"What started as a phone call with a club president turned into one of our best RV decisions"

When we bought our second RV, life got a bit more complicated than it was with our first rig. The new one was 42’ with four slides, a little bit of electronic controls, and an Aqua-Hot. And it was a "pusher". I knew I needed help learning about this new beast.

Then I found out about the Ramblin’ Pushers and their Maintenance Session.

The Maintenance Session flyer had a phone number for the President of the club, so I called. We spoke for at least thirty minutes while he described what the MS covers and answered my questions. I decided to attend my first Maintenance Session in 2019, and have been back four more times. MS26 will be my sixth.

After I sent in my registration I received a nice response with some verification info, and was informed I’d be hearing from my First Timer Guide soon. Dale was similar to a big rally mentor, but he started well before arrival. A few emails and phone calls where he gave me more detailed info on what would happen, and answered more questions. When we arrived at the Elkhart Fairgrounds, he was there to greet us. We didn’t get our coach weighed 4-corner at arrival, but the service was available for a $20 donation. Then we got a tour of where everything was, and checked in at Registration.

The first day started with ‘Morning Hospitality’ and it was way more than coffee and donuts. A full breakfast, every morning for all six days. This was a time to meet other attendees and get the lowdown for the day – announcements, schedule changes, etc. Then it was off to the seminars.

There were over 100 technical seminars covering electrical systems, propane systems including heat and water heaters, slide maintenance, batteries, roofing systems, and automotive systems also. Fun things like crafts were also included. I didn’t attend an electrical seminar by Mike Sokol, because I didn’t know who he was at the time. If you get a chance to attend one of his seminars, don’t miss it. He’s a dynamic presenter and knows his stuff. Five days of seminars gave us a good opportunity to learn things about our rig that we didn’t even know that we should know.



Classes aren’t the only thing happening.

There are service providers. Need your Aqua-Hot or Oasis serviced? Engine oil and filters changed, along with a chassis lube? Little things, like an awning not working quite right? Generator service? Do you need new tires? How about having your waste tanks cleaned?

Cummins of South Bend was even there to do chassis service, and I have a Cat engine. They had to cross reference my filters to Cummins, but that was done before arrival so they’d have the correct filters for everyone. Since then, I take my own set of filters. I’m partial to yellow.



It wasn’t all work, though. There were two social events with food in the evening to meet the vendors and service providers. On Saturday there is an off-site dinner at an Amish farm, where I understand the food is both good and plentiful. The MS is held in Goshen, Indiana, near lots of RV manufacturing as well as component manufacturing.

If you’ve got a part you can’t find, there are several RV surplus dealers in the area. The RV Hall of Fame museum is nearby. One thing the Maintenance Session doesn’t have is big nightly entertainment. No bands, no karaoke.

The last day was a chance to get out of the park and find those surplus yards, visit the RV museum, go shopping at the Shipshewana flea market, or something else that interests you. The final dinner was a sit down affair with the largest chicken breast I ever hope to see.

Departure day had another opportunity to get the rig weighed. There was a line, so my advice is get weighed on arrival. It only takes about 15 minutes, and the line will be short. When that was done, it was off on another adventure.

The Maintenance Session has changed a bit since 2019. Some of the seminars are remotely presented via Zoom, allowing us to have a broader range of seminars. All the hands-on stuff is still there, but we’ve opened it up to all motorized RVs. Diesel pushers are still the biggest group, but we have Class A gas rigs, Super Cs, Bs and Cs registered for MS26.

I called a stranger's phone number on a flyer and it changed how I care for my rig forever. That's what the Ramblin' Pushers Maintenance Session does — it connects you with people who genuinely want to help you understand the home you're living in.

Whether you're brand new to a pusher or you've been driving one for years, there is something at this event that will change the way you look at your coach. Six days. Over 100 seminars. Real service providers. Real community. And a chicken breast at the final dinner that deserves its own blog post.

MS26 runs April 30 through May 7 at the Elkhart County 4H Fairgrounds in Indiana & every single site is full hookup with 30 or 50 amp electric. No roughing it here. Just learning, good people, and everything your rig needs under one roof.

If you'd like to attend or just want to know more before you commit, head over to

👉 ramblinpushers.org — all the details are waiting for you there.

Oh, and one more thing, don't forget to pack a raincoat. It's springtime in northern Indiana, and the weather has opinions.

Hope to see ya there.

Bob Harper

The Ramblin' Pushers are a chapter of the Family RV Association — formerly known as FMCA — and membership is open to just about anyone.

 If you own any Class A, B, or C motorhome, you qualify. Former members who no longer own a qualifying coach are welcome too. And if you're not yet an RV owner but you're actively looking to buy, an RV Finders membership gives you access to nearly all the same benefits while you shop. Membership is refreshingly affordable at just $20 in annual dues, billed each fall.

Bob Harper has been a proud part of the Ramblin' Pushers community, and it's easy to see why. This is a chapter built around education, connection, and genuine support for motorhome owners at every stage of the journey.