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Expert
 
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | There has been a significant number of FMC owners here in the Pacific Northwest that have been unable to attend previous West Coast rallies due to distance and/or the time needed to attend the rallies. Having discussed this with a number of owners, I have taken on the responsibility for organizing a rally here in Oregon. Initial discussions with a number of individuals has resulted in a significant number of positive responses so I am expecting good attendance. The date and location are now set so it is time to lock that information in your calendar and reserve your space at the rally. No more time or distance excuses!!
The particulars are:
Location: Casey's Riverside RV Park, 46443 Westfir Rd, Westfir, OR 97492 http://www.caseysrvpark.com Note: this is only two miles west of Oakridge, OR on Hwy 58 and is on the bank of the Middle fork of the Willamette river. This the same location where we had a mini rally a number of years ago and everyone that was there liked the location.
Dates: Friday, September 30 through Sunday, October 2, 2016
Phone number to make your reservation: 541-782-1906
Reservation particulars: I have placed a "hold" on 8 spaces for the rally. They are spaces 60,61,62,63,65,66,67, & 68. The "hold" is only good through August 17 (six weeks prior to the rally). Therefore, you only have a few weeks to call the park and complete your reservation for your space. They require a small deposit to continue to hold the space. The balance is then due upon arrival. NOTE: Deposits will not be refunded later than six weeks prior to the rally.
There are two types of spots on hold: On the River and Off the River.
On the river spaces are 60,61,62 & 63. The FMC group rate is $39.53 plus tax per night.
Off the river spaces are 65,66,67, & 68. The FMC group rate is $37.33 plus tax per night.
Space #61 is already reserved as I have taken it. That leaves 7 more for others. The two sets of four spaces are back to back so if you reserve one of the held spaces we will all be adjacent to each other. That makes it very good for group interaction so reserve your spot TODAY. Don't end up at the far end of the park. When you reserve your space, either post it here or email or text me with the number of your spot. Be sure to identify yourself as a member of the FMC Owners Club group!
I will be arriving on Thursday and leaving on Monday so early arrivals and late departures are encouraged.
There are activities available in the area such as a half day white water rafting trip where they pick you up at the RV park and bring you back to the park's boat launch near our coaches. We will probably also go back to the Mexican restaurant that we ate al last time as we all liked the place. I checked, it is still there!
But here is the unique opportunity: Oregon is the land of covered bridges. There is one nearby which is large enough to handle our FMC's so there will be the opportunity to get a picture of your coach coming out of or going into a covered bridge.
So don't delay, reserve your space today and let me know which space you have reserved. I will see you there.
Any questions, call, text or email me. 916-425-7996 , Stephen@Heinrichs.com
See you there,
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Elite Veteran
 
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | This sounds good Stephen. Nice facility on the river. Will do what I can to make this happen as I've been waiting to do a Rally for years now.
One question though: Why did you pic a place so far from your home? Hell, even with a D-Max pushing that thing she's still going to burn a gallon or so there and back!
Wonder if Sitton could make this one, too?
Terry
#846 |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Terry, this is probably as close to you as a rally will ever be unless you can organize one up in Victoria! Seriously, this will be a good rally to attend as the reserved spaces are filling up, but a couple are still available. You will be able to meet some people you have communicated with on this site in person. To make this happen, the first thing to do is call the RV Park and reserve your spot. There will be a couple of other people there that this will be their first rally as well.
I don't know about Bill, you can contact him, but I will be there and so will you if you reserve your spot. You do want to be with the group and not elsewhere in the park because all the reserved spaces were taken.
Looking forward to seeing you there and breaking the seal! |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | I'm in! Right behind you Stephen. Hope you don't mind my snoring.
Looking forward to it.
Terry
#846 |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | I'm in....I have spot 63 reserved for Friday and Saturday night.
Dan
#850 |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Not to worry, as I think I can out snore you! I have had more practice. At this point, it appears that there are only two of the reserved spaces available. Should others desire to come after those are taken, please do come as the RV park is not large so you will still be able to enjoy and participate in the rally. You will just have walk a little way to and from your coach.
See you there, |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | We now have seven registered attendee's. I called the park and was able to reserve another spot close to the original cluster of spaces so still room for more! For several of the attendees it is their first FMC rally so it will be a good group as we meet new people along with renewing old friendships. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | Who's all in for this so far?
