Simple changes to the way you pack can make a big difference to your fuel economy, and save you money at the pumps. So remember to pack light, only taking what you really need. Theres really no reason to take a full tank of water, and if you havent used something in the last twelve months, do you really need it for this trip? Just remember the essentials, such as the spare tyre!

Speaking of tyres, check yours before setting out on your journey to make sure they comply with the manufacturers recommended tyre pressures.

Changing your driving style can also have a huge effect on fuel consumption aggressive use of the accelerator is a sure fire way to burn up more fuel quickly. Stick to a sensible speed of around 55 to 60 mph and youll find this is the most economical for the majority of motorhomes and if your heading uphill, make sure youre in the right gear, keeping the revs between 2,000 and 2,250 for a standard diesel engine.

If you have cruise control, this is excellent on motorways to keep your speed constant, but avoid using it on b-roads where the engine may struggle to cope with the hills.

Petrol becomes denser as it cools down, therefore filling up at night could get you slightly more fuel for your money.

An obvious way to cut your petrol bills is to travel less. This could also save you money on your motorhome insurance, with some providers offering discounts for a lower annual mileage. The average motorhome annual mileage (according to Caravan Guard insurance) is around 4500 miles a year. So make sure youve set your annual mileage on your insurance policy correctly otherwise you may be paying more than you need to.

Those who love to travel are understandably attracted to the world of caravanning, the freedom of the open road and the ability to take a home from home with you wherever you go is the ultimate pursuit and the perfect way to holiday with friends and family.

New caravans are of course not your only option; as you enter the dealer’s forecourt there will be plenty on offer in terms of used caravans as well. Depending on your budget, you may wish to go used, after all a brand new mobile home can be a costly investment. A general guide is that new caravans will cost between eight and fifteen thousand pounds, although top end caravans can broach the twenty thousand pound mark. With such high prices it is worth ensuring that you get the choice right, a poor caravan will be detrimental the enjoyment you are able to have on holiday.

You should always view a wide variety of new caravans before you decide on one. Careful deliberation is essential to get the choice right. Many dealers will specialise in only a couple of brands so visiting many is highly advisable. Using the internet to view what the market has to offer is the ideal way to get a clear idea of what you want your caravan to do before you even head to the dealers. With such a brilliant resource at your fingertips it would be ill advised to ignore the benefits the internet brings.

You should also consider the power of your car when looking at new caravans. Many who are new to caravanning do not realise importance of their tow car. If you find your vehicle underpowered it will be difficult to control your caravan and keep it under control. For safe holidaying and travel it is essential to look at your vehicle handbook to find information on its towing capabilities.

If you do happen to tow a caravan that is over your maximum towing weight you not only put your friends and family at risk, you will also invalidate your insurance meaning your caravanning holiday could well end up costing you the earth. Some drivers, predominantly those who passed their tests after 1997 will also have to undertake a specialist towing driving exam if towing heavier caravans.

Although probably not a problem with new caravans, it is still worth checking the caravan over thoroughly for signs of damp. In used caravans this is a prerequisite as damp not only harms the aesthetics of a caravan, it can also harm its structural strength. It will also be worth checking over the seals and doors as these can be problems in keeping the water out. Other than that, considering the layout and appliances you may want is all you will have to worry about.

Caravanning is definitely one of the most wholesome pursuits available to anyone. Ensuring you have the right caravan for your purposes is vital to enjoying your holidays. The great outdoors is only ever a short drive away and the ability to get away from it all and relax for a weekend cannot be underestimated. If you want the means to take inexpensive holidays for all your friends and family a caravan is the best solution. Although the initial outlay may be costly, it will pay for itself once you are enjoying the delights of regular holidays in parks throughout the country and abroad.

Just recently, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that vehicle theft rates raised by nearly 14,000 to 1,260 million vehicles. This increase marks the fourth consecutive year the auto theft rate has climbed. However the National Insurance Crime Bureau suggests a number of methods to help car owners steer clear of vehicle theft. Lets face it anti-theft systems can actually cost a lot of money, but at least most reputable car insurance companies with give you some kind of discount if a car owner happens to have certain types of anti-theft devices on their cars.

According to the NICB, the total loss for owners and insurance companies due to vehicle theft is more than $8 billion annually, a figure that grows higher every year as cars and trucks become more expensive. In fact, the average value of cars reported stolen increased by $96 to $6,797 according to the Insurance Information Institute. Thefts also cost consumers in the way of higher annual insurance premiums.

Where you happen to live is also a major factor according to reports by the NICB who reports that owners who live in an urban area, a port city, or a town that borders Canada or Mexico should consider extra protection. The NICB lists the 10 cities, including their surrounding counties, with the highest vehicle thefts from highest to lowest: Modesto, Calif.; Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.; Stockton-Lodi, Calif.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Sacramento, Calif.; Fresno, Calif.; Oakland, Calif.; Miami, Fla.; San Diego, Calif.; and Detroit, Mich.

