MTrefiner - Jealous, I see. In a world of people so quick to judge such as yourself, it is with great joy that I give Bob the compliment I did. You should try it sometime. Positive words seem to help everyone.
We are Thousand Trails members and we love it. We started with the zone pass and upgraded to the elite pass. The nice thing about the elite pass is that in addition to the 21 day stay park to park, you can make reservation 120 days in advance. I have never had a problem making reservation.
until now Jeannine. Internet hug now applied to Thousand Trails as 10000 people buy memberships and try to get into the parks. lol. Hope it does not happen.
Love my TT membership! She forgot to mention how you can just visit a park that's full for use of their amenities. I've picked up fresh water and dumped my tanks for free as well as hang out in the pool for the afternoon without having a booked site. That has helped out so much during the summer when these parks are very busy.
SEOforHire Thank you do much for that interesting tip about day use. Wow! One more good place to dump and get fresh water. And use the pool and hang out. Terrific!
And so far all of them I have been to on the east coast have Laundry and Stores on premise, some better than others and I tend to like the one's with the hot tub next to the laundry ;-)
We were vandalized by other members for telling on them for having a huge banned fire. They should have been evicted per TT rules but weren’t. Sense of security is false at TT. Cost us $1200 to replace & repair wheels that were vandalized in retaliation. Was at Rancho Oso TT CA.
As full timers with a membership in TT since 1984 we love our membership. We often swap back and forth between two or three parks continuously. We can stay 14 days, swap to another park and do another 14 days with no breaks between. We pay two bucks a night, 50 nights a year free and a yearly fee of only about 500. Older memberships are the way to go, just really read and study comparisons on contracts. The parks vary greatly, some are parking lot style, some are great campgrounds with space between. All seem to have laundry, pools, rec areas, many have small stores. We mix it up with some boondocking but really like having the membership in the winters especially as we use electric heaters and pay no generator fees or propane except for our oven, we even use an electric hot plate as a stove. Another thing to consider is the length of time you can make your reservations, we have 120 days we can make reservations if we wish, meaning like now I have reserved nights all the way to January. So I know where I will be and don't have to worry about full parks. Some memberships only give you 60 days and parks can fill up... I hope this was helpful to someone. Cheryl
Great share, I'm considering a 14 day park to park with no fees per day. Right now I have a 2 zone membership with the collections package which I also like. Hope to upgrade to the bigger package at the end if the year
Our used Elite membership was $3850.00 including the transfer fee. It allows us to stay 21 days in a park and we can either move out of the TT system for 7 days and go back to the same park or we can go directly to another TT park for 7 to 21 days then go back to our original park. Bottom line 21 days in a particular park and you must be out of that particular park for 7 days no cheating the system. Only been using it full time for 3 months but has saved us money so far. Figure $250-$350 per week in a regular rv park. You can do the math and see it would not take long to pay for the membership and then you are only responsible for the annual dues which mine are currently $556 per year and yes they can creep up. We used Campground Membership outlet to purchase ours. RV Love has a complete article on what to look for when buying a TT membership. Happy Trails....
It varies by park but you can stay the 7 day "out of system" time still in the park and pay for that week. You could stay at a park for 5 weeks and actually just pay for one. Point is, you don't always have to physically vacate the park. You just have to be out of their (1000 trails) system for a week and if you're paying for that week yourself, you are therefor out of system. Many parks will allow you to do this. All you have to do is ask .
Case in point - I just booked 5 weeks in Apache Junction area for $200. First 2 weeks N/C, next week out of pocket $200 (with Thousand Trails discount) and the last 2 weeks N/C. And I don't even have to change sites! Same site for 5 weeks full hookups for $200.
but it's my understanding that you can go from park to park every 14 days - New Mexico is probably too cold in the winter but with it's elevation would be great about 270 days a year.
I like that many of these parks have lakes you can fish in and HOT showers. Looks like the worst case is mid 20's at night low 50's as a high. Not sure if that is too cold for a couple months.
