RE: Snowbirds not returning to AZ this year?
The park here in Verde Vally is pretty full. Have some space open, but those are generally filled on weekends. Thanksgiving there was one three empty sites out of 338 in the Campground. They were "Tent" sites.
RE: TT CAMP GROUNDS
We got to TX at a Tousand Trail camp ground and found it was on a 3 day open Friday Satday and Sunday They did not post it in the book that they had gone to part time.WE sat at the gate and no one came to tell us even when they saw us!! We had to call them to open the gate so we could turn around to get out of there. We would had to back up about a 1/4 mile throw 2 turns. This camp ground is at POINT TX
It is posted on the website, where you make reservations.
Books are published with about a one year lead time, so for more recent information we have to check the website. It is updated weekly, sometimes even more often.
Especially when they have been emphasizing in all campgrounds, even those which always have room, members must have reservations. Though in many cased, you can get them the day you will arrive, if you call the ranger.
RE: TT CAMP GROUNDS
We got to TX at a Tousand Trail camp ground and found it was on a 3 day open Friday Satday and Sunday They did not post it in the book that they had gone to part time.WE sat at the gate and no one came to tell us even when they saw us!! We had to call them to open the gate so we could turn around to get out of there. We would had to back up about a 1/4 mile throw 2 turns. This camp ground is at POINT TX
It is posted on the website, where you make reservations.
Books are published with about a one year lead time, so for more recent information we have to check the website. It is updated weekly, sometimes even more often.
RE: Picking out Full Timers
I agree - what difference does it make? :R
In terms of possibly learning more about the area, or good places to go to next, etc., there are many "part-timers" who could have good answers as well.
We find it the most fun to be friendly with everyone 'cause everyone has great stuff to share (including the great folks we meet in the office). For those you meet who you think you'd like to be in touch with again in the future and possibly meet up with again, a friendship card is a great thing to share.
To us the most important thing is just to enjoy the folks we meet and get to visit with. :B
In fact, part timers could know a lot more. Many full timers travel around the country, like us. We stay in one campground maybe 2-3 weeks, travel about 12,000 miles a year, seldom taking the same route or staying in the same parks except for Thousand Trails.
Part Timers can be locals or from with a couple hundred miles who visit that park on weekends or vacations, for years.
RE: Where should the water go...
You're talking to a guy who, after 21 years in newspapers, bought an old, run-down hotel near an airport, and turned it into a pilot's destination hotel, with each suite a different era of aviation history -- with NO previous hotel experience. That was in 2002.
This is my third business, and I fully expect there will be more down the road. This little motor home rental biz is just a fling, a fun way to write off a new toy. If it works, great, if not, well, I've got a motor home to play with.
I'd expect that someone with that amount of business experience, would have at least the same amount of sense the majority who buy an RV would have.
Why you would assume that a new owner should "know" that motor homes are built in an unforgiveably stupid ways is beyond me...
:R
Because anyone who makes such a major purchase, does some research. Looking into cabinets, under beds, checking drains, gas and water lines, etc. Searching for information on the Internet, buying books about RV Repairs and maintenance, much like we did before buying a used RV fifteen years ago. Because we did, kept it maintained the 1984 Class A is still is as good as it was the day we bought it. We had one leak when the water pump wound up with problems. Shut it off until it was replaced the next day.
As for emptying the tanks, that probably should be done after EVERY USE. There are alarms that can detect water, but unless you can find one with a radio transmitter to alert you, would not help much. If someone leaves something even running slow and leaves for the day, you can have a mess.
RE: "You can't stay here, your trailer is too old."
but if you randomly grouped 100 20 year old rigs and compared that group to 100 5 year old rigs I would bet you anything the pool of 100 20 year old rigs would have more junkers than the pool of 5 year old rigs. Idiots that they are, park owners don't just make up rules to be arses. The rules came about because someone felt they were needed.
If you grouped any 100 of those Ive seen, you would lose that bet, if they are driving on the road, not just parked in a park for months. First, in many states they must pass inspection to be on the road. Second, to drive many miles a year, they have to be mechanically in good condition. If not, it would be so expensive to drive them, the owners would get rid of them.