The car you drive affects its chances of being stolen. The NICB listed, from highest to lowest, the 2000 Honda Civic, 1989 Toyota Camry, 1991 Honda Accord, 1994 Chevrolet 1500 pickup, 1994 Dodge Caravan, 1997 Ford F-150 pickup, 1986 Toyota Truck, 1995 Acura Integra, 1987 Nissan Sentra and 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass as the most frequently stolen vehicles in 2003, the latest year for which data is available.

Here are some helpful tips to protect your autos from car theft.

1. Never hide your car keys in or around your car, thieves know where to look.

2. Never leave valuables in plan view; leaving valuables in your seat just tempts the thieves.

3. Credit cards, checkbooks and personal IDS should never be left in your car or you can become a victim of identity theft along with auto theft.

4. Never leave car registrations or titles in the car making it easier for the theft to sell youre car.

5. Always park in well-lit areas especially in parking garages.

6. Thieves will tow your car away so remember to leave a standard in gear and automatics always activate your parking emergency brakes.

7. Lock your garage door when your car is parked in it and make sure any other doors and windows are locked as well.

8. Dont be fooled if you think your car is too old, car age doesnt matter to car thieves.

While nothing is full proof many of the cars stolen every year could have be avoided if car owners had remembered to take some of these basic precautions.

Dial Direct is a leader in the South African direct insurance market. It has a 10-year long track record and is underwritten by its holding company in the UK, allowing it to ensure customers of a solid financial foundation for their insurance policies, which is a great source of peace of mind. Dial Direct South Africa uses advanced call centre technology and highly trained operators to allow customers to simply call in and arrange all their insurance needs, quickly and with a minimum of fuss. There aren’t even any forms to be filled in. Alternatively, prospective clients can go to the Dial Direct web site and apply for insurance online, with the same quick turnaround times and professional, personalized service. Everything is streamlined to make acquiring insurance as simple and trouble-free as possible.

Because there are no brokers, there are no brokers’ commissions and fees to be paid, and these savings are passed on to customers in the form of lower premiums, lower excesses and cash back bonuses for not having to claim on insurance cover over a given period of time. Claims are also paid within a shorter time and claims processing is speeded up and the administrative overhead is lower – a further source of efficiency and cost savings.

This type of direct insurance is offered across the board – in terms of short term insurance at least. There is household insurance, which includes buildings; motor vehicle insurance, including leisure vehicles like caravans and water craft; business insurance; and insurance for professionals and practitioners. These include standard out the box product packages as well as tailored insurance solutions.

With the ease and convenience, and above all the cost savings, that direct insurance offers, it’s no wonder that it is proving so hugely popular.

You can explore the length and breadth of the country at your own pace in total comfort, without having to worry about train delays, flight cancellations, heavy suitcases and the usual annoyances that come with traveling for leisure.

Financial savings on extras like accommodation and taxi fares are also a huge bonus, and with thousands of year-round holiday parks across the British Isles, Europe and America, there really has never been a better time to own an RV.

But there’s a lot to consider if you’re buying one for the first time. Many would-be RV owners find themselves torn between purchasing a caravan and a motor home.

Although it comes down to personal choice, there are advantages and disadvantages to both vehicles.

The main advantage of owning a caravan is the simplicity of being able to park it, unhitch it and leave it while you explore the surrounding areas in your car.

Making smaller journeys in anything larger could prove very difficult, particularly when having to navigate narrow lanes, busy town centres and winding coastal roads – not to mention the nightmare of city driving!

Cost can also be a deciding issue. Although it very much depends on the model and its age, caravans are generally cheaper than motor homes, and when combined with an economical towing car they are cheaper to run – and insure.

However, towing a caravan brings its own set of problems. Commuting can be a slow, complex and sometimes dangerous process which many find it hard to get the hang of.

Breaking, cornering and towing can become real obstacles when you’re trying to get from A to B, not to mention the frustrating reduction in speed that goes with driving two vehicles at the same time.

Of course, there are downsides to owning a motor home too. Purchase price, insurance, running costs and fuel economy are generally much higher, while servicing and recovery can prove expensive – and inconvenient.

There is also a legal maximum load, which restricts the amount of passengers a motor home can carry – potentially a problem for larger families.

But many prefer the sheer convenience of motor homes, finding them infinitely more suitable for multi-stop holidays, longer seasonal breaks and even permanent living!

Motor homes are usually much better equipped for modern driving and weather conditions. They’re faster, more compact and simpler to maneuver, often with more advanced braking systems than those on a caravan.