What a nice lady. This seems to work for her. Like every other membership plan there are pluses and minuses. I admire her courage to forge ahead in spite of her fears.
I am totally with Kim. My level of Terror and anxiety would be through the roof. I would definitely do what Kim is doing if I ever went this RV Living Route.
She is staying within her comfort zone. That's great. So much better than someone afraid of the dark coming out to the boonies and crowding the first hermit they find. Some of us are not people kind of people.
I've been a full member for 15 years. Did a lot of traveling with my wife before she passed away. Dues are frozen but the annual service fee does tend to creep up every year (about $25). My break even point is about 14 nights. With the prices of campgrounds anymore I think that number is going down. I plan to travel with my fur-ever buddy this summer for a few weeks and all the lodging is pre-paid. Some campgrounds charge 50 cents a night for 50 amps. In my experience I have found that when the park is close to being full the ranger highlights where the vacant spots are, if they don't assign you a space. If there is a problem with cleanness in a rest room or shower, tell a ranger. They usually have it taken care of promptly.
We are new full time RV’ers and joined TT in May of this year. We absolutely love it! We have the elite membership and can stay for 3 weeks at a time at any TT Park in the entire country year round with no time out of the system. One thing not mentioned in the video is that you can pay your annual dues monthly (around $38 per month for a zone pass). Even with the elite membership, you can finance that as well (everyone is approved!) so you can pay less than $170 per month total for the loan and dues and stay year round in any TT in the county for 3 weeks at a time. After a few years the loan is paid off and you’ll just be paying the $38 per month for the rest of your life. So essentially, we are paying about $165 per month for our “rent” (RV space), electricity, water, sewer, trash, as well as amenities such as the gated community safety factor, pools, fishing, arcades, mini golf, and other amenities that vary from park to park. No generator gas (which can get expensive), no filling fresh water tank, no needing to find a place to dump sewer. Oh and some parks have free WiFi, some have paid WiFi (worth it!), most have great cell service. We are a full time family of four and we have two businesses we run from the road, two teenagers...we need connectivity. TT isn’t for everyone - certainly if you’re seeking solitude in nature it’s probably not for you. If you want the modern amenities of electricity, water, sewer, recreation, internet, and also safety, but you still want to be nomadic and see the country and live a more minimalist lifestyle than you did in your sticks and bricks with your 9 to 5, then TT makes the most sense. So far our only complaints are: not all TT have WiFi (free or paid), a lot of people do NOT follow the leashed dogs rule, and....I actually can’t think of anything else lol. We have had zero problems with noise or rude people. All the TT have been clean and the staff friendly and rarely have we been in a park that was jam packed full. Usually there’s plenty of room and no one bothers you. We have a 27 ft travel trailer and are primarily on the east coast for now. Very happy with our membership, it’s the best decision we have made so far other than choosing to go full time!
I’m replying to my own comment to say that before we chose this lifestyle, we paid $1,100 in rent, $300-400 in utilities and my husband was busting his butt working 60-80 hours a week in a job that he was only supposed to be working 50 hours as a salaried employee. We were barely making ends meet...and for what? A roof, a bed, electricity, etc. which we still have, only my husband and I work a few hours a week in our businesses, enjoy our lives, spend time with our kids and my husband’s health has improved dramatically (he was working himself to death literally). Bob opened our eyes to a new way of life and although we started out in a pop up camper, Boondocking....we adjusted to our needs as a family. My advice to anyone considering the nomadic, minimalist lifestyle is DO IT NOW before it’s too late. I think a common thread among us in this lifestyle is we all say our biggest regret is not having done it sooner. Whether you are going to be van-dwelling or in a luxurious Class A....or somewhere in between, just do it. Enjoy your life! And know there is a community of like-minded people who are rooting for you and want to help you!
I like Bob because he almost always thinks that regardless of the info presented "it is a good deal". Even when tell him their gas mileage he says "that's awesome". He's a good host.
