RV Travel Security By

RV Travel Security Visit our sister site FabulousFoods.com Tuesday January 24, 2006 Email This Page To A Friend! RV Travel Security By Mark J. Polk For one minute, try to think the way a criminal would think. If you were at a rest stop looking for your next target or victim, what would you look for? Let's pretend for a moment that you were going to target a vehicle. Which would be more appealing, a car whose owner stopped for a quick bathroom break or an expensive looking Class A motor home, whose owners are out walking their dogs? I don't have the mind of a criminal but this is an easy choice. That expensive looking RV probably has expensive contents inside like, jewelry, cameras, and a laptop computer. Okay, we have come to the conclusion that we, the RVers, are the prime target for the criminal mind, so what can we do to protect ourselves? That's what this RV security checklist is for. To give you some ideas on how to protect yourself and you're personal belongings when you're traveling in your RV. Don't stay overnight at a rest stop. Rest stops attract criminals. If you stop at a rest stop it should only be for a short break and then back on the road. Lock the RV and take turns using the facilities, always leaving someone in or close to the RV. Always be on the look out for anything or anyone that looks suspicious. Keep your cell phone handy in case you need it and don't open the door for anybody, unless you know who it is. Rest stops aren't the only place you need to be concerned about. Every time you stop to refuel there are certain precautions you need to take. It's easy to be vulnerable to a thief at a gas station or a truck stop. I have a bad habit of leaving my wallet on the console of our Class C motor home. The door isn't locked and your spouse is taking advantage of the time to walk the dogs. This is how quickly it can happen. Get in the habit of locking the doors whenever you or someone else is not physically in the RV. Most robberies occur at night and most travel related robberies occur at rest stops, gas stations, convenience stores and ATM machines. Try to schedule most of your stops during daylight hours, and whenever you stop be aware of your surroundings. If something doesn't look right leave. Wal-Mart or other parking lots where you might stop to get a few hours of sleep can present security problems too. You should always park in a well lit area and the entry door of the RV should be facing where most of the activity is. A thief prefers to work where it is dark and where it is least likely to draw any attention. Close your curtains or blinds so it's not possible for someone to look inside. Don't open the door for anybody unless you know who it is. If it's a security guard ask for identification before you open the door. As much as we would like to believe that campgrounds are 100% safe and secure don't let your guard down. You don't need to be paranoid, just use some common sense. Don't leave expensive equipment lying around unsecured. Vehicle tow bars, hitches, bicycles and other items need to be under lock and key. Keep any valuables inside the RV secured and out of sight. It's a good idea to purchase a small fire proof safe to store valuables and important paperwork in. The safe might protect your valuables from the hazards of a fire but it will still need to be stored in a secure, out of the way place, inside the RV. Always lock the RV when you're not physically at the campsite. Do not store valuable equipment in outside storage compartments. Believe it or not, a vast majority of RV's use the same exact key as yours for outside storage compartments. If you store valuables, like golf clubs, fishing gear or tools in the outside compartments you may want to have the locks changed. Before you leave on a trip make sure your Emergency Roadside Service Plan is current. In the unfortunate event that you breakdown on the road, try to pull off in as safe a place as possible and call for help immediately. Stay with the RV until help arrives. It's unfortunate that we live in a day and age where we need to take these added measures to protect ourselves. I don't want you to feel like everybody you meet during your travels is a thief or has bad intentions. Just use common sense and be aware of what is going on around you. Plan your trip, travel safe and enjoy your RV experiences. Remember, getting there is half the fun! Happy Camping, Mark Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101 . He also hosts the RV Savvy segments on RVTV , which airs on the Outdoor Channel. RV Education 101 is a North Carolina based company that produces professional training videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV. Our goal is to make all of your RVing experiences safe, fun and stress free. For more information, visit www.rveducation101.com . Sign up today for one of our FREE informative and fun Newsletters . RV / Camping Budget Travel Travel Tips Kitchen Tips Low Carb Low Fat Desserts Holidays/Parties Vegetarian E-Mail address subscribe unsubscribe Home | Budget | Adventures | Globetrotting | Weird Wanderings | RV & Camper's Corner | Galavanting Gourmet On the Water | Travel Books | Community | Tips © Enigma Communications™ 2006 About Us | Advertising Opportunities | Privacy Policy

