Horizon Herald - March/April '99

New Horizons Owners Newsletter

Volume 1 Number 1 - March/April 1999

Bringing together New Horizons™ owners for sharing and fellowship

Published bi-monthly

Editors: Don and Helen McAnally
PMB 11431
214 Rainbow Drive Livingston, Texas 77399-2014

Notes from the Editors

Welcome—-to the first issue of the Horizon Herald, dedicated to bringing together New Horizons owners for sharing and fellowship.

We have received over 40 responses to the letter sent by Horizons about forming an association. Thanks for all your letters and e-mail.

Don and Helen McAnally are the editors of this infant. Perhaps this start will lead to the formation of a strong, active Association with a yearly rally, at least.

We want to get the ball rolling and hope that those with real organizational skills will take over the actual putting together of an association we can all enjoy.

We will continue to do the newsletter as long as we are able, or until the association makes other arrangements.

Who are the McAnallys? Both in our 70’s. Picked up our 32’ New Horizons 5th wheel in May, 1998. Became fulltimers in June after our 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Denver.

Don spent 35 plus years in oil exploration (geophysics), with the last 15 years as a self employed geophysical consultant. He went back to school, Denver Seminary, at age 62, and got an MA in Counseling in 1990; then spent 9 years in private practice in Denver. Also, started writing and first article published 9/98.

Helen has a BA in Journalism, but spent many years as a stay-at-home mom. Her interests are music, reading, knitting, keeping in touch with family, and traveling.

We lived overseas for 10 years: Brazil, Libya, S. Africa, England, and Ecuador. We have two daughters, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Our scribbling will not always take so much space, but we did want you to know who we are.

Newsletter Content - Ideas

We expect this publication to expand to four pages, minimum. But we need writers, contributors, idea generators. Some of the topics for departments and columns might include:

Webbies: About two-thirds of the respondees sent e-mails, so opportunities abound for interaction

RVing 101: How to get started. Being careful hitching up and moving out. Packing to avoid breakage. How do things really work? Where do we get help? The list goes on and on.

Other Possibilities: Tech Tips / Communication on Road / Favorite Spots / Best Parks / Solitude, Solitude / Inside the RV / Boondocking

Nominate your favorites. Write or send e-mail. Note our new
e-mail address for this project: horizonltr@aol.com

Your Turn

Several of you sent notes and made comments. Samples follow:

Looking forward to hitching up and getting this club traveling

Would like to know where other owners are traveling so we can hook-up

We got a New Horizon in September and we are very happy with it

We’re interested in where all these New Horizons are, since we have seen very few—but wouldn’t have any other kind

Would like to find out about places to go that are not bumper to bumper and shoulder to shoulder

(This one in answer to my comment about solar, Ed.) I, too, have read that Link 1000 manual a bunch of times. Guess we need to go boondocking and find out how it works

Some info from Horizons: tips and tricks; new options; items of interest

We’re happy with our RV. Few problems in 25k miles in 1 1/2 years

We’d like to see a forum that shares the ownership experience of NH rigs

I’d like to see a rally or get together of NH owners

A master list of owners and a short description would be helpful

If the association were to hold a rally at Quartzite, I’d probably attend

Miscellaneous Tips

Slideout Chatter

As we started bringing in the living room slide, it started bucking and chattering, making a raucous racket, but finally came in OK. I called Ken Ullmer, naturally. He said cleaning the bottom of the slide would help. I cleaned and polished—-fun job! And it worked, the slide slid in smoothly. While you’re down under, check the rubber seal along the length of the slide. Mine had some under-coating gunk on it and peeling it off was quite a chore.

Hitching

I painted a two inch stripe on my 5th wheel hitch and another on the king pin box. For me, it makes a better target and I don’t have so many pull-ups and retries. All you need is masking tape and a can of auto spray paint. Yellow was my choice. Being somewhat paranoid about hitching, I painted the latch while in the closed position. If I look in and see yellow, I know it’s latched.

Potpourri

Towing in the Mountains

We bought our tow vehicle (1997 F250, 3/4 ton, heavy duty, power stroke diesel) in Colorado.

I asked the Ford dealer about an exhaust brake for mountain towing, but no definitive answer. I read and read and talked to a lot of people. Just before heading for the mountains, I had a Pac Brake™ installed. That was one of my very best decisions!

The first test was Monarch Pass, 11,300’, in Colorado on U.S. 50. On the descent to the west, I switched on the Pac Brake and hardly needed the brakes. Diesels need an exhaust brake for mountain towing. There’s less wear on your brakes, better control and a great feeling of security.

A recommended resource: Mountain Directory for Truckers, RV, and Motorhome Drivers. It offers detailed descriptions of mountain passes in 11 Western States. There’s also an Eastern States edition.

Water Pump Woes

We just had to replace our water pump...can’t believe it went bad after only five months. If this happens to you, don’t call the CA center. They will only send a replacement and it takes time. We needed one immediately, so bought it locally and installed it ourselves. Then we called the Indiana repair center and they mailed us a check. (Sandy Hunter)

Help Wanted

Several of you said you wanted to get involved in starting an Association. We can help you get in touch, but need an OK to release your address.

Too much McAnally’s stuff, we know. Need writers. That’s all for now. Travel safely.

Favorite Spot: The Silver Thread

Stepping out of our RV, I saw a motor home crawling up Slumgullion pass towards the 11,300’ summit. Billowy white clouds drifted lazily over the Continental Divide; one was back-lit, with edges of luminous, glowing silver ribbons. And evergreens cast long jagged shadows on the steep slopes.

Such was the view from Highlander RV Campground in Lake City, Colorado. Lake City is the northern terminus of The Silver Thread, a National Scenic Byway winding through the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado. The drive from Lake City to Creede is one of our favorites. A note of caution for some; both of these towns are above 8500 ft. This area is mostly undiscovered, but RV parks are usually full in the summer, reservations recommended.

Lake City Has It!

Lake San Cristobal, second largest natural lake in Colorado. Preserved ghost towns. Five mountain peaks over 14,000’. Large wilderness areas.
Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway, a 4-wheel circle drive to Silverton and Ouray. Very narrow roads over the passes. Rent jeep: $80+

Creede Offers

Historic 17 mile loop of Creede’s mining district. Underground Mining Museum, mine re-creation—worth seeing. Creede Repertory Theater, nationally acclaimed. Wheeler Geologic Area, unique rock formations Eat at Hotel Creede. A must!

For Information:
Lake City Visitor Information Office
P.O. Box 430: Lake City, CO 81235
(970) 944-2527; (800) 569-1874
www.hinsdale-county.com

Creede-Mineral County Chamber
P.O. Box 580; Creede, CO 81130
(719) 658-2374: (800) 327-2102
www.creede.com

Wise Saying

Experience is something you get too late to do anything about the mistakes you made while getting it.
Anonymous