GR "Scott" Cundiff

For the OP's consideration: our travel style is to stay a minimum of 1 week - because of that PPA is seldom of use to us.  Two reasons:

1. While there are many exceptions, most PPA campgrounds limit the discount to something less than a week

2. While there are many exceptions, many PPA's aren't really the type of campground we enjoy.  We've been in a few that were great - otherwise, those we have used have been less than what we like.

Even with these limitations, I think PPA is a great deal - and in our years on the road our card has always paid for itself.  However, because of the two things I mentioned, PPA isn't a big player in our travel plans.

If you are 62 the America the Beautiful senior pass will get you a nice discount at Corps and Engineers campground, National Parks, and a few others as well as free entry at National Parks, etc.  Not all will have FHU though.  Camping in that part of the world you may want to make peace with less than FHU - it will open up your camping possibilities and save you some money.

Unless you intend on camping in the states you named exclusively, a national Thousand Trails membership may still be a great money saver.  Just a few months in those campgrounds will pretty much pay for your membership.  

For travel days, Passport America can't be beat.

Aside from that, if you are seriously trying to save money you might want to look into camp hosting, at least a few months each year.  Also, longer stays in commercial campgrounds (monthly) will save you a lot of money.  The problem with these two solutions is, of course, that you won't be traveling as much during the longer stays.  Most people start out in "vacation mode" and, as time passes transition into a more leisurely travel style.

Hope this helps - I'm sure you will get other helpful replies.

Question is pretty well answered - I'll just add this rule of thumb: the longer the planned stay the earlier the reservation.  

An exception is that if you are willing to chance it you can probably pick up a last minute spot due to a cancellation.  Popular winter campgrounds are often booked from one winter to the next.  Because of that there are very often late cancellations.  Most bigger winter campgrounds have waiting lists.  If you get on the list at a few of them you will have a decent chance of finding a spot.

From what I can tell FMCA roadside assistance is $129/towables $159 driveables.  Is that not correct?  https://www.fmca.com/index.php/fmca-rv-roadside-assistance.html

BTW, when you see how passionate people are about their MH -OR- their 5ver you can at least rest assured that one isn't obviously superior to the other - people are happy with both.  That takes a bit of pressure off of your decision.

Just now, MarkB said:

Thanks for all of the thoughts, still a tough decision.

I'm probably not going to be a full timer, but I can see myself out in the RV for weeks or even months at a time.  I want something comfortable, the 5th wheel looks more comfortable to me, but I just don't want to drive the massive truck as the daily driver.

I think that pretty much sums up the decision.  Either way it's a compromise, you just have to pick the one that seems most reasonable for you.

We fulltimed in a 5th wheel for 6 years before trading for a diesel pusher.  Honestly, 
the jury is still out for us on which is best.  Here's a longer article I wrote about 
our experience to date: 

http://www.pastorscott.com/travel/2019/08/25/comparing-a-5th-wheel-and-a-diesel-pusher-motorhome/

We flat tow a 2017 Ford C-Max Energi - neat little car.  It is a "plug in hybrid."  On a full charge it goes around 20 miles before the engine kicks in.

Thanks for all the helpful replies - just a note here that while we love state parks, we aren't interested in that kind of stay for a long term escape from summer heat in NM.  There aren't that many state parks at altitude - those that are are booked up well in advance - we would want to be more stationary than moving every two weeks - and the state parks don't offer full hookups, something we want for longer stays.  

Great information - thanks folks.  We've spent most of the year touring for the past several years, thinking about a different approach this year.  Time will tell.

1 hour ago, geodog said:

We spend most of Aug & Sept at Rio Chama RV Park in Chama,  NM 7800 ft. elevation and less than $600.00 per month.

Bonus is a daily steam train.

 

Will be in space N-11 this year.

 

ShortyO

Apparently, they have lost their domain name.  I take it that they are still open - just no website?

1 hour ago, NDBirdman said:

We lived there from '85 through '91, every winter was cold.  We lived in Alamogordo, the further north or higher you went, the colder it got.  Even though the snow only lasted a couple days before it melted, it happened too many times to enjoy.  Saying that, it is still a heck of a lot warmer than the minus 24 degrees we just experienced.   Just make sure your tanks/water lines are protected from freezing, you just never know in NM.

Sure not interested in being there in the winter.

We're toying with finding an "escape the Texas heat" spot somewhere in New Mexico - maybe around Ruidoso but also up at Red River.  I've been all over the various review sites but am wondering if perhaps any users of this forum have had any first hand experience they might be willing to share.  Thinking in the $600/month range?