Most objections to older rigs are to those which are parked long term. Like in the majority of KOA or other RV parks Ive seen with long term residents. Many with tarps over the roof, because they leak, etc. Even one of the nice parks Ive stayed in, Wilderness/Presidents in VA had more run down RVs than any other Ive been in. Counted 20 in a drive round one section on the way out of the park before we stopped counting. Tarps on the roofs, awnings that looked as if the wind had torn them or even broke the supports, rusted furniture on the site, and badly rusted BBQ's etc..
We fix or repair any little thing on our RV before it degrades into an expensive repair. There is a saying many Full Timers have, "use it or lose it." Its a saying, because we see many who do not use their RV very often and they deteriorate just from sitting there.
In many parks we stay in as Full Timers, they have a rule that you have to move to a different site, it varies in time. Some make you move every two to six months if in extended stays and many full timers move once every two weeks, because they want to move.
Many states even prevent long term stays, limiting them by state law. Like requiring RV parks to make changes to comply with Mobile Home Park laws if they allow long stays.
RE: Ham Radio as a hobby?
Back in the late 40's used to keep a regular schedule from Boston to Texas on a 6watt transmitter I built on a Breadboard from used TV tubes. Went to Signal Corps school in 46 in Camp Gordon GA. Was a High Speed Intercept Operator (required minimum 35wpm code speed) with the Army Security Agency on Okinawa in 48-50. Was a Ham until the 70's when I got into computers and with 5 kids, it was too much for my wife, to have three expensive hobbies. Kept computers and photography and gave up HAM radio.
But, have some friends who are still licensed, they bring their portables on vacation staying with us. So we have fun playing out on the picnic table for a couple of weeks until they go home. Now fulltimedont have the room in our RV .
RE: "You can't stay here, your trailer is too old."
Been fulltime since 1995, have never had a park say we could not stay in our 1984 Allegro. Most of them never even see it. Have never been asked the age, not even in parks where they charged $89 a night...
We keep it looking well, paint it every other year, so the paint looks new.
Only people who have mentioned the age in the parks, were those who had an Allegro, new or old and they just said, "Glad to see they hold up so well."
We travel 11,000-12,000 miles a year average, must keep it maintained to do so.
Mostly we go to Membership parks, Thousand Trails, ROD, RPI, and C2C or Passport America. The latter is the cheapest membership and includes the most parks, 1700+ though you do pay more. But a 50% discount is well worth the $44 yearly fee, even if you only vacation. The more you travel, the more it is worth.
RE: NY to AZ
We just came I-80 to Salt Lake south through UT and its a pretty good route.
Dont know exactly how they are doing it, but in NE and WY and some in UT they are smoothing the cement roads. Seems like grinding down the separations so they are really smooth. Never had any difficult grades most seemed like gradual climbs headed west and only one downgrade with curves. There was one climb in WY over 7000 feet, but our old 1984 Allegro had not problem.
RE: Kinda scared
As a therapist for over 40 years, have come to the conclusion that about 90% of the things we fear, never happen. That only by focusing on what we fear, causes it to happen. The brain functions much like a computer, "garbage in, we get garbage out" as it is just like we are telling our brain to create what we fear.
"So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."
Franklin Roosevelt
Focus on the "benefits" of any lifestyle, regardless of what you choose, and you will enjoy life... There is a book "Fourteen Thousand things to be Happy About." Had all of my clients buy this book, they were amazed at how many of the experiences listed they enjoyed in life. But, were focusing upon the few negatives instead so were causing themselves to feel bad. As soon as they began spending 10-20 minutes a day thinking about the good things they experienced, they began feeling better.
People who had been on anti-depressants for over a decade, no longer need them.
RE: Warning about carrying a lot of cash ( esp.Canadians)
Wow! No one seems amazed that these folks were held up in a Visitors Center. Security Cameras. People around? That is scary. Are you sure it wasn't a toll booth?
Actually crime is quite high in Rest Areas, which are not patrolled very often by police, many only once each shift. When they do it is usually just a drive through. State Police in most states have a lot more road to patrol than local police on a shift.
