The last couple of weeks have been hot and beautiful here in Alberta, and it feels like summer could be here to stay for a while longer. There’s a lot to see and do in this province, and exploring everything it has to offer is highly enjoyable in a motorhome.
CampgroundReviews.com counts 263 RV parks and campgrounds in Alberta, with sites as far south as Coutts, as far north as Wood Buffalo National Park, all through the Rocky Mountains and at all entrances into Saskatchewan. It’s literally an RV-ers paradise in Alberta. Users rate the vast majority of campsites at four stars or higher, and they feature tons of amenities such as WiFi, electric hookups, access to pools, playgrounds, showers, and restrooms.
Motorhome Insurance: Covering Your Vehicle and Your Belongings
Standard motorhome insurance in Alberta covers the same perils and liabilities that your regular car insurance covers. In addition, it provides protection for your personal property, with varying limits. We recommend choosing a limit more than the value of the contents of your motorhome to ensure their full replacement should they be damaged, destroyed or stolen. Take careful stock of your belongings – the cost of gear brought along in motorhomes such as bikes, BBQs, paddle boards, dishes, kitchen equipment, tablets, and clothing for every season adds up quickly.
Appliances, furnishings, cabinets and other essential built-in equipment is all covered, and is not considered “personal property” for the purposes of policy definitions.
If you are bringing along a boat for fishing or cruising, ensure you have proper boat insurance if needed. As a general rule of thumb, home insurance will usually offer limited forms of coverage for very small boats and small watercraft that are not engine-powered. Larger boats and engine-powered watercraft generally need to be protected by separate policies.
Motorhome Theft and Vandalism
Campgrounds are idyllic places, but are also attractions for thieves. Quite often motorhomes are left for several hours at a time while families bike, hike, swim, sun, and explore, and thieves are well aware of this. Your motorhome insurance will reimburse you for lost items should you be burglarized, but nobody wants to be stolen from, and some items have far more emotional value than financial.
Before pulling in and hooking up, inquire at the campground as to whether they have any security measures in place, such as cameras or guards.
Other ways to deter thieves include:
- Locking everything each time you leave
- Making it clear your vehicle is armed with an anti-theft system (and have this be true)
- Installing additional locks to windows and doors and replacing worn ones
- Installing a GPS system with a vehicle tracker (this also makes it safer to drive in unfamiliar areas)
- Packing away chairs and outdoor equipment when you’re not there
- Keeping valuables out of sight
It’s not uncommon for entire motorhomes to be stolen, too. This is a horrible feeling. Keep your motorhome insurance information stored in your phone so that you are able to contact your provider as soon as possible after the theft of your vehicle.
More tips for avoiding a motorhome insurance claim include creating a comprehensive checklist of everything that needs to be done before setting off on the road, such as securing all cargo; turning off the propane, water heater, and pump; checking all the tires, mirrors, and signal lights, and so on. Be sure to know your motorhome’s dimensions and weight, and always drive with extra care and attention.
Motorhome Fires
The most common causes of motorhome fires include leaking fuel connections and gas lines, electrical problems, overheating appliances and dried-out wheel bearings in trailers and extra wheels.
Always have a safety strategy in case of fire.
- Establish and practice an evacuation plan
- Make sure your smoke, carbon monoxide and propane leak detectors have fresh batteries and are in good working order
- Place fire extinguishers throughout your motorhome’s interior, and know how to use them properly and effectively
- Be especially careful when cooking and keep combustibles away from the stove
Proper Motorhome Camping Etiquette
The best way to be a good camper is to know the rules of the campground and adhere to them … and then some.
- Keep it quiet after hours, and noise down in general
- Keep pets under control
- Keep your site clean
- Provide plenty of space for others
- Put fires out completely before going to bed
- Be polite
- Leave everything even better than you found it
COVID-19 and Camping
It’s easy to forget about the COVID-19 pandemic when outdoors, but it’s essential to remain diligent in order to stop the spread of the virus sooner rather than later.
When visiting provincial campgrounds, everyone is asked to:
- Practice physical distancing
- Stay away if you are feeling ill
- Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer often
- Use a mask when near people
- Pack out what you pack in (this is more important than ever)
- Be extremely cautious and avoid any additional risk
Lane’s Insurance is Here For Alberta
Lane’s Insurance is your ally in the insurance business. As experienced insurance brokers, it’s our job to find you the best coverage at the very best rates out there from the suite of policies from Alberta’s most respected providers to which we have access.
Give us a call at our Calgary, Banff, Edmonton, or greater Alberta offices to see what we can do for you.
