[Brian]

I went to the last FMCA rally in Perry. It was the first FMCA rally that I had attended. I took my 43′ Newmar, as I had not purchased a bus yet.

There were a LOT of motorhomes there. We parked in the generator section. I had read about the horror stories from previous rallies at the Perry fairgrounds when the area received a lot of rain, so I was concerned about getting stuck.

Well, it only rained a little, but my concerns were valid. The parking lot consisted of red clay covered in grass. As the grass disappeared due to traffic, the clay got slick, and then it rained a couple of times. I managed to get out by leaving early and getting a “running start.” I am pretty sure that a bus would have gotten stuck.

BTW, the area where we parked was generally higher ground than the surrounding parking areas. It looked like other atttendees were going to have a problem getting out.

I would not go back unless I could park on pavement, especially in a bus.

[Archived]

Ditto with me, last Perry adventure for me was same as Colt’s, mud and tow trucks.

In fact, I think I saw Colt’s Newmar, I remember the sign in the windshield about adult toys. I couldn’t see very well because of the crowd and almost got run over my a bunch of 3 wheel scooters due to the free doughnuts being offered.

[Daniel]

If you cannot be assured of hard surface parking you take a big risk betting the weather will be OK.

If the weather does work against you then you assume the risk that getting towed is not going to damage the coach. I for one would not be pleased to have to lay on my belly on wet, slippery, muddy surfaces to insure the tow driver hooked to a point that will not damage the coach.

Keep in mind the best spots for hooking to the coach are back some distance from the front bumper and depending on how deep you have sunk into the mud could end up being only a few inches to a foot off the ground. If the cable or chain connection is higher than that it means the chain or cable is going to be in direct contact with the fascia that is below the bumper and if the frame is not damaged with a bad hitch point, the fascia is going to get damaged.

There is nothing at an FMCA show worth the risk.

This of course ignores the mess and damage you experience tracking red mud and clay in and out of the coach. If you have pets that need to be walked the situation is even worse.

[Mike]

Hi Tom,

Karen and I went to Perry in 2014. If you want all the details and pictures call me.

Tom Hamrick

[glen]

Don’t really think you’d be happy at a large FMCA rally. Went to a Samboree at Daytona a couple of years ago…lasted 2hrs and headed out. Geo.