RE: Coast to Coast and other memberships
You need to read up on the differences between the memberships.
CtoC is comparable with RPI (Resort Parks International), where campgrounds join or leave the system, and you must be a member of one of the parks known as your home park to join. You normally pay a reduced rate ($10 or so) per night rental.
There are also others like Resorts of Distinction (ROD) where you can join for a nominal yearly rate and have access to member campgrounds at no additional daily charge. You are eligible to join through an affiliate member campground or system.
TT owns (or leases) it properties, and your membership gives you access to all or a specific region depending on what you purchase. Normally you have a certain amount of no additional payment due for stays through your yearly dues.
We are TT members and are very happy with the system, not perfect, but we like it.
We get 50 nights, with $5 per night after that, three weeks in, no out of system, park to park, and reservations out 150 days. There are many different contracts of membership as the business has changed over the years.
Some folks make blanket statements that all memberships are bad, but it's really a personal thing. The key is usage for most who enjoy them.
There is a lot more to learn, and it can be very confusing to figure out the many different membership systems out there, but understanding this basic difference is important. There are many postings for you to read to get the gist.
RE: Protocol for rest areas on Interstates...?
I can highly recommend Cabellas, see this thread from my trip to Co this spring. http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/22754856/p/1.cfm Google Cabellas and you will get location info. They are very convenient to the interstate.
RE: Driving through the Badlands (as opposed to the loop?)
I drove the loop through the park less than 3 weeks ago, you definitely need to go through the park. It's beautiful, and a very pleasant half day trip, with lots of time for photo stops. I drove through eastbound, and spent the night in the parking lot for Wall Drugs. It was a very cool night, so pleasant dry overnight spot. Wall was surprisingly enjoyable, and I made some great gift purchases. Lovely place to spend a few hours.
There is a great town campground in Michell, 2 miles north of the Corn Palace, I stayed there the night prior to driving through Badlands N.P.
Safe travels...
RE: OK honey, We're here... you can come out now...
O.K. Am I getting senile I can't see the picture. It's like everyone's playing a joke on the new guy.
Laura
It's been a while and my memory isn't so good, however, you need to go into your personal settings here and either check or un-check "show pictures".
This will help and I am sure someone else will see your post and give you a much clearer idea of what to do. :)
RE: What's between your Truck bed and TC
Spray in with "custom" fit rubber bed mat on top, it's around 1/2" thick. The mat never comes out unless I am doing a real through cleaning. That thing is heavy.
Note that the folks that have some type of frame need it due to fiver rails or for a few years some model year trucks-(Ford only as far as I know) had a high cab where clearance was an issue with some campers. I an not sure if the issue continues with recent model years.
AK, playing in the Black Hills en-route to Bull Shoals Lake
RE: "Rest Stop" rules from state-to-state?
Everyone covered your main question.
I would like to clarify that "most" campgrounds along interstates are not destination locations. Folks really don't go to these to spend the holiday, rarely will you be unable to get a spot, if you stop at a reasonable time in the afternoon. The driver (if theres only one-flip a coin for both) can sleep while the young ones mess around outside for a few hours.
Just something else to think about.
RE: What's the real skinny on Dish Network?
We have a second Dish receiver in the trailer, it costs us $5 extra per month. The only problem we have with Dish Network is that when we get out of the local area (covered by a narrow spot beam) we lose our local channels. The spot beam pretty well covers our entire state and a few surrounding states, the rest of the time we just do without.
We have two receivers, purchased and installed initially by an independent dealer.
Neither have ever been hooked up to a phone, we do pay a $5 second receiver fee, it has nothing to do with no phone hookup.
When we change locations a call is made to change our "service address" NOT the billing address. We do it several times a year, never a problem.
We did download and send in the RV form, we have not purchased the Distant Network Service, as others have mentioned.
We always have local network reception when we want it. It doesn't cost anything to switch it, just a few minutes on the phone.
You can order PPV movies on line, no need to hook up to a phone or make a phone call. I have not done this in a couple of years, so this may not be the case anymore...
Dish works for us just fine, you just have to work the system.
RE: Whirlwind Trip through Kentucky this weekend
How did the shopping go?
I am curious what you have in mind for your next home, I love real estate shopping, always check out the local magazines when we travel.
