The Allstate Blog » RV http://blog.allstate.com Expert tips and fun facts on protecting your car, home, motorcycle or RV from Allstate Auto Insurance Fri, 24 May 2013 16:36:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Choose the Perfect Campsite http://blog.allstate.com/choose-the-perfect-campsite/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=choose-the-perfect-campsite http://blog.allstate.com/choose-the-perfect-campsite/#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:00:34 +0000 Doug Howlett http://blog.allstate.com/?p=4155 Camping Photo

Choosing the perfect wilderness campsite can be the difference between turning your escape to the outdoors into a true weekend paradise or an experience of truly “roughing” it. While some may choose a giant recreational vehicle and sleep inside in their well-stocked tenement-on-wheels, “real campers” sleep under the stars and enjoy the challenges posed by leaving creature comforts behind. Be the skilled outdoorsman or outdoorswoman your fellow campers will admire and spare them a weekend of camp regret by choosing the perfect spot to pitch a tent, roast marshmallows, breath in the fresh air and relax. The Field & Stream Camping Guide: Camping Skills You Need offers great tips on choosing the right camping spot and more. The perfect campsite should include:

A View

Whether it’s a shimmering lake, a babbling brook or a panoramic view of the distant mountain range, we go camping to enjoy the sights, sounds and sensations of the raw outdoors. What better way to enjoy it than being sure you have a commanding view of the nature and terrain around you?

Open Space

Look for an open spot among the forest, large enough to accommodate your tent(s), chairs, cooking space and other items. Avoid trampling vegetation, and don’t cut or remove plants. Always leave the area exactly as you found it.

Shade

Don’t pitch a camp site in the wide open, if possible, and choose a spot with ample shade to keep cool in summer and avoid sunburn in both warm weather and cold.

Water

Make sure you have a source of clean water within 100 yards to make hauling it to camp for cooking and cleaning easy. Some parks and wilderness areas may restrict how close you can set up near water due to erosion and pollution concerns, so know the regulations where you will be camping.

Level ground

Pitch a tent on solid, level ground devoid of protruding roots and half-buried rocks. Remove sticks, loose rocks, pine cones and other hard objects and layer the surface with fallen leaves and loose moss for added comfort and moisture absorption. If there is a slight incline, set your tent and sleeping bags so campers’ heads will be uphill when sleeping.

Protection from Wind

In addition to providing shade, the trees and terrain should protect the camp from high winds, yet still allow breezes to pass through to keep camp cool and deter mosquitoes. Some other things to do when choosing a campsite include:
  • Check the trees around a potential campsite for dead limbs or trunks that can fall in high winds. Never set a tent below a tree with large, dead limbs.
  • Be sure the trees around camp are all of roughly the same height. A single tree that towers above the rest could serve as a lightning rod in a severe storm.
  • Never camp in low areas, such as creek bottoms or drainage ditches, as they may be prone to flash flooding in a storm.
  • Don’t camp beneath rocky ledges or below loose, boulder-strewn slopes where falling rocks or even a full-blown landslide, mudslide or avalanche could wipe you out.
 
Photo courtesy of Coleman
]]> Camping Photo

Choosing the perfect wilderness campsite can be the difference between turning your escape to the outdoors into a true weekend paradise or an experience of truly “roughing” it. While some may choose a giant recreational vehicle and sleep inside in their well-stocked tenement-on-wheels, “real campers” sleep under the stars and enjoy the challenges posed by leaving creature comforts behind. Be the skilled outdoorsman or outdoorswoman your fellow campers will admire and spare them a weekend of camp regret by choosing the perfect spot to pitch a tent, roast marshmallows, breath in the fresh air and relax. The Field & Stream Camping Guide: Camping Skills You Need offers great tips on choosing the right camping spot and more. The perfect campsite should include:

A View

Whether it’s a shimmering lake, a babbling brook or a panoramic view of the distant mountain range, we go camping to enjoy the sights, sounds and sensations of the raw outdoors. What better way to enjoy it than being sure you have a commanding view of the nature and terrain around you?

Open Space

Look for an open spot among the forest, large enough to accommodate your tent(s), chairs, cooking space and other items. Avoid trampling vegetation, and don’t cut or remove plants. Always leave the area exactly as you found it.

Shade

Don’t pitch a camp site in the wide open, if possible, and choose a spot with ample shade to keep cool in summer and avoid sunburn in both warm weather and cold.

Water

Make sure you have a source of clean water within 100 yards to make hauling it to camp for cooking and cleaning easy. Some parks and wilderness areas may restrict how close you can set up near water due to erosion and pollution concerns, so know the regulations where you will be camping.

