Roughing It Smoothly - Tiffin Motorhomes

The upgraded Allison2100 Transmission wasdesigned specificallyfor theW24. Preferredby diesel pushers, it’sfully equipped to handlethe W24’s largertowing capacity andgive you the diesel-sizedstandard of livingyou’re looking for.With more Gross Vehicle Weight, it’s designed to accommodateupgrades, slide-outs, extras and over-sized egos.Workhorse W SeriesWhen we built the new W24 gas chassis we kept one thing in mind. You. With themost carrying capacity of any gas chassis, it offers a more luxurious coach comparable to that ofa diesel. More towing capacity means more upscale amenities for your coach, such as heaviermarble counter tops, heavier cuts of wood or that armoire you’ve always had your eye on. Thepower of the W24 gives you a higher standard of living, which no other gas chassis can offer, soAllison 2100you’ll never have to settle for an inferior interior.Not only is it the most powerfulgas chassis, it’s the most advanced. Thenew Arens Controls push button electronicshifter is now available on the W24. Also,the upgraded 50 degree wheel cut is an industry best. Not to mention our upgraded brakes, axles,springs, 22.5” Michelin tires and our specially designed Allison 2100 transmission.Even though the W24 is the biggest and most powerful gas chassis, it still provides the greatqualities our drivers have come to expect from the W Series. So if luxury is what you’re lookingfor in an RV, stop by your local Workhorse dealer for more information.Ford26,000 lbs.Workhorse W2226,000 lbs.With a GCWR of 30K, the W24 offers 2 tonsmore towing capacity than any other gas RV.*ISO 9001 Insist on a Workhorse by name. All major Motor Home manufactures build on Workhorse chassis. Contact us at 877.BY HORSE or visit WORKHORSE.comCERTIFIED 2 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLY©2003 Workhorse Custom Chassis Allison 2100 is a registered trademark of Allison Transmission, a division of General Motors. *Performance claims based on W Series consumer Ride & Drive Evaluations.Workhorse W2430,000 lbs.A QUARTERLY JOURNAL FOR TIFFIN MOTORHOME OWNERS Volume I Number 2Roughing ItSmoothlyIN THIS ISSUE• Testing the Allegro 28DA• Judy Tiffin Changes Course• Five Days in Utah

A RIDE WITHOUT A RIPPLE.THAT’S WHAT MOTORHOME OWNERS EXPERIENCEWITH A FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS.Our superior ride, handling and maneuverability characteristics can be attributedto an exclusive leading-edge system that includes: Air springs and custom-tuned, energy-absorbing shocks by Sachs,® the world’sforemost shock manufacturer Neway® ADL Air-Ride rear suspension with parallelogram construction to reducenoise and vibration, and an integral stabilizer beam to provide excellent roll stability Enhanced steering system that virtually eliminates bump steer 50-degree wheel cut, which Freightliner pioneered for improved maneuverabilityand added confidenceOur distinguished heritage, which unites the automotive engineering excellenceof DaimlerChrysler ® with the innovative, heavy-duty experience of FreightlinerAll this engineering for a ride without a ripple? Absolutely. Because that’s what it takes.Test-drive our chassis today, and see for yourself why more manufacturersand owners choose Freightliner Custom Chassis. For more information, call1-800-545-8831 or visit us at www.freightlinerchassis.com.Freightliner Custom Chassis: The Leader at Every Turn TMLargest diesel service network • Most comprehensive warranty • Leading manufacturer of diesel chassis • Superior ride and handling4 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYCall Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation at (800) FTL-HELP or visit us on the Web at www.freightlinerchassis.com. FCC/MC-A-022. Specifications are subject to change without notice.Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is registered to ISO 9001. Copyright 2003, Freightliner LLC. All rights reserved. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is a member of theFreightliner Group. Freightliner LLC is a DaimlerChrysler Company.

Lower Prices ...Better Coverages!Roughing itSmoothlyApril 2004Volume 1, Number 2Roughing It Smoothly® magazine is publishedfour times a year by Book ProductionResources for Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.,105 2nd Street NW, Red Bay, Alabama 35582.BPR offices are located at 9302 AlanbrookeStreet, Temple Terrace, Florida 33637. Printedin the United States of America. Postage paidat Miami, Florida 33166. Postmaster: Sendall changes of address to Book ProductionResources, P.O. Box 292912, Tampa, Florida33687-2912.This issue of Roughing It Smoothly® has a postaldistribution of approximately 35,000 copiesand a dealer distribution of 10,000 copies. It isprinted by Universal Printing Company, 3100N.W. 74 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33122.®ContentsFeaturesTest Drivingthe Allegro 28DA 9We took this coach to the Rockiesin January and got tremendouscold weather performance.VOLUME 1 NUMBER 1 WINTER 2003Volume 1 Number 2 Spring 20042 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYSample Motorhome Rates!Annual Price Value Annual Price300,000 $ 1734.00325,000 $ 1841.00350,000 $ 1948.00375,000 $ 2235.00400,000 $ 2342.00425,000 $ 2448.00450,000 $ 2555.00475,000 $ 2662.00500,000 $ 2769.00575,000 $ 3090.00600,000 $ 3197.00650,000 $ 3411.00Value40,000 $ 599.0050,000 $ 614.0060,000 $ 680.0070,000 $ 717.0080,000 $ 755.0090,000 $ 791.00100,000 $ 827.00110,000 $ 866.00125,000 $ 926.00150,000 $ 1026.00175,000 $ 1219.00200,000 $ 1318.00225,000 $ 1418.00250,000 $ 1517.00Gilbert RV Insurance is underwritten by speciality insurancecompanies that have earned a rating of A+ or better from theprestigious A.M. Best Directory.Gilbert RV Insurance Inc.5780 S. Semoran Blvd.Orlando, Florida 32822Call Toll Free throughout the United States and Canada!1(888) RV-INSURE1 (888) 784-6787RVInsuranceWe insure private luxury motor coaches with values to 1.4 million dollars.The above pricing includes total loss replacement coverage. The annual prices may vary by state, full timercoverage, or higher (or lower) coverage limits. Discounts are available, includng but not limited to, TheGood Sam, Coast to Coast and other RV Club members. Please call us for your personalized quote. Youwill be glad you did!Copyright © 2004 by Book ProductionResources. All rights reserved.Roughing It Smoothly® is a registered trademarkof Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.No part of this magazine may be reproducedin any form without the written permission ofthe publisher.PublisherBook Production ResourcesEditorFred ThompsonArt DirectorFaith NanceTechnical DirectorDarlene SwansonCopy EditorYvonne RamseyContributing WritersBob Tiffin, Mark Penlerick, Lazelle Jones,Maureen Callahan, Jonathan Ragsdale, ScottyMartin, Billy Nichols, Liz Jones, RichardBlanton, Jimmy Johnson, and Fred ThompsonContributing PhotographersPeter Finger, Victor Junco, Lazelle Jones,Jonathan Ragsdale, Elaine McAnally, andBrenda LeweyTiffin coach owners may receive a freesubscription by calling toll-free 877-538-7467, or writing to Roughing It Smoothly®,P.O. Box 292912, Tampa, FL 33687–2912.Please include your phone number, the last sixcharacters of your VIN number, and the yearand model of your coach. If you sell your coach,please call Liz Jones at 256-356-0205 and giveher the VIN number, year and model, and thenew owner’s address so that the new ownercan enjoy the magazine.Judy TiffinDecides to Retire 16It surely has been a good ride. I’mtrying to retire, but I’m having toget used to the idea.DepartmentsNews You Can Use 7Them’s the BrakesGourmet Quick & Easy 14Old Fashioned Comfort:A Roast for TwoOwner Profile 20I hope to keep full-timing untilthey throw me off the road.5 Days State-by-State 21Utah’s Scenic Byways: ColorCountry With Awesome CanyonsSerious Tech Talk 26Four topics to help you keepyour motorhome maintained.In Your Corner 28“Would you like full body paint?”Allegro Club 31Plan for a late summer getawayat the Amana Colonies in Iowa.From The Road 33Keep those cards and letterscoming. Tiffin coach ownersprove that they have great storiesto tell from the road.The following names are registered trademarks of Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.: Open Road®,Phaeton®, Allegro®, Allegro Bay®, Allegro Bus®, Zephyr®, Roughing It Smoothly®, andPusher®.

SettingNew Standardsfor Comfort andConvenienceLook to A&E Systems for manual, semiautomatic,and automatic patio awnings likethe WeatherPro power awning. Completethe package with SlideToppers and windowand door awnings to match and complementyour RV.Duo-Therm climate control systemsprovide premium air conditioning and heatingsolutions – up to 15,000 BTU of maximumcomfort. Now with remote control!From 3-way portables to double doors andluxurious stainless steel, there’s a Dometicrefrigerator for any RV need. Dometiceven developed the RV industry’s firstauto-defrost model.Whether it’s a local camping trip or crosscountryexcursion, there’s no boundary toyour cooking options with Dometic microwaveand convection microwave ovens.SeaLand toilets feature china bowls thatresist staining and maintain their luster.Models start around $150.* So don’t settlefor plastic – step up to the polishedresilience of china.Visit us at www.DometicUSA.com*Prices may vary based on locations.Installation kits, if needed, are extra.N E W S Y O U C A N U S EAsking a few pertinent questions will help youdecide whether a supplemental braking systemis needed for your tow-behind vehicle.1. How concerned about safety am I?I think we all would have the same answer tothis — a resounding VERY concerned!2. Does my towed vehicle weight exceed thelimitations of the braking capacity of mycoach chassis?The majority of manufacturers limit towedvehicle weight to 1,000 to 1,500 pounds(453.6 to 680.4 kilograms). Again, the questionwill likely answer itself knowing thateven a small car weighs more than 1,500pounds (680.4 kilograms).3. Will I be faced with any liability if I donot have a brake installed on my towedvehicle?Based on the last question you are certainlyleaving yourself open to possible warranty issueson your coach if you are exceeding thespecifications of your chassis. After answeringthese questions, you are probably leaning towardgetting some type of braking system. Iwould recommend some type of supplementalbraking system to everyone towing a vehicle.Forget what your campground neighbor told*Engineering Team Leader, Blue Ox Towing ProductsThem’s The Brakesby Mark Penlerick*you last night; forget everything you’ve reador heard; in fact, forget all of the manufacturerswho would love to sell you a brakingsystem and ask yourself this simple question:What is my peace-of-mind worth to me? Toquote the popular TV commercials: Priceless!LawsI do not like talking about laws because, in myopinion, brakes are a matter of safety and security,not a matter of whether governments aretelling me I have to have them or not. I do haveto address one shining issue about the laws thatmay or may not be on the books though.I did a little research and found that noneof the states that replied to my questionscould absolutely tell me that brakes are requiredon a towed vehicle behind a coach.Most referred to their trailer towing laws,but stated that those are for trailers…hmmm.A couple of years ago there was substantialcontroversy over towing vehicles in BritishColumbia. BC started ticketing RVers withcars in tow that weighed more than 3,000pounds (1,360 kilograms) if you did nothave a supplemental braking system. Aftermolehills became mountains that limit waschanged as stated below.BC’s regulation now states that motorhomes(only) may tow motor vehicles viaa tow bar without brakes hooked up on thetowed motor vehicle, when the towed motorvehicle’s laden weight (weight of towed vehicleand its load) is:• Less than 4,409 lbs (2,000-kg), and• Less than 40% of the gross vehicleweight rating (GVWR) of the motorhometowing it.Note: The above is only applicable to towbar brake requirements and does notapply to trailer towing, etc.However, keep in mind that laws can and dochange and that each province has its own regulationsregarding brakes required on towed vehicles.Check the regulations and be on the safeside: go by the most stringent regulation.Take A LookWhen researching brakes, or any product for thatmatter, the first thing to consider is the companythat makes the brake. What kind of service afterthe sale is available and what is their reputationfor quality? The next step is to decide what typeof brake is best for you and your towing set up.There are four basic systems to choose from:air, surge, hydraulic, and vacuum. Dependingon your coach and towed vehicle, some of thetypes may be eliminated right away, makingyour choice simpler than you think.Dead PedalYou have undoubtedly heard this term beforewhen brakes are part of a conversation. I pre-Antibacterial Soapand Waterless GelHand Sanitizer.Perfect for kitchen,bath and basementcompartments!Refill bottles snapinto an adhesiveSTAY PUT base!6 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYNEWS YOU CAN USE 7

