GR "Scott" Cundiff

At one time Thousand Trails gave free stays to the general public so long as they agreed to sit through a sales pitch. Ultimately, they discovered that they could set aside the same site inventory and make it available to the public at a high price and people would pay it. Even without a sales pitch, they decided that people who would pay that much for a campsite would be interested in joining. Put up some signs, have some "manager's meetings" and get the same result - new members. The burden of this approach falls on existing members, especially those with only Zone Pass memberships and others who decide late that they want to go camping. I guess the flip side of this is that the high rent stays with the campground and should be used for upgrades - but that's an entirely different discussion.

Yeah, those kind of answers, along with the ever popular "it depends" responses nearly drove me crazy when we were researching the RV lifestyle. I finally learned to ask specifically, "What do YOU spend for monthly campground stays?" etc. That way I cornered people into actually answering the question (or at least I cornered them into ignoring my question so they could give one of the pat non-answers).

This thread answers the original question: http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=120595

I think some people are surprised to discover that not everyone who goes fulltime in an RV does so to save money.

I run into this a lot when talking expenses. People ask "what does it cost to fulltime" but they are actually only asking what are the lifestyle specific expenses. When I publish my expenses, I itemize by RV expenses but then lump together my "living" expenses. What I spend on stuff like health insurance, groceries, medical bills isn't going to help anyone and, also they don't need me to tell them what they spend on stuff like that - all they have to do is pay attention to what they are already doing.

Let me mention to you why I stopped posting reviews on campgroundreviews. I posted many reviews over the years. Then, I went to your big iRV2 forum and got involved in a few discussions there. One of your moderators told me I couldn't include a link to my RV blog in my posts because there was a link there to books I have written. My 99 cent books made, in his opinion, my blog "commercial." I decided that I was making you money by posting my reviews on your site for free but your forum was worried I might make a few cents on a book I was basically giving away. So, I stopped posting my reviews there and haven't posted any since.

thanks...post edited

Just as all of us sometimes to "informational" posts that aren't questions they did a post describing their frustration with long term campground solutions in the DC area. I don't think they need to have a question to start a discussion here.

A few years ago I opened a guy's door for him. They had managed to lock themselves out and tried every window, etc. trying to get back in. When we noticed what was going on I went over and offered to try my key because I had heard that there weren't that many different keys. In spite of the fact that our RVs were different brands and years I opened it right up for him.

The RV lifestyle isn't suited for a person who works in a big city. For retired folks and for people who constantly change work locations it is just fine. For people who live and work in an urban setting, or who live in place where the climate can be extreme there are better places to live. Still, people do what they have to do. And we all have to pick the lesser of two evils once in a while. I wish all the people I see in the RV groups on Facebook who think it will be cheaper/easier/more fun to dump their current housing and "just get an RV" could read this thread before they take the leap.

Thanks - will put it on my "maybe" list.

If you like Thousand Trails and plan on using the campgrounds a lot you might want to get a national membership rather than the zone pass. https://www.campgroundmembershipoutlet.com/ is the best known reseller.

We also have Kindle Unlimited. I've also been on a Sci-Fi kick, enjoying the Silver Ships (20 books) and the Pyreans (4 books) by Jucha and also the "First Colony" series (12 books) by Lozito.

Try this - imagine you are going fulltime, starting tomorrow. Where will you stay tomorrow night? Once you decide, get online and see if you could get a reservation there. You don't have to actually reserve a site, just see if you could reserve if you wanted to. Then, think about the next month. Do the same thing - see if you can make a reservation right now for the next 30 days. If you can, then what you want to do will work for you. If not, you are going to need to rethink your travel style.

It's not an unusual rule. As Mark points out, there are reasons for it. At the same time, it's not a universal rule. We're at Green Caye in Dickinson, TX right now. There are several long term residents here who paid to have their camper moved in. So far as Escapees is concerned, you might just want to contact them and ask if the rule is hard and fast. They might give you some guidance about what is and isn't acceptable in your situation.

I've booked the rest of the year, reserving all but a handful of nights. Reading about all the campground crowding I started early. Most of the time, planning as I was, I had no problem getting a spot. Near Sturges, SD, the guy told me I was booking just before the motorcycle rally. I was able to get a w/e site, but not a sewer site. In Casper, WY I ran into an airstream rally...had to move to my second choice (gravel parking lot campground). For the winter stay in Arizona RV Parks were filing up, but I had several to chose from because I was working so early. I was told that by June 1st, though, that many would be booked. I always ask about cancellation policies. They are all over the place - some wanting just a day or two's notice. Others (longer stays mostly) want a couple of months and even with that they are hanging onto some of the deposit. (Moab is really bad about that.) Frankly, I think this is just the way it is going to be. Boondockers and Walmart, etc. campers will be the only ones just wandering around without a real plan. Fulltimers who stay in campgrounds will either constantly "settle" for whatever they can find or they will spend some time planning ahead.

The first Sunday of May, 2013 was my retirement day. The next day we headed out to begin our fulltime Adventure. We are still in the RV. We've traveled coast to coast and made lots of good friends. We've toured, workcamped, and took some breaks from travel to help out churches needing an interim pastor. We are still at it. More on this here. PS: I would have loved putting this in the Class of 2013 thread, but alas it has been locked.

FWIW: Snowbird-in-reverse is a "Sunbird."

That is my thought too.

We've been fulltime since 2013. Only had to vacate once - that was with the 5th wheel getting slide repair at the factory. We have also slept in the 5th wheel while in a service bay, just leaving during the day. In the motorhome we have twice spent the night in a shop's parking lot. In both the 5ver and MH we just chalked it up to the life of fulltiming.

I like seeing this. So often people just keep doubling down. If I ever make a mistake I hope I can follow your lead.

We fulltimed in a 5th wheel for 6 years before trading for a diesel pusher. Honestly, there are plusses and minuses to both. Here's a longer article I wrote about our experience to date: http://pastorscott.com/travel/comparing-a-5th-wheel-and-a-diesel-pusher-motorhome/

We phone and say, "I'm an Escapee and got a jury summons..." and before we can finish the statement the lady interrupts us and says, give me your name and the summons number. If you are ever in Livingston and available to serve, please let us know."

One of the categories included in the listings of CampgroundReviews.com is cell service from various carriers. Researching potential campgrounds on that site might be helpful. https://www.campgroundreviews.com/

I have a Facebook group: Thousand Trails Photos and Reviews - you'll find lots of Thousand Trails information there. The TT campgrounds are a mixed bag. Some are terrific. A few are subpar. Most are somewhere in between. You’ll almost always have water and at least 30 amp electric. Often you’ll have full hookups. Generally, there will be a surcharge of $3-5 for 50 amp service. There will be a pool, possibly some kind of spa, an Activity Center, and maybe a few other sports venues – generally these amenities will be somewhat tired but progress is being made in bringing them back to life. The same can be said of the roads. I have also done many reviews of Thousand Trails campgrounds in our blog.