4CU News
4CU July Update
Hi Four Corners Unit Members!
As we settle in for the dog days of summer we’ve got a wee update from your favorite camping club for you.
We’ve got our membership update, a rally report from Cathy Verhines for the Angel Fire rally, the upcoming rallies report, a quick note about the International Rally that’s coming up fast, and a tale of two too-noisy pumps!
I’m sure there’s something in here for everyone, so let’s get on with the show!
Membership Update
We welcome two new affiliate members to the Four Corners Unit. We are look forward to having you join us at an upcoming 4CU Rally!
New Affiliate Members:
- Kari and Sam Skaggs – Sedona AZ BRN 22211
Rally Round-Up
Balloons Over Angel Fire
By Cathy Verhines:
12-16 Jun 2025, hosted by Cathy and Scott Verhines, Debbie Vesco and Joni Lindsay
The beautiful Moreno valley of northern New Mexico was the setting for the Balloons Over Angel Fire Airstream Rally.
The Angel Fire RV Resort was our home base with full hook-up sites on concrete pads and loads of amenities and activities to enjoy. Several campers attended pickleball lessons offered by the RV Resort, and pickleball games were enjoyed during perfect sunny weather. The Resort’s Waffle Wake Up was popular as waffles were delivered to our rigs by the campground staff in the mornings. In the evenings, a herd of elk caught our attention as they strolled down from the mountain to a large field adjacent to the campground.
The rally kicked off with a Meet and Greet in the spacious clubhouse where campers had the chance to meet everyone as well as sampling delicious appetizers.
The weather was perfect for colourful hot air balloons to launch Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. We had the opportunity to watch the action from our campground at Angel Fire RV Resort or by getting up close and personal by driving or biking over to the launch area.
On Saturday, many of our Four Corners Unit Airstream Club members were found strolling through the Arts and Crafts Market on Main Street in Angel Fire. The first Farmer’s Market of the season was visited on Sunday morning.
Sunday was Father’s Day, which we celebrated with a potluck in the clubhouse. The hosts provided barbecued brisket accompanied by an amazing spread of appetizers, side dishes, salads, and desserts provided by our campers. There was no chance anyone would go hungry!
Too soon Monday rolled around with many departures following a super get together in Angel Fire.
[Editor’s Note: A huge thank you to Cathy and Scott Verhines and Debbie Vesco and Joni Lindsay for hosting this rally]
International Rally
With the International Rally coming up soon, some of our members are about to hit the road for the extended trip. We’d love know which of our Four Corners Unit members (full or affiliate) are headed to York for the Rally! Please let Four Corners Unit president Barbara Engelmann know!
Our Region 11 folks are organising a Region 11 Potluck Happy Hour. Please bring your own snack to share and beverage of choice. This will be an easy way to gather and get to know one another.
The targeted date and time is Tuesday, 26 August at 5:00 PM, before the scheduled 7:30 PM Casino Party. The location is TBD, but will be at a Region 11 member’s campsite.
Swag!!!
I sure hope y’all have had a chance to browse through all the great 4CU branded swag now available from our select partners: Bonfire, Lands’ End and You Customize It. If you haven’t, go check it out and get yourself outfitted before you hit the road again!
A Tale of Two Too-Noisy Pumps
Two families. Two Trailers. Two noisy pumps. Two solutions.
How’s that for an opening?
We (your editor, representing the Houldens) have suffered a rattling, banging, wake-you-up-in-the-night pump for years in our 2014 27FB Eddie Bauer. We did the things: swapped out the pump (it’s the ‘quiet’ four-piston style); installed flex pipe on the pump outlet; padded as much pipe with pool noodle as could be reached. Still banging and rattling.
The Stevenson’s 2023 28RB Flying Cloud has annoyed them with the pump cycling on and off with low faucet flows. A particular annoyance is with the on-demand hot water, as anyone with these new systems can attest.
I finally tracked down the last of the offending pipe rattle to the water pipes under the bathroom vanity. Alas, getting at them would require removing the vanity. This is not a project to be undertaken whilst on the road.