Remember the DC Snipers?
They were found sleeping in a Rest Area, where they usually holed up to rest between murders. One reason we always feel safer in a WalMart is the majority are patrolled 24/7 or at all night Restaurants and similar locations, where local police patrol more frequently.
RE: Picking out Full Timers
We dont carry a ladder either, use only the one on the back, to get stuff out of the rooftop carrier. Generally keeping off season clothing in it, keeping it light.
Though we once borrowed a neighbors and painted the rig. ;)
RE: Picking out Full Timers
Coming from the cruising world (boats), we can quickly pick out the other long term cruisers from the permanent non-mobile liveaboards and the weekend cruiser.
While we will certainly still socialize with the other groups and there is nothing wrong with them, are there any keys to picking out the equivilent RVers (ie: full time or longer term who move fairly regularly.)?
Just talk with anyone... There is no way to tell, even ways some mention do not work. We have been fulltiming now over 15 years. They say look for those who have "the most stuff out." Does not apply, for we have been traveling long enough to know what stuff is invaluable and what to discard. Generally over the years, we have left good "stuff" that we no longer wanted to mess with next to dumpsters. Its usually gone in an hour or so and it lightened our load. Means less work to pack up and go...
We travel 11,000-12,000 miles a year, and sometimes all we do is plug in the electric. Hook up sewer just B4 we leave and dump it, we can go two or three weeks before dumping.
If we put out our awning, it is unusual and only when hot or we want to hang the Hummer and bird feeders from it. We may put out our canvas chairs to sit out and read. We used to put out carpet, but after a coupla years stuck it next to a dumpster as not worth the trouble to bother with.
We may stay in one place two nights or a week and at the longest three weeks. SO just because people leave does not mean they are weekenders. We could have been there two weeks before you got there, and leave in less than a week. We think its much more fun to move around, rather than spend months in one place.
Like I take lots of pictures, have over 25,600 on my Terribyte Drive. Those are only from the past few years, as most are stored on DVD's.
http://rjohnston.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p798476359-3.jpg height=362 width=580
We travel like the birds, you may meet us in FL or ME, S.CA or WA and anywhere in between in campsites big enough to hold a 20 ft RV or bigger and boondocking in the National Forest or Parks.....
Which reminds me, attendence in National Parks is WAY down.
We have stayed in many fm June to Sept that has less than 30% of the campsites filled. Yellowstone especially was less than 20% full.
RE: Is your RV a toy?
I posted that. RVs are toys in the sense that they are not appreciating assets. I also include boats and some vacation property in that category. If it appreciates its an asset - everything else is an expense. The fact that we live fulltime in our toy doesn't magically turn it into an asset.
That is a matter of opinion, living in a place that reduces the cost of living, is an asset. Living in Fullerton CA, we would be lucky to have enough to buy food on Social Security. Moving into the RV we already owned, was paid for, bought used so we did not have an immediate loss due to depreciation, has saved us enough so we can eat well, travel around the country about 11,000 - 12,000 miles per year.
It has meant we can put $200 in the bank each month out of our Social Security in addition to enjoying life much more. We sold our our Mobile Home, where we paid over $750 a month rent Plus Utilities, and put the money in savings.....
Some pay high rates for campgrounds, we do not. We used some of the money from the sale of the Mobile Home, to buy a resale membership in Thousand Trails. Giving us 59 locations we could stay for $450 per year, INCLUDING electric, which was very high in CA. For another $139 per year, we have 110 more locations where we can stay for two weeks at a time at NO daily cost.
Just one example of what these memberships save:
We stayed in Yosemite South in Coarsegold, California.
This Park is managed by KOA. We stayed here with ROD. In the years past before KOA started managing the Park. I just signed in.
This stay, we signed in but was given a cash register receipt that showed the regular charges.
10 nights @ $45
1 night @ $50
sub Total $500
ROD Member $.00
NOW we could have stayed two weeks if we wanted, and the savings would have been even greater. KOA members would have paid $500+Tax with a 10% discount. Non members would pay $500+Tax... We paid nothing.
All total, we have use ROD 87 nights this year.
