You are in control!

Giving Thanks

November is traditionally a month to pause and be grateful. We express appreciation for our family, our friends, our freedoms — and for the RV life, of course. In this issue of the Mile Marker, we touch on these areas, and more. Military campgrounds, new RVs, FMCA member benefits, Thanksgiving fun . . . we’re here to help you fill the month with good thoughts and happiness.

In this gratitude-filled post, we are thankful for you, our RVing friends and family. We’re so happy to have you along for the journey!

The FMCA Team

Count The Blessings Of RV Life

In this season of gratitude, it’s a good time to take stock of the reasons we are thankful for the opportunity to travel in our RVs. Here are a few things that come to mind.

Spending time with family and friends. RV life helps us to slow down and be more intentional about the interactions we have with family and friends. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day frenzy and lose sight of what’s really important — the people around us, be it our biological family or camping friends who are our chosen family.

Exploring the outdoors. Health experts remind us of the benefits of spending time outside in nature. With all the opportunities for exercise — walking, biking, hiking, kayaking, etc. — it’s good for our physical wellness. It’s also beneficial for our mental health. Spending time in nature can help to lower anxiety; improve our mood; enhance creativity; and provide us a dose of Vitamin D, which boosts the immune system.

Experiencing new places, meeting new people. It’s easy to fall into a rut in our everyday lives. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. said, “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” It’s beneficial to leave our little corner of the world and see and try new things. Travel often serves to remind us how much beauty and good there is in the world.

Taking along the comforts of home. What could be better than traveling with your own bed – and bathroom, and kitchen, and so on? RV life also allows us to take along our furry friends. Eric and Cindy from Today is an Adventure Day cite this as a reason they are thankful for their RV. They share that thought and others in this YouTube video.

Of course, we’ve only scratched the surface of all there is to appreciate about RV life. Today and every day is a good day to count your RV blessings!

RV-Related Recall Information

Looking for the latest RV-related recall information? Visit FamilyRVingmag.com for a list of the most recent recalls issued by RV and component manufacturers. To search for recalls, investigations, and complaints by vehicle year, make, model, and VIN, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline is (888) 327-4236.

RVs: What's New For 2025?

Jason Epperson from RV Miles attended the recent Elkhart RV Dealer Open House in northern Indiana, an event for RV manufacturers to show product innovations directly to dealers. Here are a few highlights from Jason’s visit.

By far, Jason noted, the biggest trend was the abundance of new destination trailers, with design features that could appear in many other types of recreation vehicles. For example, Alliance RV’s new Benchmark line includes the roomy 44LFT, which features two full bathrooms and lofts on both ends. Forest River’s Riverstone Lost Pines, offered without slideouts, has a slanted roof to facilitate water runoff and a cozy, stylish interior great for a couple. Cedar Creek’s new Cottage 41FWC fifth-wheel-style floor plan boasts eye-catching exterior graphics printed onto fiberglass, riveted aluminum seams, and a 38-inch-wide entry door that can accommodate a wheelchair.

Jason also commented on the growing number of decks and porches on RVs. For example, the Forest River Sabre’s new 33RLP fifth-wheel includes the “Sundeck,” an airy side porch created when the wall lowers and unfolds, and becomes enclosed by a railing made from the RV’s sliding glass doors. The Sabre 36ML fifth-wheel incorporates a permanent deck under its rear loft, with composite floor planks, drop-down shades, and water misters.

A standout on the motorhome side was the Thor Test Vehicle, an electric hybrid Class A prototype built on an electric vehicle (EV) platform from Harbinger Motors. A gasoline range extender recharges the electric battery system, providing an estimated 500-mile range; plus, its 800-volt electrical architecture allows for rapid charging at DC fast-charger locations.

Other RV innovations Jason saw included the Forest River Vengeance Rogue Armored toy hauler, which boasts an interior slideout that extends into the garage to enlarge the living area. A new Rogue Armored travel trailer features a video projector in the front bedroom instead of a TV. Emphasizing the trend toward more targeted sleeping areas, Jason noted that the Palomino Puma 337BH travel trailer includes three private bedrooms, two of them bunk rooms.

To learn more about the RVs and related components Jason saw at the Elkhart Open House, check out his YouTube video. Read about other new 2025 models and floor plans in this article from the November/December issue of Family RVing magazine.

Fantasy RV Tours Gives Thanks For Our FMCA Family

At Fantasy RV Tours, we’re grateful for our longstanding partnership with FMCA, which has helped bring incredible adventures to FMCA members since 2011. This collaboration allows us to offer exclusive tours, discounts, and unique experiences crafted specifically for FMCA’s vibrant community of RV enthusiasts. We’re thankful to be part of your journey and look forward to creating more unforgettable memories together on the road. Here’s to the shared spirit of exploration and the many adventures still to come! To learn more, click here.

THIA Is Proudly Made In The USA

Fires are like fingerprints, and THIA fights fires with solutions as unique as fire can be. THIA is an automatic fire detection and suppression device, custom designed to react with the infinite variables of thermal activity by integration within a risk component. There are no cylinders, no fixed sprinkler heads or nozzles. The activation causes a kinetic release point unique to each thermal event. THIA experts create optimized solutions for previously unmet needs. Complimentary estimates and onsite installation are available nationwide. Company representatives will come to you! For more information, visit proteng.com.

Yo-Ho-Ho And A Bottle Of...FUN!

Avast ye, landlubbers, good times await in middle Georgia, March 12 through 15, 2025, as FMCA hosts “Return To Perry: Lafitte’s Lost Treasure.” Registration is now under way. Don’t miss the boat! Visit FMCA.com/fmca-perry-2025-learn-more

Lakeview Terrace Resort, C13570

Lewiston, California

If you’re looking for a place to unplug in northwestern California, consider this RV resort in Trinity County, nestled near Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, and river rafting are available nearby. Other attractions include Lake Shasta Caverns; Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park; and One Thing Ranch, a working llama/alpaca farm. The resort offers full-hookup campsites, restrooms with showers, a coin laundry, a playground, and more.

Military Camping

U.S. Military Campgrounds and RV Parks, a website operated by a U.S. Air Force veteran, provides camping info for members of the armed forces. Create a free account to access all the site’s features; subscriptions are also available. (Check this page to see facilities listed by state.)

The Old Farmers Almanac

Updated every year since 1792, The Old Farmer’s Almanac imparts wit and wisdom, tried-and-true advice, and U.S. weather forecasts said to be 80 percent accurate. (Pssst: It predicts a calmer, gentler winter throughout much of the nation in 2024-2025.) The guide covers other topics, too: understanding the curious behaviors of cats, finding happiness in a cup of tea, and much more. The 2025 edition is available wherever books and magazines are sold, including online.

From There To Here

Go RVing Canada announces its rebranding with a quick look at RVing from the early years up to today. Check out some RV memories and jaw-dropping scenery in this YouTube video.

What To Do After Turkey Time

If you’re entertaining guests for Thanksgiving, you might be looking for ways to amp up the fun during the gathering. What can you do to keep the celebration going after enjoying the turkey and trimmings? Planned activities can be one way to add to the good times. Possibilities include having everyone contribute to a gratitude jar that you read aloud now or revisit next year; holding a scavenger hunt; taking a walk together; or making a Thanksgiving craft. For inspiration, check out Today.com’s list of 50 Thanksgiving Activities To Take Turkey Day To The Next Level.