Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. Be sure to stay tuned for more contest announcements coming up soon!

LocalPages shares deals and coupons for a whole host of great camping gear outlets such as Cabelas, Big 5 Sporting Goods and REI.  If you are the lucky winer, you will have plenty of options to choose from when deciding where and what to buy!

To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post before midnight on Sunday, May 29, 2011 with the following:

1. What you would buy with you giftcard if you won
2. Which camping store you you would be shopping at
3. The link to the respective store from your localpages.com search

Eligibility
Comments must list the items outlined above. Commenter must be at least 18 years old, reside in the U.S. (Sorry to our Canadian readers! We’ll have a Canadian giveaway soon!) must not have won any LocalPages giveaways within the past 30 days. There is a one prize per household limit per 30 day period.

Winner
Practically Camping will randomly select the winner from the pool of eligible entries. The winner will be contacted via email and will need to provide their first and last name, mailing address and telephone number. This is to ensure that the winner has not won a previous Local Pages sponsored event within the last 30-days and to facilitate shipping.

Best of luck to each and every one of you!

Edit:  Comments are moderated to keep the spammers from clogging up pipe.  If your comment doesn’t show up right away, be patient, it will be there soon!

This morning my wife took the dog for a walk down a wooded trail and about an hour after returning home, she discovered a tick crawling on her neck.  This evening, while sitting in the living room, I felt something on the back of my neck.  I reached back and touched what felt like a scab on my neck.  It was another tick!

That’s enough reminder for me.  Check out this article on ticks to help you be better prepared.

A motorhome valued at $450,000 went up in flames and was destroyed at a Florida RV dealership Wednesday afternoon (April 27), Pinellas Park, Fla., firefighters said.

It happened at Parliament Coach in the High Point area of Largo, the St. Petersburg Times reported. The driver of the 38-foot Blue Bird motorhome was traveling from Naples to New York when the coach started running rough north of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, officials said. He took the motorhome to the dealership at 3 p.m., where it started smoking, officials said.

Firefighters responded and were investigating the source of the smoke when flames erupted from the coach’s exhaust, officials said. The vehicle was reportedly a total loss. No one was injured.

via RV Business

Why not snag yourself a cool new iPhone national park app from Chimani for free?  While their suite of national parks apps would normally set you back $5 – $10, they have decided to give them away free of charge for the duration of National Parks Week.

These apps are specifically designed to help you get the most out of your visit to any one of the following national parks:  Acadia National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Yosemite National Park.

Each of the national park apps delivers constantly update content about a specific park, including:

• ranger led activities
• free shuttle bus schedules
• news alerts
• sunrise and sunset times
• tide schedules (for coastal parks)
• loding options
• hike planner
• and so much more!

Each of the apps offers a rich and impressive map interface that is gps enabled and displays all of the hiking trails in the park.  The maps come as part of the app package, so no wifi or cell service is required to use them.

For the real park buffs, there is also an audio tour included with the app that is designed to be interactive as you drive, tour, or walk around the park.

For the Android users out there, Chimani will be offering the Android version of their apps for just $0.99!  Don’t miss out on this incredible offers, here’s where you can get them:

• Apple’s iTunes App Store
• Android Marketplace

You can also read more about Chimani on their blog.

This step by step guide will help you get your RV ready for the camping season.

The process of de-winterizing your RV isn’t a complicated one, but it does take a bit of time.

Exterior

1. Remove any covers that were put on for storage.  This includes vent covers for refrigerators and furnaces.
2. Re-install any batteries that were removed.
3. Top off the water in your batteries and give them a good charge.
4. Check the air pressure in the tires.  Don’t forget the spare!
5. Pull out any steps and give them a shot of oil.
6. Open up some vents and let some fresh air in.
7. Inspect the external fridge and water heater compartments for critters and cobwebs, removing anything you discover.
8. Check your propane hoses and fittings for any leaks. (Do this carefully, with the flame off.)
9. Complete a visual inspection of the outside of your RV from top to bottom.
10. If you have a pop-up or hybrid, check the canvas or nylon tenting for tears, mold, or damage.
11. Visually inspect the RV tires and brakes for damage or wear.  If you don’t know what you are looking for, have a qualified technician inspect them for you.

