A Guide to Motorhome Alarms

Monday, January 18th, 2010

There are many alarms for sale from many manufacturers but they may offer different levels of protection. When looking for an alarm for your motorhome, shop around to see which ones include the key features outlined below.

If you want the best protection, look for devices that are Thatcham CAT 1 approved. The benefit of a CAT 1 alarm is that it is combined with an engine immobiliser and has perimeter and ignition detection as well as a battery back-up power supply. These devices will have been tested to make sure they are effective in preventing the theft of a motorhome. They are also more likely to qualify you for a discount off your motorhome insurance, so check with your insurer.

The motorhome alarm you choose should have sensors on the driver and passenger doors as well as the habitation door to ensure the alarm sounds if any of these doors are opened. Some alarms will also be set off if the bonnet is lifted, deterring thieves from trying to disconnect the battery in an attempt to deactivate the alarm.

Passive Infra-Red (PIR) sensors inside the motorhome will detect any movement from anyone who has gain access to the motorhome and set off the alarm, protecting your belongings. Some alarms have the functionality to turn off this feature as a 'Night' or 'Pet' mode so you can still use the alarm at night whilst you're asleep and during the day if you leave your pets inside unattended. Some devices may have ultrasonic volumetric sensors that can also detect movement within the vehicle. This kind of motion sensor if often more expensive to manufacture, so you may pay more for an alarm with ultrasonic volumetric sensors than you would for one with PIR sensors, but both methods are effective in preventing theft from motorhomes.

Most alarms will come with remote controls so the alarm can be activated and deactivated at a distance. This can be useful if you accidently set off the alarm yourself.

Other features your motorhome alarm may come with include a panic alarm facility so you can set the alarm off yourself should you become a victim of a burglary whilst in the motorhome. The alarm should disturb the would-be thief and alert any neighbouring campers.

If you need any advice on which alarm is best suited to you, ask your local dealership. Your insurance company will also be able to tell you whether the alarm you have will get you a discount off your motorhome insurance premium. It may be that your insurance company will insist on a Thatcham Cat 1 approved or Thatcham Cat 2 to 1 upgrade system to ensure you meet with their requirements.

Heather Robinson of Caravan Guard which specialises in motorhome insurance in the UK including Northern Ireland. For more top tips for motorhome ownership, sign up for our free e-magazine by visiting http://www.caravanguard.co.uk

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/a-guide-to-motorhome-alarms-1721768.html

Motorhome Advantages

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Traveling is an option, as well as the means of doing it. That's life! "mode de vie!" We make endless of choices. People and travelers alike have their own angles for traveling – education, luxury, profession, celebration, recreation, road tripping, and could even be as specific as seeing festivals, events, and just a mountain of reasons to travel.

Since campervans and motorhomes popped into the tourism industry, I kind of like the way it  has advanced the world of traveling, its capacity is almost like freedom. While the best for me is traveling through a campervan hire especially with a country like OZ, motorhome hire Australia rocks! Some travelers would prefer hiring a regular automobile or jump into tour companies. Hiring a regular automobile works for me too, but now, for the sense of traveling and exploring. A campervan helps a lot in many ways, I would like to highlight the best advantage of all, cost effectiveness. Hiring a regular automobile is cheaper until you leave the depot, with a campervan hire I can sleep and cook meals to it. Or perhaps, I wanted things to be different, as campervans cannot be parked at the hotel's parking lot or the like. Campervans and Motorhomes are supposed to be in campgrounds, which is totally different from that of the hotel. Campgrounds are more of the outdoor style, however, a number of campgrounds these days are stepping on the higher end. Aside from campervan or motorhome sites, they have first class accommodations as well.

With a campervan hire, I won't need to unpack and repack my stuff, I can also clutch my bicycle or surfboard inside or am I just lazy. We'll whatever, but campervanning blows heaps of sense, park close to the river, the beach or the forest. Its just the way I like.

Travel with freedom. Check out Motorhome hire Australia and choose from a ton of motorhomes and campervans in Australia

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/motorhome-advantage-1725645.html

Guide to Motorhome Alarms

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

There are many alarms for sale from many manufacturers but they may offer different levels of protection. When looking for an alarm for your motorhome, shop around to see which ones include the key features outlined below.

If you want the best protection, look for devices that are Thatcham CAT 1 approved. The benefit of a CAT 1 alarm is that it is combined with an engine immobiliser and has perimeter and ignition detection as well as a battery back-up power supply. These devices will have been tested to make sure they are effective in preventing the theft of a motorhome. They are also more likely to qualify you for a discount off your motorhome insurance, so check with your insurer.

The motorhome alarm you choose should have sensors on the driver and passenger doors as well as the habitation door to ensure the alarm sounds if any of these doors are opened. Some alarms will also be set off if the bonnet is lifted, deterring thieves from trying to disconnect the battery in an attempt to deactivate the alarm.

Passive Infra-Red (PIR) sensors inside the motorhome will detect any movement from anyone who has gain access to the motorhome and set off the alarm, protecting your belongings. Some alarms have the functionality to turn off this feature as a 'Night' or 'Pet' mode so you can still use the alarm at night whilst you're asleep and during the day if you leave your pets inside unattended. Some devices may have ultrasonic volumetric sensors that can also detect movement within the vehicle. This kind of motion sensor if often more expensive to manufacture, so you may pay more for an alarm with ultrasonic volumetric sensors than you would for one with PIR sensors, but both methods are effective in preventing theft from motorhomes.

Most alarms will come with remote controls so the alarm can be activated and deactivated at a distance. This can be useful if you accidently set off the alarm yourself.

Other features your motorhome alarm may come with include a panic alarm facility so you can set the alarm off yourself should you become a victim of a burglary whilst in the motorhome. The alarm should disturb the would-be thief and alert any neighbouring campers.