dion style curtains in the salon area. We also liked the fact that this unitdid not have a window above the head of the bed, which also helped usto sleep warmly.All of the nights in the mountains were spent doing stand-alonecamping, utilizing the 5.5kW gasoline genset to satisfy our A/C electricalneeds. Although the optional 5.5kW genset (4.0kW is standard)is located all the way to the rear streetside corner of the unit, Tiffin engineershave successfully muffled the exhaust and held the operatingnoise of the generator to a minimum. It was barely noticeable—even inthe bedroom. This is good design!The genset is capable of powering everything onboard simultaneously:television, microwave, 110-volt receptacles, and the dual 13,500BTU air conditioners. For obvious reasons, we didn’t operate the airconditioners. The house battery powered the furnace blower all nightlong and was charged by the alternator as we motored down the roador when the genset was operating. The unit is wired for 50-amp shorepower and accommodated with a 25-ft. shore power cable.Another component we noted as being especially quiet was thedemand water pump. The freshwater system plumbing was tight (nopressure drop-off), evidenced by the fact that the only time the pumpcame on was when a demand was placed on it by the marine style toilet,shower, or sinks. The 6-gallon gas/electric water heater providedan endless supply of hot water, regardless of how many showers weretaken. The 24-gallon LPG tank provides plenty of fuel for the 3-burnercook-top, furnace, water heater, and two-way (AC/LP) 8-cubic foot refrigerator.Even after using the furnace as much as we did, the effect onthe level of LPG (per the LP level gauge) appeared to be minimal. Thebottom line is that the Allegro 28DA performed very well under standalone,very cold camping conditions.Livability/FunctionalityThis is an area that Tiffin has really turned into a discipline. Theyhave it down to a science. With the double slide-out rooms extended(dining/refrigerator up front and the queen bed slide in the rear), thecoach offers an amazing 277 square feet of living space. But thisis not to say that livability is compromised when the slides are retracted.Because the coach is 101 inches wide, there is no need toextend the slides if you pull into a rest stop to prepare lunch or takea nap. The amount of interior living space available with the slidesretracted is totally adequate. Should you want to minimize the furnacerun-time in really cold weather, this is a way to do it.The front slide features a dinette with upholstered bench seatswith large pull out drawers below. A sleeper sofa can be orderedin place of the dinette. The overhead cabinets above the booth dinetteand throughout the living area offer generous storage. An upholsteredbarrel chair is positioned on the curbside just forward ofTop: Along with gauge displays for all engine functions, the fullyappointed cockpit includes a built-in monitor for the back-up cameraand the control panel for the leveling jacks. Middle: Both the driverand passenger seats rotate to face into the living area, adding depthto the room. A barrel chair, not shown, is positioned to the right of theentry door. Bottom: In the unit tested, the galley included a convectionmicrowave oven, a 3-burner cook top, an exhaust hood, and a doublesink with covers to provide extra food prep area. Opposite page, top:The slide-out contains an 8-cu.ft. refrigerator, a pantry, and a dinettewith sliding drawers underneath. A hide-a-bed couch can be orderedto replace the dinette. Middle: The vanity and toilet on one side of theaisle and the shower on the other. Pocket doors allow you to close offthe galley and bedroom to create a bathroom compartment. Bottom: Thequeen bed slides out to provide easy access to the wardrobe, overheadcabinets, and make-up vanity-mirror compartment. The 20-in. televisionand a window over the headboard in the slide-out are optional.the main entrance. Spin the two cockpit captain chairs around toface aft and instantly the amount of useable, livable interior spaceis multiplied several times. The 25-inch television is located out ofthe way, above and in the center of the dash.The galley is a full-service venue with stacks of roll out drawers,cabinets, and cupboards, plus an optional large pots and pansdrawer below the cook-top. An oven (the standard feature) is sacrificedwhen the large drawer is selected. There are two large pantries,one a floor to ceiling unit located between the refrigerator andthe dinette. The other is a floor to countertop pantry that rolls out,providing easy access to the items stored inside. A twin tub galleysink includes attractive covers that provide additional countertoparea when the sinks are not being used. The convection microwaveoven with a power hood is positioned above the cook-top. For anychef, be it the someone who raids the fridge at night, or the gourmetin pursuit of a culinary masterpiece, this galley can support allendeavors.The center aisle bath is configured to becomes a coach-widebath when the pocket doors next to the galley and bedroom are pulled andlocked. The shower with skylight above is large. The lavatory cabinet and amirrored medicine cabinet are located in the same enclosure with the toilet,as is a power ceiling vent and a second switch for the water pump.The bedroom is generously appointed with amenities. The 60 × 76-inchqueen size bed lifts up to provide a huge storage area below. Along with thebed, the dual night stands extend and retract when the slide-out is activated.At the foot of the bed is a vanity. A large wardrobe with an optional 20-inchtelevision above shares the streetside wall with the vanity. A window stretchesacross the rear wall. A large mirror can be ordered to replace the windowwhich will visually make this already commodious area look even larger.Driving ImpressionsSince getting to where you are going is half the task, it should also providehalf of the pleasure. Visibility through the massive windshield is augmentedby a user-friendly exterior side mirror system and a rear coach video camerawith a dash mounted monitor. Tiffin has done another good turn by addinga window on the curbside wall near the floor of the cockpit to allowthe driver to check on small vehicles adjacent to the forward section of thecoach (the more information the driver has, the better). In the slide-out wallimmediately aft of the driver, Tiffin has located a large window that allowsthe driver to look back and see what is going on in the coach interior in whatotherwise would be a blind spot. It also provides additional outside ventilationwhen the slide is extended. A matching window is located on the oppositeside of the slide-out.The Triton V-10 along with the 4-speed automatic transmissionlaunched the 28DA nicely. The Ford power train did just fineon sections of the road over the mountains where the grade was awhopping 12 percent. When responding to gravity on the downsideof these byways, the engine braking system minimized the need toapply the ABS brakes. The long-and-short of our driving experienceis that the unit preformed very, very well.SummarySo what should be construed by those reading this review? Simplyput it is this. The Allegro 28DA is a well-built coach that offers avery functional floor plan. It is packed with appointments and amenitiesthat will provide its owner with many years of enjoymentand good service. And the thing that most notably underscores the28DA is that it carries the Tiffin name — which is known throughoutthe industry for superb customer service. It’s a good coach anda good deal. See for yourself.10 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYA COACH FOR ALLEGRO SEASONS 28DA 11

SPECIFICATIONS: Model tested 2004 Allegro 28DABase MSRP* $84,980 MSRP as tested with options $89,922STANDARD FEATURESEmergency Start SwitchCruise ControlTinted WindshieldHeated Power MirrorsExterior Graphics and PaintDouble Electric StepSlide-out AwningsPark Telephone/Cable ReadyExterior showerUndercoatingTV Antenna1–13,500 BTU Roof ACRoof LadderSpare TireSnack Beverage TraySingle CD Player; AM/FMStereo12-Volt Dash ReceptacleDual Dash Fans25” Color TelevisionSingle Lever Galley Faucet3-Burner Cook-topDouble Bowl Kitchen SinkMicrowave8-cubic ft. RefrigeratorInner Spring MattressMirrored VanityPhone JackFantastic Power Roof Vent(3-speed)OPTIONAL FEATURES(on unit tested)5.5kW Onan Generator2nd 13.5 BTU Roof ACRear Backup CameraAwningSharp Convection MicrowaveNatural Maple InteriorPots and pans drawer undercook-topBooth Dinette DrawersBedroom TelevisionMEASUREMENTSWheelbase – 208”Overall Length (approximate)– 29’1”Overall Height w/Roof Air– 11’9”Interior Height – 80”Overall Width – 101”Interior Width – 96”WEIGHTS & CAPACITIESGVWR – 20,500 lb.GAWR (Front) – 7,000 lb.GAWR (Rear) – 13,500 lb.GCWR – 26,000 lb.UVW – 15,100 lb.Trailer Hitch Capacity– 5,000 lb.POWER TRAINEngine – 310 HP, 6.8L V-10Torque (Ft-Lbs) – 725 @2650 rpmTransmission – 4R1004-Speed AutomaticTransmission w/OverdriveTire Size – 245/70R 19.5”Alternator (Amps) – 130CHASSISFrame – Ford Super duty F-SeriesAnti-lock Braking System(ABS)Suspension (Front & Rear)– Leaf SpringsLeveling Jacks – StandardCONSTRUCTIONBody – Laminated fl oor,sidewalls and roofSupport – Steel/Aluminumreinforced structureFront/rear body panels –One-piece fi berglass capsExterior side panels – Gelcoatfi berglass walls withgraphics/paintACCOMMODATIONS:Sleeps fourFuel Tank (gallons) – 75Freshwater (gallons) – 53Black water (gallons) – 40Grey water (gallons) – 45LPG Tank (gallons, fi lled to80% capacity) – 24MSRPMSRP is the manufacturer’ssuggested retail price anddoes not include dealer prepor options. Manufacturerreserves the right to changeor discontinue modelsoffered, standard features,optional equipment, andprices without prior notice.Dealer prices may vary.UVWThis is the approximateweight of the vehicle with afull fuel tank and a half-full offresh water tank.DEALERSTo locate the Tiffi n dealernearest you, go to www.tiffi nmotorhomes.com andclick on “dealer locator.”If internet access is notavailable, call 256-356-8661and ask the operator for theTiffi n dealer location nearestto you.If you want to know whatyou’ve been missing . . ....ask the person who drives an RV with theHoward Precision Steer Wheel Control System!If you want a second opinion, ask her husband, who nowenjoys the ride as much as she enjoys the driving!WARNING: Be careful of third opinions from those who are not YET offeringHoward Precision Steer Wheel Control System. After all, they are supposed to sell whatthey have, and probably don’t know that they don’t know how easy it is to update thedrivability of any RV by installing Howard Precision Steer Wheel Control System. It isonly a matter of time until those who don’t know, will know, that there is only one way toachieve the ultimate in RV drivability.HOWARD PRECISION STEER WHEEL CONTROL SYSTEMThe world’s most advanced heavy vehicle drivability system, establishing standardsby which the quality of all other recreational vehicle steering will be judged.IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.199 W. Rhapsody - San Antonio, Texas 78216Call for the dealer nearest you: (800) 879-4277Available as an OEM or Aftermarket installationmade under one or more U.S. Patents. No. 5,536,028. Other Patents Granted and Pending.12 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLY13

Making a HouseFeel Like Homethe wounds every day with silver nitrate and peroxide.Peroxide will clean out a wound and keepthe infection out.”Bob made no defense for his stubbornness33 years ago. But he experienced no disabilityfrom the injury and claims today that he canthrow a football 40 yards.“You know football is serious business inthis state,” Bob told the New York photograbyFred ThompsonLast month at the FMCA Convention in Albuquerquea retired couple with 13 years of full-time RVing experiencecame to check out the Tiffin display of 18units. After they had visited three Allegro Bays, I engagedthem in conversation.“What do you like best about these motorhomes?” I asked.They owned a 1996 Allegro, and he answered quickly, “The engineeringdesign is practical and they’re built solid.”“My motorhome feels like home. It’s not glitzy—it’s just comfortable,and I like being in it,” was the feminine response. “Andthat’s the way these new ones feel, too,” she continued. She wasa bit surprised to learn that the CEO’s wife, Judy Tiffin, was theinterior designer.“Where did she get her interior decoration training?” the fulltimerasked. “At home,” I answered with a smile.“You said ‘my motorhome feels like home’ and I can tell youthat Judy Tiffin knows how to make a place feel like home,” I saidas she began smiling, too.The middle child, Judy has a sister five years older and a brother10 years younger. She was only 10 days old on April 1,1944, whenher father, A.M. Nix, shipped out to France on the Queen Mary tofight the Germans. When he returned, they bonded quickly.“Daddy taught me how to fish, and I still love to fish today,” Judyopened the interview with quick snapshots into her life. “I like flyfishing best. I put a popping bug in front and follow it 18 inches behindwith a willow fly.” She must have transferred her love for fishingto her son, Van, who has two trophy fish on his office walls.“Daddy opened a Dairy Bar in Red Bay in 1956 and I startedworking there when I was barely 12. Later on, Bobwould come and hang out at the Dairy Bar and that’swhere we first got to know each other.”Bob played tackle on the Red Bay football team.In the fall of his senior year, he hurt his knee in a treecutting accident. Advised not to dress-out that weekend,he asked Judy for a date to go to the game. Itwas a beginning.Two years later they were married by her GranddaddyNix, a Baptist preacher who lived a few milesaway in Belmont, Miss. Tim was born the next year.Listening to the interview, Bob added, “We really just grew uptogether.” Forty-three years later, he shows appreciation, admiration,and respect for Judy’s many talents and skills. On the counterin the kitchen was a huge bouquet of flowers Bob had presentedon her birthday.“Judy did a really good job of raising our children,” he continued.“I was at the plant or the cotton gin nearly all the time, andshe devoted full time to raising them.”“But you were always there for them, and had a strong influenceon their spiritual training and outside interests,” she countered.Continuing to live in their hometown, Judy and Bob added Vanto the family in 1965. Three years later, Judy started buying cottonfor the The Gin Company. After the cotton was classed by a governmentagent, Judy would buy it from the farmer and sell it to thecotton buyers in Selma, Memphis, or Montgomery.“It was the dirtiest job I’ve ever had. No one could get that dirtycleaning their house,” she remembered vividly. “The gin generatedso much lint and dirt into the air. It just layered onto you. I usuallykept the boys with me at the gin, and it kept poor Van’s allergiesgoing all the time.”The company usually ginned 120 to 130 bales a day. Bob andJudy still remember all the facts and figures from the business. “Ittakes 1600 pounds of seed cotton to make a 500 pound bale.” Andthey can still reel off the specifications for classifying cotton.Judy remembers Bob’s accident at the gin as if it happenedyesterday. “The gin made so much noise that I could not hear himhollering. It took three weeks to get him out of the hospital. He wassupposed to go home for several weeks to recuperate. But he didn’t.He went right back to work.” She glared at himdisapprovingly even now. “I treated and dressedDaddytaught me howto fish, and I stilllove to fishtoday.17