MOTORHOME RIGHTS MOTORHOME TRAVEL

-- FMCA Motorhome Rights HOME JOIN MEMBERSHIP CONVENTIONS FMC MAGAZINE AREAS CHAPTERS GOVERNANCE MOTORHOME GUIDE MOTORHOME RIGHTS MOTORHOME TRAVEL BUSINESS DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS EVENT CALENDAR FREE PRODUCT INFO ROAD ATLAS TRIP ROUTING FMCA ABOUT JOIN ADVERTISE STORE YOUR FMCA.com LOG IN | LOG OUT MEMBER DIRECTORY RENEW MEMBERSHIP UPDATE MEMBERSHIP SEARCH Richardson, Texas, parking Richardson, Texas, and three residents have reached a settlement over an RV parking ordinance. FULL STORY >> MORE UPDATES >> About Committee | Volunteers Cases Information Glossary | Government Members | Motorhomes Lots | Parking | Protection Zoning | Zoning terms Involvement Protecting your rights Letters | Telephone E-mail | Meetings Flyers | Petitions Local media | Op-Eds Radio/TV | Newsletters Press releases Links Rights Home About Cases Information Involvement Links MORE FMCA.com RESOURCES FMC Travel Articles Index ▪ Sort by issue date ▪ Sort by location ▪ More FMC indexes » FMCA Business Directory ▪ Campgrounds ▪ Dealers ▪ RV Repair ▪ More business categories » FMCA.com Featured Stories: Travel Spotlight: StoryCorps records America Chapter Spotlight: South Central Wanderers Member Spotlight: Frank and Jil Brodersen Pet Spotlight: Miniature pinscher FMC magazine: January 2006 FMCA.com/Conventions Conventions Pomona, CA - March 2006 Charlotte/Concord, NC - August 2006 Perry, GA - March 2007 Online Archives Convention Archive | Photo Album Register Now FMCA.com/FMCMag Current Issue January 2006 Online Archives Article/Column Index | Back Issues Recall Corner | Virtual Tours Free Product Info January 2006 Privacy Policy | Site Information | Contact Us 1996-2005, Family Motor Coach Association

RV camping, 22-foot limit.