Interior

1. Inspect all cupboards and storage area for insects and critters that may have gotten in over the winter. (Mice, spiders, etc.)
2. Look for any signs of water leakage or damage inside your RV.

Towing

1. Examine your hitch components for rust or damage.  Replace any questionable components.
2. Clean off old lubricants and re-lube your hitch components.
3. After hooking up to your tow vehicle, connect the wiring harness, and test all of your lights. (Brakes, turn signals, etc.)
4. Test any manual or electronic brakes your trailer and tow vehicle may have.

Plumbing

Note:  If you don’t have a fresh water hookup and sewer at your location, tow your vehicle to a local RV park and use their facilities.

1. Hook up your water hose and fill your fresh water tank.
2. Run your water pump and open each faucet slowly, and one at a time.  Your fixtures may sputter as air is removed from the lines.
3. If you used anti-freeze, let your taps, toilet, and shower run until the water is clear.
4. Open your grey water drain valve and drain the grey water tank.
5. Turn off the pump and connect the water hose to the city water hookup.
6. Run some more water through the system to ensure that all anti-freeze is out.
7. If your water heater has a bypass, adjust the valves to bring your water heater back into the system.
8. Allow your water heater to fill, then turn it on and wait a while for it to heat up.
9. Test the hot water in each of your faucets.
10. Sterilize your fresh water system.
11. Remove the city water hose and drain your grey water tank.  Then close the drain valve.

Electricity

1. Unplug the wiring harness from your RV and connect your RV to your electricity service.

Last but not least, give your RV a bath.  Wash the windows, outside walls, inside walls, and floor.  If possible, consult your owners manual for any specific instructions relating to your particular RV.

If I come across a good read on the Internet, I want to share it with my readers – and here is a great example!

I recently came across an excellent camping blog from Southern Ontario – SO Outdoors Camping Blog.  Plenty of excellent posts on the site, but this one in particular caught my attention.

1. Take Inventory – That’s right, take a good look at what you have, what you need, and what you want for your summer adventures.  Check things like bedding, dishes, tent pegs, fabric repair kits.  Now’s the time to replenish those non-perishable supplies.
2. Examine Fabrics – Take the time to check your tents and sleeping bags for broken zippers, split seams, etc. Also check for rodent damage.  Mice just love the fabric of your tents and sleeping bags for a cozy winters nest.  It’s not a pleasant discovery but it’s better to find out now than when you’re ready to leave for that long awaited first camping trip of the season.
3. Check Appliances – Fire up your portable stove, lantern, BBQ, etc. to be sure that insects haven’t decided to make a home in the tubes or burners over the winter.
4. Lights – this is a good time to check all your flashlights, electric lanterns, etc. to be sure they’re in good working order and that you have a good supply of replacement batteries.  Have you ever arrived at a campsite after dark only to discover that your lantern batteries are dead?
5. Plan your Trips – This is a great time of year to pull out the camping maps or check the Southern Ontario Outdoors camping destinations page and start planning your warm weather adventures.  A glass of wine, some roadmaps, and campsite brochures are sure to make the final gasps of our Southern Ontario winter more bearable.

If you like this type of content, be sure to head over to their site and see what else they have to share!

Via SO…Outdoors Camping Blog

This one is for all of the ice fishermen out there!  Watch how a couple of guys turn a regular travel trailer into a $50,000 ice fishing hut.  Nicknamed “The Bellagio Lodge”, this thing comes complete with a kitchen, bathroom, DVD player, plasma screen TV and full bar.  It really has all the comforts of home and more!  It sleeps 4, but can hold up to 10 fisherman for shorter excursions.

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for – “Vegas on the Lake”…

If you can’t see the video, try this link

Let us know what you think of this video in the comments!

So what do you do when you take a week or two off and head out with the tent, trailer, or RV?  Let’s take a look at how to keep Facebook up-to-date, check email, or read your favorite blog posts while roughing it in the great outdoors.