pher who accompanied me on the interview. “Naw,” Pete suppressedhis smile and tried to fake a Southern accent. “I neverwould have guessed from all the Bear Bryant and Alabama stuffon the walls at the office.”In 1975 Bob and Judy decided it was time tocomplete the family and they added Alex, namedafter his Grandfather Tiffin. “It took me 10 yearsto get over Tim and Van before I could have Lex,”Judy laughed. “Tim loved to pick on Van until hehad all he was willing to take, and then they wouldgo at it. The Lord only knows how many times Ihad to separate those two.”Grandpa Alex and Granny enjoyed participatingin the raising of the two older boys and gave them jobs at the lumberyard. “Grandpa told Van not to tell people how much he wasbeing paid,” Judy related. “‘Don’t worry, Grandpa,’ Van said, ‘I’dbe ashamed for anyone to know.’ Tim was shocked and couldn’tbelieve Van had said that.” Bob laughed heartily again at a familystory he no doubt had told himself.Judy continued in her role as cotton buyer until 1977 when Bobsold the gin to a company in Georgia. As Tiffin Motorhomes beganto build one motorhome a day, Judy added another job titleto her resume which already included wife, mother, and cottonbuyer. As interior decorator, she selected and coordinated the materialsfor curtains, sofas, chairs, bedspreads, and carpeting. Sincethe motorhomes at that time were much smaller and simpler thannow, and there was only one model, not five, Judy did not regardthe new responsibility as overwhelming.Sewing had always been a practical hobby for her, which madeplanning the production facility to create curtains, coverings for sofasand chairs, and bedspreads simply an extension of her homemakingskills. She saw her job as making a coach feel like a home. The earlyAllegros were designed for families and some could sleep as manyas eight with the pull down bed above the driver, the bedroom in therear, the sofa bed, and the dinette which made a double for children.In the late eighties and early nineties a new market demand beganto strongly influence the floorplans and amenities offered inShe sawher job as makinga coach feel like ahome.Class A coaches. Instead of accommodations for six or eight, emptynesters wanted floorplans designed just for them. The “one modelfits all” plan over a short time expanded into three, then four, andfinally five model lines—all of which greatly increased Judy’s interiordesign responsibility. She took it in stride.To find a broader variety of materials, she beganto make regular seasonal trips to the textile manufacturersshowing in North Carolina. Her assistant whotraveled with her marveled at the number of fabricshows and buying appointments Judy scheduled inone day. How could a woman in her fifties completelywear him out, he wondered. Judy was aware ofthe adage, “time is money,” and wasted neither.Lighting and plumbing fixtures, valances, day-night shades,molding, counter surfaces, etched glass, ultraleather, multipleslide-outs — all figured into a more coordinated, complex interiordesign to please buyers who wanted more luxurious coaches. Butshe realized, too, that the company’s bread-and-butter market wasthe dependable and sturdy Allegro. “You don’t forget your roots,”she thought, as she continued to tastefully coordinate the featuresand amenities of the Tiffin foundation model.Judy’s flair for interior decoration had another side whichwas not apparent when you walk through the five Tiffin productlines—Antiques! She and Bob began collecting while they werestill living in Red Bay. But the collection took a serious turn in1995 when they saw an 1888 three-story Victorian for sale on historicWood Avenue in Florence, Alabama, almost an hour’s drivefrom the Red Bay plant.“When Bob saw the woodwork, he fell in love with it,” Judysaid. The wainscoting, the double-entry doors, the stairwell withlanding, the floors—the whole house exuded a craftsmanshipand character that was irresistible to her husband. “This is Bob’shouse,” she explained as we began the tour. “It took me a while,but now I’ve got my special places.”The house was known throughout Florence as the Town Club,and had been used commercially by its former owners for specialparties, dinners, and wedding receptions. The wainscoting poseda special problem. It had been covered withseveral coats of lacquer, turning it almostblack. Judy supervised a team of workmenwho for several months stripped the darklacquer, revealing the beautiful natural oakwhich you see today.Bob supervised the exterior renovationand the structural changes. The house neededa new roof—and that did not mean blackfelt and shingles. The job required a specialistwho could fabricate the unique metalworkrequired for Victorian architecture.Bob studied the detail the house needed andeventually found the right craftsman. It wasa restoration so tedious that the craftsmanBob and Judy’s century-old Victorian onFlorence’s Wood Avenue lends itself to graciousentertaining. Behind Judy is an original mural ofthe Forks of Cypress, an antebellum home whichburned several decades ago.made Bob promise never to tell who did the work. “That roof willlast a hundred years,” he beamed.Thinking ahead for their later years, Bob had workmen tear outthe back stairwell and install an elevator serving all three floors. Itcame in handy when they had to get their furniture up to the secondand third floors.Serious and knowledgeable collectors, the Tiffins found timeto make trips to favorite dealers, especially those in southernPennsylvania. Judy knew that restoring a Victorian of this caliberdemanded many period pieces to validate its character. Shebegan to assemble their eclectic collection into the generouslysizedrooms, so that each piece now appears to belong in its appointedposition.Judy’s skill for decorating in the Victorian genre was not innate.As you walk through their home, the bookshelves and tableson the second and third floors bulge with books about architecture,antiques, fabrics, and interior design. She absorbed and applieduntil the rooms began to reflect not only the romantic aura ofa Queen Anne Victorian, but also the comfortableness that madethe big house feel like a home. Somehow she removed the formalityand stiffness usually associated with the era.They both agreed that the unfinished attic should be used forplain old “fun space,” with the grandchildren in mind. The hugetimbered roof beams were enclosed and the high ceiling in thespacious game and play room was fitted with a skylight. It wasthe right place for the big screen television to watch the Alabamafootball reruns (they usually attend all the games during the fall).And what about those special places she mentioned. The atticnow accommodates Judy’s sewing room. Practically, she installeda large cutting table with an acrylic top printed with measuringscales. And traditionally, there is a small antique rocker that sheenjoys while knitting and sewing. And a private space? Yes, Judyhas a sitting room on the first floor near the back of the home. It’sfor reading or just taking a nap. “I’m trying to retire, but I’m havingto get used to the idea,” she admits.Like any proud grandparents, Bob and Judy are enjoying watchingtheir grandchildren develop and grow up. “Tim and Lynne havetwo boys and two girls. Trent is into tennis and Brock soccer. Hannahis a gymnast and Laura is an artist,” Judy explained.Van and Michelle have Van Leigh, Jr., and Shelby. “Shelby andLeigh spend just about every Sunday afternoon with us. Leigh istaking after his Dad in learning to kick field goals and extra points.He plays for the Muscle Shoals High School football team,” thegrandfather said. For the uninitiated, Van still holds the field goalrecord at Alabama, where in four years he never missed an extrapoint. “Shelby is my little homemaker. We like to knit, sew, andcook together,” Judy says.“Lex and Denisha do not have children yet. There may be moregrandchildren in our future,” she said.Bob and Judy try to go to as many of their grandchildren’sgames as possible. Participation is not just a tradition in this family—it’sa must.And what else does this energetic grandmother have in mind?“One of my favorite vacation places is northern California. Ilike the climate in the Napa Valley. And I love Santa Fe. The airsmells so wonderful. I don’t think I’ve ever been any place I didn’tlike. When I go with Bob to RV shows, I take off and visit antique,The third floor turreted porch offers a commanding view of WoodAvenue and has become the traditional location for the neighborhood’soutdoor Christmas tree.yarn, and quilt shops, and museums. But I still like to examine thecompetition to see what we are up against,” she says, not havingshed that business mantle completely.“I admire people who get in a motorhome and just go—theyare still learning. They’ve got interests and they are inquisitive.Bob and I like to go, too, when he feels like he can take off. Lastfall we flew to Albuquerque and picked up a motorhome. We wentto Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico, and then on to Durango, Colorado,where we rode the train from Durango to Silverton. Thenwe went to Prescott, Arizona, and finally to Pomona, California,where we sold the motorhome and flew home. In 1993 we took amotorhome to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and back. Great trip!” sheremembered. “We took our first long motorhome trip back in August1975. Lex was only two months old, Van was 10, and Timwas 13. I can’t enumerate all the trips we have all made since thatfirst trip. It surely has been a good ride.”Their home on Wood Avenue is just a few blocks from the Universityof North Alabama campus. “I love to take classes, and Imay enroll for one or two this fall. I am a work still in progress,”she concluded.18 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYMAKING A HOUSE FEEL LIKE A HOME 19

