Rent Motor Home

Las Vegas rv/motorhome rentals California towcar caravans RV Central Site Directory Leaseback Program References Rental Rates Contact Us Home Rental Rates Make Money Reservations References List of Charges Insurance One-Way Trips Questions Tow Vehicles Housekeeping Kits Specials Breakdown of Fees Las Vegas Mexico Raceway Deal Contact Us Dump Sites Airport Shuttle RV Classes Your RV Traveler Help Campgrounds Pets Glossary RV History rv MOTOR HOMES RV CARAVANS RENTALS TOWING A CAR (DINGHY / TOAD) rv MOTOR HOMES RV CARAVANS RENTALS Car/ Towed Vehicles Weight & Power Weight & Stopping Weight & Turning Weight & Rating/Warrant Driving with a Towed Car return to Rental Rates page Tow Vehicles main page rv MOTOR HOMES RV CARAVANS RENTALS If you're uncertain about thelaws in your area, check with your state law enforcement agency. The information given here are meant only asa general guide, it shouldnot be taken as absolute fact . The information provided inthis page can change at any given day. The majority ofmotorhomes tow a passenger vehicle referred to at a dinghy or a "toad" . Important safety, economic and legal issues are related to this activity. Thesafety issues relate to highway speed stability and handling. The legality oftowing a toad is most often ignored because most States do not enforce their ownregulations. Towing improperly can bevery expensive in premature wear and damage. A car can cause a seriousaccident if not set up properly or towed correctly. The safety issues relatedto power are safely merging into an Interstate and keeping up with traffic onhighways. RVs should, however, be more concerned about stopping and turningwhile towing a vehicle. Performing an emergency stop towing a 4500 lb vehiclebehind a Class C can be a bone chilling experience. Most of us will drive manymiles over years of RVing and never have to do a real panic stop, but then whathappens if you are the RVer who has to? Have any of you practiced a full panicstop with your motorhome with towed vehicles connected? If you haven't youshould so that you will know what really happens. Have you tried a highway speedquick lane change? Experienced drivers know that it is much easier to steerclear of an obstacle than to stop before you hit it. If you expect to pull a vehicle with yourmotor home, please use these guidelines when choosing a hitch and trailer: Hitch classification: Class 11. Do not usea load equalizing hitch. It could cause structural damage to the frame members. Limit the tongue weight of trailer ortowing device to a maximum of 250 pounds. Heavier tongue weights can damage yourmotor home rear frame and body, cause unstable driving and handlingcharacteristics, and will restrict your rights under the Owner care warranty. Do not tow a vehicle weighing more than3500 pounds, or which would result in exceeding the GCWR recommended by thechassis manufacturer. Heavier vehicles can cause braking problems, damage thehitch, the motor home structure or drive train, cause unstable driving orhandling characteristics, and/or restrict your rights under warranty. Changingthe trailer hitch will not increase the tow capacity of the motor home even ifthe chassis is rated at a higher level. The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) islisted on the wardrobe door tag. The GCWR is the maximum allowable weight ofboth the loaded motor home and towed vehicle. Exceeding the GCWR will causedamage to your motor home drive train or chassis, unstable driving and handlingcharacteristics, and will reduce your warranty protection. up Car / TowedVehicles This is about pullingcars behind motorhome. Drawbacks to tow dollies:Initial cost (but some towbar packages cost as much or more); maintenance,licensing, insurance, storage costs. Some CGs don't have space for them. Todaymost people will choose towbars because of convenience. Easy to hook up, lightweight, little maintenance cost. 10 years ago it wassimple deal. $100 ought to cover it. But some packages cost thousands. Selfaligning, self storing, ease of use, etc. Most cars will require amounting bracket. They come in two different styles, reflecting the twocompanies. Blue Ox uses under bumper mounts. RoadMaster built platfor that stuckout in front of bumber, and can store the towbar on top. It was the firstself-aligning towbar. Next step was Blue Ox designed towbar which left towbar onback of motorhome, rather than in front of the tow car. This accommodated tallerMHs with small cars, as it eliminated the need for a ball hitch. So Roadmastersaw benefit and adopted that style, with the Falcon. Blue Ox has Aventa orAlladdin (steel/aluminium). These differences can be difficult to visualize. Theimportant think is to have the dealer talk you all the