See also
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The Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) is an international organization of families who own and enjoy the use of recreational vehicles. Although the name says "motor coach" FMCA has welcomed all RV types since 2017 and towables are becoming a viable part of the organization. In 2023 the organization added a category of membership called "Pathfinders" for those thinking of joining the RV lifestyle and wanting to learn more about it before they buy. These members get access to all of the benefits including FMCA University where they can explore what it takes to travel in, own and maintain an RV.
Since 1963, FMCA has issued more than 500,000 memberships [1] to families who look to the association as their source of information about all facets of RV ownership and travel. FMCA is a member-owned association that maintains its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, and employs a full-time office staff. FMCA is governed by volunteer officers who are elected from within the ranks of the association. [1]
On July 20, 1963, 26 families met at the Good Will-Hinckley School in Hinckley, Maine, United States, to socialize and become acquainted with other "house car" owners. They decided to form a motor coach owners' common interest group. A monument to commemorate the founding was dedicated at the school on July 4, 1994. [2]
Membership in FMCA is contingent upon ownership of a self-contained RV — a recreational vehicle that contains all the conveniences of a home, including cooking, sleeping, and permanent sanitary facilities. These can be original-manufacture RVs, or conversions from other types of vehicle, of which buses are the most common. Those contemplating purchasing an RV can join as Pathfinders and use the benefits of FMCA while they learn about the life and decide what RV best suits their needs.
In 2017, FMCA's members passed a historic vote. Previously, the club was open to motorhome owners only. Through the vote, the membership voted to expand the club's membership criteria.
FMCA has approximately 80,000 members [3] from every state of the US as well as Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and beyond. FMCA also has roughly 1,500 commercial members — dealers, suppliers, manufacturers, campgrounds, service facilities, and other firms servicing the RV owner or the RV industry. [2] Most members are only occasional users, while others live in their RVs full-time.
Every member of FMCA agrees to follow the Association's Code of Ethics, which requires members to comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the ownership and use of RVs. The Code of Ethics also calls for members to be "good neighbors, careful and responsible RV owners and operators, and good citizens of our communities." [4]
The purpose of FMCA is to organize social activities, exchange RVing information, and supply benefits made possible, in part, by collective purchasing. The group publishes Family RVing, a monthly magazine. It provides news concerning RV technology, the RV industry, and the association. FMCA members can be identified by the FMCA “goose egg," or membership emblem, displayed on their RV. [1]
FMCA encourages the development of local, regional and specialty chapters. These chapters — FMCA has approximately 500 of them [1] — organize events of particular interest to their members, including numerous rallies throughout the year. Regional rallies, composed of several chapters from a geographic area, are also held annually. Many FMCA chapters cover specific or general geographic areas. Others are dedicated to an RV brand, a hobby, or a special interest. For instance, special-interest chapters include golf, crafts, amateur radio, single RVers, and handicapped RVers. New chapters are being formed as interests change including Pickleball, off roading, and NASCAR to name a few.
FMCA holds two international RV conventions each year at various locations in the United States, in which manufacturers, dealers, and RV suppliers display their latest products. The events take place over a four-day period and usually attract 3,000 to 5,000 RVs. [5] Seminars at these conventions cover topics such as living full time in your RV, boondocking and solar power, maintaining your RV, tracing your family roots, and cooking in a small space with a convection-microwave oven.
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Campsite, campground, and camping pitch are all related terms regarding a place used for camping. The usage differs between British English and American English.
A recreational vehicle, often abbreviated as RV, is a motor vehicle or trailer that includes living quarters designed for accommodation. Types of RVs include motorhomes, campervans, coaches, caravans, fifth-wheel trailers, popup campers, and truck campers.
A motorhome is a type of self-propelled recreational vehicle (RV) which is as the name suggests, like a home on wheels.
A recreational vehicle park or caravan park is a place where people with recreational vehicles can stay overnight, or longer, in allotted spaces known as "sites" or "campsites". They are also referred to as campgrounds, though a true campground also provides facilities for tent camping; many facilities calling themselves "RV parks" also offer tent camping or cabins with limited facilities.
A snowbird is a person who migrates from the colder northern parts of North America to warmer southern locales, typically during the winter. The southern locales include the Sun Belt and Hawaii in the United States, as well as Mexico and the Caribbean. Snowbirds used to primarily be retired or older, but are increasingly of all ages.
The GMC Motorhome is a recreational vehicle that was manufactured by the GMC Truck & Coach Division of General Motors for model years 1973–1978 in Pontiac, Michigan, USA — as the only complete motorhome built by a major auto/truck manufacturer. Manufactured in 23 and 26 ft lengths, the design was noted for its front-wheel drive and its low profile, fully integrated body.
