How often do you get to use your WC's

Ok so I'm curious I got into a discussion today with one of my customers a former RV owner...

He has the take that there is no way to possibly justify the expense that goes along with RV'n
He said he only went on two trips a year and then spent three weekends repairing or maintaining his...

He seemed to have an axe to grind against RV's but I got to thinkin...I really dont get to go camping much, but its something we love to do and the people I've met across the country and the fun weve had makes up for the fact that we may only go three times a year... I think the virtues of RV'n was lost on him anyways so I just considered the source...

So how many times do you all go on a yearly basis... and looking at some of your ages I reckon some of you may be retired...
Are there any workin stiffs like me with a family that sqeezes in camping more than three times a year...

Just curious...

Before I came here to Ft. Knox the rule of thumb in our houshold (just DW and I) was "if DW is not working we are camping!" This applied to weekends as both of us had full time jobs but only she worked some weekends. We camped at least 60 nights per year the first two years. With me down here it has been less but that will change when retirement arrives in a few months.

People who want to camp will make the time to do it.

Because of a trip to Alaska this summer, we will only get to camp for two weeks this year. The DW still works so our time off is limited. We don't care what it costs, we enjoy camping...been doing it since 1975.

It will be three this year because of problems at home but next year I hope things will be better next year still have a few more years before I retire so I just take what I can for now. Been going camping for over 35 years now and wouldn't have it any other way.

We traditionally go out Memorial weekend, Father's day weekend, 4th of July weekend, and Labor day weekend for sure. We also try to get away every now and again to one of the local CGs just for a breath of fresh air. I also spend weeks on end in the mountains during working trips to our claims when health allows.

Any more, it seems that health and/or finances seems to put the kabbosh on taking more trips.

Typically, a weekend to one of the CGs within an hr or so of home costs $75 to $100 by the time I put gas in the truck and groceries in the fridge. The rest depends on where we stay...full hook-ups obviously cost more than dry camping spots.

As for your customer's gripe, RVs are expensive to maintain and use. That's after the expensive price tag. That said, I don't know that very many people ever get their money's worth out of an RV, especially if their still working and/or raising a family. Seems like it sets far more than it rolls down the road. Retirees get closer, but usually spend even more becuase things tend to break or wear out faster when yur using it all the time.

TC

We trailer camped years ago, then quit for about 25 years because Scruffy's work schedule got very demanding. When we bought the Cat and retired, we thought we'd be traveling more than we were at home. Hasn't happened yet. We try to get out for 2-4 week vacations two or three times a year. And we like to go out for little get-aways to local campgrounds mid-week when the campgrounds aren't busy. But, because it has been so hot this summer, we haven't gotten out at all. But, ideally, we'd like to go for 3-4 long trips and the rest of the time short mid-week trips every second or third week. Seems like something always gets in the way of our best intentions, though. But, with 2-3 big trips a year, we're close.

Tater

He said he only went on two trips a year and then spent three weekends repairing or maintaining his...

Must have had a FR product.

Just kidding. I know all brands have their problems.

DW and I avoid holiday weekends. We like it a bit less crowded and much more quiet. We are fortunte enough to be able to take Fridays off pretty much when we want too because both of us are usually on OT by then. That gives us 3 day weekends and we very much enjoy them. We don't camp in July and August due to the excessive heat.

We will usually manage to take 6 to 8 3 day weekends in the year. We haven't yet taken a full week or more but hope to do so next year.

As far as justifying the cost, I consider my cost completely justified. I don't play golf anymore, and that was expensive. I don't belong to any clubs/organizations so no dues there. DW and I love our time in the CAT and that is worth what it costs to us.

We made up our minds to get our monies worth this year. Just the two of us and we started camping April 8th and have reservations thru November 22. That will make 8 three day weekends and 2 one week trips.

I don't get two days in a row off from my work,so all I have are my 4 weeks vacation.We are camping or traveling in our cat everyday day of the 4 weeks.People can say what they like,but my Cat is worth every penny when we're out camping.Some folks have vehicles they can only drive in the summer.Different strokes i guess.

jacandjan wrote:We made up our minds to get our monies worth this year. Just the two of us and we started camping April 8th and have reservations thru November 22. That will make 8 three day weekends and 2 one week trips.

Now that's the way to do it!

TC

Not enough this year. TC is right about the cost but we would go out to eat or shop if not camping .That would cost and we would buy groceries anyway. We have alot of CG's within about 30 mins of our home. Jim

My husband works full time and I am a full time student, with our kids we manage a quick trip about once a month not far from home. Then 2 or 3 times a year we are able to go for a longer period of time to the mountains 4 or 5 hours from home. The memories we are making with our kids outweigh any cost of upkeep or going for us, in fact my trailer payment every month is the one payment I don't mind making.