There’s the comfort factor too. Motor homes are essentially a small house on wheels, with every room accessible to the passenger – from using the bathroom to relaxing on the sofa to making lunch in the kitchen.

This keeps journey time to an absolute minimum and reduces the need for frequent stops – a particular advantage on shorter breaks, and a blessing if you find yourself in a slow-moving traffic jam!

But ultimately, the choice is yours – and whether a caravan or a motor home better suits your lifestyle, there’s still nothing like life on the open road!

But for many first-timers, the prospect of buying a new motorhome can be an overwhelming process. What do you look for? What are the best models? How do you know youre getting the best deal?

These are just some of the questions that pop up every time. So Sureterm Direct, the UKs largest specialist motorhome insurers, have come up with this simple 10-point plan to help you through the motorhome buying maze.

1. Before you set out to see some motorhomes on a dealer forecourt, make a comprehensive wish list of the things that you want. In the excitement of buying your first motorhome, its easy to forget exactly what you want and having a checklist to hand will keep you focused.

2. Be flexible. Unless youre on a substantial budget, its unlikely that youll find everything on your wish list in one motorhome. So be clear about what are essentials and what are desirables.

3. See if your local dealers offer a try before you buy service. Hiring a motorhome, even for a weekend, will help you decide if youre really into the motorhome lifestyle. Its also an opportunity to try out various layouts. And this will help shape your wish list. At the very least, take some test drives in various models and make sure you get the feel of the vehicle on country roads, A roads and motorways.

4. When you do decide to take the plunge, always buy locally if possible. Buying from a dealer on the other side of the country is great if you get the deal of a lifetime but no so great if you have to drive over there every time something goes wrong with your motorhome.

5. If youre buying a second-hand motorhome, make sure you give every vehicle you look at a thorough inspection. Definitely check for signs of accident repair, leaks and signs of mold or damp. And if youre very inexperienced, take along a qualified mechanic or vehicle inspector (the AA and RAC sometimes offer this service to members) just to make 100% certain the vehicle is clean and roadworthy.

6. Motorhome shows are an excellent way to help you identify models you like. And taking along a digital camera, or cameraphone, allows you to take pictures of the motorhomes you like, or features that impress. You can then use these pictures when you start looking at models to buy.

7. There are thousands of experienced motorcaravanners out there who are happy to help people who are new to motorhome ownership. So ask them for their opinions. Visit your nearest caravan sites and talk to owners, visit local shows and events, and use the internet as a valuable resource. www.sureterm.com is building up a community of motorhome owners and others sites like www.motorcaravanmagazine.co.uk and www.motorcaravanners.org.uk will help.

8. Once youve found your perfect motorhome, you need to be 100% certain its exactly what you want. Spend a few hours trying it out making the beds, setting up the tables, moving chairs around. Setting up the motorhome will let you decide if theres really enough space, and whether you can live with any minor niggles.

9. Always ask the dealer, or seller, to demonstrate everything for you. If there are extras, make sure all of the accessories like awning poles, hook-up leads, filling hoses and water bottles are present and in good working order.

10. And finally, dont forget to get adequate insurance. Driving a motorhome on a standard car insurance policy is unlikely to give you the best cover. Companies like Sureterm Direct have been providing specialist motorhome insurance for 10 years, and have policies to cover ever motorhome situation youre ever likely to encounter.

The study found that the Chevrolet Blazer which comes as a two-door, two-wheel drive SUV built from 2001 to 2004, had the highest rate of driver fatalities which amounts to 232 per million registered vehicles during the four-year duration.

The Blazer was launched in 1969 on the C/K pickup truck chassis that produces GMs trucks. In 1970, the largest automaker introduced Jimmy – its own model of the truck which was produced until the arrival of GMC Yukon in 1992. The Blazer is replaced by the Chevrolet Tahoe which is now a full-size SUV.

The Blazer and Jimmy, based on the short wheelbase trucks, were made available with either four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. Its long wheelbase sibling is called the Chevrolet Suburban. Both the K5 Blazer and the Jimmy were given fabulous removable tops for the first few years until 1976 when the half-cab body style was launched. In 1983, the S-10 Blazer and S-15 Jimmy, all smaller models, were introduced. The original Blazer and Jimmy remained in production until 1991.

GMs Chevrolet Astro, on the other hand, is the recipient of the lowest rate with only seven fatalities per million registered vehicles. The Astro boasts of powerful auto parts that consist of engines, AEM intakes, radiators, filters and more. The midsize van, which has debuted in 1985, is engineered to compete with domestic rivals like the Dodge Caravan. The Astro shares the same platform with GMC Safari which is its sibling.

In connection with the rating, the Infiniti G35, BMW 7 Series and the Toyota 4Runner came next to the Chevrolet Astro. Additionally, the two-door Acura RSX had the second-highest rate with 202 driver deaths followed by the Nissan 350Z, with 193 deaths.