Level ground

Pitch a tent on solid, level ground devoid of protruding roots and half-buried rocks. Remove sticks, loose rocks, pine cones and other hard objects and layer the surface with fallen leaves and loose moss for added comfort and moisture absorption. If there is a slight incline, set your tent and sleeping bags so campers’ heads will be uphill when sleeping.

Protection from Wind

In addition to providing shade, the trees and terrain should protect the camp from high winds, yet still allow breezes to pass through to keep camp cool and deter mosquitoes. Some other things to do when choosing a campsite include:
  • Check the trees around a potential campsite for dead limbs or trunks that can fall in high winds. Never set a tent below a tree with large, dead limbs.
  • Be sure the trees around camp are all of roughly the same height. A single tree that towers above the rest could serve as a lightning rod in a severe storm.
  • Never camp in low areas, such as creek bottoms or drainage ditches, as they may be prone to flash flooding in a storm.
  • Don’t camp beneath rocky ledges or below loose, boulder-strewn slopes where falling rocks or even a full-blown landslide, mudslide or avalanche could wipe you out.
 
Photo courtesy of Coleman
]]> http://blog.allstate.com/choose-the-perfect-campsite/feed/ 0 What Should You Do If You Get Lost In The Woods? Be Prepared. http://blog.allstate.com/what-should-you-do-if-you-get-lost-in-the-woods/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-should-you-do-if-you-get-lost-in-the-woods http://blog.allstate.com/what-should-you-do-if-you-get-lost-in-the-woods/#comments Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:00:38 +0000 George http://blog.allstate.com/?p=3115 Lost Image

It’s one of the most frightening experiences you can endure: You’re hiking or walking through the woods and make a turn off a trail for a little untamed exploring. When you walk back to where the trail should be, it isn’t there. Or rather, you aren’t where you thought you were. You laugh nervously and realize you probably just went a little too far to your right, so you adjust and walk farther, your pace picking up with the anxiety that’s beginning to set in. Oh no, still no path. You’re lost! Now what do you do? The first thing is to not give in to the inevitable panic that will begin to wash over you. Stop, take stock of your situation and understand from the outset that your odds of being found in this day and age are incredibly high. In fact, most lost people are found by the second day. So, there’s no need to panic. In his book The Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide, author J. Wayne Fears says the decisions a lost person makes in the first three seconds of realizing their predicament can save them or doom them. Admitting that they are lost is best done sooner than later, and stopping and taking stock is critical. Fears recommends following the STOP formula:

Sit

Sitting not only jumpstarts your ability to relax and think clearly, but it also suppresses your urge to run or walk quickly—usually in a wrong direction.

Think

Your mind is your most critical survival tool. You need to keep it calm, reflect on any past training or skills that will help you now and rationally assess your situation and your most immediate needs.

Observe

Identify what problems need to be solved and the order in which they must be dealt with. You’ll need shelter, a way to signal searchers, fire, water and a visible campsite so searchers can find you. What components are at your ready disposal to achieve these?

Plan

Make a plan and put it into action. If you have a cellphone or a radio, call for help first. If a cell signal is low, send a text message, as it takes less power and you can send it to multiple people at once for better odds of reaching somebody. But, don’t just sit and wait. It can still take a while for rescuers to arrive. Choose a visible campsite or, if in a stalled vehicle situation, stay with your automobile as it’s much easier to locate from the air. Construct a shelter, gather firewood and stay alert for other hikers, the sound of a nearby highway, low-flying planes, anything that can translate into your being discovered. Keep a mirror or bright clothing handy to catch the attention of searchers. Make a fire. Damp leaves or wood will make more smoke, thus making it more visible. Sit back and stay calm. Help should be on the way before long.

Before You Go

A little pre-trip prep can save you a lot of worry and hassle should you get lost later. Do the following before you go:
  • Leave a trip plan with a friend or relative that includes where you’re going, emergency contacts, when you left and when you expect to return.
  • Carry a freshly charged phone or a two-way radio with new batteries.
  • Tote an easy-to-use GPS unit. There are plenty of inexpensive, easy-to-use models available.
The decisions you make within the first seconds of becoming lost can ensure your survival or seal your fate. Using the guidance above can help you make the best of a bad situation.
 
