RVing Into Yesteryear

FMCA's July Mile Marker

RVing Into Yesteryear

As summer continues its lazy, hazy ways, encouraging RVers to hit the road for new adventures, nostalgia trips can be part of the journey. Need ideas? Read below, as this month we explore “vintage.” From FMCA’s beginnings in July 1963 and a granite monument in Maine that commemorates the association’s founding, to celebrating decades of iconic motorhomes and travel trailers in museums and videos, we’re delighted to share a load of historical RV whimsy. In addition, we offer some commonsense tips for staying cool in your RV when the mercury rises, provide healthy-yet-yummy ideas for snacking on the road, and spotlight some FMCA benefits to enhance your road trips.

FMCA opens the door to an exciting world of RV travel . . . past, present, and future. Enjoy your journeys, with our help!

The FMCA Team

FMCA Adventures With Fantasy RV Tours

Wow! Our first tour with Fantasy RV Tours was amazing! The wagon masters and tail gunners took very good care of us! They also communicated directions, schedules, changes, and other things very well with us. There were so many places we visited that we never would have found on our own! We traveled with a great group of people, too! We loved it and have scheduled several other tours.

Dean & Emily Penner, F527063

Enjoy an FMCA members-only tour with Fantasy RV Tours! Experience top-notch amenities and experiences along the route, traveling in the comfort of your own home on wheels. Let Fantasy RV Tours turn your wanderlust into reality! Click here to learn more.

Cool Your RV Interior

Beating the summer heat while RVing can be challenging, but with some effective strategies, you can stay comfortable. Try these tips.

Use reflective window covers. These covers help block out sunlight and reduce heat inside your RV. Reflective insulation, such as products from Reflectix, can be particularly effective for windows and skylights.

Park in the shade. Whenever possible, park your RV in shaded areas. This significantly reduces the amount of direct sunlight heating your RV. If natural shade isn't available, consider using an awning or a portable shade structure.

Ventilate, cross-circulate. Utilize roof vents and fans to create airflow. Opening windows on opposite sides of the RV can also create a cross breeze, helping to expel hot air and bring in cooler air.

Use portable fans. Supplement your RV’s air conditioning with portable fans. They can help circulate air more efficiently and cool down specific areas faster.

Cook outside. Avoid using the oven or stove inside the RV, as it adds unwanted heat. Opt for cooking outside using a grill or a camping stove.

Insulate and cover. Use insulated curtains and coverings for windows and vents. This helps to keep the cool air in and the hot air out.

By implementing these tips, you can enjoy your summer RV adventures while staying cool and comfortable.

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.

61 Years Ago In Maine. . .

Some readers of this newsletter may not be familiar with FMCA’s system for assigning membership numbers. They actually began with “1,” which Bob Richter of Hanson, Massachusetts, acquired in the summer of 1963. That July, Bob’s family and a couple dozen others — all owners of “house cars,” what some called these early motorized RVs — held a get-acquainted meet at the Hinckley School in Hinckley, Maine. One purpose was to view a total solar eclipse, which produced excitement similar to the celestial event North America witnessed this past April.

The families who owned those self-contained homes on wheels decided to form a club to socialize and share information about their vehicles. Doing so would also give them collective buying power and a voice to help ensure their parking rights (some communities were resistant to the newfangled vehicles). On July 20, 1963, FMCA was officially born.

Bob also spearheaded production of the first issue of FMCA’s magazine — Family Motor Coaching — dated February 15, 1964. Now titled Family RVing, it has been produced continually since. And he and others organized the association’s early conventions; the first event took place at Ticonderoga, New York, in July 1964, with owners of 106 RVs present. By the spring of 1965, FMCA had grown to nearly 1,000 member families.