RV/Campgrounds RV /Campgrounds State Parks Blue Springs State Park 2595 Highway 10 Clio, Alabama 36017 334-397-4875 Blue Springs State Park is located six miles east of Clio, Alabama. Visitors to Blue Springs State Park will be welcomed by such activities as hiking, camping, swimming and picnicking. The springs at Blue Springs are fed by a crystal clear underground spring source that provides fun for the whole family. Open daylight hours. Other facilities include: picnic shelters, tables, grills, comfort stations, playground, tennis courts, and 50 modern campground sites. Admission charged. $11/day base rate. Senior rates. Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge 509 Old Highway 165 Eufaula, Alabama 36027 334-687-4065 or 334-687-5906 Email: eufaula@fws.gov The Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge (ENWR) is located 5 miles north of Eufaula, Alabama, on U.S. Highway 431, then 1.5 miles on 165 North. The ENWR was established in 1964 on the Walter F. George Reservoir. Locally called "Lake Eufaula," it was formed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impounding the Chattahoochee River. The ENWR, located 40 miles south of Columbus, Georgia, consists of 11,184 acres with more than 4,200 in open water. Habitat types include riparian areas, seasonally manipulated wetland impoundments, upland old fields, agricultural fields, hedge rows, pine and hardwood uplands, and hardwood bottomlands. Management provides habitat for migratory waterfowl, brood habitat for wood ducks and promotes diversity of flora and fauna including endangered and threatened species such as American alligators, bald eagle and wood stork; resident species and neotropical migrant birds. At times there are an abundance of sand islands, spits and sandbars in the lake. Recreational activities include: trails, auto tour route, fishing, two observation towers, wildlife observation, photography, and managed hunts (including youth hunts). Managed hunts are permitted for dove, deer, waterfowl, squirrel and rabbit. The refuge provides year-round bank fishing or fishing by boat in waters within the refuge boundaries. The ENWR is open to visitors during daylight hours, 7 days a week. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm. Free admission. Florala State Park 514 Lakeshore Drive Florala, Alabama 36422 334-858-6425 Located in the city of Florala, along beautiful Lake Jackson (named after Andrew Jackson), Florala State Park is 40 acres and features a community building, campground and picnicarea along the spring-fed lake. Campground features include 23 campsites (with grills, water, electricity, and sewage hookup), 10 tent area sites (with tables, grill, water, and electricity), and a large picnic pavilion. There are also two meeting rooms at the lake available for rent. Amenities include a kitchen with stove, refrigerator, microwave and meeting space. Park hours are from 8:00 am until sunset. Frank Jackson State Park P.O. Box 73-C Opp, Alabama 36467 334-493-6988 or 334-493-6348 Frank Jackson State Park is located just one mile from downtown Opp. From Highway 331, turn west on Opine Road. With a well-stocked pond and 2,050 acre park, this area features one of the bestfishing spots in the South. A swimming beach, picnic area, campground, boat launch, accessible fishing pier, walking trails and playground are also available. Open during daylight hours. Admission charged. Senior rates. Lakepoint State Park 104 Lakepoint Drive Eufaula, Alabama 36027 334-687-6676 or 334-687-6921 Located 7 miles north of Eufaula off Highway 431 on the Alabama-Georgia line, Lake Eufaula is knownas the "Bass Capital of the World." The 1,220 acre park features a full-service marina, 101 room Resort Motel, 6 suites, 29 cabins, dining room, 7 meeting/banquet rooms, championship golf course, hiking trails, picnic area and beach area that includes a swimming pool. Marina facilities include fishing and pontoon boat rental, store, overnight docking, permanent wet storage, fuel dock and boat launching facilities. Park is open 24 hours daily. The picnic area is open sunup to sundown. Free admission. Adjacent to Lakepoint State Park is the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge. Roland Cooper State Park 285 Deer Run Drive Camden, Alabama 36726 334-682-4838 or 334-682-4050 Located six miles northeast of Camden, rolling along the 22,000 acre Dannelly Reservoir, this 236 acre park features a nine hole golf course with club house; spacious vacation cottages; modern campground with bathhouse, laundry and camp store; and a scenic picnic area with tables, grills, pavilions and comfort station. With fishing so popular in the reservoir, the park also provides boat launching facilities and bait & tackle amenities. Modern cabins for 1-4 persons - $42 - $60. Campground - $14 per day base rate. All park information is available from: Alabama State Parks www.dcnr.state.al.us 1-800-Ala-Park Information provided by: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wildernet ( www.wildernet.com ) Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel Campgrounds and RV Parks CleanPark R.V. Park 4100 South Oates Street (U.S. Highway 231 South) Dothan, Alabama 36301 334-792-2000 24 full hookup sites. $18.85 plus tax nightly rate. Clean, secure atmosphere. Thirty minutes north of I-10. Lots of trees, moderate climate, shopping and many recreational activities within a short drive. (click here for amap of accommodations) Deer Run RV Park 3736 U.S. Highway 231 North Troy, Alabama 36081 334-566-6517 334-566-4707 Fort RuckerRV Park Building 24236 Lake Tholocco Fort Rucker, Alabama 36362 334-255-4305 Open daylight to dusk. Park amenities include recreational vehicle campsites, picnic areas, lakes, a skeet range, paintball range, equipment issue center, boat rental, swimming enhancements, lake cottages, hunting and fishing. HoustonCounty Farm Center 1701 East Cottonwood Road (on Ross Clark Circle) Dothan, Alabama 36303 334-792-5730 63 hookup sites available (10 with water and electricity) (click here for amap of accommodations) Omussee Creek Park 828 Omussee Creek Road (off of Highway 95 South) Columbia , Alabama 334-696-4626 Open daylight to dusk. Free admission. Two boat ramps. Two softball fields. Two pavilions. Volleyball, nature trails, picnic areas, comfort station. Primitive camping sites. Open Pond Recreation Area Andalusia, Alabama 334-222-2555 Open Pond is located south of Andalusia off of Alabama Highway 137. This 15-acre public campground facilityis located 10 miles southwest on Highway 29, five miles south on Highway 137, one-half mile east on Highway 24,then one mile southeast on FR 336. Offers 40 sites for tent, RV camping, 22-foot limit. Features dump station, flush toilets, boat ramp, hiking trails. Groceries available. Recreation includes boating, fishing, bicycles. Maximum stay 14 nights. Ozark Trav-L-Park 2414 North U.S. Highway 231 North (Mile Marker 47) Ozark, Alabama 36360 334-774-3219 Reservations (800) 359-3218 http://www.trav-l-park.com Offers 50 RV sites, 35 that accommodate pull-thrus and 10 that hold double slideouts. All RV sites feature full hookups, including 30 or 50 amp electricity, phone hookup and cable TV service. Tent campers, groups and big rigs welcome. Rate: $21.95/daily. Point "A" Lake and Park 2030 County Road 59 Andalusia, Alabama 36420 334-428-2610 334-428-2606 Located four miles northwest of the city of Andalusia. Open daylight hours. Admission charged. 700-acre lake and park. Fishing, skiing, swimming, picnicking, camping, RV hookups, showers, grills, tables, fishing piers and beaches. The area encompasses about 74 acres of land in 3 parcels known as Point "A" Campground, Covington-Kiwanis Island, and "Patsaliga Point." The area is also adjacent to Point "A" Lake, which has a surface area of 700 acres and a maximum depth of about 41 feet at the dam. Swindall's Campground 162 County Road 5516 Troy, Alabama 36081 334-566-8353 The Willows RV Park 2932 Ross Clark Circle Dothan, Alabama 36301-1160 334-692-4149 http://www.TheWillowsRVPark.com An attractive, clean, shaded, pleasant, quiet, rural, reasonable facility on high ground located just outside Dothan, Alabama's west side city limits. Readily accessible to US 231 travelers. Free from heavy truck trafficnoises. Good rest is enjoyed. Dothan Area Convention & Visitors Bureau 3311 Ross Clark Circle, NW P.O. Box 8765 Dothan, Alabama 36304 (334) 794-6622 Fax: (334) 712-2731 Toll Free: 1-888-449-0212 e-mail Home Places to Eat Places to Play Places to See Places to Stay Calendar Conventions Group Tours Maps Transportation Visitors Info Press Room Other Links Future Masters E-Postcards For Dothan's current weather, click here . send comments about this site to WebManager