Thanks Bob & Kim, My friend Mel has a lifetime membership and he just loves it. He's been saving lots staying at 1K Trails and hopes to recoup his upfront cost within a year or two. Some parks he reports are less then desirable but he puts up with the negatives like Kim. Safe Travels Bob & Kim
Thank you for this information. Not all of us who watch CRVL want to exclusively boondock and many of us are in RVIA certified rigs. Although I don't belong to TT, I have considered it. TT seems to be a budget-friendly camping alternative. So I do appreciate this information and I think it will be useful for many of your subscribers.
If it was built by a manufacturer, it will likely be RVIA certified. RVIA certified rigs always have permanently affixed sticker somewhere on the rig (usually at a door entry) that will say it is certified.
Love all of your videos. Bob, you are the ultimate author, host and caring person! Just discovered your 3 months ago as I am a former female, solo, trailer 'tear drop (1965) style dweller. I towed my trailer form North Carolina to the state of Washington and lived in it for 4 years. Lots of wonderful travelling memories, which will last me a lifetime.
Thousand Trails is not for everyone and it's far from perfect, but where else can you have access to a national network of campgrounds with (mostly) full hookups for pennies on the dollar? I have to remain on the east side of the country for my work and since there are very limited boondocking/public land options in this region Thousand Trails fills that gap with cheap places to camp. If I had to stay at privately owned RV parks and state parks I'd spend an average of $1000/mo. So even though I shelled out the big bucks for a premium membership it still pays for itself within the first year. I look at it as an investment because by year #2 and beyond my cost is $1.55/night 365 days/year. Can't beat that!
I was able to buy my membership from a friend who just wanted me to pay transfer fee of $750 and my yearly fee is $665 which includes all 5 zones. My friend wanted to upgrade her membership to the Elite so she made me a deal I couldn't refuse. She also bought her Elite membership used
Great video. I am sure there are tons of people who would feel so much less anxiety about going full time if they knew they had some familiar spots they could always return to when they want full hook ups and security and maybe if they run through their monthly budget. Great, inexpensive option that makes a lot of sense. Certainly worth the money in the long run for any full timer who may not always want to boondock. Thanks for another great video!
Thank you, Bob, for posting this video. Although my camping days are over I always wondered about Thousand Trails when we were actively seeking campsites. Keep up the good work that you do because many retired campers like me are following you and Carolyn, too.
I like the idea of a zone pass. Because it's not so expensive, I wouldn't feel bad if I didn't stay at a park for a month or two here and there. I would hate to be limited to just the states I have a pass or passes for. I like to travel. Thanks for this video. Excellent info!!!!
A big thanks to Kim and Bob for this video. It's one of the best ever on CheapRVLiving. I did not really understand the Thousand Trails thing before. Now I do understand it much better - and that gives me another option (even though I'm not sure it's the right thing for me).
Thank You Bob and Kim !! I like the New mexico deal that you had talked about Bob that was very affordable ! Not sure if thousand trails would be good for me , BUT I Can see Kim was very happy with it ! Thanks again Bob !
Just be careful with the used memberships. Thought I was getting just what I wanted.....Lifetime elite for $500. Called TT with membership number to confirm what this eBay guy was telling me. Yep all was cool. All went smooth until I got the new contract from TT and they changed the contract on me. Now to upgrade they want $5 K. I never got the name of the person I originally spoke to at TT. Plus the TT campgrounds are very few in the east, unless you have the upgrade and the encore parks and now for an addition $199 a year you can add some other parks nation wide. Hope this is helpful. TT personnel are very helpful so do your checking and TAKE NAMES. Good luck, Debbie
We are originally from NY and boondocking is nearly unheard of here. Other private membership parks are also jammed and very expensive. State parks are filled months in advance. We started out the with the zone pass but it just wasn't feasible moving very 4 days to stay in the system. Just the fuel costs alone with a large truck pulling at 37' RV can add up. So with payments spread out over 5 years and the dues, we have already paid for our lifetime membership considering how much these park cost on a daily basis. Bouncing from one park to the other every 21 days and being allowed to extend the stay to 28 days (twice a year) at a cost of about $29 comes in handy. We bought the RPI membership and the Passport America to cover places where there is no TT. Sure, the state park pass idea is great and we will also consider this later. Loving it!
