Most people who are new to RVing and have just recently bought their first RV may be too excited to get out there on the road that they do not think about how much cargo they are loading.  Every unit, whether it is an RV, camper, trailer, or a toy hauler, has its individual weight limits. It's one thing to have everything you need, but to have too much cargo on a trip can be dangerous. This can be the difference between a safe, enjoyable experience and a disastrous nightmare.

Before you set off on the road, make sure you know the manufacturer weight ratings for your vehicle. These include the Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings (GVWR), Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR), and Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR).  Never exceed these weight limits that are set.  They are there for a reason.  Exceeding them would put a great risk to you and your family.  Also note that you can be within the vehicle weight ratings but still exceed the axle rating.  To avoid this, weight each axle separately and make sure the weight in your vehicle is distributed evenly.

To find out where you can weigh your vehicle, you can look through the yellow pages under moving companies and/or truck stops.  There are different types of scales such as a platform scale, which can measure the entire vehicle, single axle scale that weighs one axle at a time, and a segmented platform scale that checks both the whole weight and that of each individual axle. Be sure the place that you do find have the appropriate scales.

When you go to have your vehicle or trailer weighed, make sure everything is loaded as if you were going camping the same day, which means include all passengers, cargo, pets, food, water, clothing, fuel, and propane tanks. If everyone can't come, bring something that’s approximately the same weight. You don't want to leave anything out and practically waste the trip to the scales.  Once you get there, the weighing process isn't very difficult, just time consuming.  Take your time and make sure you weigh everything correctly.

Not weighing your RV can cause you to damage your vehicle and ruin the trip altogether.  Having too much weight can cause a tire to blow and possibly end up in an accident.  For the safety of yourself, your family, and your recreational vehicle, follows the weight ratings and you'll have a great RV-ing experience.

For more information on RVs and camping, please visit http://www.myrvlink.com/

Salem Hassan is a business marketing director for BreezeGoSEO.com, an Internet Marketing Agency. Salem writes on a wide spectrum of topics related to family, business, consumer best interests, marketing, and other related topics.

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Interested in doing a campervan holiday and want to begin it in Sydney? Campervans will be ready when you are. Sydney is a vibrant city with a fast paced life. You'll find everything in Sydney they say. There are a huge family of operators in Sydney. Too many campervans to choose from, different operators thus the statement also goes by way of saying that there are different vehicles of kinds and sizes available in the Sydney market. Start by counting off the number of people coming with you (if you are the driver) as long as you do not exceed to six you will all be enjoying in a one big vehicle.

Sydney has a very competitive market for tourism, campervan hire companies make a long line. We rely on a campervan hire company that delivers clean vehicles, the best price and reliable service.

Going back to the head count. Collectively, Sydney campervan models are 2 berth (can accommodate two people), 2.5 berth (two people and a child), 3 berth, 4 berth, 5 berth and 6 berth. The usual amenities of campervans include air conditioning / heating, kitchenette (cooking utensils, fridge, microwave, gas bottle, gas stove, Crockery & Cutlery, and tea towels), beddings of the drivers cabin and the rear. Other vehicles only have air conditioning / heating at the driver's cabin. Just like a little home on wheels. Your option of toilet and shower, and extra items (Outdoor Table, Outdoor Chair, child seat, and personal kit). A personal kit includes sleeping bag, bed sheet, pillow, pillow case and bath towel. Poke your head whether you need all the campervan facilities. Consider the season and your itinerary. Have a good trip.

Greengirl Sydney travels Australia, New Zealand and USA. Choose your motorhome hire in Australia and start your journey of exploring places and cultures.

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Look around
There are a multitude of lay outs of motorhomes, so make sure you choose the right one. If you love cooking you’ll want a big kitchen and if you like entertaining then choose one with a big lounge.

Motorhome Shows
There are two big NEC shows in February and October where you can try out different motorhomes and campervans before you make your decision.

Berths
Consider how many berths you want and whether you want a single- or twin-axle van. Twin axles give better grip on the road but are much harder to manoeuvre, cost much more in replacement tyres and are really only necessary on large vans.

Courses
There are motorhome manoeuvring courses that you can attend all over the country. People are not required to take a test but get to practice manoeuvring their caravans or motorhomes in an informal environment.

Petrol / Diesel
Most motorhomes have diesel or turbo-diesel engines, which offer better fuel economy, but petrol alternatives are available if you prefer.

Costs
The costs of motorhomes range from second-hand vehicles at around £10,000 to £250,000 for an American-style Winnebago. The average cost is around £40,000 or £70,000 for the top UK models. Check the vehicle has a badge stating it has been safety-check and approved by the National Caravan Council.