way through the entireprocess of hooking up and detaching your toad. How many steps are involved? Howmany "pieces" are involved? How easy is it to do on your particulartow car? Safety cables .Federally required. But always cross them, so the cables will "cradle"the towbar if it should come loose. Also, it equalizes length of cable oncorners. Tow Cars :Which cars can be towed? Honda is a good tow vehicle, even though they don'tspecifically endorse doing so. Saturn is highly towable. Jeep Grand Cherokee isa popular choice. It's important to choose the "right" towable. See www.towingworld.com up Weightand Power Safely towing heavy toadsrequires that you have enough power to merge onto Interstates and to keep upwith minimum speed regulations. If you are underpowered or overloaded there is agreater chance of premature wear on you tow vehicle and premature failure.Overloaded motors and transmissions overheat and wear out or fail sooner than aproperly sized combination. If all the Interstates you drive on are flat, thenyou might be able to get away with overloading. up Weight& Stopping Stopping an overloadedmotorhome toad combination in emergencies can be very risky to life and limb.Even if you drive with greater following distances and very defensively you willprobably face a situation that require a panic stop. Un-braked toads can causean increase of 30 to 50% in the stopping distance. So leave plenty of room infront of you at all times for insure proper breaking distance. The most common accidentcaused by improper combination involves the following scenario. Obstacle ordanger causes the driver to stomp on the brakes. A heavy un-braked toad pushesup on the rear end of the motorhome, reducing the weight on the duals. Themotorhome then starts to jackknife and the toad pushes sideways causing anincreased jackknife. The motorhome then hits something like a rut in the roadand rolls over. The Toad will then causea neutral or slight pull action on the back of the motorhome during a panicstop. This pull will tend to keep the combination straight while maximum brakingis performed. We recommend towing the lightest toad you can enjoy (werent Volkswagen Cabriolet Convertible and the four door Jeep Cherokee ). Ifthat is a Chevrolet Tahoe, then you should drive a large diesel pusher. up Weightand Turning Another dangerousmaneuver you may have to perform to avoid danger is a high-speed lane change. Amotorhome with a heavy toad will almost immediately start jackknifing when thismaneuver is performed. With a light toad, little or no wiggle waggle will takeplace. Think about the weight involved. If the motorhome weighs 12000 and thetoad weighs 4000 lb (33%), then for sure the wiggle is going to happen. If themotorhome weighs 30,000 and the toad 2,500 lb (8.3%), then it will seem likenothing is back there. I think a 40% ratio is the absolute maximum for a toad. up Weightand Ratings/Warrant Many Class A, Class C,and Class B coaches have very low tow ratings and GCW ratings. Older ChevroletChassis are rated to tow only 1000 lb of un-braked vehicle weight. Older FordChassis are rated for only 1500 lb of un-braked weight. Any vehicle towed behindone of these chassis absolutely requires a supplemental braking systeminstalled. The GCWR or Gross Combined Weight Rating is the maximum the motorhome,toad and stuff can weigh to stay within the design limits of the chassis. Forexample, if your coach weighs 15,000 lb loaded and ready to travel, and its GCWRis 18000 lb, then your loaded toad can only weigh 3000 lb. GVWR is the GrossVehicle Weight Rating and is the maximum the loaded motorhome can weigh. If youoverload your rig, you won't necessarily break something immediately, but theservice life on the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, and other chassiscomponents will be signficiantly shortened. I hear often of transmissionfailures on overloaded rigs. If you overload your rig, most often things heat upand cause premature wear on all components. up Drivingwith a Towed Vehicle For the vast majority of the time behindthe wheel, not much skill is required to get this big hummer safely down theroad. We have to remember that it hangs out on all sides more than a car, soparking, turning on residential streets, getting in and out of fuel stops, etcare our biggest challenges. These are not normally life threatening situationsand related accidents are only financial challenges. But at highway speed when acar cuts off our path, or a deer jumps from the side of the road, or some debrisor chuck hole winds up in our lane, turning a reducing radius curve in the rain,child darts out between two parked cars, or hundreds of other infrequentlyexperienced challenges is when we need all the driving skill and