Terry
#846 |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Registered attendees are Frank, Stephen, Ed, Dan, Terry, George, and Larry at the moment. I have had communications with another couple of people I expect to register later. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | Borrmann's coming?
Terry
#846 |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | No, a different Frank. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | Looking forward to meeting new people suffering the same affliction as I do. Wife's contemplating starting a support group for all of our wive's similar to Al-Anon...
Terry
#846 |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | Are their families going? Like kids, wives etc?? I didn't want to bring the little one and the girl due to us guys talking shop and looking at rigs and drinking beer. Not family fun, but my kind of fun! I was just curious |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | Sorry... no wive's, no kids and absolutely NO BEER! |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | NO!!!!! Not the NO trip!!! Like a Forest Service Campground sign??? We call them the "NO" signs..... |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Yes, there will be wives! That is what keeps us on good behavior. Not sure how many, but they are welcome and a great asset to our FMC community. This is NOT a "Man Club"! There have been kids at most rallies. If the weather is warm, they will open the pool as it is solar heated and needs sun to warm up. If you look at the pictures of prior rallies, all have wives and most have children. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | Okay, what about dogs? I got two of em' now. But don't worry, one's an old female and neither of em' drink. Booze I mean.
Terry
#846 |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Dogs are part of many families and are often at our rallies. Some cats have also attended rallies. |
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Veteran
Location: Olympia, Washington | One small dog, one old female and me (I hope she doesn't read this). |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | Wow, your dog reads?
Terry
#846 |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | BigRabbitMan - 2016-08-08 10:15 PM Registered attendees are Frank, Stephen, Ed, Dan, Terry, George, and Larry at the moment. I have had communications with another couple of people I expect to register later.
You can now add Harry to the list so we are up to 8 registered attendees and still have a couple more possibilities that will register later. |
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Contributor
| Sure wish Pam and I could attend the rally, Stephen. There's an outside chance we'll need to travel to Oregon in September to be with my father. If that happens, I'll try very hard to plan the trip around the rally dates. We won't be in Denny's Mighty 890, but will have my father's classy old Cadillac for wheels. Hoping you and Jane are well! - Grant |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | It would be good to have you visit regardless of the wheels, but hope the best for your Dad. |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | We are now up to 9 coaches registered as Larry has also committed to coming to the rally. So now we have mechanic, body and fender, carpenter, salesmen types plus a few other types coming so it should be a good rally with some good discussion about the various parts of the coaches.
See you there, |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | My spot/trip is up in the air still..... |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | dkarnath - 2016-09-15 4:10 PM My spot/trip is up in the air still.....
I have faith that you will persevere and you will make it. Also, there will be many eyes to ensure your young one is safe. |
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Contributor
Location: Cupertino, CA | not only am I coming but cat (Kevin _ its a girls name) and smaller dog (Baby). Wife not coming _ again. but we proved she exists at MO rally! see ya-all next week! |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | It's only going to be me and my father in law on this trip |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | The Oregon Rally is fast approaching. It looks like we are going to have a good time seeing old friends and meeting new ones. One person had to drop out due to coach and business issues, but we will still have 8 coaches with 4 of those attending their first rally.
This being Oregon, there is the possibility of rain but that is just a fact of life in the North West. If it does rain, we will just adjust accordingly as usually it is intermittent and not continuous in this area. Any late comers are welcome to attend as well.
See you there, |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | Got an awning so I'm not worried about rain too much. Like you say, there should be breaks regardless.
One thing: Are there firepits in each spot and if so, when does their 'No-Fires' season end? On Google Earth I couldn't really discern if there were firepits or not.
Usually pack a bunch of firewood with me; you never know when you might have roast a sudden weeny.
To me, camping without a fire is like - dancing without music.
Looking forward to this.
May all our coaches run well and get us there safe!
Terry
#846 |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | The individual sites do not have fire pits. There is a large central fire pit a little south of where we will be parked. Burning has been very strictly controlled this year due to the dry conditions and multiple forest fires. We have gotten a single, decent rain but the general No Burn limit has not been lifted as of yet. I am going to call the park next week and see if we can have a fire in our area in my portable FMC Firebox. I have about 6-8 cords of wood at my house so if a fire is allowed, I will bring wood. There are a lot of restrictions state side about bring wood from one place to another due to insect transfer. Don't know what you might run into on your route. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | I hate dancing without music Terry!! lol
We "should" be able to have fires at the RV park I would think, can't wait to here Stephen. Our weather is going to be in the 60-70 range, and cool at night. If it does rain, it "should" be really light....I have no awning, so we will be camping under someone else's! Of coarse, where I live, we just had our first rain shower (that barely got any roads wet) last week. We haven't seen rain here in months.....We ARE going to be 40 miles east of Eugene...So....rain is highly possible now I think of it...Damn. Don't bring the rain Terry!!