Wow! She’s so articulate and analytical! I love her brain! Lol. I don’t have that kind of money that I wouldn’t rather put into my rig..... or rather, it’s not as valuable to me to invest in! But very interesting. I had never heard about 1000 Trails quite like that. Thanks for the introduction! Very informative!! Lauri
I had a camping buddy who had a TT membership and we camped all the time. LOVED it!!! Loved the parks. Yosemite, NV, Soledad Canyon, Idylwild, Oakzanita, Wilderness Lakes and Pio Pico were AWESOME.
This made me feel so much better about my TT Elite Membership I bought last month! I definitely made the right decision for my new full time RV life coming up at the end of the year!
We full time it! Our VIP Elite membership has already paid for itself in less than 6 months. Only thing we paid for is our propane and when the resort does not offer free cable. Member services is fantastic with friendly gals, or doing your own itinerary online. Most resorts are very friendly and accommodating. The "Trails Collection" upgrade for $199 was well worth it and allows you to use the Encore Resorts. All together, 21 day stays, (14 days at Encore) resort to resort, nonstop and no bills other then the membership and dues. i believe the freeze on dues is 62. Remember, this is a lifetime membership, it's yours.
I"m an Old dog trying to learn new tricks ( i like that better than RV newbie lol ) and started out watching your solar videos. Now I watch your videos to find out what else I didn't think of, like WATER! Thanks so much for sharing this wisdom with us and wish you all the best. now back to watching more of your videos!
It started at $500 a year. Then bye the time she finished, it was $3000+$500 Yearly Dues. And you can't stay more than 14-21 Days and you can't go back to the same place ! 🤯 PLUS THE SUMMER ZOO ! Kids,Dogs,Loud music, parties, Packed in like Sardines. And you get to PAY for that Privilege. 😆 As always Bob has great info. Very much appreciated Bruther. Good vibes👣
Thank You Bob for alerting me to this... T.T. has only 80 locations not evenly spead-out over the lower 48 states... T.T. another time-share headache at noisy camp grounds. No Thank You.....
You can buy membership contracts from individuals that want out. There are probably a hundred different contracts, so be careful when you shop. Some of them will not include all of the parks in your area. Some contracts are yearly some are lifetime, (which means you are obligated to pay over $600 a year maintenance fee even if you no longer use it). This is why people want to sell their membership. I would start out with a yearly zone pass to see if you even use it. Some States have very few parks.
I was a little put off by a Thousand Trails experience. When I was in Oregon on the coast. I called them to see if they had a spot. A rudish person answered the phone and said we don't have any spots, but then he asked if I had a membership. The second I said no, his demeanor changed and suddenly, miraculously they had a spot open. So we did get to stay. They had no idea what spots were open. We just had to drag the trailer through the whole park before we found one and then go back and tell which one we took. Why, I don't know, if they are not going to track what spots are open. We were not impressed by the quality of the facilities. In other words they were not maintaining it. So what sticks with me is that they were willing to let a paid member go without a place to stay on the coast, but would let me go in hoping I would buy a membership. That shows me they do not care about the member's experiences and only want to sell as many memberships as possible.
Certainly sounds like that specific park manager has an ethics issue. Probably specific to that park since people are saying other parks are well maintained.
Second Act follow the money trail. You pay full rate to that park. A paid member can stay in that park for two weeks at a cost of less than 35 dollars for two weeks. Thats less than three dollars a day for a paid member.
And so how much for non member to stay??? That suspiciously sounds to me like he wanted the extra money and probably pocketed it for his profit! I know some do that!