Sometimes Margaret’s Allegrobecomes just a great place to reflectand have a quiet cup of coffee.O W N E R P R O F I L ETwo for the Road: Dorothy and CodeeStill enjoying the RV lifestyleat 80, this grandmother isn’tready to settle down! Herfamily numbers five children,nine grandchildren, a sister andbrother-in-law, and Codee, abeloved 8-year-old Doberman.Codee is the only one who seesDorothy Votava everyday.A Kentuckian by birth, sheand her sister, Mary, grew up inChicago. “As a family, we dida lot of traveling in the south,”she said. If there is a gene fortraveling, Dorothy inherited it.Dorothy and Edward Votavamarried in 1943 and began theirfamily the following year. Sixteenyears later their family includedCarol,Tom, Terry, Russ,and Patti. Outdoor recreation was always a part of raising theirfamily as they enjoyed boating in the warmer months on the manylakes in northern Illinois and Wisconsin.As a foundry consultant, Ed Votava’s work took him to manyparts of the country. In the early seventies, they bought a MiniMidas. “He had to travel and we made those trips in the motorhomewhenever we could. We enjoyed it together,” Dorothy remembered.It wasn’t long until they upgraded to a Class A motorhomeand began to take some very serious trips: the western states wereparticularly appealing along with many of the national parks. “Wedid Mexico by ourselves in the early eighties. Down the east coastand back up through the middle,” she recalled. “One of our mostmemorable trips was the California coastline on Route 1. We didit heading south so we wouldbe in the outside lane. As thepassenger, I got all of thepanoramic view as Ed drove.”“We could do things backin the seventies and eightiesthat you probably couldn’t getaway with today,” Dorothysaid. “We parked the motorhomein New York City’sCentral Park and had anEaster dinner with our grandchildren.With Patti and oneof the grandchildren, weparked on the beach nearSebastian, Florida, and hadThanksgiving dinner.”As with most committed RVers, Dorothy and Ed found afavorite winter spot at the John Prince Campground in Palm BeachCounty, Florida. The campground had a special appeal because ofits proximity to her sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Ed Palmer,in nearby Lake Worth.Sadly, the 17 years of motorhoming together came to an endin 1989 when Ed passed away. “After my husband died, my sonbrought me down to Florida in the motorhome and left me here atthe John Prince Campground. There were so many friends in thecampground who had been coming here for the same number ofyears that Ed and I had,” she said.Dorothy decided then not to give up the RV lifestyle. Shereturned home, sold her house, gave the children what they wantedfrom the home, and became a full-timer. “It was time to cut loose. Icould enjoy my friends at John Prince, travel to wherever I wished,and visit with my children and still stay in my own home. Havingmy sister, Mary, nearby for the winter months was a specialadvantage.”Dorothy and Mary enjoy the winter months by hitting the Saturdayyard sales in Palm Beach County. No big items—just specialitems like Waterford glass and a real pearl necklace. “Mary isgood; she can spot stuff,” she laughed.Up until 1996 Dorothy had her share of problems with motorhomes.But in visiting with other RVers in campgrounds, shekept hearing about the superb customer service that Bob Tiffinguaranteed his customers. “I bought a used 1995 Allegro and tookit to the Red Bay plant to have them put everything in perfectshape,” she said. “They were wonderful! I knew I had made theright decision after my first trip to Red Bay. Now when I leaveFlorida each spring, I head for my scheduled appointment in RedBay to get everything in perfect shape for the coming year.”Asked to recommend one of her favorite spots to other RVers,Dorothy immediately said, “Santa Fe!” Why? “The FOOD, theshopping, the jewelry,” she exulted.In 2000 Dorothy celebratedthe millennium bytrading for a new 36-footAllegro Bay. With a ChevyCavalier in tow, it is largerthan any rig she had drivenbefore. Did that bother her?Continued on page 36Codee has proven to be awonderful traveling companion.She also provides a degree offriendly security. As with mostfull-timers, Dorothy treasuresthe friends made in campgroundsthroughout the country,often over a morning cupof coffee.5D ASt. GeorgeLeedsMolly’s RestaurantNorma’s Country KitchenSilver Reef Mining TownJerry Anderson, sculptorZion National ParkMassive sandstone formationThe NarrowsWeeping Rock1.2-mile TunnelHoodoosBryce Canyon National ParkRuby’sKodachrome BasinThe Canyon LandsEscalanteBoulderTorreyHole-in-the-RockAnasazi State Park MuseumCapitol Reef National ParkFruita CampgroundFruita Historic DistrictWaterpocket FoldWildlifeGreen RiverJohn Wesley Powell MuseumRiver raftingRay’s TavernPriceNine Mile CanyonPetroglyphsPictographsFremont CultureFarlino’s RestaurantTavaputs PlateauTavaputs RanchHigh country trail ridesWildlifeCirclevilleButch Cassidy’s cabinPinewoods ResortCounty Court HouseThe Country StoreY S S T A T E – B Y – S T A T EUtahUtah’s Scenic BywaysIt’s a fad among travel writers to choose a favorite highway and write about it. There’snothing wrong with that, especially for those of us who love the highways and back roadsthat ribbon their way through Color Country (also known as the state of Utah). A case inpoint is a giant loop that RV enthusiasts have for years been taking in their quest to exploresouthern Utah’s canyon lands. It’s a drive that can be enjoyed year round, with theonly caveat being to check the weather and road conditions during the winter months.The route begins in St. George, a delightful town that sits in the very southwest cornerof Utah. From here it loops its way through Zion National Park, over to Bryce Canyon,up through Capitol Reef Monument to Green River and Price, Utah, before headingsouth through the scenic town of Circleville where Butch Cassidy was born, raised,and perfected his skills as an outlaw. In fact, there’s almost a cult type following todayamong those who believe that Butch Cassidy did not perish in South America with theSundance Kid as historians would have us believe. Instead, Butch returned to southernUtah and lived out his life under an assumed name. In any event, the cabin where he wasborn still stands today.■ DAY ONE: ST. GEORGE AND LEEDS TO ZIONNATIONAL PARK (45 miles)St. George is a very pleasant city of 50,000 where many RV snowbirdsspend the winter months. But the outlying areas often go undiscovered.Near Leeds, Utah, only 14 miles northeast of St. George on I-15 at exit22, you will find one of the most scenic spots in the Old West, an old silvermining town (c. late 1800s) called Silver Reef. Housed in the originalstone Wells Fargo Bank is a museum that features artifacts fromthe area’s past, plus a gallery displaying the work of Jerry Anderson,one of today’s foremost sculptorsof Western subjects. Old buildingson the main street that onceteamed with lucrative businessesnow beg to be photographed.Looking to the east you will seethe distant ridges of HurricaneMesa and Zion National Park justbeyond.While passing through Leeds,stop and try out the cookin’ atMolly’s Restaurant, or head ondown the street to Norma’sCountry Kitchen, a shop thatfeatures freshly baked bread andother country goodies. In fact,you can spend the night here inby Jonathan RagsdaleThe original Wells Fargo Bank in Silver Reef houses the Jerry AndersonGallery which displays some of his 47 life-sized bronzes and many ofhis limited edition pieces. Shown above is Ancient Artisan, a half-lifesize bronze.20 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYPHOTOS COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR21

While you will find good country cooking atNorma’s, the items you can take with you areirresistable.Leeds at Zion West RV Park (435-879-2854). The facility offers 50-amp shorepower, a laundromat, showers, and a massivegrassy area shaded by giant cottonwoods.Don’t be surprised if you pull inafter dark and see deer leisurely feeding inthe hay fields immediately adjacent to thepark. This is good stuff!If the day is still young, drive five milessouthwest from Leeds on I-15 to Utah Hwy. 9,and begin a new visual adventure. Windingeast, Hwy. 9 takes you intothe small country hamlets ofHurricane, La Verkin, Virgin,and Springdale and intoone of America’s prime nationaltreasures, Zion NationalPark. Looking at themassive formations of NavajoSandstone that jut thousandsof feet into the air, it ishard to believe the area wasonce covered by an inlandsea. Pushed up over time bymovement in the earth’s crust,the sandstone was carvedby the sculpturing talent ofthe Virgin River, creating amagnificent geologic featurecalled The Narrows. Withwalls on either side that rise2,500 vertical feet, it’s amazingto see the Virgin River appear out of theface of the Navajo Sandstone.Watchman Campground provides anexcellent place to RV camp inside the park(Class A coaches up to 40-ft., $18/night in section E8, elec. hookup only, 800-365-CAMP). From here hiking and biketrails go off in every direction. If you visitin the off-season (September throughMay), you can drive your coach up to thelodge and enjoy excellent gourmet dining:breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A short hikeoff the paved road is a most unusual geologicfeature named Weeping Rock. Afterpassing through a thousand feet of sandstone,the water that was once rain or meltingsnow is blocked and redirected to theface of the cliff by a thin horizontal barrierof slate. Flowing laterally along theslate barrier, the water oozes out of the sideof the sandstone cliff, making the rock appearas if it is weeping.Continuing east on Hwy. 9, you ascenda series of switchbacks that lead to the entranceof a 1.2-mile tunnel that was builtaround 1930. Tell the employees at the parkentrance that you will be transiting throughthis tunnel in your motorhome. You willhave to purchase a tunnel pass for $10. Parkrangers lead single file caravans through thetunnel to the other side.On the east side of the park you will encountera totally different kind of geologicformation called “hoodoos.” These sandstonefingers poke a hundred feet or morestraight into the air. Covered with a cap ofmetallic minerals, rain and melting snowThe Narrows in Zion National ParkBryce Canyon in winter.are prevented from reaching the crown. Instead,the water runs off the metallic top anddown along the sides, carrying away thesoft sandstone material below and forminga stalagmite-type creation. At the junctionof Hwy. 9 and US 89 you make a left handturn and head north.■ DAY TWO: ZION TO BRYCECANYON NATIONAL PARK TOKODACHROME BASIN (122 miles)Named after Ebenezer Bryce who in the late1800s summered his cattle along the edgesof this spectacular canyon, Bryce Canyon isone of the most popular spots in the West.At an elevation of 8,000-plus feet, the wind,rushing up through the red-rock pinnaclesand breaking over the rim, sounds like surfas it washes the tops of the ponderosa pinesand cedars. Be sure to schedule a day hikeinto the canyon from Sunset Point, SunrisePoint, or Inspiration Point, places with verycolorful-sounding names. The canyon continuesto be sculptured by the erosive effectsof wind and water. The vibrant redsand pinks attract millions of visitors fromaround the world every year.Just before entering the park you willsee a lodge called Ruby’s. Named afterReuben Syrett who opened the resortin 1919, Ruby’s is still owned and operatedby his descendants. The food is excellent,with an all-you-can-eat cowboybuffet—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—forabout $6, $8, and $12, respectively. Insidethe lodge you can book canyon and rimhorseback rides, chuck wagoncook-outs, helicopter toursof the canyon, and ATV rentals.Ruby’s puts on a rodeo twicea week. There’s a great pettingzoo for kids of all ages (3to 103), shops, two service stationsand plenty of RV camping,both inside and outsidethe park. During the summermonths it’s wise to make a reservationwell in advance. Ruby’sRV Park & Campgroundcan be reached by calling 435-834-5301 (April–October)and 435-834-5341 (November–March). Call 435-834-5322 forreservations and informationfor the park campground.Spending just one day at BryceCanyon may not be enough.About forty-five minutes from BryceCanyon, and eight miles south off Hwy.12 at Cannonville, is Kodachrome Basin.Named by the National Geographic Societyin the late 1940s, Kodachrome Basinearned its name because of the brilliantcolors created by the ever-changing angleof the sun. Bring everything you will needwith you because it’s a long way back toa store. Permits: day use, $5; overnightcamping, $14. An arm load of firewood (literallyall you can carry) costs $3.50. Thereare hot showers, clean bathrooms, andtelephone service. A park ranger residespermanently on site. Camping reservations800-322-3770.■ DAY THREE: SCENIC BYWAY 12—KODACHROME TO ESCALANTE TOBOULDER TO TORREY(107 miles)The colorscreated inKodachromeBasin by thebrilliant westernsun leavestravelers in awe.A ribbon of pavement winding its waythrough awe-inspiring scenery, taking youthrough the towns of Escalante, Boulder,and Torrey, Utah Hwy. 12 takes you throughthe very heart of Utah’s Canyon Lands,showing you the nooks and crannies thatbeckon the motorhome enthusiast to comeand explore. Its rich history spans the earlydays of the Anasazis (Ancient Ones), nearthe time of Christ, to the Mormon pioneerswho settled this vast expanse in the 1800s.More visitors come each year to discoverthis magnificent playground. Even thosewho are casually interested may find it difficultto restrict their visit to one day.The BLM Office on the edge of Escalanteis a good place to plan your visit.Area guides will suggest places to visit andthings to see and do, and counsel you onroads where motorhome travel is not advisable.Keep in mind that the raw beauty ofthe Canyon Lands belies a message of caution:don’t wander off the highway on yourown unless you have the right kind of vehicle,plenty of water, and have told someonewhere you are going and when youwill return. If you are ready to make camp,the Escalante State Park offers 21 sites forRVs with a maximum pad length of 55feet. No hookups. Dump station and modernrestrooms with showers. $12/night. 800-322-3770.One interesting destination is a placecalled “Hole-in-the-Rock” that’s reached af-Traveling south through the high desert,determined settlers built a trail down animpassable cliff to lay claims to the richer farmlands in the Colorado Valley. The treacherousroute became known as “Hole-in-the-Rock.”22 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYFIVE DAYS STATE BY STATE/UTAH 23

