Northern NevadaTerry Bennett, Membership Chair1970 N. Leslie St., PMB 334Pahrump, NV [email protected]$5.00 Initiation Fee$12.00 Annual Dues less $1.00 prorated per month after July • NorthwestOregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska,British Columbia, Alberta & SaskatchewanCarita Mosby, Membership ChairP.O. Box 2182Florence, OR [email protected]$8.00 Initiation Fee$12.00 Annual Dues less $1.00 prorated after July

• Happy WanderersAll 50 States Plus CanadaRita Adams, Membership Chair524 Pleasant Home Ch Rd.Millers Creek, NC [email protected] $5.00 Initiation Fee$15.00 Annual DuesAnnual dues renewal date: January 1

[ Chapter Directory ]

34

New Membership Application & Dues Renewal FormPlease complete this form and mail (with check in US dollars) to the ACA Membership Services address listed below

USE For Local Chapter Membership Application ONLY *I understand that I may join as many local chapters as I please but that I must be a member in good standing in

the National American Coach Association in order to join a local chapter - my membership number is: #____________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Owner’s name: first (if you prefer a nickname, use that) last

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Co-Owner’s name: first (if you prefer a nickname, use that) last

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing info: address & street name city state zip U.S. or Canada

(_______)_______-__________________(_______)_______-________________________________________________________

Phone: home cell E-mail address

See Directory & Dues page for a listing of chapters, states they cover, dues & initiation fees and key contacts.Indicate the chapter(s) that you wish to join by checking the appropriate box(es)

q Great Lakes q Happy Wanderers q MacPack q Missouri Valley q Northern California

q Northeast q Northwest q Southern California q South Central q Southeast q Southwest

Total of the enclosed check (see chapter requirements): $_____ Check number _____ Date mailed _____

* Send this completed form, along with a check in the correct amount for initiation fees and first year’s dues(US dollar please) and mail it to the appropriate chapter contact as listed on Directory & Dues page of this Magazine.

c u t & m a i l s e p a r a t e l y

• • • American Coach Association • • •3590 Round Bottom Road, Cincinnati, OH 45244-3026

If you need to correspond with the Membership Services office directly, you can reach them at 501-858-9564 or send Email to [email protected]

When enclosing a check with this form, please fill in the following information: Select one: q Current ACA member # _______ q Reactivating membership/previous ACA # _______ q Applying for new membership

q New or reactivated membership - $55 first year only ($45 annual dues plus $10 initiation fee) q Annual renewal dues - $45 yearly

q Number or years renewal (select one): q One q Two

q Total of your enclosed check $ _______ (US dollars please) Check number _______ Date mailed _______

Please type or print clearly. NOTE: If you are a New Member, the National Directory & your ACA badge will be exactly as listed.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Owner’s name: first (if you prefer a nickname, use that) last

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Co-Owner’s name: first (if you prefer a nickname, use that) last

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing info: address & street name city state zip U.S. or Canada

(_______)_______-__________________(_______)_______-________________________________________________________

Phone: home cell E-mail address

I/we own: q Heritage/year _____ q Eagle/year _____ q Dream/year _____ q Tradition/year _____

q Allegiance/year _____ q Limited/year _____ q Revolution/year _____

I/we belong to the following local chapter(s): q Great Lakes q Happy Wanderers q MacPack q Missouri Valley q Northern California

q Northeast q Northwest q Southern California q South Central q Southeast q Southwest

[ Membership Form ]


H 3 miles north of the factoryH Fleetwood RV DealerH Towing & Satellite systemsH Electrical & Generator ExpertsH Authorized by EveryoneH Full RV Repair ShopH Drop-in service welcome

1-800-720-0484www.SullivanRV.com

7982 N US Hwy 33 Decatur, IN

Specializing in Front & Rear Alignment!We also offer FULL SERVICE and

are an Authorized Dealer for Roadmaster Sway Bars.

Just minutes from Fleetwood’s Decatur, Indiana factory and service center.

For more info or an appointment:Call Ron or Rex at 260-623-6093

For more information online:web site: www.monroevillechassis.come-mail: [email protected]

Call forpricing.

36

ACA Across AmericaThe Official Magazine of American Coach AssociationMembership Services1812 Latelia Ct.New Port Richey, FL 34655

• Furniture• Upholstery• Cabinetry

• Electronics• Ceilings• Windows

• Flooring• Awnings

3340 US Hwy 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801

1-800-971-0017classiccoachworks.com

Day Shades

Night PrivacyShades

Household RefrigeratorsFlatpanel LCD TVStressless chairs and more!

Day/Night ShadesRoller shades power

or manual for cockpitor house.

Flooring

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