RV travel in general

Go RVing - Family Vacations are an RV Travel Adventure Search Reconnect with Family Cool For Kids Easy on the Pocket Freedom & Control Convenience & Comfort Lure of the Outdoors Retire In Style Meet RV Families/Testimonials Pursue Your Passions Print this Page Reconnect with Family Something amazing happens when families spend time together. Bonds are built. Secrets are shared. Passions are pursued. Sometimes the road to a happy family is an actual road. And sometimes, nothing brings a family closer together than taking them far away. RVs can expose you and your family to one miraculous getaway after another. In this age of stressed-out, over-scheduled families, RVing is the perfect way for family members to stay in touch with each other. Nothing quite encourages communication and shared activity like an RV getaway. Im a big fan of RV travel in general for young families. Its so simple. And as someone with a large family (seven children), Im always looking for anything that would make life simpler. Our kids love it too. They call our RV the house car. And theyre always asking to go do something in the house car. Its how they define fun. - Kim Derk Having an RV gives you the ability to reconnect with your family. Without the logistical hassles. Whenever the opportunity presents itself. On a whim, you can hop in an RV and spend a weekend with your kids after a hectic week at work. You can bond with your mate. You can make that connection with your teen. Ninety-four percent of parents who own RVs overwhelmingly consider them the best way to travel with children. - Harris Interactive Survey Whether its a fifth-wheel trailer for you and your spouse, or a mini-motorhome for your entire family, what RVs do best is simple. They help us pursue our passions together. Im often asked how our marriage survived 11 months in an RV. We wonder how anyones marriage survives without it. - Brad Herzog, author of States of Mind about his familys RV adventure Find out more about the RV experience by requesting a free CD-ROM or video . ©2005 Go RVing, Inc.