properequipment we can get. The accidents caused by these situations frequently resultin personal injury or death as well as large financial losses. Think about the physics of a 4000 lb weight, placed at the end of a lever (towbar) swinging side ways at 60 miles per hour when you try to do a quickavoidance lane change. Think about adding 25% (4000 lbs) to the weight of yourmotorhome (16000 lbs) and then trying to stop. Toads increase the stoppingdistance at highway speeds from 30% to 80% depending on all the variablesinvolved. Think about having to slow the combined rig down half way through anunanticipated steep incline and how hot the brakes will get during long downgrade driving. Think about having to avoid hitting a small child dashing outbetween parked cars. You each can add to this list the your experiences when youneeded to stop or maneuver to miss hitting some obstacle. I am arguing for all of us to be responsible motorhome drivers with the bestskill and equipment available; and to select dingies (toads) that will be thesafest rather than the most trendy or the most comfortable. When I see amotorhome towing a full size van filled with goodies, or a Suburban crammed fullof fishing gear plus a boat on the top, I wonder about the driver and what hisskill level is, and how he's going to feel when all that extra weight causes apersonal injury. We all know that accidents happen even with the best driver,equipment, conditions, etc., but we should not drive an accident waiting tohappen down the road on purpose. I am almost finished with the article comparingtoad braking systems that can add significantly to the safety of dingy towingbut the more I worked on it the more if felt driven to say a few works aboutcommon sense. up

motor coaches at affordable

Phoenix Arizona CVB Travel Center : Hotels, Resorts & Golf in Greater Phoenix AZ Home Where to Stay Where to Dine What to Do About Phoenix Getting Around Phx Sky Harbor Maps Relocation Special Event Services Useful Links Create My Itinerary Contact Us Transportation Charters & Motorcoaches Basic Listings All Aboard America! Tours 230 S. Country Club Dr.; Mesa, AZ 85210 (480) 962-6202 | Fax (480) 962-5727 Late-model PREVOST/MCI coaches. 15, 25, 48, 55 passengers. Professional and certified operators. Local, nationwide and Mexico. Receptive services. Since 1936. more information... Map | Add to My Itinerary American Explorer Motorcoach 3680 E. Aspen Ct.; Gilbert, AZ 85234 (877) 559-0517 | (480) 558-0606 | Fax (480-) 558-5161 American Explorer Motorcoach is committed to providing excellent service with quality motor coaches at affordable prices. Offering 49, 51, 55 & 56 passenger coaches. Serving Arizona since 1984. more information... Map | Add to My Itinerary Arrow Stage Lines / Gray Line Tours of Phoenix 4001 S. 34th St.; Phoenix, AZ 85040 (800) 777-3484 | (602) 437-3484 | Fax (602) 437-3515 Arrow Stage Lines, based in Phoenix, is the largest motorcoach company in Ari-zona. We are of CUSA, LLC of Dallas, Texas, one the nations largest providers of coach transportation. Arrow operates a mo... more information... Map | Add to My Itinerary Corporate Transportation 'N Tours 2352 E. University Dr., Ste. D105; Phoenix, AZ 85034 (800) 678-3867 | (602) 528-3848 | Fax (602) 528-3852 Van, mini-coach and luxury motor coach transportation that will exceed your guests expectations. Exceptional service provided by our entire staff. We appreciate your calls! more information... Map | Add to My Itinerary JDR Tours 5125 N. 16th St., Ste. A-121; Phoenix, AZ 85016 (800) 759-8747 | (602) 264-2833 | Fax (602) 264-3500 Destination management is our specialty. Transportation experts nationwide. Exceptional knowledge in golf, tennis, skiing and team sports. 10-57 passengers/lounge car limo bus and standard video coach... more information... Map | Add to My Itinerary Laidlaw Education Services 1139 N. 27th Ave.; Phoenix, AZ 85009-3607 (800) 548-0883 | (602) 484-7688 | Fax (602) 484-0251 Providing professional and economical bus transportation for more than 80 years. Offering personalized planning for your activities, shuttles and tours. more information... Map | Add to My Itinerary Ryan's Express 820 N. McClintock; Tempe, AZ 85281 (888) 558-RYAN | (480) 736-0137 | Fax (480) 736-0146 Ryan's Express offers the finest fleet of motorcoaches, minibuses, limousines, sedans and vans, providing service that meets the demands of the most discriminating taste. more information... Map | Add to My Itinerary Southwest Charter Lines 19 E. Broadway Rd.; Mesa, AZ 85210 (800) 443-1458 | (480) 890-9872 | Fax (480) 890-9878 Since 1986, Southwest Charter Lines has been providing excellent motorcoach transportation services for both local and international clients. We take pride in