Dan
#850 |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | I grew up in North Vancouver - foot of the mountains - and learned to love the rain; no other choice, so no issues with rain.
No campfire in my camp? Now that's a different banana all together.
Not a deal-breaker though, as I'm sure I can suffer without for a couple of nights; no pouting, cussing or swearing, or complaining constantly, drinking excessively, cranking my Alpine PDX amp to 3/4 throttle in the middle of the night (Satriani, of course) then banging on the camp-ground managers doors proclaiming, "I want my campfire... I want my campfire!" then finally retreating to bed, but only after beating on my coach repeatedly with a big-stick.
No, not THAT big of an issue with me.
Should #846 decide to deliver us, we'll be there.
Terry
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Contributor
Location: Cupertino, CA | Steph, definitely bringing 386 - Grape. Washed her yesterday, today is clean the inside windows and surfaces, check appliance operation (although everything was working last trip...).
Baby says, "I'm packed!" She is bringing 5 balls! Kevin isn't sure what to bring besides food, but he has plenty of that on board!
Coach has an awning, plus I could throw in the 10X12' pop-up...? Keep in mind CAnians only use them for sunshade...rain? Whazzat? |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | I grew up in WA State, I know all about the rain too.....We would get your coastal jet stream flowing south Terry....You get a lot of rain. "I walk through rain with head held high, Southern Oregonian/Californian man woman duck and take cover while running".. That was my Indian motto for the day... |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Larry, I have a pop up canopy in my coach. Feel free to bring yours also if you so desire. Also the coach has an awning. Those who want to stand in the rain to see what rain is can do so. Others will have a place to keep the food and chairs dry! Those who need more wetness can always go stand in the adjacent river!
"Larry said: Kevin isn't sure what to bring besides food, but he has plenty of that on board! " I thought Kevin is a girls name!!! Gotcha!!
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | I checked with the park and no wood fires are allowed at the individual sites - only at the central fire pit beside the pavilion. Over time they have had too many complaints of smoke drifting from a neighbors fire so had to eliminate fires at the sites. This is happening more often at RV parks so I am not surprised. RV parks and the woods are different places. Yes, I like the woods also! I think I will pack some wood so that we can have at least one fire at the pavilion if we so decide at the time. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Victoria, BC. Canada | Wow. Don't remember the last time I camped without a fire...
Terry
#846 |
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Veteran
Location: Olympia, Washington | Had to make do with an old sputtery, flaring lantern once it was a poor substitute. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | Yes George, even a candle or something helps with the "no fire tonight" rule....It's obviously not the same, but you still have something shiny to look at....Someone should steal one of their wives' "unscented" candles for us!! Terry? lol |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | The first road trip for #850 in 20+ years was a success!! It was so neat to meet other FMC owners! I wish I was still in Oakridge hanging out with everyone who is still there right now. Mechanically 850 did great, the 440 ran like a sewing machine for 400+ miles. Shifted great too. I started off with 65 psi in the rear tires and 60 in the front (Tornel 8-plys). I felt cars and trucks pushing me as they passed, and I really had to work the steering wheel more than I like. So Saturday morning I checked air pressures, and I only had 50 psi in the steers!!! Opps..The rears were still 65. When I replaced the steer tire tubes it was a 95 degree day, I put sixty in them then. I think the heat effected my pressures?? Idk. In Oakridge it was a chilly damp morning and I had a more accurate cold tire reading. I put 70 in the rears and 65 in the steers and it drove beautifully all the way back home. The only steering issues we had was behind 18 wheelers' tail wind, and some strong side winds at times. I also tightened the right front wheel bearing an 1/8 turn on the nut. The wheel/hub had a bit more play then I liked. I had a few water leaks with the fresh water system, I just had to tighten some hose clamps under the kitchen sink. I need to remove the toilet again and put some hose clamps on a couple of he rubber lines. I had two windows leak a little too. We had some pretty good rain Friday and Saturday nights. The original 12v fridge worked great. 850 would cruise 60 mph at about 3100-3200 rpm's. I backed it in the driveway up on my ramps and in the next day or so I plan on getting underneath and doing a good inspection on everything. I'm looking forward to meeting up with everyone again around the campfire!! Terry we missed you. |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | I agree with what Dan had to say about the rally. All who were there had a great time and the intermittent rain did not dampen spirts nor interfere with activities. I have added some more pictures to the photo album started by Dan. It can be seen in the Album section of this site at this link:
http://www.fmcowners.com/mbbs22/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=147&p...