@@susannichols4372 I was a TT member for 13 years..when traveling they would say they were full..I went in with a day pass to ck since I was a member, there were at leat 12 empty sites that they had signs on no member parking..they were saving them for people traveling to stay at $45 a night instead of a member..not right.
In the late 80s and early 90s my grandparents had an Airstream trailer and then a Coach and we visited them at Thousand Trails on Native American land in Washington state. It was ALWAYS SUPER NICE and the vibe all around was awesome! I will save up to get a Thousand trails membership with my own Happy Little Camper that I now own!
Good information especially for the east coast. You are always so gracious Bob. This next comment is off topic but I would be interested in a video about the different propane hot water heaters such as Zodiac, eco temp, triton etc. Covering how much water pressure you need and if they work in a shower tent etc. thanks!
It's perfect. I have my pass just havent been able to use it. Its summer here PNW. I hot my pass free when I bought my RV and adding CA for 59.00. Cant beat that... thanks Bob.
I am a TT member. They run specials often. I paid $460 for the year 1 Zone pass. I plan on spending Sept - December in Las Vegas. It's still warm in September. I get free A/C (free electric) in the TT Resort. 2 weeks in the Resort then move down the street to the $100 a week place and about $30 elec. then back to TT. So by the month I spend (with the membership fee) about $250 mo. for rent. & elec. for 4 months. I live on my SS. In Vegas I work UberEats and build my bank account. Then I'm going South to the RTR. I'll Boondock Jan. then Feb head back to Central Cal. to visit my son and friends with a stop at the Palm Desert TT. I have a 28' Class A. I considered the van life but I have loved the space, the shower, & toilet. My only fear Boondocking is when I pull my motorcycle out of the trailer and go into town, unless I have trustworthy neighbors, my rig is vulnerable to thieves. I have an alarm but if no one is around to hear it does it exist? This year I'll make a circle. Jan. Quartzsite, Feb & Mar Central Cal. April & May the beach (just cuz I love it) Big hit to my budget but off season it's not "as" bad. then Yosemite TT for 2 weeks, Pahrump for the summer. $269 mo. elec is $100 (gotta have A/C), pool, gym, game room, etc. Then my TT will run out. Not sure what I'll do then.
@@cynho3093 Thank you so much Cyn. I will be in Vegas through most of December then I really want to catch up to the tribe. I may not until RTR this year.
Boondocker Bill I did the same for $460 unlimited 14 in 7 out all year long. I plan to put aside $39 a month in an envelope or savings acct so I will have the renewal fee whe it is due. I do the same for my vehicle insurance so I can pay it in full when it is due. I also use state parks on most of my 7 days out which is very cheap at half price for seniors. In your area, NM state parks are a great deal.
I don’t blame her at all for wanting to stay in a place like that; I would do the same as a single woman out by myself. It sounds like a great idea (to me)!!
they have financing as well! I have the elite connections 21 days park to park,, 7 days out of the same park before you can go back in it, extra bonuses as well, too many to write here but one is a free week per yr in a getaway cabin! I used mine in Pacific City Oregon a few months ago and it was beautiful and private! mine also includes the thousand trails and encore parks and a free year of RPI membership but I never used that one. mine ran about $8600 total for the lifetime membership but pay about $240 mo.(includes the 500/yr dues.) A used membership would be the cheaper way to go but watch the resale, rules, and fees n such! yes, some places during peak season (especially coastal locations!) are harder to get into as more and more people are using this system. If you refer my name when signing up we both get rewards too!
oo and you can use a day pass at any time in the parks as a member even if you are on your out days. so if you have to boondock you can still go in to use the shower, laundry, wifi, the lodge or my fav,,, use the pool or hot tub!
Bob as of today I’m managing the Thousand Trails Long Beach in Seaview, Washington on the Long Beach Peninsula. I love it! I used to travel and boondock and when I’m off work I still do.
This is what I'm looking at thanks for additional information. It's a learning experience for sure. I just bought my RV 7 months ago. Freezing right now in WA state. 12" of snow.