Last year had health problems so we didn't get out much. This year we bought the new cat and figured we would be out almost every weekend. Ha! My son played baseball this spring so didn't get out except for the 3 day weekends. We did manage to take a 2 week vacation though. Now my son is playing soccer this fall so that will limit our outings. It is still worth the cost. My son will have these memories and someday will be able to make these kinds of memories with his own family.

THEHIWAYMAN (aka Tim) wrote:
So how many times do you all go on a yearly basis... and looking at some of your ages I reckon some of you may be retired...
Are there any workin stiffs like me with a family that sqeezes in camping more than three times a year...

Just curious...

Absolutely more than three times a year. We both still work and will be for many years to come.
No kids though.

We slept in the Cat 58 nights last year. That doesn't include traveling days to and from camping areas.
(No. None of them were in our driveway either.)

As of this past weekend, we have slept 26 nights in the Cat not including towing days. That number will likely double in September and October. Thats our main camping months.

Honestly. If we only used the Camper three times a year. I couldn't justify owning one either.

Each year we do two weekends; one at the beginning of the season to open the Cat, flush the lines, etc. The other is at the end of the season to clean the kitty up, thoroughly flush the tanks, and run the anti-freeze through the water lines.

That being said, during the 2006 season (season 1 for the Cat) we went to Florida for a conference and then on a second trip out through Ontario to Michigan and south into NC.

In 2007 we visited the Grand Canyon, 4 Corners/Durango, Mt. Rushmore and then home. (total 7 weeks on the road). Later in 2007 we became "most-timers" in NC for the rest of 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. We worked at a KOA and lived almost full-time in our kitty.

Due to a cruise to Hawaii and the high price of fuel we limited our RVing to the spring opening week-end and a week long trip to Lake Winipesaukee in our home state. We'll do our closing week-end in late Septemeber.

Next year, God willing and the crick don't rise, we'll try to do a 7 to 8 week trip to the Northwest states and back.

We feel like we've gotten full use out of our Cat and she has served us well.

Depends on your definition of "camping". Basically we bought the Wildcat in December of 2005, before that we had a small tent trailer. From that December until late April of 2006 we lived in it, moving anywhere from daily to monthly. We used it for a couple of weeks the summer of 2006 (summer being defined as June 1 through August 31). Starting in the fall of 2006, and again in the fall of 2007, we basically lived in it for 5 months each winter and a month or so in the summer. In 2009 we started living in another RV in the winter, in Lake Havasu City Arizona where we keep a car but not a truck, for a 5 month period. In the summer we spend anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of our time in the Wildcat which is 165 miles away by road. All this means that now days we "park" our Wildcat for the summer, using it essentially as a cabin out in the weeds, and in the winter we have an el-cheapo condo, in town, on wheels that never moves.

We use ours a lot, especially during our summer Odyssey which usually is from the first of June until the first of October. We stay at friends, camp grounds, RV Parks and boondock. We also get out several times to "dune" or desert camp during our spectacular Arizona winters.

gkeager wrote:We use ours a lot, especially during our summer Odyssey which usually is from the first of June until the first of October. We stay at friends, camp grounds, RV Parks and boondock. We also get out several times to "dune" or desert camp during our spectacular Arizona winters.

Gkeager, we need to talk...boondocking is what I live for. when we had our old FR surveyor TT we would boondock in Valley of the Gods in Utah and a few places on BLM road's off of 64 leading out of Cameron into the South Rim,

the few places we have been, I know I will not be able to get my fifth wheel in...you'll have to give me some other ideas in the Northern AZ, 4 corners area if you know of any. Although, I know in the Nations you wont be able to do much boondocking....

Oh ya wanted to mention as well...I see Cardinal Bill your from AK...

Last month,We stayed in Moab for a few days before we headed back east...I noticed I truck from AK in the site across from us and he had a Ural with a side car attached...(Ural=BMW motorcycle clone) Well being a biker I had to go talk to him...We hit it off like we had been friends all our lives...we talked for hours.

That was friday, He said he was going off to the white rim trail at Island in the Sky (canyanlands NP.) on Saturday but would be back around two in the afternoon.
We did our thing with the family on saturday and ended up back at the Campground at about six... Still no Lou and Andrea...I started to wonder if something happened....a half hour or so later here comes lou getting towed by a pick up...he had broken down 60 miles into the desert. He is so lucky he met someone willing to tow him back, otherwise he would have spent the night in the desert.

Well in all of our talking I never mentioned to him that before I got into HVAC I was a MC mechanic and specialized on old BMW's I pretty much knew what his issue was after talkking to him and was able to fix his Ural right there in the camp ground....

Lou and Andrea were on a three month trip to NJ to see family and friends, We have kept in touch and as a matter of fact their last stop before they head back to AK will be my front yard...I cant wait to see them...

This has been kind of a long story but the point I'm trying to make is, stuff like this just doesn't happen at hotels... we made friends for life out there in Moab and that is something I think my customer missed in his expirience's

What is two new friends worth...