our commitment to making your trip comfo... more information... Map | Add to My Itinerary Tour West America P.O. Box 62223; Phoenix, AZ 85082-0903 (800) 900-TOUR | (602) 305-8888 | Fax (602) 305-8840 Arizona's Best! Reliable, professional and courteous. TWA's drivers/staff work hard to welcome your group to Arizona. Our services are outstanding! Clean and beautiful 31, 47 and 56 passenger coaches.... more information... Map | Add to My Itinerary VIA Adventures, Inc. 1826 E. 3rd St.; Tempe, AZ 85281 (888) VIA-LINE | (480) 966-4940 | Fax (480) 966-5118 Over 20 years of charter and tour experience providing personal, quality service that will result in superior travel experiences. Federally licensed and fully insured, our deluxe coaches are equipped... more information... Map | Add to My Itinerary Browse Other SubCategories All (60) Airlines (2) Airports & Airport Services (6) Car Rentals (10) Charters & Motorcoaches (10) Freight & Logistics (5) New/Used Car Dealers (2) Public Transportation (1) Repair Services (2) Taxis, Limousines & Shuttles (20) Transportation for the Physically Challenged (2) © 2005 Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy Site Map Powered By: cvbTV.com

Fleetwood RV Download Library

Fleetwood RV Brochure Download Library Welcome! [sign in to access My Fleetwood] My Fleetwood Luxury Coaches American Heritage American Eagle American Tradition Diesel Coaches Revolution Revolution LE Excursion Providence Discovery Bounder Diesel Expedition Gas Motor Homes Pace Arrow Southwind Bounder Flair Storm Terra Fiesta Mini Motor Homes Tioga Tioga SL Tioga SLX Jamboree Jamboree GT Jamboree GTX Travel Trailers Triumph Pride Terry Prowler Wilderness Mallard Pioneer Pegasus Orbit Toy Haulers GearBox Nitrous Hyperlite RedLine Folding Camping Trailers Destiny Americana Highlander Scorpion Evolution Element Download Library Welcome to the Fleetwood RV Download Library Download information about our recreational vehicles. Fleetwood RV provides two types of product literature: brochure and flyers, both in PDF form. Prefer printed brochures? Request Fleetwood RV literature via mail. Choose a Fleetwood Brand - Choose One - - Luxury Coaches - American Eagle American Heritage American Tradition - Diesel Motor Homes - Bounder Diesel Discovery Excursion Expedition Providence Revolution LE - Gas Motor Homes - Bounder Fiesta Flair Pace Arrow Southwind Storm Terra - Mini Motor Homes - Jamboree Jamboree GT Jamboree GTX Tioga Tioga SL Tioga SLX - Travel Trailers - Mallard Orbit Pegasus Pioneer Prowler Prowler Lynx Terry Terry Dakota Wilderness Wilderness Yukon Pride Prowler Regal AX6 Terry Quantum AX6 Triumph Wilderness Advantage AX6 - Toy Haulers - GearBox Nitrous Hyperlite - Folding Camping Trailers - Americana Destiny Element Evolution Highlander Scorpion FLEETWOOD RV BROCHURES: full color interior and exterior product photography, highlights of key features. FLEETWOOD RV FLYERS: all available floorplans and complete technical specifications. 2006 Southwind brochure (1.4 MB) 2006 Southwind flyer (806 KB) 2005 Southwind brochure (1.4 MB) 2005 Southwind flyer (761 KB) 2004 Southwind brochure (4.2 MB) 2004 Southwind flyer (522 KB) 2003 Southwind brochure (2.2 MB) 2003 Southwind flyer (216 KB) 2002 Southwind brochure (1.7 MB) 2002 Southwind flyer (806 KB) 2001 Southwind brochure (2.7 MB) 2000 Southwind brochure (683 KB) 1999 Southwind brochure (343 KB) Fleetwood RV brochures and flyers require Adobe Acrobat Reader . Home | Contact Us | Owners Clubs | Plant Tours | Your Privacy | About this Site Fleetwood RV Store | Fleetwood.com | Employment | Website Feedback

Mobile Home Insurance

Dwelling Fire / Mobile Home Insurance - National Security Group The National Security Dwelling Fire / Mobile Home policy is designed for owner, tenant or seasonal occupied dwellings and mobile homes. This is a named peril policy and losses are settled on an actual cash value basis. The perils covered are: Fire & Lightning Windstorm or Hail (coverage is excluded in Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties in Mississippi) Explosion Riot Riot attending a strike Civil commotion Aircraft Vehicles Smoke National Securitys Dwelling Fire / Mobile Home policy allows you the flexibility to add several optional coverages for an additional premium. Optional coverages include: Personal Liability Owners, Landlords & Tenants Liability Vandalism available for owner occupied property only. Pumps and Antennas Fire Department Service Charge Extended Vacancy available for tenant occupied property only. Electrical Burnout Vendors Single Interest Earthquake Tenant Schedules National Security makes it easy for Landlords to insure multiple properties by using our Tenant Schedule option. There is no limit to the number tenant properties that can be listed on a single policy and you may add or delete properties whenever you wish. National Securitys Dwelling Fire / Mobile Home policy is available in AL, AR, GA, MS, TN, OK & SC. Important - Read your policy. This description is not an insurance policy. It serves only to provide a general description of coverages available from The National Security Group, Inc. Insurance policies for the coverages described above contain specific details of the coverages provided, conditions, limitations, and exclusions. Please consult your local agent or refer to your policy for actual coverages .