If you add on the trails collection it is another two hundred and a separate network to spend the 7 out days in that network and only just over $200.00 add on.
Thank You for this interview Bob!😁 I've been looking up info on this but got confused and heard too many varying opinions and just want the straight info and make my own choice.
I have the Southeast Zone Pass with 23 sites between Virginia and Texas. Have found it hard to get reservations especially around holidays. Between them allowing permanent site rental and so many membeships that can do 120 days out instead of 60 days like the zone pass you can not get in. I agree it can be a good deal but not worth renewing again.
1) agree this is the KEY STONE failure of the TT membership. If you wait until 60 day out you will not get a reservation during peak visit times of late spring and summer. (winter in Florida). 2) Another issue is that many have the big rigs (40 foot long) or 50A required. These campgrounds are often old and cant handle that. 3) Third issue is that you you cant not arrive Thursday to Sunday and expect a camping site. Its first come first serve and all the good sites will be gone, with you trying to live in the crappy site next to the dumpster.
Bob thank you I am kind of like her I'm a little bit nervous and being a lonely woman out on our own I really want to start living a nomadic life but I've been kind of nervous about doing it trying to figure out how to do it and you have helped me a great deal thank you for the website appreciate it
I started with the regular camping pass and couldn't get into a lot of parks so I upgraded to the elite . I see a lot of people say they have no problems but I certainly have. I'm trying to get into parks in Arizona than are over 55 and their Encore parks so you can't go from one to the next unless you're at the very high very expensive membership. So I'm traveling up-and-down the West Coast mainly in the same type of parks. You really have to fight to get into the nice parks and when they say you can get 3 weeks at a time and go from one to the other that's almost impossible... Or at least it has been for me. I'll get 10 days here or 14 days there every now and then I can get 21 days. Keep in mind some parks like the one in Palm Springs that is not on core and the one in Vegas are more like just parking lots clearly not "resorts". I'm hoping they said to build a few more parks and upgrade the ones that they have.
Let’s a lot to be said for Not Having to Be woke up in the middle of the Night by the Police 👮♀️ and Water 💦 Power And Sewer or dump station, it takes care of the issue and a Ranger is A big Bonus. 😊
Can’t believe that you are accepting this as a possible solution for RVers but I am very glad you did. It is an interesting possibility and especially for East Coast folks.
Bought the 21 day membership back in the early 90’s . It was paid off long ago with only the annual dues. When I decided to go full time I up to the 28 day package. It included 2 weeklong stays in the getaway cabin. Discounted rate in the regular cabin. All of which came in handy when my rig was in the shop. 10 500.00 travel vouchers. 2 free years of encore and RPI membership. I’m given visitor passes for friends, Twice a year I can pay 29.00 and bridge the 28 day stay. I combined that with the lifetime membership with passport america. It’s been 4 years and I rarely pay more than 10.00 per night coast to coast. I’m not rich but it sure is nice to know I have options. I’m also a solo traveler and like knowing where I will be parking and can stay put for a month or two if I want. It’s worked out well for me but of course it’s not for everyone.
I got a free membership to TT when I bought my travel trailer. Problem is there are no places to stay where I want to go. There's east coast and West coast, not much in the middle of country.
Are those places that have Harvest Host site? The Main problem with Harvest Hosts is that they dictate your lifestyle while there-no outside cooking, cleaning. HH Have no power hookups, dump stations, laundry facilities, pools or spas. Oh, and you have to have a built in gray tank and at least a porta potty. Oh, no tents at all
I don't know how anyone could say this video is not good information. If you look at reviews for TT, it's a very mixed bag, and it would depend on what you wanted, plus your budget. So many things in the RV world are now tied up with Wall Street and financial games. Thor buys Hymer, and it's a big money game. Vans are simpler and basic boondocking has more options. The more basic RV's overlap with vanlife stuff. It looks like TT is controlled by people who want to make money, not much else: From Wikipedia In 1999, Thousand Trails, Inc., purchased the holding company that owned Leisure Time Resorts of America, Inc., a network of ten membership campgrounds in Washington and Oregon.[4] Since that time, ownership has changed repeatedly: the private equity firm of Kohlberg & Co. purchased Thousand Trails for $113 million in 2003,[5] Privileged Access Gp. Corp. of Frisco, Texas bought it in 2006,[6] and Equity Lifestyle Properties bought it in 2008.[7]
Business in this country is all about making money. The head of GE was just fired because the stock price of GE has dropped significantly since he took over. If a business (say a kids lemonade stand) fails to make a profit the stand will close.