Manufacturers
Swift is the biggest UK manufacturer of motorhomes, including the Bessacarr and Ace ranges. The market is split about 50-50 between British-built vehicles and imports from countries such as America and Germany.

Resources
There are a number of website and magazines where like-minded motorhome and caravan travellers can chat and compare advice. Just give a quick search into your favourite search engine and you’ll soon be presented with a myriad of information.

Staying overnight
It is illegal to stop on land that does not belong to you, and you will often get moved on if you pull into a quiet lay-by for the night. The best thing to do is to stay at registered camping and caravan sites. If you want to be really remote there are smaller sites you can stay at such as the Caravan Club’s Certified Locations (CLs) and the Caravanning Club’s Certified Sites (CSs), which offer minimal facilities but are in more rural locations.

This is just a brief introduction to help you on your way. Once you get going, you never look back.

Steve Greenwood writes for Sureterm Direct who provides Motorhome articles and insurance for enthusiasts. If you are looking for a competitive quote for motorhome insurance visit the UK’s most competitive insurance specialist - Sureterm Direct.

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The important thing to bear in mind is that the quality and selection of tools you take along is significantly more important than the quantity. Chosen carefully, you can reduce the weight and size of your tool kit without compromising its effectiveness. Another point to bear in mind is the means of carrying your tools. Although a macho-looking red metal tool box with ball-bearing runners and chrome hinges will look impressive, it will be very noisy as all those tools clatter around while you are on the move – and very heavy, too. A better alternative is an old holdall - it can be squashed into the corner of a locker, will deaden the sound of the tools, and weigh next to nothing compared to a box.

So what tools should you take?

WD40 - A can of this is seen much like the 'magic sponge' on the football pitch: a sort of cure-all; and that's pretty much the case. It's ideal for sorting out seized fixings and stopping squeaks. But it's excellent for electrical work, too. If you find a gungy electrical connection, a quick clean with some emery cloth and a squirt of WD40 is usually enough to sort things out.

Spanners - The secret is not to take a full set, which might well consist of seven or eight pieces and weigh a couple of kilos – there are not that many times that you are likely to need a spanner in the course of general maintenance of your motorhome. Leave most of your spanners at home; you'll need the one for changing the gas bottles, and a small one (typically 12 or 13mm) for removing the battery, but little else. Pack a small adjustable spanner in case you have a loose nut here or there, but unless you're going to carry out serious mechanical work, there's little call for a spanner.

Screwdrivers - As with spanners, there's little point in taking a whole load of screwdrivers with you when, in all probability, two or three would suffice. One large flat-bladed screwdriver will double usefully as a pry-bar for removing wheel trims and generally 'persuading' troublesome bits and bobs. A regular Phillips and a flat-bladed screwdriver will be good enough for general work but put a small electrical screwdriver in, too, for those fiddly little jobs. If you have a modern motorhome, buy a couple of torx-headed screwdrivers for removing interior trim: T20 and T25 sizes are very popular in Fiat and Peugeot models.

Torque Wrench - A torque wrench may seem a touch extravagant but it is essential for checking that your wheel nuts are tight. Throw away your standard wheel brace and replace it with a large, good quality, torque wrench equipped with the correct socket for securing your wheel nuts. It will also help ensure that you do not over tighten the nuts and damage them.

PTFE Tape - PTFE stands for Polytetrafluoroethylene… otherwise known as Teflon! This thread-sealing tape is ideal whatever problem you encounter, be it a plumbing or engine leak. Simply wrap the stricken thread in tape, retighten the fitting and there's a fair chance your problem will be solved. PTFE tape costs pennies to buy and weighs almost nothing.

Utility Knife - There is no substitute for one of these when you need a blade to remove something. The knife is an old design – neither clever nor sophisticated, but it really works well. The cheapest models cost as little as £1, but put a good blade in the handle and it will be as good and effective as the best.

Insulating Tape - Quite simply, a must have. If a wire's insulation gets damaged, or you need to join two wires, wrapping any bare wire with insulating tape will prevent trouble in the future. A length of wire - A piece of wire is always useful to have around. If wire gets cut or damaged, you can always bridge the break with a piece you have to hand. As you never know the particular use the wire is likely to be put to, it is best to opt for a heavy gauge. In an emergency, if you end up using a wire which is too thick it will be unlikely to cause a problem, but if the wire is too thin, it will heat up and, in extreme cases, could even cause a fire.