luxury RV resort of

The RV Life BudgetTravelOnline.com The RV Life Recreational vehicles are changing the ways Americans vacation Wednesday, March 30, 2005; It's the opposite of chic, somewhat rustic and rough. Yet the fastest-growing means for vacationing in America is the recreational vehicle, and the people using them are the finest travelers our country has. You meet them with increasing frequency. They can be your best friends who have just returned from a three-month trip through the national parks--in a shiny new motor home--and claim it's the best thing they've ever done. They are your neighbors who have bought a trailer they're going to use to "winter" in a luxury RV resort of Florida. They are images of yourself as you day-dream about getting away from it all, buying a recreational vehicle, and taking off to see the great outdoors, the sights of the Southwest, the scattered grandchildren across the land. But how do you get started? Buying a recreational vehicle--an RV--is a major investment that can even exceed $40,000 and $50,000. Is it worth the outlay? Will you enjoy the lifestyle of the semi-nomad? Will you get restless and claustrophobic, or will you have the travel experience of a lifetime? A bit of analysis is in order: The vehicles themselves "RVs"--a generic term for a conveyance that combines transportation with living quarters--come in two varieties. They can be motorized (like motor homes or van conversions) or towable units (like travel trailers, truck campers, and folding camp trailers.) The motor homes, most popular among retired Americans, are built on or as part of a self-propelled vehicle chassis, with kitchen, sleeping, bathroom, and dining facilities all easily accessible to the driver's cab from the inside. They range from 18 to 40 feet in length, can sleep from two to eight people, and cost from $22,000 for "compacts" to $60,000 for larger types, with luxury-status models going way up to $150,000 and more. Conversions are cheaper (but smaller.) These are vans, originally manufactured by an auto maker, that have been modified for recreation purposes through the installation of side windows, carpeting, paneling, custom seats and sofas, and assorted accessories. They can sleep from two to four people, and sell for an average of $20,000. Travel trailers are hard-sided units designed to be towed by an auto, van, or pickup truck, and can be unhitched from the tow vehicle. They sleep four to eight people, and provide such comforts as kitchen, toilet, sleeping, dining, and living facilities, electric and water systems, and modern appliances. Models range from $10,000 to $25,000, depending on size and features. Truck campers are camping units that are loaded onto the bed or chassis of a pickup truck. Many have kitchen and bathroom facilities. They sleep two to six, and go for $4,000 to $10,000. Folding camping trailers are units with collapsible sides that fold for lightweight towing by a motorized vehicle. Set up, they provide kitchen, dining, and sleeping facilities for four to eight people, and sell for between $1,500 and $12,000. The advantages In an RV, you follow your own flexible time schedule, without fixed reservations anywhere, without depending on others (hotels, trains, planes.) You don't constantly pack and unpack; in fact, you carry no luggage. You cook when you like, eat out only when you wish, say good-bye to greasy spoons, and usually enjoy home-prepared food. You can have your pets with you. You can visit friends or relatives anywhere in the country without imposing on them: your RV, parked in their driveway, becomes your own private guest cottage--as well as your summer beach house, your winter chalet. You make friends easily upon arriving at a camping ground or RV resort. RV-ers are, in general, enthusiasts who love their lifestyle and like sharing it with new people. They are constantly attending rallies, caravans, campouts, meeting with other RV-ers to share common interests. "It's difficult to be lonely in a campground," says one confirmed RV-er. "Our luxury RV resort in Florida ($15 a night) was constantly holding