is this a reflection of accounting showing a significant profit margin, and then actual income being much less? Or is it hype from analysts who want to sell the business every two years?
For me the membership did not work. I paid my fee. I was told that I could get a space in any park that was part of the Thousand Trails. The first time I tried to use it I pulled into a park on the Oregon coast and was told to go to find a space, there wasn't one space I could fit into. I have a 26ft class c. I got my money back and cancelled the membership.
Bob, you are such a non-judgmental, all inclusive, caring human being. You were so supportive of this lady. It’s a pleasure to watch your videos!
Judy Abernathy
Bob is the Best! I totally understand his presentations and appreciate his knowledge.
MTrefiner - Jealous, I see. In a world of people so quick to judge such as yourself, it is with great joy that I give Bob the compliment I did. You should try it sometime. Positive words seem to help everyone.
MTrefiner - Was going to respond, but then I realized you can’t fix stupid!
MTrefiner - Blessings to you , as well.
@@CarolCox211 ALL HAIL THE BOB!!!
Everyone has their comfort zone, she knows her limits. Good for her.
well said
We are Thousand Trails members and we love it. We started with the zone pass and upgraded to the elite pass. The nice thing about the elite pass is that in addition to the 21 day stay park to park, you can make reservation 120 days in advance. I have never had a problem making reservation.
same here. wife had surgery in Florida, we have been here for a year and paid nothing for resorts, and used about 3/4 tank of gas for the year.
Thanks for the information. It sound very interesting to someone like me.
we bought the Elite package and for another $200 they added all the encore resorts. you can go on their website and look at the map where resorts are.
until now Jeannine. Internet hug now applied to Thousand Trails as 10000 people buy memberships and try to get into the parks. lol. Hope it does not happen.
I didn't see Colorado in any of the zones.
Love my TT membership! She forgot to mention how you can just visit a park that's full for use of their amenities.
I've picked up fresh water and dumped my tanks for free as well as hang out in the pool for the afternoon without having a booked site.
That has helped out so much during the summer when these parks are very busy.
SEOforHire Thank you do much for that interesting tip about day use. Wow! One more good place to dump and get fresh water. And use the pool and hang out. Terrific!
And so far all of them I have been to on the east coast have Laundry and Stores on premise, some better than others and I tend to like the one's with the hot tub next to the laundry ;-)
i believe this is for the upper grade memberships. You can visit a resort and use their facilities even though you are not staying there.
That's interesting information!
As a single woman RVer, I completely understand her security concerns.
Thats what guns are for. The great equalizer.
We were vandalized by other members for telling on them for having a huge banned fire. They should have been evicted per TT rules but weren’t. Sense of security is false at TT. Cost us $1200 to replace & repair wheels that were vandalized in retaliation.
Was at Rancho Oso TT CA.
Trip Wires that use 22 bullets don’t kill. Cameras in conjunction. Gun last resort
@@thegoodtom1718 I agree. Everyone I know who has a gun has had terrible tragedies including children and other family members accidentially killed .