Campgrounds and RV Parks

Going back just a few years ago, you would have been hard pressed to find a campground that offered Internet access to its patrons.  Thankfully, with the rapid adoption of the Internet by our society, most parks and campgrounds now offer Internet access as an amenity.

I’ve personally only ever seen wireless Internet (wi-fi) at any campground I have visited, but it’s possible that wired Internet access could be provided.  Check with your campsite when you check-in to see what they offer and how you can start using it.   You’ll need your own wi-fi enabled laptop, netbook, tabled (iPad), or smart phone to use this service.

Cell Phones

Who doesn’t have a cell phone these days?  Cell phones create a couple of different opportunities for Internet access.  The first option is to simply access your favorite sites using the built-in browser on your phone.  This isn’t ideal, but it will get you there.  Check with your cellular provider to see if there are extra costs for accessing this service.

The second option is to tether your cell phone or smart phone to your laptop.  You phone then acts as a modem that allows you to create a wireless high speed connection.  Be very careful if you are trying this option because most cellular service providers charge a significant amount for data transfers that is initiated in this fashion.

Hot Spots

Hot spots are places that offer (usually) free wireless internet access (wi-fi).  You can find thousands of these across the country.  I’ve seen hot spots in McDonalds, Starbucks, Panera Bread, and Travel Centers of America.  That list is by no means exhaustive, check the local area when you are camping to see who is offering free wi-fi.

Much like the campground wi-fi, you’ll need your own wi-fi enabled laptop, netbook, tablet, or smart phone to use the services of a hotspot.  The good news is that you often can get the signal from outside of the building, so you may not even need to go inside.

I’d encourage you to exercise caution when using wi-fi at campground, hotspots and any other public access point.  These access points are generally not very secure.  Be mindful that information travelling over the wireless can be intercepted by anyone with a little bit of skill.

Satellite

You have to be pretty hardcore to be getting into satellite Internet access on your camping trip.  This option is generally very expensive, with satellite systems costing up to $5000 and a monthly connection fee of $100 or more.  There are people who need this type of access (maybe for work) and can afford it, but it’s not for everybody.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are several options to get plugged into the Internet while you are away.  Some of the options are cheaper than others and some are easier than others.  Find the one that works best for you.

Now you can get those pictures of your trip up on Facebook in real time or get some ideas on keeping the kids occupied on a rainy day.

Doug Allan has proof that sometimes, the system works.

When his RV business in British Columbia, CountrySide RV, was robbed and vandalized last fall, he felt demoralized and frustrated, the Cowichan News Leader, Duncan, British Columbia, reported.

First, one of his trailers was stolen from his lot, and just a few weeks later 21 RVs were damaged when a crook broke in with a crowbar and stole a bunch of TVs and stereos.

But Allan’s thankful hard work from local RCMP and Duncan’s Crown counsel office put the man responsible for the second incident behind bars.

Ross Beveridge, 46, was found guilty of breaking and entering on March 14 in Victoria.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, placed on probation and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution.

North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Staff Sgt. Jack MacNeill explained that while there was no video surveillance available to help with the case, police forensic identification members found fingerprints at points of entry on some of the 21 trailers targetted during the September B&E.

“And because the suspect was known to police and was in our database, we got a hit (on the prints) and he was arrested — in fact, he was identified very shortly after (the crime),” MacNeill said.

Allan was thrilled with that swift police work, and especially praised the work of Constable Blake Cross.

“He’s to be commended for his ongoing investigation and the professional way he handled everything,” Allan said.

He also thanked Crown counsellor Jody Patch and her colleagues, and the local Victims Services staff.

“They allowed us the opportunity to become part of the solution, and in this trying time, it was important to us to feel empowered and not victimized,” he wrote in a letter of thanks.

“I just feel they need to be acknowledge,” he added in an interview with the NLP.

“It’s not a perfect world out there, but when it goes right it gives you a lot of satisfaction, and the result is that I feel the system works, and it works well. (Police and court workers) get nothing but negative all the time, and these guys, they need to be propped up, not pushed down.”

via RV Business

Over the past year I have been playing with bouncing around the idea that there must be a better lighting solution.  There is, and it’s super cool LED lighting.