We bought our little retirement cottage in the Arkansas Ozarks near Bull Shoals Lake. Great property prices and the lake is wonderful. Real quiet, beautiful part of the country.
RE: Overnighting at Cabelas, Kansas City
Actually I got out of there buying a pair of water sandles for my DH, $39+ , I have actually paid more for a site.
FYI, anyone else Cabellas in Kansas City is very convenient to I-70, has a full dump station, cement parking lot, with a horse corral.
Thanks for all the input, even you Bumpy...;)
RE: Gulf Waters RV Park
I spent last winter at Pioneer, and throughly enjoyed the area, it's just up the road toward Port A from Gulf Waters, and also has a boardwalk to the beach,and is a bit lower cost than GW. Pioneer has lots of planned social activities if your into that.
The only real negative of the area to me is most definitely the wind. Awnings are rarely put up.
The beach walking is great, nice hard sand, you can walk for miles, literally.
I had no problem taking off for the day to Corpus or where ever, Port A is a nice small town, with great water access for fishing, nice parks, some fairly good restaurants, an unconventional brew pub, and excellent people watching to pass the time.
RE: After today - can't wait to see what else will happen....
(unless it's a pickup & camper) ~
JC
Oh, you are so wrong there!
Gas (fuel)and gumption will get you into and out of trouble.
Glad all turned out reasonably well. One more campfire story for ya!
RE: Welcome to the "wonderful" world of camping
Man I wish the moderators would take away the "quote" "cut/paste" ability so those that figure they need to add a page of previously read posts can find something else to do. Great post BTW.
You REALLY don't want the ability to quote to go away, it's the only way to specifically refer to what our comments are about.
It gets "interesting" around here if everyone thinks a post is directed at them. The quotes "usually" prevent that.
AK, who has been caught in the not quoting he!! a time or two over the years...
RE: Summer Trip Finally Set
We'll be a few days ahead of you. I leave AR tuesday morning, heading to Lakewood CO for a wedding, pick up hubby at DEN airport on the 2nd, head south to the Springs area to see his folks then anticipate heading north on the 6th, won't be hiting the big parks this trip, we are going to poke around the historical and dinosaur sites between Cheyenne and Cody, then to MT to see the Little Big Horn re-enactment.
Safe travels to you, we will be in the TC (Red Dodge, big S&S Camper)so wave if you see us, we'll do the same.
RE: Guess I'm in Trouble Now....
Hang in there, someday you may reach the point as we are, where you can go in and find nothing you need, or even want.
Still love to look though...
We will be visiting family in Falcon and Monument week after next, so of course, we will visit Fountain. Hey, Ya never know!
RE: Trailair vs 5th Airborne vs MoRyde vs Glide Ride vs ???
After lots of research, we went with a full air hitch. One problem with the trailer mounted systems, is you have to buy a new one when you change rigs for the most part.
We went with the Air Safe, 25K. One purchase, maintain, done.
We are extremely happy with the ride, and if for some reason it was necessary, we most definitely would buy one again.
RE: If you had it to do all over again
I also am pretty happy with what I have, I love the truck, it is incredibly comfortable to drive, a bit noisy as they all are from the time. That is the only negative, tow/haul would be nice.
I especially love that it's been paid for a long time and still looks darn good. When I think about getting a new one, I think about all the stuff I would have to re-buy. UGH! That's a lot of $$$ just for all the add ons!!!
The plan is to get all the miles we can out of this one. No telling what will be available several years down the road.
RE: Outback Ramp Room Thoughts?
We really love the room, we think it the best feature of our rig (well, we really love the keg refer too).
It expands your living space. We use a full patio set out there, table and 4 chairs. Bugs are a non-issue. The room has two bottom panels, one gets tightened under the door using elastic and the other drops down. You can close the door if needed with care not to damage the screening.
The Carefree products are my recommendation, we have had their awning Add-A-Rooms on all of our rigs for probably 20(?) years. Excellent quality. Follow their measurement directions carefully prior to ordering.
RE: Truck Camper & pick up at Denver Airport
Thank you all for your input, it looks like the easiest would be to have him catch the shuttle to the Pikes Peak lot.
One more thing checked off the list...