Photo courtesy of Bill Winke
]]> Lost Image

It’s one of the most frightening experiences you can endure: You’re hiking or walking through the woods and make a turn off a trail for a little untamed exploring. When you walk back to where the trail should be, it isn’t there. Or rather, you aren’t where you thought you were. You laugh nervously and realize you probably just went a little too far to your right, so you adjust and walk farther, your pace picking up with the anxiety that’s beginning to set in. Oh no, still no path. You’re lost! Now what do you do? The first thing is to not give in to the inevitable panic that will begin to wash over you. Stop, take stock of your situation and understand from the outset that your odds of being found in this day and age are incredibly high. In fact, most lost people are found by the second day. So, there’s no need to panic. In his book The Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide, author J. Wayne Fears says the decisions a lost person makes in the first three seconds of realizing their predicament can save them or doom them. Admitting that they are lost is best done sooner than later, and stopping and taking stock is critical. Fears recommends following the STOP formula:

Sit

Sitting not only jumpstarts your ability to relax and think clearly, but it also suppresses your urge to run or walk quickly—usually in a wrong direction.

Think

Your mind is your most critical survival tool. You need to keep it calm, reflect on any past training or skills that will help you now and rationally assess your situation and your most immediate needs.

Observe

Identify what problems need to be solved and the order in which they must be dealt with. You’ll need shelter, a way to signal searchers, fire, water and a visible campsite so searchers can find you. What components are at your ready disposal to achieve these?

Plan

Make a plan and put it into action. If you have a cellphone or a radio, call for help first. If a cell signal is low, send a text message, as it takes less power and you can send it to multiple people at once for better odds of reaching somebody. But, don’t just sit and wait. It can still take a while for rescuers to arrive. Choose a visible campsite or, if in a stalled vehicle situation, stay with your automobile as it’s much easier to locate from the air. Construct a shelter, gather firewood and stay alert for other hikers, the sound of a nearby highway, low-flying planes, anything that can translate into your being discovered. Keep a mirror or bright clothing handy to catch the attention of searchers. Make a fire. Damp leaves or wood will make more smoke, thus making it more visible. Sit back and stay calm. Help should be on the way before long.

Before You Go

A little pre-trip prep can save you a lot of worry and hassle should you get lost later. Do the following before you go:
  • Leave a trip plan with a friend or relative that includes where you’re going, emergency contacts, when you left and when you expect to return.
  • Carry a freshly charged phone or a two-way radio with new batteries.
  • Tote an easy-to-use GPS unit. There are plenty of inexpensive, easy-to-use models available.
The decisions you make within the first seconds of becoming lost can ensure your survival or seal your fate. Using the guidance above can help you make the best of a bad situation.
 
Photo courtesy of Bill Winke
]]> http://blog.allstate.com/what-should-you-do-if-you-get-lost-in-the-woods/feed/ 1 The Versatility of RVing: Have You Tried RVing Yet? http://blog.allstate.com/the-versatility-of-rving-have-you-tried-rving-yet/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-versatility-of-rving-have-you-tried-rving-yet http://blog.allstate.com/the-versatility-of-rving-have-you-tried-rving-yet/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:44:48 +0000 Brendan http://community.allstate.com/community/allstate_blog/blog/2011/10/24/3-ways-to-enjoy-the-versatility-of-rving RV

Picture your RV parked in a beautiful campground. The sky is so blue it matches the lake behind your RV site. The children are tired from tossing a Frisbee with Dad and they collapse in chairs around the campfire.
It's time to roast hot dogs for dinner and make s'mores for dessert. Bugs biting or temperature too hot outside? No problem. Just step inside the RV for instant comfort. Like camping but not enough to sleep outside in a tent? No problem. Just step inside the RV to your comfortable bed. Whether you prefer singing campfire songs or shouting team cheers, RVing opens up a world of adventure and opportunities for family fun. Picture your RV parked in a crowded stadium parking lot. The sky is so blue it matches the team flags you are proudly flying and team colors you are proudly wearing. The children are tired from tossing a football with Dad and they collapse in chairs around the TV. It's time to watch the pregame show on the RV's flatscreen outdoor TV while the tailgating food is grilled and assembled. Friends didn't bring enough snacks or beverages to tailgate? No problem. Just step inside the RV to your fully stocked kitchen and refrigerator to help feed the crowd.   Lines too long to the porta-potties in the parking lot? No problem. Just step inside the RV to your clean and private bathroom. RVing has been a natural fit for our family. The entire family (including our traveling English Bulldogs) turn into traveling nomads when we hit the road. We are happy camping at a luxury resort or a quaint roadside park. No long lines through airport security. No one searching through our luggage. No bed-bugs scares from local hotels. Our clothes and bed travel with us. We are also fierce tailgaters for the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints. No crowded sports bars. No long lines for the bathroom. No waiting in line for food. Our food and beverage, and tailgate party supplies travel with us. Bring on the tailgate party at the Cooks RV!  Family and friends welcome! We are able to pursue all of our passions as a family, all while traveling in the comforts of home. Simply put, our rolling house on wheels provides us with the flexibility and freedom to enjoy it all. Have you tried RVing yet? Stayed tuned. The adventure continues... Karen Cook is a guest blogger from RVAdventures Travel Blog. In  exchange for sharing this content, the Allstate Community has compensated her via cash payment.
]]> RV