social events. Between dinners and galas, folk dances and exercise classes, meeting new people was not only simple--it was unavoidable." And RV travel is economical. You can purchase fresh local produce on the road and cook your own meals. Your stay at campgrounds is usually nominal ($10 to $40 a night is typical.) And there's no one to tip. One study shows that an RV vacation costs about half the expense of a car/hotel vacation, one-third the cost of a bus/hotel or train/hotel holiday, and one-fourth the cost of an air/hotel vacation. The drawbacks But RV travel is not for everyone--it may not be for you. A Philadelphia couple I know who recently spent four months traveling across country in a motor home issued the following caveats: "Be sure," they said, "you feel extremely comfortable with whomever you will be traveling with; you're going to spend long periods of time in close quarters. Be sure you're an expert driver and enjoy spending long periods on the road. Above all, don't take this kind of trip unless you're extremely flexible, elastic even, and able to cope with new situations, which happen all the time. Mechanical breakdowns are not uncommon and you have to be able to handle them without getting upset." Renting before buying Many first-time RV-ers begin by renting a motor home to get used to driving a large vehicle and used to spending a great deal of driving time together. Now they're so enthusiastic, they're planning to sell their large suburban home, move into a small apartment, buy an RV, and spend at least six months on the road each year. "The excitement and variety of life cannot be compared with any travel experience we've ever had--and we're experienced foreign travelers," they say. "It's a new kind of life, a brand-new world we never saw before." The rental process The first step is to look in your local telephone directory under the category "Recreation Vehicles--Renting and Leasing." Or you can call one of the three major national companies: Cruise America (800/671-8042, cruiseamerica.com ); and Bates International Motor Home Rental Network (800/732-2283), or visit batesintl.com ; El Monte RV Center (888 337-2214, elmonterv.com .) Another firm, Altman's Winnebago, (800/400-0787, altmans.com ) may also be worth a call. It's also useful to visit the Web site of the Recreational Vehicles Rental Association at rvra.org . It contains a list of companies that rent RV's, including prices and addresses, in almost all of the 50 states. Rental costs vary considerably, depending on type of vehicle, when and for how long you want it, season, and other variables. One way of getting a good price is by regularly checking the Web sites of the major rental outfits, which periodically post specials. One of the "grander" motor homes--either a 26-foot Alumalite by Holiday Rambler or a 27-foot Southwester by Fleetwood--will average $700 to $1,000 a week, plus low-cost mileage (29 cents per mile after an initial number of free miles). But that's for a vehicle that can sleep six people and is fully self-contained, with such added features as a microwave oven, roof air conditioning, its own generator and propane tank (so that a hookup is not necessary), power steering, and almost everything else you can name. It is usually cheaper to rent from a private individual, but then you must be aware of the risk you take if a breakdown should occur; a private owner can usually do little for you, while with a major company, repairs are either handled on the spot or you are given a new vehicle and put back on the road within 24 hours. Rental dealers may also apply the cost of a rental to a future purchase. They can provide you with broad forms of insurance. Some will arrange tour packages if you're traveling to popular state or national parks or historic landmarks. Others offer orientation sessions and packages that include linens and cookware. The most important step is advance study and comparison-shopping before you rent. Make sure you understand the terms of the agreement, take your vehicle out for a test spin, and reserve as far in advance as possible. Indeed, the "RV life" is becoming so popular that a reservation several months in advance might not be a bad idea. Looking to the Web Making all of the steps to successful and enjoyable RV-ing easier are Web sites dedicated to informing enthusiasts about every facet of this growing trend. Buy or sell a motor home, find the best campgrounds to park, check out dozens of rental companies, and even learn easy recipes to make inside your RV--all on the Internet. To help you sift through the many available sites, we've chosen five of the most useful: RV Trader Online ( rvtraderonline.com ) is a great source for those looking to purchase an