FMCA - Pros Cons

[windtrader]

Who are active members of FMCA? Why are others passing on it?

[freds]

I had a complaint in their forum about a vendor who was mounting me from astern about a bait and switch web order and they immediately nuked it because they were an advertiser!!!!

[luvrbus]

I told you why I belong to FMCA,I don't go to the FMCA rallies.to me they are overpriced and what they charge electrical hook up you could buy a cheap generator. A lot of bus owners do go to the FMCA rallies though.FMCA is where I first signed up with Coach-Net when it was $65.00 a year.You have other options like Good Sam's which I never joined because it is same owners as Camping World

[Bill Gerrie]

I have been a member since 1985 and go to the Great Lakes Area rallies mainly for the comodery of people I have known for years. I know it is a bit pricey especially for a Canadian (40% premium on money) but the meeting old friends is worth it. I used to have Coach Net till I got kicked.out due to coach age. They since changed it but I use Good Sam's towing service for many.years. Another reason I belong is the FMCAssist program. We cruise as well so it works for us. I know it works as I know a person that used it from Germany to Canada at no cost to him.

[luvrbus]

For the dollar you cannot beat the medical assist from FMCA ,50 bucks is 3 good hamburgers now   

[buswarrior]

I was under the impression that FMCA insurance covers chapter gatherings?

That's huge, if it still works that way, no insurance, even fewer rallys.

Otherwise, same here, belonging gets the medical/recovery.

The magazine content is an endless source of frustration.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[luvrbus]

I was under the impression that FMCA insurance covers chapter gatherings?

That's huge, if it still works that way, no insurance, even fewer rallys.

Otherwise, same here, belonging gets the medical/recovery.

The magazine content is an endless source of frustration.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

FMCA Insurance only covers the officers of a chapter at a rally,when we did a rally in Breaux Bridge  for the crawfish festival, I had to use my home owners policy for the camp ground only cost me a 100 bucks for week. In the years I have belonged to FMCA I have only found 1 FMCA campground and that was at the home office in Ohio, FMCA is totally different now with travel trailers allowed but they had to do that or fade away into the sunset.The tire program is ok you can buy Michelins  or cheaper grade tires ,every now then you can read good articles in the magazine .I am sorta like Walter you pay $50.00 a year to belong to a club that cost you $10.00 a year lol I always thought that was backwards.

[rusty]

I have been a member for 20 years. I joined because I had to to be a member of Eagles Intenational. At the time I thought it was highway robbery. It turned out to be a good thing for us. The people we met and the friends we made are worth way more than the dues we paid. We have been to alot of FMCA and non FMCA   rallies and have seen a alot of this great country. FMCA use to lobby for the rv industry not so much anymore.  The international rallies  were a place to go and be able to see many vendors and stock up on things needed for the bus. There were to or three vendors selling the same thing so you could find things at a good price. Not so much anymore.  At these rallies there were good seminars that you could learn good information.  I have been  national director for a while and have seen them do some dumb things and some good things. FMCA is a little slow in keeping up with the times.
FMCA rallies are covered with insurance.I have never heard of it being  tested. All in all the money I spent on dues for FMCA and Eagles International I can truly say it was money well spent.  I have always said the bus changed my life for the good and Eagles International was a big part of it
Wayne

[Boomer]

I dropped out of FMCA years ago, did not see the benefit.  The magazine used to be a pretty good publication but now is cheapened up with travel trailer articles and granny recipes.  I really liked Eagles International when I had my Eagle, and my Eagle friends.  Then when I dropped FMCA they mandated I belong to it so I dropped Eagles Int. and all other bus club memberships. Because of the china virus NW Bus Nuts has not had a rally for at least 3 years, and the club has just about aged out and does not seem interested in attracting a younger membership so I guess that's out too.  Overall, it looks like the bus conversion hobby is fading out to me.  The younger set seems to be enthralled with converting cheap school buses.

[luvrbus]

FMCA has changed over the past years ,the best thing was when they changed from a for profit corporation to nonprofit corporation that may be backwards,now they cannot just set on the money that only benefited a few in office.There was always a joke if you drove cheap class A Fleetwood run for president and win you could upgrade to a Newell in 2 years.Charlie was a good president he brought back a lot of benefits other before him had done away with, lol and he never got a Newell,I don't keep up the FMCA much all I know if they drop the Medical Assist again like before I won't be member   

[windtrader]

The cost to join is not a big hurdle but was grinds me is you join FMCA just so you can get to FMCA rallies that apparently are not cheap. No doubt back in the 90's when bus conversions were a thing and before the internet where so much info is available with a few keystrokes, it was a great resource for sharing ideas and experiences.
FMCA seems like an organization that is fading along with the bus conversion hobby. Maybe it would be worthwhile to put some feelers out on the bus boards and FB groups to convene an informal meetup in CA at a location with hookups or on BLM in Nevada for boondocking crowd. More would be inclinded in a campground but there is more considerations and costs. Throwing out a GPS location on BLM is hardly any effort or involved.
https://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca-carrizo-plain.htmlhttps://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/carrizo-plain-national-monument
https://www.bayarea.com/things-to-do/guide-carrizo-plain-national-monuments-wildflower-bloom/
It is located under BLM, probably places to camp not far. April is prime season.

[luvrbus]

You don't need to belong to FMCA to attend any FMCA chapter rally only for the FMCA International Rallies,the Calvary Stampede is the most expensive FMCA rally @1295.00 this year lol that is almost as much a Prevost Rally. The trend now are smaller groups gathering at cars,bikes ,music shows and riding a ATV in the desert, which I don't find enjoyment in riding a ATV and eating dust for hours.We have fun around here with 3,4 or 5 buses campfires.beer and friendship and Gary Hatt teaching you dog bad habits.To me a structured rally with timetables for a knitting glass  and so on are not fun   

[CrabbyMilton]

One would think logically that you are better off keeping the money in your pocket and buy insurance separately. Years back people would join clubs and organzations just to get a magazine subscription. Now you can access information on the internet for nothing. Just like people who join AARP. You pay dues to save a few pennies on whatever. Then they take that money to send you more brochures.

[luvrbus]

One would think logically that you are better off keeping the money in your pocket and buy insurance separately. Years back people would join clubs and organzations just to get a magazine subscription. Now you can access information on the internet for nothing. Just like people who join AARP. You pay dues to save a few pennies on whatever. Then they take that money to send you more brochures.

You cannot buy Medical Flight insurance for $50.00 a year,you can save tons of money buying Michelin tires through FMCA.I cannot tell if the FMCA is decline or not they were down to just over 20,000 now they say 100,000 but the past president said it was in decline and was worried about the Medical Assist costing $800,000.00 a year,
The numbers are hard to keep up with people buying a new RV most dealers include 1 free year of FMCA and I don't believe many renew after the year is gone. FMCA is rated higher than Good Sams though,FMCA is not bad about sending all the junk mail like Good Sams,With GS's and AARP you need a king size mail box   

[Dave5Cs]

We have tried most of them over the years. We got FMCA in the old days because you had to have it to get Coach.net. The one we like is Passport America. It saves a lot if you are staying at rv parks.