BTW, I asked a related question but not specifying New Mexico a few weeks ago - with this post I'm trying to drill down to more specific information.  Thanks.

Still some of the best fulltime expense cost information on the internet.

53 minutes ago, 2gypsies said:

I don't think the OP was asking about fishing.

Probably more interesting than the topic I brought up.

I call threads like this "forum A.D.D." 

For those researching the cost of fulltiming here's a link to our 2019 Expense Sheet

If you want to compare years, there's a spreadsheet for that too.

Lots of good info here - thanks everyone!

Just wondering about good long stay summer campgrounds where the weather is cooler, decent sites, interesting area.  Anybody have any favorites?

10 hours ago, sandsys said:

I know about snowbirds; they are running away from snow. I know abut sunbirds; they are running away from sun. I've never heard of hummingbirders; what are they running away from?

Linda Sand

Just an aside and not intended to debate the use of the term - but when I saw the title of the thread I thought it was going to be about fulltimers who quickly move from one campsite to another rather than more leisurely travel.  When I think of hummingbirds that what comes to mind - quickly moving from one flower, etc. to another.

I've also always called it "Sunbirding" but if you like Hummingbirding better I say go for it! 

I started using the block heater on my Caterpillar C-7 motorhome before any move in which the temps are below 50.  I know I don't need it, but the rig starts quicker with it.  I actually have a 110v outlet in the engine bay for it so I plug in before going to bed the night before I move. 

 

If I can get Dish to install the Hopper 3 in my motorhome I'd want them to install it in a cabinet that is right over the steering wheel.  That's where all the coax terminates and where the original TV switch is.  That cabinet has a glass window, and I leave it open all the time when we are parked.  I have a small fan that helps move air.  On especially hot days I have another fan that I aim up into that cabinet to help with cooling (it can get pretty hot up over the windshield).

If I get an installer out I wouldn't have that extra fan out (not needed anyway).  I'd likely leave the small fan up there. 

Do you think an installer will be willing to put the hopper up in that cabinet our should I move the current receiver down to a temporary location (not sure where that would be) and have the Hopper installed there.  Once the install is done I can move the new Hopper up where I want it.

56 minutes ago, Zulu said:

Because you have to connect ALL THREE cables from a DPP LNB on your dish to a DPH42, you would leave the DPH42 at the dish and run 1 cable back to your RV.

I still recommend getting the Hybrid LNBs for your 1000.2. Otherwise you’re running 20+ VDC a distance from the DPH42 power supply (which you keep in the RV) to the DPH42.

Helpful information - if I can get Dish to install the Hopper 3 they will change out the western arc LNBs to Hybrid.  That would leave me needing to buy the eastern LNBs - probably less money and simpler in the long run.

4 minutes ago, remoandiris said:

I do NOT have a Dish Outdoor account.  Never have.  And never had a problem with them changing my service address.  

There have been times the customer service person tells me I can change the locals myself.  Then I tell them the setup I have and they stop telling me I can change it myself.

Thanks.  Good info.  When I started off I just took the Receiver out of the house and moved into the RV, doing just what you describe.  Somewhere along the way, and without any input from me, they changed my account to an Outdoors account.  Honestly, I have no idea of when they did that - just one day I saw that they showed me as having an Outdoors account. 

All I'm going by now is what I was told on the phone from the rep - that I might have problems updating my locals if they change me back to a residential account.  I didn't used to have a problem, but I thought maybe something had changed.

1 minute ago, remoandiris said:

IMO, the easiest solution is to go to a local Dish installer, tell them what you want, and get it installed.  That is what I did 3 years ago and couldn't be happier.  I have a Hopper 3 with 1 wireless Joey, a 1000.2 with a DPH and currently have a WA triple LNB installed.  I am receiving EA sats 61 and 72.  I enjoy NOT having to change LNBs.  

My billing address is still the S&B I moved out of 8 months ago.  For whatever reason, Dish wouldn't accept my new Crestview address.  No matter, the bill gets paid by my cc every month, and the cc is at my Crestview address.

As for changing locals, here is my script, copied from Mark Bruss' script.  I use the Dish "Chat" feature. 

I am an RVer.  I have just moved to a new location.  Please update the Service Address (only) to (the street address and site number for whatever RV park you are in), and have the local channels changed to that location. Please leave the Billing Address as it is.

Thanks - I use a similar script.  It was my understanding that the reason I can use the "I'm an RVer" and them not question it is because they see that I have a Dish Outdoors account.  If the change me to a permanent address will that go away?