If you need any advice on which alarm is best suited to you, ask your local dealership. Your insurance company will also be able to tell you whether the alarm you have will get you a discount off your motorhome insurance premium. It may be that your insurance company will insist on a Thatcham Cat 1 approved or Thatcham Cat 2 to 1 upgrade system to ensure you meet with their requirements.

Heather Robinson of Caravan Guard which specialises in motorhome insurance in the UK including Northern Ireland. For more top tips for motorhome ownership, sign up for our free e-magazine by visiting http://www.caravanguard.co.uk

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/a-guide-to-motorhome-alarms-1721796.html

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems and Their Environmental Benefits

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems and the Environmental Benefits

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems save money by saving on fuel and on tire wear.  The systems increase driver safety, confidence and peace of mind (to say nothing of lives!).  But the individual is not the only one to benefit from tire pressure monitoring systems.  Because of the environmental benefits of these systems, everyone wins.  In fact, benefits are so positive that even governments have become involved in the conversation.

In the late 1990s Firestone recalled many of their tires following the report of over 100 deaths caused by tread separation.  As a result of this recall, the Clinton administration initiated the Tread Act.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the act (which later became law) requires that all new cars with a gross weight under 10,000 pounds must have a system to alert drivers of severe under inflation.

The European Union (EU) is also concerned about environmental quality.  The UN Economic Commission for Europe sets product standards for vehicles and the EU is currently working for a similar tire pressure monitoring law over there, to be effective with the 2012 models. The EU reports that under inflation causes the unnecessary burning of fuel and results in two million extra tons of carbon dioxide in the air.

Safercar.gov also notes that proper tire inflation allows lower fuel use and less carbon dioxide emission.  The NHTSA reports that as many as one in three cars has under inflated tires.  Safecar.com also notes that under inflated tires are free and easy to fix--if you know your tire is low. So--how does a driver know if the tires are low?

One could simply check the pressure of each tire with a pocket-sized tire gauge. It's a 15-minute task.  In fact, it is recommended that drivers do this at least monthly.  But do you?  Two-thirds of us do not.  If you are one of those who does check tire pressure regularly, do you have compressed air available to inflate low tires or do you have to drive to the gas station to do so?  How many times do you forget to go to the gas station? Or, if you do fill your tires correctly, what about tire damage from road hazards?

Perhaps you drive a model manufactured in 2008 or later.  You have a built-in warning system.  But these systems are set to warn you of severely under inflated tires.  They flash on your dashboard panel when a tire is 25% lower than the recommended pressure.  Tires that are under inflated by as little as 6 psi can fail.  Drivers need to be warned sooner than the built-in monitors warn them so they have time to react and respond.

Maybe you have run-flat tires.  These tires are manufactured by several companies and they are designed to continue driving at a maximum of 50 mph for a distance of less than 50 miles.  This assumes the driver will know when the run-flat tire is damaged, but how will he know?

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.tiremonitoringsystems.com">Tire pressure monitoring systems</a> can warn you when there's a 12.5% pressure loss and again at a 25% loss.  Drivers can respond immediately when alerted by the audible beep and the red light.  They can constantly monitor pressure, whether moving or parked.  With the push of a button and a minute of your time, you can check the pressure of every tire every time the car is started.  

Do your part for our environment. Reduce the use of scarce resources.  Use less fuel, decrease carbon dioxide emissions, and increase tire life.  The environment will thank you--and so will your wallet!

Rhonda Tobin is a published author who has been RVing with her husband and three dogs for the past nine years. For more information, please visit http://www.tiremonitoringsystems.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/tire-pressure-monitoring-systems-and-their-environmental-benefits-1710649.html

Motorhome traveling around the U.K.

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

With many picturesque locations throughout the UK offering the perfect camping destination, you will be spoilt for choice as you plan a trip away in your motorhome. Having a home on wheels means ‘everywhere you go you always take the weather with you’. The freedom is yours to pick and choose which destination offers you the best weather conditions to set up camp.

When choosing the best motorhome for you and your family you should consider what you want and need from a holiday home. With such a competitive market there are numerous models out there from Fourwinds, Winnebago, Elddis, Bessacarr, Swift to Cheroke and many other UK and European derivatives.

In this growing age of modernisation and the constant introduction of new and improved models, it’s no surprise more and more people are opting for the trendiest motorhomes available. Bigger motorhomes offer a major advantage over smaller ones as they are more spacious, while smaller motorhomes bring a sense of swift travelling at a reasonable price. Motorhomes are fitted with all those home comforts and amenities, including kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, bathrooms, television, dining space and much more, which means you really couldn’t feel more at home.

Enjoyment is the spice of life, and motorhomes provide the perfect platform for the fun to begin. If it’s adventure your looking for you will certainly find it travelling around the UK in comfort and style at your own pace. Taking a break from the fast pace of life to relax and enjoy what the Great British countryside has to offer is the perfect cure from those winter blues, so pack a bag, grab your keys and hit the highway.

Hectic motorways can be a stressful experience, and when driving around in your motorhome is part of the adventure, the last thing you want is a stressful journey. So set your sat nav to country roads and take the scenic route through idyllic landscape to reach your chosen location.

As the journey is part of the fun it is an amazing experience to take pleasure in the views of the open road knowing that all the necessities are right there with you. The concept of a motorhome is an ideal option to materialise thoughts of being at home and away surrounded by everything you need to make the ideal holiday. What could be more exhilarating than travelling around as your home travels with you?

For extra peace of mind trust Sureterm Direct to give you a competitive quote on your motorhome insurance and caravan insurance. Call free now on 0800 999 2030 and speak to one of our friendly advisors.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/rvs-articles/motor-your-home-around-the-uk-1677154.html