ter a 55-mile drive southeast from Escalantealong a rugged dirt road where high clearance4WD vehicles are recommended. Ifyou have come prepared with such a vehiclein tow, what you will see is unbelievable.Around 1880, a group of Mormon familieswith their wagons, horses, and a thousandhead of cattle built a trail literally down theside of a 2,500-foot cliff to the ColoradoRiver, where they crossed and went on tosettle the valley. Today as you look throughthe Hole-in-the-Rock that once led downto the river, you will see the waters of LakePowell. The hike down to the lake is difficult,but is possible with careful preparation.Only 20 miles but a solid hour’s driveeast of Escalante is the town of Boulder,where the Anasazi State Park Museum is located.A thousand years ago the Anasazi civilizationspread from the Rio Grande Riverin New Mexico to where Las Vegas is today.Their dwellings survive only at Mesa Verde,Chaco Canyon, and here at Boulder. Fromthe museum, the drive over Boulder Mountainto Torrey takes another couple of hours.From the 10,000-plus foot elevation reachedon Hwy. 12 you can see all the way to theHenry Mountains, the last mountain rangein the United States to be named.■ DAY FOUR: TORREY TO CAPITOLREEF NATIONAL PARK TO GREENRIVER (105 miles)Turning right off Hwy. 12 onto Hwy. 24,you will travel east on this new Scenic Bywayas it meanders and parallels the FremontRiver. Within minutes you will enterthe Capitol Reef National Park. On yourway to the Visitor Center, you will passgeologic formations named like ChimneyRock, The Castle, and Twin Rocks. TheFruita Campground offers 70 sites on afirst-come first-served basis, each equippedwith a picnic table and grill but no hookups.$10/night. The sites usually are filledby early to mid-afternoon during the summer.Near by is the Fruita Historic Districtwith its nineteenth century schoolhouse,blacksmith shop, and orchards where youcan actually pick and eat fruit free of chargewhile visiting. A 25-mile round trip drivetakes you to the Waterpocket Fold, a twisted,uplifted land formation known as amonocline. John Wesley Powell first wroteabout it during his trip down the Green andWild turkeys meander through the brush inCapitol Reef National Park. Visitors should keeptheir camera loaded. A telephoto lens may beuseful here.Colorado Rivers in the late 1860s. CapitolReef is an area replete with petroglyphs andwildlife (mule deer, wild turkeys, marmots,desert bighorn, golden eagle), so keep yourcamera handy. For more information aboutCapitol Reef, call 435-425-3791 or visitwww.nps.gov/care.Exit the park on Hwy. 24 along the FremontRiver to Hanksville, and then bearnorth for 44 miles to I-70 (an hour’s drive).Travel east on I-70 to Green River, Utah(another 15-minutes). You will be traversingwhat is called the San Rafael Desert, anopen rangeland used by ranchers to grazetheir cattle during the wintertime whenthe high country is packed with snow. Thetown of Green River offers its own uniquemenu of opportunities, including the JohnWesley Powell Museum on the banks of theGreen River. Here the entire story is toldabout how Powell and his men navigated insmall boats down the Green and ColoradoRivers, from Wyoming down through theGrand Canyon. They lived to tell about it andPowell, a one-armed Civil War veteran, madethis trip not once, but twice. Amazing!Ray’s Tavern in Green River claimsworld fame for its charbroiled steaks andburgers and caters to the river rafters dur-ing the summer months. Holiday Expeditions,one of the premier river rafting andexpedition companies in the West, offersadventures that can last up to seven dayswith trips originating May 24 throughAugust 21. For those who want a verycivilized taste of river rafting, they offerone- and two-night adventures where theyset up camp and cook all the meals (gourmetmeals, we have eaten them), as they letyou see the Canyon Lands from a wholenew perspective. Their telephone numberis 800-624-6323. There website is www.bikeraft.com. It’s so easy and rewarding.You should think about doing this.There are several RV campgrounds inGreen River that offer full service facilities.They include:KOA–Green River800-562-3649Shady Acres RV Park & Campground800-537-8674United Campground of Green River435-564-8195■ DAY FIVE: GREEN RIVER TOPRICE TO CIRCLEVILLE TO CEDARMOUNTAIN AND CEDAR CITY(265 miles)From Green River go five miles west onI-70 to exit 156 and turn north on US 6-191 for a 60-mile drive to Price, which isa matter of minutes away from Nine MileCanyon. Literally an outdoor museum,the canyon has some remarkable examplesof petroglyphs (carvings on rock faces),pictographs (paintings on rock faces),and remnants of dwellings from the prehistoricFremont Culture that have remaineduntouched through the centu-At the Tavaputs Ranch, a trail ridethrough the mountains may be thehighlight of your Utah experience.The vistas (and the elevation) arebreathtaking!ries. The 40-mile tripthrough the canyon on alevel dirt road will probablyrequire most of theday. There are no servicesavailable. Bring a picniclunch, water, insect repellant,binoculars, and camera.Your effort will bewell rewarded.If you have a coupleof extra days, a uniqueopportunity presents itselffor wannabe cowboysto have a first-rateguest ranch experience.Owned and operated by Butch and JeanieJensen, the Tavaputs Ranch is a workingcattle ranch where guests can be involvedin the cowboy life as much or as littleas they choose.While the 15,000-acre summer ranchand lodge is 50 miles away up on the TavaputsPlateau, ranch headquarters are inPrice where you can safely leave your motorhome.The Jensens transport their gueststo the lodge in 4WD SUVs. If you’d rather,you can take a 20-minute flight from thePrice airport to the ranch and get an air tourbefore landing at Butch and Jeanie’s airstripon top of their mountain. Their lodgeoverlooks Desolation Canyon on the GreenRiver where it’s not at all unusual to seebear, elk, deer and even a mountain lion.And, oh, how Jeanie can cook! You canput on five pounds in two days. Her ranchcookin’ is served round the clock and allmeals are included in the per person rates.Call 435-637-1236 for more informationand reservations, or visit their websitehttp://www.tavaputsranch.com/.Youneed to check this out.Before leaving Price, there’s one laststop downtown that needs to be made. It’sFarlino’s Restaurant. Sam Farlino’s grandfathercame from Italy and his Italian fare isas good as that found in Tuscany or Naples.Farlino’s is the place where Butch and hiswranglers go for breakfast or lunch everydayand traditional western fare is also oneof Sam’s specials. Parallel parking for motorhomescan be found on the side street.The drive from Price to Circleville, Utah(Utah Hwy. 10 to I-70 to US 89 and thensouth) takes a couple of hours. About twomiles south of Circleville on the right side ofUS 89 in a grove of trees is Butch Cassidy’sThis petroglyph in Nine MileCanyon attests to a richprehistoric culture.cabin. If you decide to walkthe quarter mile through thefield to the cabin and lookaround, note that you areon private property and besure to abide by any signsthat are posted. Yes, thisreally is the birthplace ofone of the characters popularizedby Robert Redfordand Paul Newman in theclassic 1969 movie, ButchCassidy and the SundanceKid. It’s a true piece ofAmericana.The road south to thejunction of US 89 and Hwy. 14 is a leisurelydrive. After turning right onto Hwy. 14, youwill come to Pinewoods Resort, a premierdestination for summer and winter and wellworth the stop. Operated by Brian Romney,Pinewoods offers ATV and snowmobile rentalsand the opportunity to get off the beatenpath and see some of the West’s most spectacularvistas. Taking one of Brian’s guidedATV or snowmobile tours is an excellentway to learn about what you will be seeing.Visit www.pinewoodsresort.com or call 800-848-2525. Oh, yes, Pinewoods serves excellentfood. You can’t go wrong.Not counting the side trips, you havetraveled 644 miles, an average of only 130miles per day. We have toured only a fractionof the interesting and entertaining placesin this beautiful state. You could easilyspend two weeks on this loop. But I hopethis “starter trip” will be the beginning ofmany more enjoyable days in Utah, the landof vivid color.Paul Newman and Robert Redford will not bethere to greet you, but a little knowledge of thehistory and folklore about Cassidy and the Kidwill make this an interesting stop.“I chose Blue Ox becauseas any race fan knows,dependability and service area race team’s #1 priority. Weknow that the Blue Ox team isbehind us all the way, providingthe most durable, hardworkingtowing systems on the marketand their service is second tonone - we count on it.”• Towing Systems• Braking Systems• TruCenter Steering Controls• Weight Distributing Hitches1203Contact your local dealer orcall Blue Ox to seehow you can become aguest of Blue Oxat Bristol Motor Speedway& meet Ward Burton!Call 1-800-336-4336 orvisit www.blueox.us formore info.24 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYFIVE DAYS STATE BY STATE/UTAH 25

Helpful Products andTechniques to Keep YourCoach in Top Conditionby Scotty MartinTiffin Service SpecialistOver the years, I have seen 20- and25-year-old motorhomes come in forservice that looked almost brand new.Keeping your “home away from home”in top-notch condition will increase theresidual value and give you great pridein owning your coach. Following are alist of products that we use here at TiffinMotorhomes when we are asked to puta coach back in top shapeCamper’s Choice Black Streak Remover.If a coach is not washed regularly,you may notice black streaks on the sidewallscaused by particles in the air whichaccumulate as residues with the evaporationof moisture. This streak remover willbreak those residues loose and leave thesurface clean.Camper’s Choice Awning Cleaner.Mildew is the major enemy of awningmaterial. It will eventually cause it to rot.Depending on the climate, your awningmay pick up dirt and stains. Used regularly,this cleaner will keep your awningmaterial in good condition.B.E.S.T. makes several products thatwill help keep your motorhome lookingnew:B.E.S.T. Wash & Wax. A combinationproduct, add this to your wash water asdirected to wash the exterior of your motorhome.It will leave the fiberglass exteriorwith a clean, glossy finish.B.E.S.T. Rubber Roof Cleaner andProtectant. Designed especially forcleaning a rubber roof, the product willalso protect the roof from the sun.B.E.S.T. Bug-Off. When the summertimebugs make an ugly mess on thefront of your motorhome, this product willdissolve the residues they left behind.BLACK CAT Tire Dressing. This invaluableproduct will prevent your tires fromdry-rotting and add the finishing touch tothe detailing of your motorhome.Goo Gone. The solvent or all solvents.Goo Gone removes grease, tar, gum,and old bumper stickers (in case you’veS E R I O U S T E C H TA L Kchanged your politics). It is safe on anysurface.Gel-Gloss One Step Cleaner and Polish.Designed for the fiberglass exteriorof your motorhome, Gel-Gloss will clean,seal, and protect the surface.Slide-Out Rubber Seal Conditioner.Applied regularly, this conditioner will preventthe slide-out seals from tearing, sticking,or drying out.RV Fresh. This will keep your motorhomesmelling nice and fresh. It may beused on carpet, furniture, and bedspreads.Spring Fresh. This product will preventodors and clean your fresh water system.Taking Your Motor HomeOut of Storageby Billy NicholsTiffin Service SpecialistIf your motorhome has been in storage forthe winter, follow these steps to put it backin operation for the traveling and campingseason.First, change the water filter. If your unithas one, you will find it in the storage compartmentwith the water pump or under thekitchen sink. Most Tiffin dealers stock thefilters along with the many maintenanceproducts you will need. If you do not liveclose to your dealer, call Camper’s Choiceat 800-833-6713.If you winterized your system with antifreeze,hook up to city water to fill and rinseout the lines. While doing this, turn the bypasson, take the plug out of the waterheater, and rinse it out really well.Put a half gallon of Clorox or a box of bakingsoda in the fresh water tank. Rinse thoroughlyto get all the residue out of the tank.Blow out the exhaust on the waterheater and furnace with compressed air tobe sure no spider webs or other debris hasclogged the exhaust. Check the LP systemby turning it on and operating all of thegas appliances for a short period of time.Check the refrigerator by taking thecover off the bottom of the burner tubeand blowing it out with the air hose toclean it out.Check water in the batteries. Checkconnections on the batteries, clean them ifnecessary, and make sure all the connectionsare tight.Remove the outside covers of the airconditioners on the roof and blow themout with an air hose. Remove the dirt anddust build-up around the fans and compressors.Check all fluid levels on the engineand make sure all is well before you startyour trip.Q&A: Programming theXantrex InverterI would like to know more about how toprogram and operate the Xantrex inverteron the 2003 Phaeton. Can you publishthe instructions in the magazine, as Ibelieve this would probably help a lotof people. Thanks. — Ron Walker, PortClinton, OHThe 2003 Phaeton came standardwith a Xantrex Freedom 458 Inverter/Charger and a Freedom Remote Panel.This remote panel is used in conjunctionwith the inverter/charger to control andmonitor the operation of the unit. TheFreedom unit is both a DC and AC inverter,and a 12 volt DC battery charger.The unit can either invert or charge; itcan not do both functions at the sametime. The Freedom Remote Panel will reportdifferent measurements dependingon which mode the inverter/charger isin. When charging it is a charger displaypanel, and when inverting it is a batterymonitor and inverter display.When the motorhome delivers ACpower to the inverter/charger, either fromshorepower or from a generator, the Freedomunit becomes a 3-stage battery chargerand allows the circuits on the inverterto be powered from the AC source (ACpass through). In this situation the AC INlight will be on and the CHARGE light willbe lit. This happens automatically when anAC source becomes available (hooking upto shorepower for example). At this timethe Freedom remote panel displays charginginformation and the BATTERY STATEindicates which stage of charge the unit isin. Whenever the charger light is on, theDC VOLT indicators will show charger outputvoltage, and the DC AMPS will showhow many amps the charger is puttingout. The charger will also handle any DCloads that are required, thus keeping thebatteries fully charged.When no AC power is available and theINVERTER light is on, the unit is in invertermode. In this situation the circuits connectedto the inverter are being poweredby the batteries. The remote panel nowdisplays the battery voltage and amperagedraw from the batteries. The BAT-TERY STATE now reads like a fuel gaugefor your batteries, and the lights will movefrom ‘full’ to ‘empty’ as the AC loads drawthe batteries down. When a red light appearsunder BATTERY STATE, the batteriesneed recharging.The Freedom inverter/charger camepre-configured with the correct settingsfor the Phaeton. The set-up should onlyhave to be changed if there is a changein the system, for example if the numberand type of batteries is changed. For anexpanded overview of how to set-up, readand understand your Freedom inverter/charger, please download the “FreedomRemote Quick Guide” available from theSupport section of www.xantrex.com.Q&A: A Slide-Out Problemby Richard BlantonTiffin Service SpecialistSeveral owners have asked what to do ifthe slide-out is stuck in the out position dueto a 12V power failure or other difficulty.The slide-out hardware we have usedsince 2000 is made by Power Gear System.These systems have a brake switch(a brass lever) located at the end of theslide-out motor (which is inside the storagecompartment under the slide-out).The motor will be next to one of the gearedslide-out rails. This switch will only rotateabout 1/8 inch. The switch engages andreleases the brake holding the slide-outbox in place. Once you have the switchin the release position, you can use a 3/4inch socket and ratchet or a 3/4 ratchetwrench, placed at the opposite end of themotor, and turn it until you have the slideoutin the desired position. If you don’thave a socket and ratchet, you can alsouse an adjustable wrench. Once you havethe slide-out into the desired position, besure to turn the brake switch back to theengaged position.For slide-outs on 1998 and 1999 models,please call a service technician at TiffinMotorhomes for instructions on releasing aslide-out which is stuck in the out position.The motor on these models is in a difficultposition to reach. Call 256-356-8661.Service Bulletins & Recallsby Liz JonesTiffin Recall ManagerCurrently we have three service bulletinsand one recall. The service bulletins areas follows:TIFF SB-01 Engine Battery CablesTIFF SB-02 Engine Block Heater WireLoom RetrofitTIFF SB-03 Sealing of Bedroom AdjustableRoller“I know the RV ownerbecause I am one.And I work hardto help people like me getthe financing andservice they deserve.”Kathy Guidi, RV Financing ConsultantThe recall is:03V-149 Ford Brake Warning IndicatorEveryone under the recall should havebeen notified via mail (assuming their addresshasn’t changed). If you would like acopy of the Vehicle Identification Numberson any of these service bulletins or the recall,please e-mail your request to liz.jones@tiffinmotorhomes.com. If you do not useemail, call 256-356-0205. Please specifywhich recall.R V L O A N SBusiness Philosophy:Helping people get what they want out of life is important tome.Key to Success:Every one of my customers and I have a lot in common as RV owners.I completely relate to their dream and that's motivating.Personal Goals:I will do what it takes to make my customers happy.Kathy Guidi and the entire staff at CustomerOne Financial understand RV owners and thelove of an open road. That means not onlyshopping for the best vehicle and securingthe very lowest finance rate, but choosing thefinance company that will make the entireexperience simple, fast and easy. Staffed bylifestyle experts like Kathy, Customer One helpspeople like you breeze through the financingprocess and take possession of your dream,sooner rather than later.Secure your loanthrough Customer Oneand get a FREE FMCAmembership or renewal.Call toll-free1-866-337-3456and start your journey.www.customeronefinancial.com26 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYSERIOUS TECH TALK 27