Picture your RV parked in a beautiful campground. The sky is so blue it matches the lake behind your RV site. The children are tired from tossing a Frisbee with Dad and they collapse in chairs around the campfire.
It's time to roast hot dogs for dinner and make s'mores for dessert. Bugs biting or temperature too hot outside? No problem. Just step inside the RV for instant comfort. Like camping but not enough to sleep outside in a tent? No problem. Just step inside the RV to your comfortable bed. Whether you prefer singing campfire songs or shouting team cheers, RVing opens up a world of adventure and opportunities for family fun. Picture your RV parked in a crowded stadium parking lot. The sky is so blue it matches the team flags you are proudly flying and team colors you are proudly wearing. The children are tired from tossing a football with Dad and they collapse in chairs around the TV. It's time to watch the pregame show on the RV's flatscreen outdoor TV while the tailgating food is grilled and assembled. Friends didn't bring enough snacks or beverages to tailgate? No problem. Just step inside the RV to your fully stocked kitchen and refrigerator to help feed the crowd.   Lines too long to the porta-potties in the parking lot? No problem. Just step inside the RV to your clean and private bathroom. RVing has been a natural fit for our family. The entire family (including our traveling English Bulldogs) turn into traveling nomads when we hit the road. We are happy camping at a luxury resort or a quaint roadside park. No long lines through airport security. No one searching through our luggage. No bed-bugs scares from local hotels. Our clothes and bed travel with us. We are also fierce tailgaters for the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints. No crowded sports bars. No long lines for the bathroom. No waiting in line for food. Our food and beverage, and tailgate party supplies travel with us. Bring on the tailgate party at the Cooks RV!  Family and friends welcome! We are able to pursue all of our passions as a family, all while traveling in the comforts of home. Simply put, our rolling house on wheels provides us with the flexibility and freedom to enjoy it all. Have you tried RVing yet? Stayed tuned. The adventure continues... Karen Cook is a guest blogger from RVAdventures Travel Blog. In  exchange for sharing this content, the Allstate Community has compensated her via cash payment.
]]> http://blog.allstate.com/the-versatility-of-rving-have-you-tried-rving-yet/feed/ 1 Does RVing Always Require a Tow Vehicle? http://blog.allstate.com/does-rving-always-require-a-tow-vehicle/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=does-rving-always-require-a-tow-vehicle http://blog.allstate.com/does-rving-always-require-a-tow-vehicle/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:51:10 +0000 Brendan http://community.allstate.com/community/allstate_blog/blog/2011/08/02/does-rving-always-require-a-tow-vehicle RV with Jeep

The Crazy Cooks have gone on many RV trips with a tow vehicle, and many without one. In fact, we traveled in “The Beast” for several months before we made the move to purchase our Jeep. Our very first trip in the RV was to Yellowstone  National Park. With no tow vehicle we closed down our campsite every morning, drove our large Class A RV all around the park to see the sights, and returned every night to set our campsite back up again…ugh. A tow vehicle would have really come in handy. Simply put, towing a vehicle gives you flexibility and options when you travel.
So how do you decide if you really need one? It really just depends on your destination and what you plan on doing once you arrive. For instance, when we traveled to Cajun Palms RV Resort in Henderson, Louisiana, we used our tow vehicle to drive ourselves and others to the Crawfish Festival in nearby Breaux Bridge. If we hadn’t towed our Jeep we would have missed the festival. And you just can’t visit Louisiana without throwing down some spicy crawfish while you tap your feet to some killer Cajun tunes. But not all trips require a tow vehicle. We have found that many parks and resorts offer local transportation, giving you the flexibility to leave your tow vehicle at home. For example, southern hospitality was in full swing at the French Quarter RV Resort in New Orleans, Louisiana, when shuttles lined up to take everyone to the Saints/Steelers football game at the Superdome. Cabs were also available to transport RVers to the French Quarter for local shopping and dining. Nicely done y’all! And then there are the mechanics of it all. Do you know how to tow a car behind an RV?  Chances are if you are comfortable driving a “rolling house-on-wheels” you will be just fine pulling a few extra feet of tow vehicle. Which RV towing vehicle is right for you? RVers choose a wide variety of vehicles based on how many people travel, how the vehicle will be used (basic transport or blazing trails), and most important of all…budget constraints. Then there is the choice of RV towing equipment. Which RV tow bar setup do you prefer? Once you purchase your vehicle and connect the tow bar, always remember to test connections i.e. brake lights and turning signals prior to hitting the road. On our most recent RV adventure - the 2011 Father/Son Summer RV Tour - Bob and the boys had a crazy drive through Yosemite National  Park in California. The decline on highway 120 out of Groveland was so severe and the turns so tight, they had to disconnect the Jeep. Which brings up another item to consider: how long is your RV? Ours is 43’ long without the Jeep. If your RV is facing tight turns (where overall length needs to be considered) or steep inclines/declines (where additional weight may cause problems), you may occasionally need to detach and drive your tow vehicle behind the RV until conditions stabilize. In our case, Ray was able to drive the Jeep behind the RV for a little over 2 hours as they slowly made their descent down the highway. When road conditions improved the Jeep was reconnected. Even when towing a vehicle is the right choice for your trip, occasional adjustments may come into play. But hey, traveling on the road is always an adventure! So to paraphrase Shakespeare (as I’m sure he would have loved RVing)… To Tow or Not To Tow, that is the question. So… do you? Stay tuned… the adventure continues! Karen Cook / RVAdventures/ www.rvadventuresblog.com
Karen Cook is a guest blogger from RVAdventures Travel Blog. In  exchange for sharing this content, the Allstate Community has compensated her via cash payment.
]]> RV with Jeep

