We are FTers who boondock almost all the time, as we have sufficient solar and large tank capacities to facilitate 14 days or more (the usual camping limit) between dumps. We will occasionally stay at an RV park. In fact, we're at one now. Our criteria for selecting a park are: #1 price - Since we are retired on a limited income, we are cheap. We have an America the Beautiful senior pass that we use for 1/2 price camping whenever possible. This is honored on federal land, like National Parks, Army COE campgrounds, Forest Service CGs, National Recreation Areas, etc. We don't need FHU so try to avoid them so we can save money. We try to find parks with a monthly rate, or even a seasonal rate, as this is most affordable. The RV park we are staying at now in NC only charges us $100 a month for a no hook-up site. It's no problem for us to press a button to retract our slide, another to lift our jacks, quickly store any breakables to dump and take on water once every 2-3 weeks. If we shower a lot and we need to dump our gray water or add fresh water between dump station visits we have a blue boy and a water bladder in our toad for this purpose. #2 convenience - The only time we will stay in a RV park or paid campground to begin with is if there are no boondocking areas where we want to stay. The convenience of a laundry on-site is not that important for us, as we usually stretch our laundry to every 2 weeks when we go to town. However, when it is available we appreciate the convenience it offers. For instance, we sometimes stay at a little RV park in Los Indios, TX during the winter. It has a nice cheap laundry room and their FHU sites cost only $170/mo. if you spend the winter there. There are nice people there too, which brings me to reason #3. #3 community - It seems that in some RV parks, the management and fellow campers are almost too friendly and welcoming, while others are very standoffish, even rude. Obviously, we would rather choose a place that seems happy to have you there rather than one that makes you feel like they are doing you a favor by taking your money. #4 safety - I guess we're fortunate in that in the last 6 years of FTing we haven't landed at any sketchy or unsafe places yet, but we do read reviews and look at pictures posted by other campers to see how neat and clean the park is maintained. If it's trashy looking with campers in disrepair, we'll choose another one if possible. Though if it's filled with older, yet nice looking classic RVs and the facilities are well maintained, but in a less affluent area, we take this as a good sign and often find great community in budget parks like this. They are often safer than in the snooty, self-pretentious Class A only parks. #5 Wi-Fi signal - Since we don't have Starlink and we like a high-speed Internet and TV connection, a park with a nearby cell tower is desirable, though we never use the park's Wi-Fi, as they are usually slower than molasses in the winter. This is usually not a problem except in remote mountainous areas where we find ourselves occasionally. If we have to, we'll stay at a place with a weak or spotty signal, but we usually won't stay long.
Perhaps u could get one of those rhino totes for waste water and take to dump station without having to always need full hookups, we have a golf cart to shuttle tank to and from rv to dump without having to pack up and move , patial hookups are cheaper than full and some campgrounds offer honey wagon services as well, just saying , enjoyed ur video ,
Yeah - the rhino totes are a good option -- we'd definitely be tempted to get one if we did find an area where we really wanted to stay and couldn't find full hookups. (So far, we haven't had big issues.) The honey wagon services are a little less tenable for us because at least the ones we've spoken to want us to bring our big wall slide in before they empty our tanks -- which would make it less convenient. But it's a good thought! Good suggestions. Glad you enjoyed the episode. :)
Great tips. I’ve not seen many videos like this one and appreciate it greatly. Thank you 🤗♌️
Aw I'm so glad! Thank you
We are FTers who boondock almost all the time, as we have sufficient solar and large tank capacities to facilitate 14 days or more (the usual camping limit) between dumps. We will occasionally stay at an RV park. In fact, we're at one now. Our criteria for selecting a park are:
#1 price - Since we are retired on a limited income, we are cheap. We have an America the Beautiful senior pass that we use for 1/2 price camping whenever possible. This is honored on federal land, like National Parks, Army COE campgrounds, Forest Service CGs, National Recreation Areas, etc. We don't need FHU so try to avoid them so we can save money. We try to find parks with a monthly rate, or even a seasonal rate, as this is most affordable. The RV park we are staying at now in NC only charges us $100 a month for a no hook-up site. It's no problem for us to press a button to retract our slide, another to lift our jacks, quickly store any breakables to dump and take on water once every 2-3 weeks. If we shower a lot and we need to dump our gray water or add fresh water between dump station visits we have a blue boy and a water bladder in our toad for this purpose.
#2 convenience - The only time we will stay in a RV park or paid campground to begin with is if there are no boondocking areas where we want to stay. The convenience of a laundry on-site is not that important for us, as we usually stretch our laundry to every 2 weeks when we go to town. However, when it is available we appreciate the convenience it offers. For instance, we sometimes stay at a little RV park in Los Indios, TX during the winter. It has a nice cheap laundry room and their FHU sites cost only $170/mo. if you spend the winter there. There are nice people there too, which brings me to reason #3.
#3 community - It seems that in some RV parks, the management and fellow campers are almost too friendly and welcoming, while others are very standoffish, even rude. Obviously, we would rather choose a place that seems happy to have you there rather than one that makes you feel like they are doing you a favor by taking your money.
#4 safety - I guess we're fortunate in that in the last 6 years of FTing we haven't landed at any sketchy or unsafe places yet, but we do read reviews and look at pictures posted by other campers to see how neat and clean the park is maintained. If it's trashy looking with campers in disrepair, we'll choose another one if possible. Though if it's filled with older, yet nice looking classic RVs and the facilities are well maintained, but in a less affluent area, we take this as a good sign and often find great community in budget parks like this. They are often safer than in the snooty, self-pretentious Class A only parks.
#5 Wi-Fi signal - Since we don't have Starlink and we like a high-speed Internet and TV connection, a park with a nearby cell tower is desirable, though we never use the park's Wi-Fi, as they are usually slower than molasses in the winter. This is usually not a problem except in remote mountainous areas where we find ourselves occasionally. If we have to, we'll stay at a place with a weak or spotty signal, but we usually won't stay long.
Great criteria! Thanks for adding your input
Perhaps u could get one of those rhino totes for waste water and take to dump station without having to always need full hookups, we have a golf cart to shuttle tank to and from rv to dump without having to pack up and move , patial hookups are cheaper than full and some campgrounds offer honey wagon services as well, just saying , enjoyed ur video ,
Yeah - the rhino totes are a good option -- we'd definitely be tempted to get one if we did find an area where we really wanted to stay and couldn't find full hookups. (So far, we haven't had big issues.)
The honey wagon services are a little less tenable for us because at least the ones we've spoken to want us to bring our big wall slide in before they empty our tanks -- which would make it less convenient.
But it's a good thought! Good suggestions.
Glad you enjoyed the episode. :)
I recently purchased a tiny home. Do you see tiny homes in any of the RV parks you've been to?
Thank you! We have seen a few tiny homes on wheels but they're VERY rare.