The Chevy Astro and Blazer went out of production in 2005.

Automakers said the study was limited in scope because it did not include factors such as driver behavior that could play a key role. “It’s difficult to really draw much significance,” said GM spokesman Alan Adler.

Nissan said its vehicles, including the 350Z, are designed to meet government safety regulations and the automaker’s internal safety requirements. Chris Naughton, a spokesman for Acura parent Honda Motor Co., said that the Acura RSX had younger buyers, which could have contributed to its ranking.

The IIHS found the average death rate decreased from 110 from 1990 to 1994 to the current rate of 79 for the 2002 to 2005 period.

Unsecured loans for tenants and tenant loans are specialised types of loans that cater for people who want to borrow money for personal use (rather than commercial or business use) but who dont own their own property to use as collateral against the loan. These secured loans or remortgages will use some of the equity a homeowner has built up in their property over time and provide access to potentially considerable sums of money. With unsecured loans for tenants and tenant loans however, there is no property to use to secure the loan against and whilst this arguably makes the whole transaction much simpler in principle, it can make things more difficult if you need to borrow a larger sum of money.

Unsecured loans for tenants and tenant loans are really only designed for people who need to borrow between 500 and 15,000 unlike secured loans where you could potentially look to borrow somewhere between 3,000 and 250,000. The key difference between the two is that with unsecured loans for tenants and tenant loans, you are effectively asking the lender to support you without providing any level of security in real terms. Oh, and before you ask; yes, homeowners sometimes default on their loan repayments as well as tenants. The difference between a secured loan and an unsecured loan is that if you default on your loan as a tenant, the lender has much more difficulty in getting their money back than if you are a homeowner where the lender could insist on a sale of your property to get hold of their funds.

A lender will want to judge the relative risk when they lend money to you and as is very likely, your financial circumstances may be very difficult from those of other applicants. Your income might be more or less, you have moved house more or less times or you have run into arrears more or less times than another person. These are just a few of the variances and each one could make a material difference to whether the lender is prepared to accept your application and grant you the loan.

The lender will always try to help as well on this one but never borrow more than you can afford to pay back and always at least consider taking out insurance on the loan to guard against accident, sickness and unemployment where your earning potential and your ability to repay the loan could be severely limited. This will meet the loan repayments for you without you falling into the red and affords you all the security you will need. Happy hunting!

This article is free to distribute although please maintain any links that may appear in the body or author bio. Thank you.

The world of caravanning is becoming increasingly popular with holidaymakers as a serious alternative to taking vacations abroad. The reason this has become the case is because owning a caravan is cheaper than regularly taking flights and booking hotels. Those new to caravanning however find it difficult to decide exactly which caravan will be suitable for their purposes; with such a large selection on the market today this difficulty is understandable. In terms of what lures people to buy caravans, the open road and the freedom to travel to anywhere in the country and beyond attract many. Additionally, having a home from home to live in also entices many to go out and buy new caravans.

For those deciding to buy caravans however it is not always the case that new models have to be bought. Older used models can be a bargain, providing the same holidaying pleasure as newer models. This is once again understandable as brand new caravans are expensive, if a high quality used model can be picked up for a fraction of the price it is advisable to go for that. In general a new model costs around fifteen thousand pounds; however more luxurious models can cost anything into the twenties. As the price is so high, getting the choice right from the outset is desirable, buying a poor model will only damage your holidaying experience.

It is important not to fall in love with and buy the first caravan you see when at the showroom. It is always vital to see many different models to ensure you make the correct choice. In addition, visiting more than one dealer is an advisable course of action to follow. This is because many dealers purely deal with one or two different makes of caravan and will not be able to show you a wide cross section of what is present in the new caravan market. As with most things in life utilising the internet as a research tool is a good idea as it will give you a representation of exactly what is on the market in your price range.

Another important consideration as well as budget when looking at new caravans is the power of your towing vehicle as a poorly powered outfit is inherently unsafe. This is because an underpowered outfit, that is the car and caravan together, will be hard to control. Most cars have the maximum towing weight contained in the handbook although there are a large number of websites out there that will allow you to enter your make and model of car and then present a list of suitable caravans. Unfortunate ignoring this advice can land you in the proverbial hot water. Penalties for towing an outfit that is too heavy can result in legal action and in the case of an accident can result in an invalidation of insurance.

New caravans should arrive in top condition but if buying used models there are certain considerations that must be made. For instance checking for damp is highly advisable as caravans with damp can be instable and in mot cases fragrant. A part of your checks should also include looking at the windows and doors and particularly the seals in these areas.

It is hoped that this information has given those buying caravans essential advice on the best ways to carry out the task. With careful and conscientious planning from the outset it should be possible to obtain an outfit that will supply years of holidaying pleasure.