I N Y O U R C O R N E RFULLBODYPAINTby Fred ThompsonThe jargon in the motorhome industry creates an everexpandinglist of terminology. The RV salesman had shownthe couple, who were first-time buyers, four Allegro Bays.Two had striping in three colors on top of the white gelcoatfiberglass. The other two had been painted stem-to-stern,top to bottom with a base coat and three colors, and thenfinished off with clearcoat.While the salesman was answering their questions andexplaining the features of the different units, they were insidethe motorhome. Back in the office, he began to priceout the options to present them with a quotation. Then hepopped the question, “Would you like full body paint?” Sheshot back, “I thought this was an RV dealership, not a healthspa.” A good laugh followed.Full body paint was first offered by Tiffin on the AllegroBus in 2001. When the 2005 models start coming off theline in July, the option will be offered on all models except28 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYthe Allegro. At Tiffin Motorhomes, customer demand drivesproduction and the development of new facilities to meet themarket. In the final analysis, full body paint not only createsa more beautiful coach, but most appraisers agree that itadds residual value when you go to trade or sell.Today, running at full capacity, the plant can turn out threefull body paint jobs per day. The company is developing anew 92,000 SF plant that will open in June, part of which willbe devoted to 10 state-of-the-art paint bays. Output capacitywill be doubled and still leave room for expansion.Supervised by Tim Lindley for two years, this departmentnow has 54 employees. As Tim evaluates his roster, he tellsme that 35 percent have 10+ years of experience in automotiveand RV painting, 30 percent have 5+ years, and 35 percentare between 0 and 5 years. Each team of eight generallyhas two trainees. Tim is assisted by two lead persons, JasonHiser and Alan Lindley.The management team for the Full Body PaintDepartment at Tiffin Motorhomes. All are teamleaders except as indicated. From left toright: Derek Cleveland, Robert Borden, JasonHiser (lead person), Steve Watts, Tim Lindley(department supervisor), Lance Grissom, BrianPearson, Ranae Morrell, Alan Lindley (leadperson), Ricky Webb, and Joey Keeton.As we walk through the work stations, it is easy to detecteveryone’s pride in the quality of workmanship. Tim providesdirection tactfully and encourages generously. Everyonerealizes that a prospective buyer’s first impression of our motorhomeswill be based on the quality of the paint job. During myvisit I learned that it takes 90–100 hours to produce a full bodypaint job.Let’s take a detailed look at the process. When a coach rollsinto the department, it first receives a high pressure air blow-offfollowed by the application of a chemical cleaner to break downany oil or other agents that adhered to the fiberglass exterior duringproduction.Some of the exterior hardware is removed and all other objectsor surfaces not to receive paint are carefully masked, which includesthe windows, wipers, rubber trim, and lights.The sidewalls are then coated with a dye to reveal any imperfectionsin the fiberglass—pinholes or stress cracks. A filler is appliedand the patched areas are sanded to make them perfectly smooth. Acrew moves in and spends several hours sanding and scuffing theentire motorhome to make the surfaces paint receptive.A prep crew takes over and uses high pressure air to removethe sanding dust. The coach is washed with a water-based cleanerand any final masking is done before the unit is moved intothe paint bay. Quality control checks are made after each distinctprocess.The painters now tape off the windshield and cover the tires.A final high pressure blow-off is followed by “tacking the surface”with specially treated cloths that attract any dust or particles.A special sealer is then applied to the doors and the front andrear caps for extra protection against rock chips and scratches.To keep the paint bay free of particles, all air is inducted throughpowerful filters and evacuated through exhaust fans at the top ofthe compartment.Now it is time to apply the full body base coat. It is theprimary color over which the accent colors will be applied. Sixpainters suit up and don their masks and goggles. Special lightingunits built into the sidewalls of the bays are turned on to producean even illumination across the entire expanse of the motorhome’ssides and caps.Applying the base coat takes one-and-a-half hours and is followedimmediately with a 10-minute bake cycle that takes thetemperature in the compartment to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Afterthe cool down, the painted surface is dry to the touch.Now the fun begins. The eight person team spreads outaround the motorhome and begins to unwind 30-inch widerolls of adhesive-backed striping material which will becomethe painting masks for the three accent colors. Startingon the bottom edge of the motorhome, the first roll isstretched the entire length and includes the wheel wells andstorage bays. The process is more exacting but similar to hangingwallpaper horizontally.Working nimbly with retractable razors, the strippers sliceand tuck the yellow masks as they go over doors, wheel wells,vents, and slide moldings. Masking tape is used to extend themask’s edges around the interrupted surfaces. The masking processis complicated by making the designs identical on both sidesof the motorhome. The ending points on each side front and rearmust be the same distance from the bottom edges in order to alignwith the stripes that connect across the front and rear caps. An-With the base coat of paint completed and dry, Robert Borden, RandyPage, and Craig Rogers align the first roll of striping masks over thestorage bay doors and wheel wells of an Allegro Bay. After the adhesivebacking is carefully removed, Randy Page presses the air bubbles outof the mask with an edging tool. Renae Scott does the detail work infitting the mask over molding.other complicating factor is extending the stripes around the sidesof the slideouts. Painting a motorhome just one color would be apiece of cake. Painting it with four colors demands exacting skilland patience.After the first roll is completed, the strippers unfurl the next rolland go through the process three more times until the entire motor-FULL BODY PAINT 29

home is masked for painting. The entiremasking is completed in about two hours.The paint bay is cleaned again before thespraying begins for the three accent colors.After each color is applied, it is carefullycovered before the next application.The striping is removed revealing the basecoat again. The coach is now prepped forthe clearcoat which will enhance all of thecolors and give them a vivid appearance.Since the masking over the windows andhardware may have become saturated withpaint, remasking is done at this point to assurethat the clearcoat is applied only tothe painted surfaces. After another highpressure air blowoff, the area to be coatedis “tacked,” or wiped down with a specialchemically treated cloth.The six clearcoat painters put on suitsand breathing equipment that make onethink of the space program. In a one hourapplication they apply 3 – 3.5 mils of clearcoat.Once applied the coach goes througha 60-minute bake cycle that cures the paintand speeds the drying process.The designs are created by two companieswhich submit complete comprehensivesat least six months in advance ofthe model year change for each of thefive models produced by Tiffin Motorhomes.Several designs are presentedto Van Tiffin for each of the five Tiffinbrands: Allegro, Allegro Bay, Phaeton,Allegro Bus, and Zephyr. Paint testing isdone in the plant for the colors recommendedby the design companies. Customer feedbackhelps determine the final selections.Quality control takes place at everystage during the two-day process of paintinga motorhome. It is imperative to removeany imperfections before the unitmoves to the next stage.With the painting process complete, thecoach moves to the reassembly bay to unmaskwindows, lights, wipers, reinstall anyexterior hardware, do minor buffing, andblack all of the door jams. Nearing the finalshipping point, the Quality Control Departmentdirected by Lex Tiffin moves into closely inspect the complete exterior ofthe coach. Under bright lights, trained eyessearch for any imperfections. The inspectorsmark with small strips of masking tapeany flaws they can find and the coach is returnedto the touch-up station for the minorrepairs. A couple of hours later a QCinspector returns to make sure the flawswere corrected.Robert Borden carefully positions the secondroll of masks to perfectly align with theintegrated design which has already beenapplied just below it.After one of the stripes has been painted in oneof the three accent colors, Brian Murray coversthe painted area with a paper mask to protectthe paint as the next accent color is applied byJohn Gordon.The painters wear white suits for their ownprotection and to avoid any minute particlesfrom flawing the clearcoat. The clearcoatproduces a sparkling gloss finish in all of thecolors.Anthony Searcy buffs the clearcoat finish tocreate a luster and add a final quality to the fullbody paint job.The options for every coach are specifiedby the actual buyer or a dealer. Eachunit now has its own unique personality asit is driven to Final Finish. At this stage ateam swarms over the motorhome to doa complete clean-up, inside and out. Twotechnicians slide back and forth on movableworkseats installing a clear rock guardacross the lower half of the front cap.After Final Finish, the QC techniciansfollow a checklist that takes them over everyinch of the coach before it is moved to thedelivery line in front of the main office.Tim Lindley knows everyone on his 54-person staff by first name. “From the firststep to the last, it takes 100 percent teamwork,”he emphasizes again. “Every phaseis critical. You can’t lower your concentrationat any stage for even a minute and getthe quality results that we demand fromourselves. It takes devoted people to turnout a good product.”The proof is in the pudding!A native of Red Bay, Tim Lindley completedhis eighth year last Decemberwith Tiffin Motorhomes. He and hiswife Barbara have two sons, Greg,19, and Chris, 14. Greg works in theelectrical department, making anotherof the many father-son combinationsat Tiffin Motorhomes. “One thingthat is really important to me workinghere,” he explained, “ is that we knowthat we have the full support from topmanagement to every supervisor, leadperson, and every employee in producingthe best quality product possible.That allows everybody to beproud of what they do.”A L L E G R O C L U B N E W SALLEGRO FAMILY LATESUMMER GETAWAYAmana Colonies RV ParkAmana, Iowa August 24–28, 2004by Jimmy Johnson, Club PresidentDon’t miss this late summer getawaywith your Allegro Family! It’s going to begreat fun and educational, too.Come along on Willkommen! Explorethe unique and fascinating history ofthe Amana Colonies, a National HistoricalLandmark, tucked among the rollinghills of eastern Iowa. “Gemutlichkeit” (inGerman indicating warmth, cheer, andfriendliness) overflows in the quaint sevenvillages founded about 150 years ago.Amana was inspired by the past. InGermany in the 1600s and 1700s, theLutheran clergy started the persecutionof the “True Inspirationists” because theyrefused to send their children to publicschools and they did not believe in performingmilitary duties.In 1842 Christian Metz and three followerstraveled to America to purchaseland for the community members. Theypurchased 5000 acres of land from theSeneca Indians near Buffalo, N.Y. In thebeginning it was hoped that the communitymembers could purchase their ownland, but they were unable to raise themoney.Metz proposed that a permanent constitutionbe adopted establishing a communalsystem. The system was adopted,and the community members shared thebusiness and property of Ebenezer, nearBuffalo. As time went by more land wasneeded to accommodate the 1200 communitymembers. Leaders looked to theWest where inexpensive farm land wasavailable. Four men were sent to checkout farm lands in Kansas and Iowa.They found what they were looking for inIowa.In 1855 Metz and his followers cameto Iowa and built a village. The villagewas called “Blaib Treu” or “Remain Faithful”.The leaders chose the name Amanafrom the Song of Solomon 4:8, where“Amana” means to “remain true.”Five more villages were built: MiddleAmana, High Amana, West Amana,South Amana, and East Amana. Withthe purchase of Homestead (the seventhvillage) in 1861 the community came toown 26,000 acres of land.Farming was the principle means oflivelihood. To meet the needs of the communityand to produce goods for sale tooutside markets, a calico works and twowoolen mills were established as well asa grist and flour mill. Brick and lumberfacilities were built. Basket-makers, bakers,tinsmiths, and other crafts peoplesupplied a variety of goods needed bythe community.Mothers of children under three yearsold stayed home with the youngsters.Preschool age children attended a“kinderschule” while their mothersworked. The older children attendedschool year-round.Members of the community attendedGerman-language church services orprayer meetings eleven times a week.As time went by, the economic pressuresand some dissatisfaction with thecommunal system arose in 1932. Amana,a profit sharing joint stock corporation,was established. This was knownas “the great change” which ended 89years of communal living. For the firsttime the community members ownedtheir own homes, worked for wages, orbecame proprietors of businesses. Newbusinesses were established includingAmana Refrigeration. Today the AmanaSociety farms the land and manages avariety of businesses.As you can see, the Amana Colonieshistorical enterprise is a treasure to Iowaas well as to its visitors. You will enjoythis collection of distinctive villages, aNational Historic Landmark. You are infor a unique experience seeing the artisansand craftsmen at work. The AmanaColonies were built on tradition andquality by people who believe in hardwork and excellent craftsmanship. Don’tmiss this wonderful experience. See youin Amana!Allegro Family Late Summer RallyAmana Colonies RV ParkAmana, IowaAugust 24-29Motorhome with two people, $452.69Motorhome with one person, $351.47Each guest in member’s motorhome,$99.37To join the Allegro Club, call256-356-8522Six men’s teams and two women’s teams competed in the Allegro Family Annual Winter GolfRally in Magnolia Springs, Alabama, Feb. 15–21. The competition was followed each evening withdelicious meals in area restaurants.30 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLY31