There are an incredible number of great reasons to switch to LED lighting.  I couldn’t even begin to list them all, but I will share a few that I believe are the most relevant to campers just like you!

The most important reason for me is safety.  While the standard bulbs that came with your RV are considered generally safe, they do create some risks.  You could easily find yourself with a serious burn if you were to touch one of those super heated bulbs.  Having three children myself, I worry about that one a lot.

An LED bulb stays cool to the touch, so you won’t need to worry anymore about that aspect of first aid while you are roughing it.

If you’re into boondocking (camping without the luxuries of being connected to power, water, etc.), then LED lighting may be right up your alley.  When you are running off of batteries, you want to conserve all of the electricity that you can – because running out is not very much fun.  Trust me on this one, it happened to me last year.

Traditionaly RV light bulbs are usually 12 watt bulbs.  A typical 27′ travel trailer with a slide-out and a couple of bunk beds could have 20 or more incandescent light bulbs.  Running all of these lights at once would draw about 20 amps of DC power.  That’s enough to kill a single 12 volt battery in just a few hours

Replacing each of these bulbs with a 24 LED array soft white bulb, the total power draw would drop to about 3.8 amps.  That’s more less than 1/5 of the incandescent bulbs!  We have a 21′ travel trailer and I counted 16 incandescent light bulbs.  Next time you are outside, see how many you have.

Switching to LED light bulbs will reduce your battery drain significantly, or at the very least minimize your electricty costs.  Saving on energy consumption is another really good reason for switching to LED lighting.

For all of it’s benefits, LED lighting does have a down side – cost.

LED light bulbs cost considerably more than traditional light bulbs.  You can expect to pay anywhere from $10  to $10 per bulb, compared to x -x for the standard incandescents.  The prices have definitely been coming down over the years and will likely continue to drop as more and more people switch to LEDs.

Replacement LEDs might not look like you expect them to.  Often they come as an array of small LEDs on a board, other times they are mocked up to look similar to bulbs.  Not to worry though, they still plug in the same as the old light bulbs.  Have a look:

If you think that the benefits justify the cost of LED lighting, you’re probably wondering where to start shopping.  You may have some local stores that can sell you what you need, but I haven’t had any luck in my area.  The best deals and selection seem to be online.

After much searching and reading, one place comes more recommended than any others for LED lighting purchases – Super Bright LEDs.  They actually have a complete RV section where you can get everything you need to retrofit your RV or trailer.

Don’t get too worried about the word retrofit in that last sentance.  They sell bulbs that fit into your existing light fixtures, so you don’t need to wire a thing.  Just plug and play!  If you think LED lighting will be harsh and bright, that’s just not true.  The PCB LED bulbs are readily available in soft white.

Super Bright LEDs ships worldwide, with shipping to Canada taking about 7 days.

RVers in the market for a new model RV are in luck. The new RV Buyers Guide 2011 from Trailer Life and Woodall’s has been published.

The 176-page directory lists more than 400 motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheels, truck campers, folding camping trailers and sport utility recreational vehicles, according to a news release.

Each RV’s profile includes information about construction features, dimensions, popular options, RV weights and towing capacities, standard features, engines on powered RVs, and available options, all of which help buyers compare models from different manufacturers. Floorplans and warranty information are also included.

The guide costs $7.99 and is available from its publishers, at some newsstands and at RVBookstore.com.

via RVBusiness

You can also get the RV Buyers Guide 2011 at Amazon!

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County is the first in the system to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks Director John Norbeck announced today.

“At DCNR, we encourage people to practice conservation every day, so it’s important that we practice what we preach,” Norbeck said. “The process of ‘greening’ our practices at Yellow Creek started with an evaluation of every possible emission, including the way we heat and cool; the use of all of our vehicles, boats and mowers; and we even considered the evening camp fires enjoyed by visitors.”

The park conducted an audit in 2007 with data from the previous year using the “Climate Leadership in Parks” tool developed for the National Park Service. … Read More

via prnewswire.com

CHICAGO, March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Planning the dream vacation this year? Consider National Plan A Vacation Week, and visit http://www.planavacationweek.com. Built for savvy consumers and supported by professional travel agents, this online extravaganza officially begins this week in March when families are planning their vacations.