motorhome.Powered by a Corvair

UltraVan: Corvair Motorhome The Ultra Van Page 1968 Ultra Van World's Largest Production Corvair! Topics General Description of the Ultra Van Pictures of Ultra Vans - From Graham Dell More Pictures of Ultra Vans - From Scott Pilkington Organizations devoted to the Ultra Van Specifications Cross-links Does Santa Claus Drive an Ultra? 30th Anniversary Rally Rallies Coaches for sale History of the Ultra The Ultra Van Tech Tips The Ultra Van is a unique motorhome.Powered by a Corvair engine andtransaxle, it was designed by DavidPeterson (a professional aircraftdesigner) in the early sixties. Theseunits were produced in limited quantities by the Ultra Van Corporation ofHutchinson, Kansas until June of 1970. As a true monococque structure, the Ultra Van has no chassis. It is constructedlike an airplane with aluminum ribs covered with riveted sheet aluminum on thetop and sides. Compound curved areas (front and back corners) are fiberglass.All wheels are independently sprung with coil springs and tubular shockabsorbers. These units cruise easily at 55 mph and deliver 15 plus mpg. More than 250 ofabout 370 units produced are still on the road, many with between 100,000 and500,000 miles of use. The Corvair Society of America (CORSA) recognizes the Ultra Van as a trueCorvair marque. Interior Layout back to topics ULTRA VAN MOTOR COACH CLUB ULTRA VAN MOTOR COACH CLUB - A club for all who are interested in Ultra Vans. Now, also a chapter of CORSA.Only $15 a year which includes receiving 6 issues of the Whales On Wheelsnewsletter and club roster. Sample copies are available on request, from the club treasurerTo join, just send your check to the club treasurer for $15 payable to UVMCC :Diane Galli 5000 Cascabel Rd Atascadero, CA 93422-2302 Email: rdgalli@tcsn.net Phone: 805-466-2737 back to topics Specifications Length: 22 feet Wheelbase: 152 inchesHeight: 8 feet Width: 8 feetPrice (New): $8,500 - $12,500 Dry Weight 3-4,000 IbsPrice (2004) $5,000 - $15,000 Touring Weight:4,500 Ibs+ Coaches for Sale Compiled from recent newsletters #254 - Bobby (310) 466-9600 #267 - John (217)345-5559 #302 - Norm or Shelly Lamm (702) 870-5951 #304 - Gerald Crawford (530)-842-6090 #309 - Glenn Hull (973) 948-6555 #381 - Dave Aurand (717) 247-4197 #397 - Jim (704) 231-5782 #476 - Lee Richardson (661) 947-8701 #488 - Peter Hemstreet #492 - Pete Marino #521 - Pete Evans (805) 215-1551 #524 - Dick Roberts (509) 996-2334 #530 - Fred Bozeman (409) 786-4118 #530 - Peter Crowl , back to topics Cross-Links with other web-sites CORSA - The Corvair Society of America Homepage Hemmings Motor News - "The bible" of the collector car hobby The RV Zone - The InterNet RV & Camping Guide The Classic Car Source, Inc. - Car Club Homepages, and more! The Chevrolet Corvair Page - A Great Car At Any Speed Vintage Vacations A site devoted to the restoration and preservation of pre 1960 RVs. Gary Aube's Corvair Page - A very comprehensive Corvair page Unique RVs - Just what the name suggests... Return to Ken Wildman's Homepage back to topics 30th Anniversary "Home to Hutchinson" Rally September 24-29, 1996. Kansas State Fairgrounds The Ultra Van Motor Coach Club celebrated the 30th Anniversary ofthe start of production of Ultra Vans at Hutchinson, Kansas. By week's end,38 coaches had gathered for the occasion. One of the highlights of our rally was the convoy from Cheney State Parkto Hutchinson for a parade of 27 coaches through town. Hundreds of people took thousands of photos, and television stations from Wichita and other cities recorded the event. The photo below is a panoramic view of the coaches forming up for our convoy. During the week long encampment at the Kansas State Fairgrounds, hundredsof former Ultra employees and local citizens took the opportunity to visit with us, look at the coaches, talk to owners (both original and recent purchasers), and learn more about these unique vehicles. A group of about 20 Cushman Scooter owners rode down from Topeka to visit with us and share the nostalgia of old, classic vehicles. Current Rallys Each year there are a number of Rallys in different parts of thecountry. The following list gives the date, location and a phone number for more information. Join us! Feb 14 - 18, 2005 - Winter Western Regional Rally - 1536 West Roundup Street, Apache Junction, Arizona 8522 - Info (480)288-2636 or (480)518-4103 hamboso@juno.com March 21 - 26, 2005 - Eastern Spring Rally - Christmas Airstream Park 25623 E. Colonial Dr. Hwy 50E, Christmas FL Info (269)795-9078 April 21-24, 2005 - Western Spring Rally - Twin Lakes RV Park, Newberry Springs, CA Info (623)846-6920 May/June ?? , 2005 - Eastern Summer Rally June ??, 2005 - Western Summer Rally June 28-July 1, 2005 - Sanctioned Regional CORSA Convention, Cedar Rapids Marriott, Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Info (319)268-1341 July 26-- 30, 2005 - CORSA International Convention - Doubletree Hotel, Jantzen Beach, Portland, Oregon - Info (503) 684-6595 Sept.11 - 2005 - 39th Annual Ultra Week - Beaver Lake Campground, Custer, South Dakota A Typical Rally back to topics Santa? Well, he's not really Santa - but with a Helmkay-style smiley on thefront of his Ultra Van and his bushy white beard, Ron Adams sure hassurprized alot of kids along the highway! Read about Ron's experiences in acquiring his Ultra, straight from the pages of his weekly newspaper column. To find the 6 additional columns scroll to the bottom of HIS page. back to topics A Thai Odyssey via Ultra Van In March of 1998, a Thai artist living in the U.S. arranged for agroup of 5 art students to tour the country. For some unknown reasonthey purchased the "demonstrator" Ultra Van (#200) and set offon their journey. Unfortunately the Ultra was struck in the rear andtotaled. No one was seriously injured and the group continued onusing more conventional transportation. The story of their adventure is located at the PhiladelphiaMuseum of Art website. Ken Wildman Plus 44,000 hits on old counter :( Disclaimer These home pages may contain materials which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Ohio Northern University. Ohio Northern University assumes no responsibility for their contents.