The Travco motorhome was an aerodynamic Class A recreational vehicle built on a Dodge chassis from 1964 until the late 1980s. The Travco design originally emerged as a 1961 model called the "Dodge Frank Motor Home" and marketed with the assistance of the Chrysler Corporation, with many Travcos being sold with Dodge branding. 131 were produced the first year, with an average price tag of $9000. The Travco/Dodge Motor Home design and fiberglass body were refinements by Ray Frank to the original Frank Motor Home, a conventional box-type design based on the Dodge chassis and built in Brown City, Michigan from 1958 to 1962. Ray Frank, founder of Frank Industries, also coined the term "motorhome" and went on to develop Xplorer Motorhomes. Frank has been inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum as the father of the motorhome.
Thor Industries, Inc. is an American manufacturer of recreational vehicles (RVs). The company sells towable and motorized RVs through its subsidiaries brands including Airstream, Heartland RV, Jayco, Livin Lite RV, and others. The company's headquarters is in Elkhart, Indiana. It has manufacturing facilities in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Idaho and Oregon.
An automobile association, also referred to as a motoring club, motoring association, or motor club, is an organization, either for-profit or non-profit, which motorists can join to enjoy benefits provided by the club relating to driving a vehicle. There is most often an annual membership fee to join. A membership identification card, valid for the time period of membership paid, is typically issued to the member.
The Vixen is a recreational vehicle designed by Bill Collins and built from 1986 until 1989. A total of 587 Vixen motorhomes of three different types were built: the Vixen 21 TD (1986–1987), Vixen 21 SE (1988–1989), and Vixen 21 XC (1986–1987).
Winnebago Industries, Inc. is an American manufacturer of motorhomes, a type of recreational vehicle (RV), in the United States. In 2018, the company expanded into motorboat manufacturing with the acquisition of Chris-Craft Corporation. Winnebago has also manufactured light-to-medium utility vehicles as well as other products. The company is named after Winnebago County, Iowa, where it used to be headquartered. The county is named after the Native American tribe who have historically lived in the area. During the 1970s and 1980s, Winnebago Industries depended on Native American history and traditions in naming their products, for example "Chieftain" and "Brave." They also used Native American iconography and patterns in their designs and period advertisements.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) represents the interests of motor industry operators in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man providing sales and services to motorists and businesses. It does not represent businesses in Scotland, which are represented by the independent Scottish Motor Trade Association.
Monaco is a recreational vehicle (RV) brand, manufactured in Decatur, Indiana, and wholly owned by REV Recreation Group. Monaco holds a portfolio of Class A diesel motorhomes. REV Recreation Group is a subsidiary of REV Group.
Jayco Inc., a subsidiary of Thor Industries, is an American manufacturer of recreation vehicles. The company manufactures fold-down, also called "Pop-up" Camping Trailers, Conventional Travel Trailers, Toy Haulers, Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailers, and Motorhomes. Jayco is based in Middlebury, Indiana, and about three-quarters of its 3,200-person workforce is from the Amish and Mennonite communities of Indiana.
Holiday Rambler Corporation is an American corporation which primarily manufactures recreational vehicles. It was founded in 1953. In 1961, Holiday Rambler’s introduction of aluminum body framing ushered in a new era of lighter, stronger and more durable recreational vehicles (RVs). This aluminum frame (Alumaframe) became the standard for lighter and stronger RVs for 40 years. Holiday Rambler was also responsible for many firsts; built-in refrigerators, holding tanks and aerodynamic radiused corners. As Holiday Rambler moved into motorhomes, they were the first with tag axles and the kitchen slide-out revolutionized "interior engineering" in the field. Holiday Rambler was sold to Harley-Davidson in 1986 and later in 1996 to the Monaco Coach Corporation where its future, then under Navistar International Corp., was difficult in 2010 as it was for most motorhome manufacturers.
Wanderlodge is a retired series of recreational vehicles built by American bus manufacturer Blue Bird Body Company. Introduced as the Blue Bird Transit Home in 1963, the Wanderlodge was a derivative of the Blue Bird All American school bus for over year; two further generations were produced, adapting motorcoach body and chassis design.
The American Bus Association (ABA) serves as a trade association for motorcoach operators and tour companies operating in the United States and Canada. With its headquarters situated in Washington, D.C., the association has a membership comprising approximately 1,000 companies engaged in bus operations or bus-based tours, alongside around 2,800 organizations representing the broader travel and tourism industry. Additionally, several hundred suppliers of buses and related products and services are affiliated with the ABA.
Millennium Luxury Coaches is a luxury motor coach manufacturer based in Sanford, Florida, founded in 2000 by Nelson Figueroa.
The Good Sam Club is an international organization of recreational vehicle (RV) owners and the largest organization of RV owners in the world. It is focused upon making RVing safer and more enjoyable, also, saving money for members through club-endorsed benefits and services. It states that it has over 2.185 million members. It was founded in 1966, and is currently owned by the Good Sam Enterprises. The organization is affiliated with RV parks and campgrounds.
The term recreational vehicle (RV) is often used as a broad category of motor vehicles and trailers which include living quarters for designed temporary accommodation. Types of RVs include motorhomes, campervans, caravans, fifth-wheel trailers, popup campers, truck campers and Park Model RVs.
Motorhome Owners Group Headed to Arizona in March 2017 Family Motor Coach Association website Family Motor Coaching magazine