F R O M T H E R O A DThe Life and Times of Tiffin Motorhome OwnersWe received nearly 1,000 cards from our readers responding tothe first edition of Roughing It Smoothly. Since we could notpublish them all, I tried to select representative ones that expressedyour sentiments. I also attempted to answer the questions that Ithought would be of general interest to everyone.We were pleased by your overwhelming approval ofthe magazine. Please remember that Roughing It Smoothlyis your magazine. We want to provide you with the storiesand information that will make your RVing experience moreenjoyable and satisfying. “From the Road” will serve as a Q&Aopportunity to get your common questions before the expertsat TMH, as well as a place for you to exchange information tohelp one another to continue to have a great RV experience.So don’t be shy about picking up your pens (or keyboards) andwriting. Send email to fred@bookproduction.com and regularmail to P.O. Box 292912, Tampa, FL 33687-2912. If you havea pressing issue to discuss, call me at (877) 538-7467. Keep inmind that I am in Tampa, Florida, and not the Red Bay plant. Forservice, parts, and scheduling maintenance, call (256) 356-8661.In this issue, I moved some of your questions to “Serious TechTalk” since it was a more appropriate place for longer answers.Keep on roughing it smoothly!— Fred Thompson, editorTHE TMH CAMPGROUND ATRED BAYNorris LeweyMany of you who have stayed atthe campground in the last fivemonths are aware that NorrisLewey is not there. Norris was thefirst person from the service departmentto greet you when youarrived to have work done on yourmotorhome. Those who have visitedmany times just expected to seeNorris and renew old friendships.Norris has served his countryfor 34 years in the Alabama NationalGuard. His communicationscompany was called to active dutyon Dec. 7. They spent severalweeks at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky,receiving additional training andthen shipped out to Iraq. He spentthe first two weeks in Kuwait andon March 1 was stationed at Mosul,in northern Iraq. His one-year tourwill be measured from the March 1date when he arrived at Mosul.Norris, 52, began his career atTiffin 29 years ago. He and hiswife, Brenda, have two children,Candy Cantrell and BrandonLewey, and two grandchildren,Aaron and Andrew.Norris, a native of FranklinCounty, was elected FranklinCounty Commissioner seven yearsago, and then reelected in 2000 fora second term. It was the first timea commissioner had been electedto a second term in Franklin Countyin 20 years.At the request of the threeother commissioners, State Rep.Johnny Mack Morrow, and StateSen. Roger Bedford, Gov. BobRiley appointed Brenda to servethe remaining year of Norris’second term.If you would like to send Norrisa card, please use the followingaddress exactly:SSG LEWEY NORRISBB CO. 115 SIGNAL BN3RD SIGNAL BDE APOAE 09334Finding the CampgroundAla. 24 (4th Avenue) runs E–Wthrough Red Bay. Just west ofthe downtown business district,take 4th Street north for approximatelytwo miles. The TiffinCampground will be on your leftor the west side of the highway.In the business district, take 2ndStreet north across the railroadtracks to enter the Tiffin Motorhomeplant property.The campground is open from7 a.m. until 8 p.m. and is hostedby Ralph and Hildred Funderburkand Jimmy and Peggy Davis whoserve two weeks at a time andthen rotate.Bearl DeFoor is serving in NorrisLewey’s place until Norris returnsfrom Iraq. He will visit youthe morning after you arrive to discussyour service needs.If you are there for warrantywork, there is no charge duringthe time the warranty work is beingdone. If you stay beyond thewarranty work period, or if youare having work done that is notcovered by warranty, the chargeis $10 per night. Full hook-upsinclude water, sewer, and 20-,30-, or 50-amp service. No cableor phone hook-ups.The facilities include a coinlaundry and restrooms withshowers. Camper’s Choice islocated at the campground andoffers a full line of products formotorhomes.YOUR POSTCARDSI received more questions on thepostcards which you returnedthan I could possibly answer inthis issue. A list of some of theinformation that you requestedfollows and we will try to addressthose requests in future issues.• A list of service suppliersthroughout U.S.• How to winterize your motorhome(Fall issue)• Do-it-yourself maintenancethat can be performed bymost RVers• More in-depth Tech Talk articles• Dealer locations (see www.tiffinmotorhomes.com)• Maintenance articles for olderClass A Allegros (80s and90s) and their appliances• Articles on dinghy towing• Articles on winter camping• A section on traveling withsmall children• Laws affecting motorhomesin the various statesCLASSIFIED ADSMany of you asked that we runa classified ad section just forTiffin-brand motorhomes inRoughing It Smoothly. We simplycannot do that because it wouldundermine our 100 dealershipsthroughout the U.S.YOUR LETTERSJudith Baird, Livingston, Tex.My first thought was, “Oh, NOTanother RV magazine. After readingit, “What a great magazine!”It is interesting, informative, andrelevant.Alfred B. Smith, Mesquite, Nev.I would like to see a Tech Topicssection to help owners solve minorcommon problems that develop.Mrs. Danny Schumer, BowlingGreen, Ky. I love David Toll’stravel article on Nevada. I will32 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLYFROM THE ROAD 33