Cable Ties - These are great for get-you-home repairs. You can use them to hold all sorts of items in place: starter motors, air filters, wheel trims, wing mirrors and the like. Cable ties cost just pence to buy, are virtually indestructible and even a large handful of them weigh next to nothing.

Pliers - A simple pair of pliers can be as cheap as £3 or £4. They can be used for cutting and stripping wire, gripping screws with broken heads and you can always use your pliers when all your normal tools have been defeated.

Engine Oil - Your motorhome is likely to have a pint or so of water on board for emergency topping up, but many owners travel without engine oil. Keeping the oil level correct is simple and essential maintenance.

Length of Rope / Strong String - The number of possible uses for a length of rope is endless and you really should have some with you. Whether it's for tethering a piece of luggage, something which has broken, or just providing extra security for your bike rack, it's never a bad idea to have some on board.

Electrical Terminals and a pair of purpose-made Crimping Pliers - Wires and terminals can break due to a number of factors such as vibration, carelessness and corrosion, so having a means of joining wires or replacing fractured terminals is a must. Electrical terminals cost pennies and can quickly fix many simple electrical problems.

A Piece of Rag - A ready supply of rag is invaluable. A clean rag is good for dusting the dashboard and wiping the windows, a manky one, kept under the bonnet, is handy for wiping the dipstick, mopping up oil and screen-wash spills and general dirty work.

Foot Pump and Tyre Pressure Gauge - Tyres are not a fit-and-forget part, so a pressure gauge is a must, to guard against under-inflation. If your tyres are soft, a foot pump is just the job for getting them back up to pressure.

Motorhome Insurance – make sure that you check your insurance cover before setting off. Is your policy due for renewal?

Steve Greenwood works for Sureterm Direct who offer free articles for Motorhome enthusiasts. Please visit our Motorhome News articles. If you are looking for insurance, obtain your Motorhome Insurance quote from one of the UK’s most competitive insurance specialists.

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What do I need to think about when looking for motorhome insurance?

Consider exactly what your circumstances are likely to be over the coming year. Details like how much you will be using your vehicle and how many miles you will do will need to be thought about. Companies will often give you an additional discount based on limited mileage agreements.

Decide where you are likely to go.  You can get a Green Card included in your policy – some for the year, some for 90 days in any one trip

Think about where you are going to keep your motorhome – discounts are given for keeping under your own watchful eye at home or at a CASSOA site – farmer’s fields are often frowned on by insurers as unfortunately most motorhomes are stolen from storage fields with no security.

Decide whether you need to make sure your policy covers personal effects and accessories that will be in the motorhome - and extras like awnings. Some large awnings, for example, can be expensive to replace. Specialists pick up on these little things when you’re discussing your requirements, where £5000 personal effects cover and £2000 for awnings is included for no extra cost at all.

Be clear about your No Claims Discounts (NCD). Many insurers will mirror the NCD you’ve accrued while driving your car.

Understand the difference between the types of cover available – fully comprehensive (the best), third-party fire and theft (a mid-range), and third party (the most basic).

A simple immobiliser or a tracking device such as the Phantom tracker (which retails at less than £500) can save money in insurance every year and increase resale when you come to sell on your motorhome or RV.

What else should I be aware of?

Be honest when providing details to your insurance provider. Being economical with the truth is never economical in the long run.

Ask if there are discounts available depending on the length of time you’ve owned your motorhome, or if you’re a member of a club or association. Many specialist motorhome insurers reward experience with better premiums.

Use insurance providers that are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. And do consider using specialist motorhome insurers. In some instances, particularly with household names, motorhome cover is just an add-on to a larger insurance business. Specialist companies typically spend time training staff in their own training academy in the intricacies of motorhome ownership and identifying policies to make them as attractive as possible to motorhome owners.

Don’t assume your Ford Ka; Smart car or little Fiat will be covered simply because it’s attached to your Winnebago or Bessacar. Some policies automatically give you third-party cover for your cover, but in other cases you might need to take out full-comprehensive car insurance too. Always check.

Finally, think carefully before making a claim for minor accidents. Small accidents to another person’s vehicle like a broken wing mirror are often best dealt with without involving your insurer. By paying for the repair yourself, you can protect your No Claims Discounts and ensure you continue to pay low premiums.  However, don’t get involved in an accident that’s more than a bump and fail to raise it with your insurance company about it at renewal time. There should be no secrets.

Steve Greenwood invites you to visit Sureterm Direct who provide articles for Motorhome enthusiasts. Please visit our Motorhome Articles. Obtain your Motorhome Insurance quote from one of the UK’s most competitive insurance specialists Sureterm Direct.

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