Bruce ordered up the very clever (of course it’s Canadian designed made and tariff exempt) Intelligent RV Water Pump Controller (IRVWPC). I won’t go into all the details on how it works, but it essentially eliminates pump cycling by controlling the pump’s operating voltage to speed up or slow down the pump depending on water flow rate. (Well, technically it responds to water pressure.) The literature also claims to reduce pump noise, but the primary function is elimination of cycling. (It has bonus settings to monitor and shut off the pump if the tank runs dry, a faucet is left open, a pipe bursts, etc.)
I was skeptical that the IRVWPC would resolve my pipe rattle but thought a small accumulator should smooth the pressure spikes and an experimental install could be conducted with very minimal capital investment.
Here’s the accumulator I installed via a short piece of flexible braided hose directly to the pump outlet:
Fast forward.
With the accumulator installed and pressure adjusted, all the pipe rattle disappeared and the pump noise faded into the background, and a conversation could be had between two soft spoken adults in the bathroom. (Because that’s a feasible test in an Airstream bathroom, right?!) Success!
Bruce installed his solution, the IRVWPC, with almost unbelievable success! In fact, I have for you, dear reader, included before and after audio recordings from the Stevenson’s trailer.
Before IRVWPC Installation
After IRVWPC Installation
For the skeptical, both recordings were conducted using the default Voice Memo app on the iPhone with the phone placed in the cabinet with the pump. Listen for yourself and be your own judge. The “after” pump noise is so quiet you can even hear the tap running in the bathroom.
For further comparison, the Houlden’s pump went from “rewind the show, I couldn’t hear what they said” noisy to about the noise level of the Stevenson’s “before” recording. That the IRVWPC not only eliminated pump cycling, but reduced overall noise so dramatically is pretty remarkable!
To be sure, the more expensive and effective solution of the IRVWPC would have eliminated our pipe rattle AND reduced noise even further, but both are great solutions to noisy pumps. Choose either. Both are mechanical-aptitude-limited-friendly installations. Be happy.
Incidentally, Airstream started installing the IRVWP controllers in new Airstreams in 2024 models.
Looking ahead to future rallies
Region 11 Rally, Granby Colorado
23-27 July 2025
Information via ACI Website
International Rally, York Pennsylvania
23-28 August 2025
Jemez Falls, NM 24-27 August – Sunday – Wednesday – Postponed to 2026
Hosts: Cathy Wilson and Marcia Ludden
We’ve had to postpone this rally to 2026 as the campground remains closed for construction.
Moab Downtown, Moab, UT
22-26 September – Monday – Friday
Registration closed.
Dark Sky RV Park, Kanab, UT
8-12 October – Wednesday – Sunday
One site remains!!! Get it before it’s gone and you miss out on an unforgettable experience!
More information here…
Register here…
Caballo Lake SP, Caballo, NM
23-26 October – Thursday – Sunday
Hosts: Steve and Sophia Rodgers; Co-host: Chuck and Andrea Hanson
We have reserved the group area for this rally. We were at Caballo Lake SP in October 2023. This year the Caballo Lake Rally will be a joint Airstream Club rally with the Arizona and New Mexico clubs.
Additional information regarding registration to follow with registration planned for mid August.
Artesia Air Urban Rally. Artesia, New Mexico
6-9 November 2025
This will be the first urban rally for the 4CU!
We’ve been working closely with the Artesia Chamber of Commerce to put together an Airstream Rally in conjunction with their annual Balloons, BBQ, Brews and Bands event, showcasing hot air balloons on Saturday and Sunday morning, food trucks, and local bands.
Look for registration information in August!
Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ
12-16 November – Wednesday – Sunday
Hosts: Leon and Janet Hauck
All three Group Sites have been secured for this annual rally that so many members look forward to.
Additional information regarding registration to follow with registration planned for September.
Picacho Peak SP, Pinal County, AZ
30 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 – Tuesday – Sunday
Hosts: Louis Hall and Sergio Quiros
Co-hosts: Lee and Tammy Gatten
This will be the 18th Annual Pichaco Peak New Years’ Eve Rally. It’s a 4CU tradition not to be missed. The Quail loop has already been reserved.
Additional information regarding registration to follow.
Keep on ‘streaming and we’ll see you down the road!