Although FMCA was a labor of love for Bob and others, he was forced to relinquish his efforts to nurture the association to refocus on his family’s electronics company. “We put more than a ton of office equipment, supplies, and files — and a couple of bottles of pink champagne for two marvelous people (Ken and Dotty Scott, L63) — in a moving van headed for Cincinnati on Friday, March 12, 1965, and reluctantly went back to the job of making money and raising children,” he wrote in a 2003 article in the magazine. FMCA has been headquartered in Cincinnati ever since.

As for those membership numbers, F553469 was the most recent assigned as of June 30, 2024. Except for family members being able to adopt a generational member number with an S, D, P, or G extension (“Son,” “Daughter,” “Parent,” or “Grandchild”), none are ever repeated.

Learn more about FMCA’s early days in Bob Richter’s 2003 article and another article recognizing the association’s 60th anniversary in July 2023 written by publishing director Pamela Kay.

Explore New Horizons With "Adventure Peaks"

Join us for FMCA’s 109th International Convention and RV Expo Presented By Beaver Coach Sales at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Oregon, August 14-17, 2024. Experience four days packed with educational seminars, entertainment, RV exhibits, social gatherings, and much more! Register online now or contact our Events Team at (800) 543-3622. Embark on your next great adventure . . . are you ready?

Keeping The Legacy Of FMCA

Recently, the Maine Wheels chapter shared photos of their clean-up efforts, showcasing their dedication to preserving the monument and beauty of FMCA’s history. Head to their Facebook page to see their pictures or join FMCA’s community Facebook group here.

Williamsburg Campground, C4390

Williamsburg, Virginia

Sleep comfortably at the award-winning Williamsburg Campground in Williamsburg, Virginia, after reveling in the rich history and charm of the town during the day. The 80-acre campground offers full-hookup RV sites with 30- and 50-amp service. The facility is known for being big-rig friendly and offers both pull-through and back-in sites. Each site comes with a fire pit, picnic table, and free Wi-Fi. Rental cabins and yurts are available for your family and friends who don’t own an RV. Campground amenities include a heated swimming pool, splash pad, kids jumping pillows, playgrounds, Gaga Ball (similar to dodge ball), a nine-hole disc golf course, and more.

Join FMCA Today for Exclusive RV Perks and a Thriving Community! Learn more here.

Take A Ride In The Past Lane

Immerse yourself in the rich history of one of America’s most iconic RV brands at the Airstream Heritage Center, located at company headquarters in Jackson Center, Ohio. Explore preserved Airstream models and view other artifacts that highlight the brand’s legacy. Other fascinating exhibits await at the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. For example, the RV Founders Hall displays trailers, photos, and memorabilia that mark milestones in the RV industry from pre-World War I to today.

Vintage Travel Trailers

It’s a vintage trailer paradise! Transport back to a bygone era where nostalgia meets modern-day exploration in this YouTube video. From Airstreams to teardrop campers, this video showcases a variety of restored vintage towable RVs gathered at various rallies across the United States.

Harvest Hosts Wants To Hire YOU. . . To Retire

You heard that right! Harvest Hosts is looking for a Chief Retirement Officer to travel across North America in a furnished RV, exploring and sharing the best retirement spots. If you are ready to take a break and hit the open road, send your creative resignation letter and photos here.

Anyone else have “snack attacks” more often when RVing and spending time in the great outdoors? Planning for snacks while you’re planning regular meals can help to ensure that you’re prepared when hunger strikes — and that you have more to offer than a bag of chips. Planning also can help to make sure healthier options are available. It’s fun to indulge some of the time when camping, but it’s best to balance that out with more nutritious “fuel” along the way. This also can be a great time to try new things, and a way to impress your camping companions.

If you’re looking for inspiration or some fun new ideas, check out these camping snack suggestions from Taste of Home and Fresh Off The Grid. These recipe roundups range from classics such as trail mix to unusual options like peanut butter granola pinwheels. If you’re interested in a fun new take on snacking on the go, consider creating a “snackle box” — a portable “charcuterie board” often created using a box meant for fishing tackle. Southern Living shares some ideas here.

See you at the picnic table!