RV. With classified ads listing motor homes for sale, an extensive listing of dealers that can be searched by zip code, campground information, and resources for those in need of parts and accessories, RV Trader is certainly worthy of a visit, especially for those looking to buy. Rainbow RV Club International: ( rainbowrv.net ) is a unique site that should be the first stop for gay and lesbian RV-ers. Claiming to offer the Web's largest database of gay and lesbian campgrounds, the site lists 170 gay-friendly places to park your RV from coast to coast. The site also features an events calendar, message board, chat room, and links all geared towards gay and lesbian RV-ers. Much of the information is only available if you pay for the annual membership, which costs $19.95. RV Home: ( rvhome.com ) contains a wealth of information about RV-ing. While some of its topic links bring you only to advertisements, others are quite useful: an RV-geared bulletin board, tips, campground reviews, and fairly extensive classifieds. There's also a listing of RV dealers indexed by state. RV USA: ( rvusa.com ) is among the best organized and most useful RV sites available. The site includes interesting features such as cookbook links (like "The Four Ingredient Cookbook Collection") especially selected for the small RV kitchens. The site also features forums for RV-ers to ask questions, and exchange tips and information, and allows members to post classified ads selling RV's for free. A host of travel information, including campgrounds, places to eat, sights to see, grocery stores, and events around the country, can also be found on the site. Caravans and rallies around the globe: Taking the guesswork out of RV travel, caravans are package tours where recreational vehicle owners drive in groups (usually no larger than 25 units). The campground sites are reserved, activities are planned, and participants tour a region with enough freedom to allow for their own interests, but enough organization to keep them fairly busy. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s it wasn't uncommon to see a 20-unit caravan hitting the American interstates simultaneously, each vehicle pulling over when the caravan master (head RV) did. Though some still opt for this form of caravan (which can sometimes create a logistical nightmare, not to mention possible road congestion), many others have adopted the "scatter" concept of RV-ing. This allows individual RV-ers to travel at their own leisure, stopping at points of interest, and meeting at a given time at the day's final destination. Those who take part in a caravan often create lifelong friendships, even holding reunions year after year. Quite different from a caravan is a rally, usually a gathering of RV-ers at a large-scale and well-known event like Mardi Gras, the Kentucky Derby, or the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. Rallies can be relatively small, attracting about the same number of RVs as a caravan (20), or can grow extremely large, with as many as 150 units. Whereas a caravan keeps drivers on the road, the rally only requires that you show up at the campground with an RV, where it will remain stationary until you depart. The organizers typically arrange for transfers (usually via motor coach) to transport rallyists to events. While dozens of companies operate caravans and rallies, we've highlighted three of the biggest--and the best, and two specialty RV organizations (one for solo travelers, the other for women only). Creative World: (4005 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA 70119, phone 800/732-8337, Web: creativeworldtravel.com or rv-fun.com ) is a forefather in RV travel, and among the best out there today. Founded in 1976 by "Big Bill" LaGrange (who has traveled to 130 countries himself), Creative World offers over 45-50 different rallies and caravan itineraries, all of which are listed on their sleek, easy-to-use Web site. Rallies range from seven to 42 days (for international trips) in length at a cost of about $1,300 to $8,000 for two people. A six-night itinerary to Mardi Gras for two, for example, runs $1,350, and includes everything from city tours to Cajun cooking lessons to the premiere events of Carnival. Two- to six-week caravan packages are similarly priced , with itineraries throughout the U.S. and Canada, and in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Upon arrival at the initial meeting spot on a caravan, participants are given an extensive trip log/guidebook with easy-to-follow directions indicating meeting points each day. When the RV-ers depart a given location, they're told when and where to meet, and they can consult their guidebook for directions, sights of interest along the