This free service quickly matches families, singles, couples or grandparents to their dream vacations based on major travel themes and 18 unique travel experiences. Seasoned travel writers Bob Jenkins and Chris Bertrand share their insights from “American Discoveries” and “Pacific Paradises” – two of the major six travel themes featured during National Plan A Vacation Week. …Read More

via prnewswire.com

I used to think those things. I used to think it was a pipe dream. That is, until I gave it a try. I made $200 in my first two months. I went through my share of scams too.

I decided to keep track of the good and bad and make that information publicly available.  I even provide monthly earning reports so that you can see the true side of earning money from paid surveys.

Think about what you could do with that extra cash from taking free online paid surveys!  Time for some new camping gear…

Check out www.surveyhacker.com and start earning today!

The Soul Cell Solar Powered Lantern will brighten your campsite without the need to be on the grid.

For transportation purposes, the lantern folds up small enough to fit in your pocket.  You also won’t need a steady supply of batteries, since this little wonder gets it’s power recharge from the sun.

Its handy strap, that attaches by magnets, make this a great lantern for hanging up in the tent or on a tree branch.  Unfortunately, it’s still a concept.  Stay tuned and we’ll let you know when it hits the market.  You can get more info from the project website.

Via Treehugger

I’ve seen it plenty of times, some unsuspecting RV owner decides to try their luck at the beach and doesn’t have any idea just how easy it is to get stuck in the sand.  Heck, we’ve even shown videos about it before!

Don’t give up hope though, there may just be an easy way to get your motorhome un-stuck.  Enter the Jack Russel Terrier…

If you can’t see the video, try this link

Let us know what you think of this video in the comments!

There’s hope though, and the preparation is quite simple.  All you need is a Ziploc type freezer bag.  The trick is to place potential leak sources in Ziploc bags, thus containing any leak that may occur.

You see, earlier this year I was examining a soft spot in the floor of our 21′ Sun Valley Road Runner and I discovered a disaster far greater than I could have imagined.

The entire floor had to be replaced.I probably should have paid more attention to the soft spot in the floor when I purchased the trailer privately last year.  Hindsight is always 20/20, but I really didn’t think it would be a big deal.  At best I was planning on possibly having to replace a small section of the floor.  Yea right.

The real adventure started when I peeled back the linoleum under one of the bench storage compartments.  The floor was black and soggy.

I could see little tiny bugs scurry around as I inspected the damage.  I peeled back more and more flooring until I got to the center of the trailer and discovered good wood.

This was just an illusion though.

It would turn out that there was an island of good wood in a sea of wet, moldy chipboard.  It was disgusting, but I wasn’t discouraged (well maybe just a little).  I took the challenge head on, slowly disassembling the cabinetry and walls, then storing them in my garage.

I worked piece by piece to remove the old floor and lay down the new floor.

The goal was to leave the external walls up while I did this.  It is possible and it’s been a slow going process, but I’m getting to the home stretch.  I now have the new plywood floor in place, covered with an interlocking vinyl.

The interior walls are starting to take shape and a good portion of the cabinetry is in.  I work with computers for a living, so believe me when I tell you that carpentry and repairs are not one of my main skill sets.

My journey to replace the floor in our trailer serves as a testament to the do-it-yourselfer.  With a little time, patience, and sweat – you too can accomplish incredible tasks.

Rather than scrapping the trailer, I sunk about $700 into it and the family can continue to enjoy camping in it.  $400 of that bill was just the new vinyl flooring, since we opted for an upgrade over the linoleum.  It also cost me a few weekends and late nights, but it was all worth it.

I’ll break down some of the work into manageable posts for those that are interested in the end-to-end process.  Stay tuned!

Here’s a simple example of why one should be very careful about where they drive their motorhome.

In this particular case, we’ll look at what happens when you drive your RV onto the beach.  Enjoy!

If you can’t see the video, try this link

Let us know what you think of this video in the comments!