keep it on file under “Nevada”for our next trip out West.Willard Crews, Florence, Mont.I was especially interested in thearticle about sealants since I didnot know how much attention Ineeded to pay to this item.Dan Gudas, Boerne, Tex. We lovethe entire magazine, particularlythe maintenance tips and recommendations.Also enjoyed meetingthe Tiffin family. This is one slickquarterly!James W. Brimhall, Germantown,Tenn. hanks for the reviewon the Phaeton. The scheduledmaintenance article on sealantswas not only helpful, but a reminder.The magazine is of high qualityand very much appreciated andenjoyed. Please give us articles onmaintaining different componentsand appliances, model reviews,what’s new & what’s coming. Wewould like to see dealer reviews.Robert C. Stephenson,Ward,Ala. Roughing It Smoothly is amagazine with down home qualitythat we like very much. Especiallyenjoyed the story on theTiffins, Generations.Jerry Hudson, Utica, Ky. Weenjoyed all of the articles, but weespecially liked the letters fromfolks like us telling about theirtravels in their RVs.Wakeman “Shine” Martin,Lake Wales, Fla. We like the newmagazine very much. Tiffin motorhomesare the best; I have beenan Allegro owner since 1977.Drs. Sandi & Ray Priestino,Irmo, S. C. We hope the magazinewill grow and become a bighelp to Allegro RVers. Pleasekeep the articles and informationfor us and not Allegro testimonials—youare preaching tothe choir. Print tips and articlesabout RVing written by the Allegroreaders, especially thingsabout dry camping. We live andwork on the road and have neverspent a night in a campground.Dawson L. Burton, Mobile, Ala.We thoroughly enjoyed RoughingIt Smoothly, especially the Nevadatravelogue and the feature on theTiffins. On future travel stories,please include a map. More techtalk and more recipes would benice. In features about the newmotorhomes, please make sure thepictures and the floor plans match.Don and Linda Patterson, Houma,La. We are the proud owners ofa 2003 Allegro 31-ft. motorhomeon a Workhorse chassis and loveour coach. We recently experiencedan unacceptable amountof front-end bounce that caused aseparation in a weld on a 2” × 2”angle iron floor brace. This causedenough alarm to pursue the cause,and eventually the solution.Walter Scott at Scotty’s CamperSales in New Iberia, La., suggestedwe call the Customer AssistanceDepartment at Workhorse and advisethem of the situation. Steve atWorkhorse listened to our concernsand directed us to a certified Workhorsedealer, assuring us that thework would be covered under our36-month/36,000-mile warranty.We went to G.M. Varnado andSons in Baton Rouge, where theservice manager greeted us andadvised that the front shock absorberswould be changed and upgraded.Monroe Gas Magnum RVGas-Charged Shock Absorbers(#557031) were installed. Withintwo hours we were on our way.While driving 110 miles to ourhome, we noticed no front-endbounce or negative effects on thedriver and passenger comfort.Our thanks to Steve at Workhorse,Bob Tiffin at Tiffin Motorhomesfor building a greatcoach, Walter at Scotty’s CamperSales for his always courteouscooperation, and Tony at Varnado’sfor superb service.Dean T. Haug, Portland, Oregon.The “Generations: A FamilyBusiness Model” article was akeeper. It is great to read about apresident–CEO of a multimilliondollar corporation who can stillbe humble and believe in God.George Godson, Mabank, Tex.We appreciate the thorough coveragethat went into the magazinearticles. Please do a featureon warranties that explains whatTiffin Motorhomes warrants andwhat the component manufacturerswarrant, such as the Workhorsechassis.Ray and Shirley Elmendorf,Whittier, Calif. Great magazine!Especially enjoyed reading aboutthe Tiffin family. The story is agood way to introduce Tiffin customersto their philosophy aboutbusiness. The Phaeton article wasgreat, but it described a differentrig than the photos showed.Richard Smith, Yoakum, Tex.Thanks for your background storyon TMH, Bob Tiffin, and hiswhole family. We liked all of thearticles in the first issue and thestyle in which they were written.“Serious Tech Talk” left out aluminumroofs. Some old RVs withlow mileage are still on the roadand are very serviceable.David Day, Astor, Fla. Thanksfor the history of the Tiffin familyand the company. Great storyabout Nevada. We are going therein our motorhome in April.George S. Keith, Church Hill,Tenn.We liked your story aboutMargaret Herron and her 197832-foot Allegro because we havea 1979 32-foot Allegro with only39,850 miles. It is still in greatshape with all of the original interior.We made a trip to Alaskain 2000. No trouble at all. Keepthe section about maintainingthe exterior and other items likethat — anything to help us do-ityourselfers.Louis and Beverly Kuntz, Roswell,Ga. We liked the newmagazine very much. Glad tosee Tiffin Motorhomes publishsomething like this that is knowledgeable!Martha Sue Brantley, Winter Haven,Fla. Keep the recipes comingin “Gourmet Quick and Easy,” butnot quite so fancy. Be sure the ingredientsare something we wouldnormally have on hand in the motorhome.Thanks.Charles and Nancy Spano,Richmond, Tex. We like the formatof the magazine, the truthabout your products, the historyand the connection we feel to thefamily who owns the companyand oversees the quality control.Please give us information aboutsatellite systems and which service— DirecTV or Dish Network— works the best.Bobby Gore, Lithia Springs, Ga.The new magazine is very informative.The President’s columnwas particularly good.Lloyd Alexander, North Tonawanda,N.Y. “Smooth Sailing,” thecomprehensive report, was excellent.I also like the Owner Profileand the 5 Days Through Nevada.We need more tech information,service and maintenance, etc.Janet McCullough, Grandview,Mo. I enjoyed the issue verymuch — informative, educational,and interesting reading. Keepthe same format. Enjoyed the articleon Nevada. We need more“Serious Tech Talk” articles, andinformation on preventative andscheduled maintenance.Loretta Pilkington, Pine Level,N.C. I love the magazine! Pleaseask everyone in the Tiffin RVfamily to write and suggest goodcampsites and things they havedone at different campsites allover the U.S.Darrell Allison, Santa Fe, N.M.Please do a Tech Talk article on the“care and feeding” of diesel enginesand Allison transmissions.Lawrence E. Taylor, Corsicana,Tex. The article, “Do Tow BarsWear Out?”, was very meaningfulto me. Late last year while towingmy CRV, the pin in the receiverhitch came out. The “safety” keymost likely wore out and broke. Iwas towing with the safety chainswhen another RVer pulled up besideme and motioned me over.Of course, when I came to a stop,the CRV crashed, only scratchingthe cover on my spare tire, but doingconsiderable damage to theCRV. . . . After reading the articleby Mark Penlerick, I am carefullychecking every bolt and pin on mytow bar and hitch.Paul L. Bauereis, Lindale, Tex.Thank you so much for the magazine.It’s good to feel like we area member of a forward thinkinggroup.Bob and Barb Vorse, Red Bay,Ala. In the early seventies wepurchased our first Allegro from acouple in Florida. . . . It only had1700 miles on it, and in our eyeswas our dream. And that dreamcame to be a story we challengeanyone to top!After putting several thousandmiles on our 1973 Allegro, wedecided to look for a larger motorhome— so where else couldwe go but to Tiffin Motorhomes.We bought a 32-foot 1989 toreplace our well-used 27-foot.Then we traded for a 37-foot1991 Allegro. But our story reallybegins there.We made several trips to RedBay from our home in PalmBeach Gardens, Florida, mainlyto have our unit serviced. Butlittle by little we found ourselvesdrawn to our new family of employeesat Tiffin Motorhomesand the generous, kind, andhelpful people of Red Bay, Alabama.We thought that this couldpossibly be our future retirementhome. We bought some propertyjust to the east of Red Bay onBubble Gum Hill and installedthe necessary “hook-ups” on thewooded lot. After a couple ofyears, it was retirement time andwe lived in our Allegro whilebuilding our Red Bay home inthe beautiful hills of Alabama.Because of Tiffin Motorhomesand the fantastic people of RedBay, we have the best of twoworlds: a fixed home on BubbleGum Hill and our Allegro rollinghome. Our 1991 Allegro is stillserving us well. And why not— it has been cared for by thethoughtful employees at TiffinMotorhomes.William Schuller, Shiloh, Ohio.I appreciate the considerationTiffin Motorhomes has shown itscoach owners by publishing thismagazine to keep us informedwith the latest about new models,technical information, andplaces to go and things to see.George Gillette, Euless, Tex.We like the entire magazine. The“Generations” article about theTiffins was outstanding. Pleasemake this a monthly magazine.Editor: To make RIS a monthlymagazine we would have tocharge you a subscription comparableto MotorHome Magazine.Would that be okay?Robert Burns, Port Aransas,Tex. I would like to have a lubelayout chart for my motorhome.Can TMH furnish one?Editor: Lubrication charts shouldbe available from the chassismanufacturer or the service centerthat you use for chassis andengine maintenance.David Reynolds, Calhoun, Ky.In the “From the Road” section,add some of the problems customershave had and how theywere fixed.Editor: See “Tech Talk” in this issue.We have addressed problemsthat were raised by readers whoused the return mail card suppliedin the last issue. Questions that Ican answer in a few sentences willbe handled in this section.Tom Watrous, Linden, Mich.Thanks for the articles on theTiffins, the people profiles, differentmodel reviews, and technicalarticles. I read Roughing ItSmoothly from cover to cover. Iam a retired engineer and I likeknowing how things are built.Tell us about the processes/techniques used in the Tiffin productionsystem — maybe just aquarter-page blip per issue.Editor: Thanks for your suggestion,Tom. Last month our photographerspent two days shootingin the plant to give us thematerial we need to do exactlywhat you suggested. The “FullBody Paint” is to be the first ofmany stories and “blips” thatwill tell our readers how theircoaches are made.Harvey Ploghaus, Yorba Linda,Calif. I like to do my own maintenance,so I would like to seesome articles for people like me.Maybe Freightliner could do anarticle on chassis maintenance.Editor: We have an article fromFreightliner on “Engine CompartmentInspection.” If we can’tget it in this edition, it will be inthe Summer edition.OLDER ALLEGROSRobert H. Miller, Madison,Wisc. I would like to see articlesreviewing the past productionmodels, starting with the firstmodel year and moving up progressivelythrough the years.Editor: If Mr. Tiffin could haveforeseen the company’s phenomenalsuccess, he might havehired a company historian. Beinga history buff myself, I like yoursuggestion. Maybe I can begin topiece together some stories thatwill be of interest. Thanks.Donald and Wendy MacDougall,Vernon, Conn. We havethe first Allegro with the “doggywindow,” and we hope you willdo more features on the olderAllegro motorhomes. We werein a campground in New Mexicowhere there were four mid-80sAllegros. In 2002, we droveour motorhome 13,500 miles toAlaska and back.Editor: Thanks for your suggestion.I would like to urge ourreaders to pick up their pens (orkeyboards) and write about theirexperiences in TMH’s durablemotorhomes. Send your contributionsto P.O. Box 292912,Tampa, FL 33687-2912, or emailto fred@bookproduction.comJim and Judy Wells, Bessemer,Ala. Can you tell us how to upgradethings in our motorhomewith some of the nicer appointmentsthat you put in the AllegroBus or the Zephyr? Can Tiffinsell the materials for do-it-yourselfupgrades? Cost and availablemerchandise?Editor: TMH will make repairson all motorhomes they havemanufactured. New features, likehard surface counters, for example,are only made to fit currentcabinet designs and floorplans.“Upgrades” are called “restorations”at the plant and TMHdoes not have a division to dothis. A few larger dealers, suchas LazyDays in Seffner, Fla.,have restoration departmentsthat can undertake modernizingolder units. For more information,call (800) 626-7800, BruceMoreno at ext. 4365.Ken and Brenda Robillard,Watertown, Wisc. Many Allegrounits are just too good to junk.We need information on repairparts and newer components thatare compatible with older unitsEditor: Call the TMH plant at(256) 356-8661 and press “one”for parts. You will get Ricky,Mark, or Lloyd who will be ableto help you.FOR FULL-TIMERSEditor: This section of “Fromthe Road” is for full-timers to exchangeand provide informationthat will be helpful to living fulltimein their Tiffin motorhomes.Errol Barber, Winnemucca,Nev. We would like to hear fromothers who live on the road fulltimeabout how to find jobs andearn money other than being acampground host. Thanks.Robert G. Brilinski, Alpena,Mich. Can other full-timerssupply names and addresses ofcampgrounds that offer freemonthly rent for work?Chuck and Teri Hruby, Bloomington,Ind. We would like to seearticles about living on the roadwritten by full-timers, or questionsfrom those who want to befull-timers.Editor: It’s a big decision. I hopeyou will get some good responsesfrom full-timers who will giveyou the pros and cons, and howto do it right.THE ROAD LESS TRAVELEDJane Hogg, New York, N.Y.Give us features on roads not toowell known. I’ve traveled manyof them.Al Bender, Sandy, Utah. Wetravel the “two lane roads,” 50–55 mph, whenever possible.Editor: Jane and Al evoked anostalgic tone that made methink of Robert Frost’s wellknownpoem, “A Road Not Taken.”Again, I hope our readerswill take up their pens and keyboardsand tell us about thoseroads that allow us to slow downand reflect.A Road Not TakenTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth;Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear;Though as for that the passing thereHad worn them really about the same.And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black.Oh, I kept the first for another day!Yet knowing how way leads on to way,I doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.– Robert Frost, 192034 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLY FROM THE ROAD 35

How It All BeganThere’s Only 1 Tow BrakeThat Makes You Safe & Legal:Continued from page 4units coming to the plant for service that arewell over 25 years old.The aluminum-framed walls were builton a 30-foot table using jigs. We finished theoutside of the wall with aluminum sidingand the inside with luan. We laminatedthe sandwich together with a polyurethanefoam that was sprayed into the cavity. As ithit the air, it heated, expanded, and bondedall the components together. It made a verygood wall. In fact, some who owned theseearlier coaches have asked, “Why did youstop building ’em that way.”Because the roof was made of aluminumand the coaches were just 90-inches wide,we built a flat roof from 1972 to 1990. Theywere easy to maintain.As I recall, Horace Stepp drew the floorplans. Grady Baggett built the cabinets andset the inside walls. Grady and Theronassembled the cabinets. Monroe Thorne cutthe steel members and worked in the weldingshop with Grady Pharr. Larry Joe Hill hungmetal and installed the windows. We set upthree production stations in the welding shopand eight stations on the assembly line.We didn’t have any logo decals or stripingto put on the early units, so we calledLee Gault, a sign painter in Russellville, topaint a big “A” on the sides of the coachesand then the word “Allegro” on the front.Johnny Hargett decided we should goto the Louisville show that December. Wetook the two units we had just finished andheaded north, arriving on Monday. We hadnot reserved space inside the building sowe set up outside in the parking lot. Thenext day we got 10 inches of snow. Aroundlunch time an RVIA official came out andshut us down. I asked him how we couldbecome a member and he graciously tookme inside and signed us up. We’ve been amember of RVIA ever since and have notmissed a Louisville show. We sold both ofthose motorhomes at the show.Johnny knew about 20 dealers andliterally drove all over the U.S. establishingmore dealerships. Before he left the company10 years later, he and our sales staffhad established a 100-dealer network. Byspring we were building one motorhome aday. At the end of the year, the company hadbuilt 243 motorhomes and barely scratched$2 million in sales.I continued to operate the cotton ginevery fall for several years, trying to be inboth places at different times during the day.One Ohio dealer who may not have knownwhat a cotton gin was became confusedwhen he would call the plant during the fallto speak to me, and the secretary would say,“He’s at the gin. Can he call you later?” Tohim, “gin” meant an alcoholic drink andhe thought I was hanging out at a localtavern. When he finally visited the plant,it so happened I was working at the cottongin that day. In whispered tones, he leanedover and asked the secretary, “Is Mr. Tiffinan alcoholic?” Then later that day he foundout what a cotton gin was.The conclusion to this story is: “If wehad experienced a good year at the cottongin in 1972, you might not be driving aTiffin motorhome today.”Keep on “Roughing It Smoothly.”The Unified Tow Brake by US GEARRemote ControlMounts inMotorhome CockpitTwo for the Road: Dorothy and CodeeContinued from page 20“Well, the cement barricades in constructionareas used to terrify me, but they don’tphase me anymore. I still don’t like to putoil in, but I have a checklist for beginning atrip and I follow it,” she said.Wade, Nathan, and D-Ray enough. They weregreat,” Dorothy said.And how about Codee? Actually, this isCodee II. She lies quietly by the driver’sseat as the twosome travels. If Dorothy isfriendly with others they meet, Codee isstages for this summer. Tom, 57, is chief ofpolice in Bowling Green, Ohio, and Rusty,50, is assistant chief of police in Itasca, Illinois.They both are motorcycle enthusiasts.They will join their mother to visitsome of the major western national parksOne item on that checklist is to secure calm and interested. “But don’t try to come including Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, andeverything in the motorhome that could get into my motorhome without knocking and Jackson Hole. Rusty and his wife, Lynn,“ Our Tow Brake is permanantly installedloose and distract her. “Last year on my way asking permission,” Dorothy warns. “When will ride on their Harley. Diana, Tom’s wife,and protects us all the time. Our buddy’sthrough the east Tennessee mountains, I heard I first arrive at a campground, Codee and I prefers to ride in the motorhome withsomething banging around and crashing. take a nice walk around the premises. While Dorothy, as they follow along behind thetow brake has to be reinstalled each time,I stopped the motorhome on the side of the we want to be friendly, Codee’s presence cyclists.but quite honestly, he usually leaves itroad and went back to investigate and found also says to strangers, ‘Don’t disturb this Dorothy turned the interview aroundmy coffee pot on the floor. Suddenly, I lady,’” she said with assurance.and asked me, “How long have you beendisconnected and stowed away. It’s alotrealized that the rig was moving. It went Raising and training pets has been a lifelongexperience for Dorothy’s daughters. “Thirty-seven years,” I responded. “Thelike seat belts, if you’re not using them,married, Fred?”down a steep embankment and through sometrees. I had put it in “Park” but I had failed Terry raises and shows Belgian Sheep dogs best is yet to come,” she counseled.you’re not safe or legal.”to set the emergency brake. It damaged the at her home in the north Georgia mountains. “If I had it to do over again, I’d do it allfront cap and gashed up the sides pretty bad. Patti trains dogs for clients. And Carol raises the same. I hope to keep full-timing in aBob & BobbieThe motorhome was driveable and I headed miniature horses in Rogersville, Tenn. Tiffin Motorhome until they throw me offstraight for Red Bay for repairs. I can’t thank A major family trip is in the planning the road,” she grinned.Available from your local RV dealerwww.usgear.com36 ROUGHING IT SMOOTHLY STORY TITLE 37