way, and the history of the towns they're passing through. Creative World's caravans are priced at $2,000 to $7,000 for two people, and like their rallies, include what other companies often offer as "optionals," such as entertainment, additional meals, and guided touring opportunities. Adventure Caravans: (125 Promise Lane, Livingston, TX 77350, phone 800/872-7897, Web: adventurecaravans.com ) is another well-known RV caravan and rally company. It's particularly of interest to those who want to go RV-ing in Central America and Mexico, where Creative World doesn't venture. It arranges rallies at many of the same events as Creative World, with rates averaging from $100 to $225 per day. Its caravans run from 12 days to 78 days, and are priced from $995 to $17,390 for two people, though they include far fewer activities than Creative World. In total, it has about 63 different programs in the US, plus five overseas. Fantasy RV Tours: (111 Camino Del Rio, Gunnison, CO. 81230, phone 800/952-8496, Web: fantasyrvtours.com ) is among the nation's largest caravan companies, but its specialty is RV travel through Mexico. One-third of the company's 75 yearly departures head to our neighbor to the south, with the balance cruising through the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and a variety of countries in Europe. Its caravans, six to 48 days in length, cost between $1,800 and $11,500 for two people, including one meal daily, camping fees, some entertainment, and many tours and admission fees. One defining characteristic of a Fantasy caravan is its insistence on sticking with the original style of caravanning. Unlike many of its competitors, when a Fantasy caravan makes a departure, all of its rigs follow. Loners on Wheels, Inc: (P.O. Box 1060-WB, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702, tel: 888/569-4478, Web: lonersonwheels.com ) organizes campouts, caravans, and potlucks around the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, and sends out a newsletter with information on all of the above. The organization is devoted to people who enjoy RV-ing on their own, but who also like to meet up with like-minded travelers from time to time. A rather large organization, it forms caravans of RVs operated solely by singles, and takes them to rallies and camp-outs all over North America. Annual dues are $45. RVing Women: (P.O. Box 1940 Apache Junction, AZ 85217, tel: 888/557-8464 or 480/671-6226, Web: rvingwomen.com ) is another specialist operation, this one focused (as the name states) on women who travel by RV. The organization offers advice, support, seminars, caravans, and a bi-monthly magazine and membership directory to "on-your-own" women RVers who are single, widowed, divorced or have husbands who just hate camping. Membership is $45 a year, with a processing fee of $10. Motorhomes in Great Britain and Ireland: Eveer vacationed in a recreational vehicle? Then why not do so in Britain? The campsites and trailer parks there are as numerous as here and large fleets of what the English call "motor caravans" are available for rental from numerous firms at rates of L658 to L890 (US$1,236 to $1,670) per week for the summer months, down by L35 ($US144) per week in the other months of the year; rates cover everything except gasoline, food and nominal charges at the campsites. In a vehicle fully equipped with beds and sleeping bags, toilets and all cooking and eating utensils, you'll wander the British Isles without fear of high hotel rates or fully booked hotels and share the company of camping English people, all at marvelously low rates. Among the largest of the British firms are Hornchurch Motor Caravans, 5-7 Broadway Parade, Elm Park Avenue, Hornchurch, Essey RM12 4RS (phone 011-44-01-708-443782, Web: hmcc.co.uk ) or the company's American partner; Motor Home Rentals, 37-39 Upper Halliford Road, Shepperton, Middlesex, TW17 8RX (phone 011-44-1932-770-765, Web: motorhome-rentals.co.uk ); Marquis Motorhome Centre, Winchester Road, Lower Upham, Nr Southampton SO32 1HA (phone 011-44-1489-860-666, Web: marquis-mh.co.uk ); and Leighway Hire, 246 Chertsey Lane, Staines, Middlesex, TW18 3NF (phone 011-44-178-445-5073, Web: leighwayrental.co.uk ). The last firm will send a mini-bus to pick you up at Gatwick or Heathrow Airports at no additional charge if you request this service in advance (give them at least one day's notice). For rentals on the Emerald Isle (both in the Northern Ireland and the Republic), contact Motorhome Ireland (17 Valley Rd., Banbridge Co Down, N. Ireland BT32 4HF tel: 011-44-028-4062-1800 Web: motorhome-irl.co.uk ). For Web sites that detail campsites and their locations, try the official site of Caravan and Camping Ireland: camping-ireland.ie .