We get out about 8 times a year with two of those trips being week long and the rest just weekends. We would like to do more, and hope to now that the youngest will be off to college in a couple weeks.

This is a great thread. We feel that the money spent is well worth it. But - the alternative of staying in hotels is much more expensive.

If we go out for 3 weeks at a time and stay in hotels, we'd spend at least $2,600. Or, in campgrounds we might average about $30 per night ($630). The difference would be about 4 months worth of trailer payments. If we went on 3 21-day trips, that would be worth an entire year of trailer payments. That's based on $125 per night - but where can you find a nice hotel at such a low price? Then there's the cost of restaurant food. So, I guess the cost of camping isn't bad, and we get to stay in the kind of surroundings that we like. BTW, we made the last payments on our trailer and truck this month, so now we really start saving.

So, what's our next trip? We're going to make a quick trip to CA in September without the Cat. Not looking forward to staying overnight in hotels, but we just won't have time.

Tater

Since Connie and I took that "big" trip this summer, that lasting 5.5 weeks, but even so, we'll spend at least 4-6 weekends at the central coast; week near California City for Thanksgiving and Father's day; week in Quartzite, AZ for HamRadio convention/RV show. Tack onto that maybe another weekend or two someplace else. Even though Connie still works, she telecomutes, so as long as she has cell service, she can work and we're still out ...

One other thing to consider is where you live. Those of us in northern climates have 6-7 months tops that we can camp. Almost all the campgrounds in New England are closed by Columbus day. I really envy those of you that talk about camping in Jan and Feb. That is still a dream for us.

kwf904 wrote:One other thing to consider is where you live. Those of us in northern climates have 6-7 months tops that we can camp. Almost all the campgrounds in New England are closed by Columbus day. I really envy those of you that talk about camping in Jan and Feb. That is still a dream for us.

You could do it, but it would be work. You would have to load the freezable stuff just before leaving, or have the heat on the last day you are home. I don't think water bottles would freeze in the cabin while you're traveling (unless temps are in the teens), and that would be your only water until you got to a warmer climate. Get to the warm climate, de-winterize. Before heading back north, winterize. Last year we had some mighty cold weather, and we were able to go. It was so cold, campground water pipes froze in Bay Saint Louis, MS and Bossier City, LA. Water pipes are only a few inches deep in south MS. Ah - the joy of basking in the sun while your neighbors up north are freezing - priceless! Did that when we lived in Chicago.

Tater

I am unlucky in some respect and have to go to work (not old enough to retire),(but could due to health issues but then not enough money to do the things we want). But this year I have spent about 60 nights in the Cat and I will not Finnish until the new year, because we are away in the Cat to see the new year in. So I reckon about 70 to 75 nights this year.
Sean

kwf904 wrote:One other thing to consider is where you live. Those of us in northern climates have 6-7 months tops that we can camp. Almost all the campgrounds in New England are closed by Columbus day. I really envy those of you that talk about camping in Jan and Feb. That is still a dream for us.

We spent the first 10 days of February last year in Florida. We didn't take our Cat but spent the time in a friends 36' Sunnybrook 5er that he keeps there through the winter months. That was so nice to get out of the ice and snow here for a bit. It seemed to make winter go by faster just getting a little break from it.

Bad thing is now my wife wants to visit Florida for a week every winter....
We have thought of taking the Cat down and leaving it for a month if we can find a campground that will lets us "youngins" in. Only place on earth that a 44 year old is considered a kid.

We hook up and go aleast one weekend out of the month if not more. DW and I love it. We have been camping for almost 33 yrs now. Can not wait till we can retire and travel some.

Three or four years ago Disney had this deal - if it was your birthday, they'd give you a free one-day pass or $75 gift card. We already had passports, but thought the gift card would be nice. So, we went down in January for Scruffy's birthday. The offer is gone, but we've been going down to WDW for Scruffy's birthday ever since. Last year we went in December and January - the December trip was so cold we couldn't have much fun. January was a little better, but when we started heading home the weather got cold, and we had concerns about the Cat's plumbing freezing. It didn't. I don't think we'll worry so much about the cold weather anymore, unless it gets below 20 deg.

Tater

carrollti wrote:We hook up and go aleast one weekend out of the month if not more. DW and I love it. We have been camping for almost 33 yrs now. Can not wait till we can retire and travel some.

This was originally our goal too...never materialized. Too busy remodeling, relandscaping, going to graduations, funerals, family events, etc. Pretty soon, it'll be grandkids, birthdays, recitals, athletics, etc.

Someday, we'll have our own life back and money in the bank. NOT!!

TC

We're still waiting. Those family events are precious, and of course we let them take priority. We're tied down to the landscaping this year, especially with the hot dry weather. Next year - NO NEW TREES! But, getting your own life back - maybe you will - just a little bit.

Tater