Quite a bargain, for $139 per year membership fee.
If we wanted too, we could stay in ROD 2/3rds of the year.
We live in Thousand Trails the other days and will use both for the balance of the year.
ROD or Resorts of Distinction - dues are $139 a year.
This is one benefit of being a Thousand Trails or other campground memberships. We can stay in Thousand Trails for 21 days then go directly to another TTN for 21 days and do that year round or use ROD campgrounds between the TTN parks that are further apart.... If we do not want to travel far, we can stay in one TTN 21 days, go to a nearby ROD for 7-14 days and back to the same TTN for another 21 days. Some parks like in AZ are only 7-12 miles apart which keeps fuel cost down.
Our RV is definitely an asset...
Once they get beyond 10 years, if you keep them up, they still cost a lot less to live in, than a new RV. With an Allegro upkeep is very low. We still have the original engine, refer, hot water, furnace, etc... Only have had minor repairs. Depreciation only exists if you keep buying new RVs. When you have lived in a used unit 15 years, you have saved more money than the original cost. Even if we gave it away, we would still be way ahead.
But, we will probably be living in it more than another TEN years.
RE: Can Veterans use military campgrounds?
Monty-Rob, most military campgrounds are actually RUN AND OPERATED by the Commanding Officer of the respective post. Many will allow vets to use the military campgrounds on a "as needed or as available" use. Instead of taking the position you cannot, do yourself a favor and call the bases you are interested in and ask the proper authority. You and others might be surprised at the answers you receive. It doesn't cost to ask, only not to.
Especially when visiting a relative who is on the Post.
My brother and his siblings got to stay in Post Recreation quarters in HI when his son was stationed there.
My brother and I stayed at Ft Hood for a week, before my nephew went to Bosnia and again before he went to Iraq. My brother fm VT is not a vet, was fm CA, we met in TX and they let us both stay. It never hurts to ask, and if they say no, well you just stay where you would have anyway.
It may have helped because he was the Youngest SFC in the US Army or rated the Best Technical Inspector of Helicopters and had arranged for Tracy Bird (his commanders favorite country star) to put on a show for the base before they left for Iraq... He also almost got him for one in Bosnia, but the time line did not work out.
RE: Tags and Trip Permit
In CA you can get a Non-Operational form from the DMV, and pay about $17.
Each state is different, so you need to check with the state and RV park.
In the park we have a TT with N.O. permit they require we have 300,000 Ins.
Seems excessive to me where it never moves. But, because it does not, the rates are also lower, and what we save in registration helps on the insurance.
RE: UltraLite inflatable boat (boat with flying wings)
You need to go back and re-read the Seair site article completely, and slowly enough to understand it. It is actually quite easy to learn to fly, but the most difficult part of flying, is landing. All Landings are actually a "controlled crash."
AND landing on water is much more difficult than land.
YOU need specific hours, ground school, flight instruction and certification. But they are less than for a regular Pilots License, as this is a less complex aircraft. It is not just a "Hang Glider" with an engine and seats, it is more complex and much stronger.
If you do not pass them, you will need more hours, more hours means more money. But if you can afford the 21,000 for this aircraft, you can afford the training.
NO, you just cant put an Ultralight on any kind of inflatable raft.
The design of an aircraft must be approved and certified by the FAA, and it is not easy to get.
As for fitting in a Toy Hauler, you could call Seair and check the length to find out if it would fit in your Toy Hauler. It probably would be best to use the trailer to move it in or out and too the water. That trailer is probably designed to hold it securely, so it would be more secure in the rig.
Seair Flying Boat
RE: Campground or Mobile Home Park?
Well there money is just as good as mine so as long as they pay so be it. But its my choice where I stay and if I get there and do not like it I always have the choice to leave or not stay there again. As long as the people are friendly I really do not care if they live there, stay there for 6 months or are just there for a day.
Not always, Ive noticed that rates to Seasonal or extended stays are drastically reduced when compared to those staying for a day, week, or two. If parks claim they can't make a profit so have to raise the rates to vacationers etc, wonder how they can make it with discount rates for extended stays.