I also took a few videos that are hosted on a different website. Here are the links to the videos and it is best if viewed in order.
https://vimeo.com/185715690
https://vimeo.com/185715691
https://vimeo.com/185719559
https://vimeo.com/185720663
See you at the next rally, |
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Veteran
Location: Olympia, Washington | 10-4 good buddy I copy that 18 wheeler tail wind. 506 did not like the turbulence behind a semi wanted at least 1/4 mile following distance. And passing? When they overtake you first you're pushed away then once they are past you get sucked back the other way. That was the longest trip yet at just under 1,000 miles. The coach never missed a beat as long as I put GAS in it. 2 minor incidents, all in all a good successful trip. I don't know if I will ever be a long distance driver in the coach as the fuel costs alone keeps me on a really short leash! |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Medford, OR | What kind of mileage did you get George? I haven't filled the tank in #850 yet to figure mine.... |
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Contributor
Location: Cupertino, CA | I know you didn't ask me, but the Grape (#386) got 6.3 MPG on the trip to and from the Oregon Rally. Cupertino to Westfir and back (plus a little miscellaneous miles while lost in Cottage Grove) for a total of 1327 miles on the odo.
Edited by larryenok 2016-10-31 5:41 PM
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | 6.3mpg is pretty much what you'd expect given the engine size and weight of the FMC (plus the elevation changes on that drive), you'd be hard pressed to squeeze much more out of it. There's probably some flat-landers that would report more but out here you're either going up and worrying about engine heat or going down and worrying about brake heat.. |
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Extreme Veteran
Location: Ignacio Colorado | I would say 7.5 mpg is the norm for the 440/FMC when you are trying to get the best economy. A good running 440 bottoms out around the 6 mpg range. In the hills you can do better as it is 6 mpg on the uphill but much better on the way down. I have seen 8.5 mpg on a run up and down, over and over starting in Colorado working north into Utah towards Salt lake. I have also seen 4.5 mpg as a low with almost no compression and a turbo that was coming apart. Same engine.
Bill |
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Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Having once owned The Grape (386), I am aware of its engine. The engine in it is a MCR (Les Hoagland) rebuild that produces more power than most 440's. It will pull some grades in high gear that other coachs have to shift down for. I don't know which level of build it was. It appears that the power is coming at the cost of fuel mileage. |
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Elite Veteran
Location: Oceanside, CA | I have to remind myself that not everyone has a toad/trailered vehicle, my thoughts on the 6.3mpg were based on having a tow load as that's what I do 90% of the time.. |
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Contributor
Location: Cupertino, CA | I also was driving Grape (#386) at 3400 RPM most of the trip. Grape runs the beefed up engine, Holly carb and 17" stock wheels. She can climb the donnor summit at 50 or better in 3rd, Mt Ashland at 50 or better in 3rd. 128,000 chassis miles, unknown on the engine. Speeds are GPS.
Pebble (#968) made the trip to Missouri twice. The first at 60 MPH average and 8.24 MPG average for the whole trip. The second trip I pushed it harder because the engine was broken in and drove between 65 and 75 (3200 and 3600 RPM) with speeds timed by GPS. On my his trip my overall average dropped to 7.75MPG. It has a stock engine/carb setup with 19.5 tires. It accelerates slower and is slower than Grape at 45 over the Summit and Mt Ashland. Both are loaded nearly identical with supplies/tools/bedding, etc. so they can be taken out on a moment's notice. 105,000 chassis miles with 20,000 on the new crate engine.
Hope that helps evaluate their performance and mileage a little better.
Edited by larryenok 2016-11-01 9:28 PM
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Veteran
Location: Olympia, Washington | I don't know what the mileage is I'm just not that curious. Besides I really don't like to drive 'economically' there is a reason it has a gas pedal, use it. |
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Oregon Rally, Sep 30 - Oct 2, 2016