The Crazy Cooks have gone on many RV trips with a tow vehicle, and many without one. In fact, we traveled in “The Beast” for several months before we made the move to purchase our Jeep. Our very first trip in the RV was to Yellowstone  National Park. With no tow vehicle we closed down our campsite every morning, drove our large Class A RV all around the park to see the sights, and returned every night to set our campsite back up again…ugh. A tow vehicle would have really come in handy. Simply put, towing a vehicle gives you flexibility and options when you travel.
So how do you decide if you really need one? It really just depends on your destination and what you plan on doing once you arrive. For instance, when we traveled to Cajun Palms RV Resort in Henderson, Louisiana, we used our tow vehicle to drive ourselves and others to the Crawfish Festival in nearby Breaux Bridge. If we hadn’t towed our Jeep we would have missed the festival. And you just can’t visit Louisiana without throwing down some spicy crawfish while you tap your feet to some killer Cajun tunes. But not all trips require a tow vehicle. We have found that many parks and resorts offer local transportation, giving you the flexibility to leave your tow vehicle at home. For example, southern hospitality was in full swing at the French Quarter RV Resort in New Orleans, Louisiana, when shuttles lined up to take everyone to the Saints/Steelers football game at the Superdome. Cabs were also available to transport RVers to the French Quarter for local shopping and dining. Nicely done y’all! And then there are the mechanics of it all. Do you know how to tow a car behind an RV?  Chances are if you are comfortable driving a “rolling house-on-wheels” you will be just fine pulling a few extra feet of tow vehicle. Which RV towing vehicle is right for you? RVers choose a wide variety of vehicles based on how many people travel, how the vehicle will be used (basic transport or blazing trails), and most important of all…budget constraints. Then there is the choice of RV towing equipment. Which RV tow bar setup do you prefer? Once you purchase your vehicle and connect the tow bar, always remember to test connections i.e. brake lights and turning signals prior to hitting the road. On our most recent RV adventure - the 2011 Father/Son Summer RV Tour - Bob and the boys had a crazy drive through Yosemite National  Park in California. The decline on highway 120 out of Groveland was so severe and the turns so tight, they had to disconnect the Jeep. Which brings up another item to consider: how long is your RV? Ours is 43’ long without the Jeep. If your RV is facing tight turns (where overall length needs to be considered) or steep inclines/declines (where additional weight may cause problems), you may occasionally need to detach and drive your tow vehicle behind the RV until conditions stabilize. In our case, Ray was able to drive the Jeep behind the RV for a little over 2 hours as they slowly made their descent down the highway. When road conditions improved the Jeep was reconnected. Even when towing a vehicle is the right choice for your trip, occasional adjustments may come into play. But hey, traveling on the road is always an adventure! So to paraphrase Shakespeare (as I’m sure he would have loved RVing)… To Tow or Not To Tow, that is the question. So… do you? Stay tuned… the adventure continues! Karen Cook / RVAdventures/ www.rvadventuresblog.com
Karen Cook is a guest blogger from RVAdventures Travel Blog. In  exchange for sharing this content, the Allstate Community has compensated her via cash payment.
]]> http://blog.allstate.com/does-rving-always-require-a-tow-vehicle/feed/ 1