As full timers with a membership in TT since 1984 we love our membership. We often swap back and forth between two or three parks continuously. We can stay 14 days, swap to another park and do another 14 days with no breaks between. We pay two bucks a night, 50 nights a year free and a yearly fee of only about 500. Older memberships are the way to go, just really read and study comparisons on contracts. The parks vary greatly, some are parking lot style, some are great campgrounds with space between. All seem to have laundry, pools, rec areas, many have small stores. We mix it up with some boondocking but really like having the membership in the winters especially as we use electric heaters and pay no generator fees or propane except for our oven, we even use an electric hot plate as a stove. Another thing to consider is the length of time you can make your reservations, we have 120 days we can make reservations if we wish, meaning like now I have reserved nights all the way to January. So I know where I will be and don't have to worry about full parks. Some memberships only give you 60 days and parks can fill up... I hope this was helpful to someone. Cheryl
you have the best of the older contracts....i wonder how difficult it is to find that same type now...
Great share, I'm considering a 14 day park to park with no fees per day. Right now I have a 2 zone membership with the collections package which I also like. Hope to upgrade to the bigger package at the end if the year
Thanks for sharing Cheryl
Our used Elite membership was $3850.00 including the transfer fee. It allows us to stay 21 days in a park and we can either move out of the TT system for 7 days and go back to the same park or we can go directly to another TT park for 7 to 21 days then go back to our original park. Bottom line 21 days in a particular park and you must be out of that particular park for 7 days no cheating the system. Only been using it full time for 3 months but has saved us money so far. Figure $250-$350 per week in a regular rv park. You can do the math and see it would not take long to pay for the membership and then you are only responsible for the annual dues which mine are currently $556 per year and yes they can creep up. We used Campground Membership outlet to purchase ours. RV Love has a complete article on what to look for when buying a TT membership. Happy Trails....
Cheryl Ownbey 👍 ty
It varies by park but you can stay the 7 day "out of system" time still in the park and pay for that week. You could stay at a park for 5 weeks and actually just pay for one. Point is, you don't always have to physically vacate the park. You just have to be out of their (1000 trails) system for a week and if you're paying for that week yourself, you are therefor out of system. Many parks will allow you to do this. All you have to do is ask .
Wow! Another excellent tip! She could do that and avoid buying the annual $3000 pass.
Good idea!! Think I will try that one of these days.
Now that is a great bit of info right there... :)
Thanks for this great tip!
Case in point - I just booked 5 weeks in Apache Junction area for $200. First 2 weeks N/C, next week out of pocket $200 (with Thousand Trails discount) and the last 2 weeks N/C. And I don't even have to change sites! Same site for 5 weeks full hookups for $200.
I like the annual New Mexico State Park pass for $220, with $5 a day (extra) for electricity.
If you don't need elec, you can't beat that deal. they provide water, toilets, dumping & showers in the pass price
Cyn Ho -- There's a 14-day standard limit. Plus, other states have similar deals.
but it's my understanding that you can go from park to park every 14 days - New Mexico is probably too cold in the winter but with it's elevation would be great about 270 days a year.
Cyn Ho -- Yes; that's the way they work. ...kinda nice. It even gets cold in Southern NM. There's always something 😂.
I like that many of these parks have lakes you can fish in and HOT showers. Looks like the worst case is mid 20's at night low 50's as a high. Not sure if that is too cold for a couple months.
What a nice lady. This seems to work for her. Like every other membership plan there are pluses and minuses. I admire her courage to forge ahead in spite of her fears.
Actually one of the most informative video I have seen regarding RV living. Maybe because it was real, off the cuff, and not rehearsed.
I am totally with Kim. My level of Terror and anxiety would be through the roof. I would definitely do what Kim is doing if I ever went this RV Living Route.
She is staying within her comfort zone. That's great. So much better than someone afraid of the dark coming out to the boonies and crowding the first hermit they find.
Some of us are not people kind of people.
I've been a full member for 15 years. Did a lot of traveling with my wife before she passed away. Dues are frozen but the annual service fee does tend to creep up every year (about $25). My break even point is about 14 nights. With the prices of campgrounds anymore I think that number is going down. I plan to travel with my fur-ever buddy this summer for a few weeks and all the lodging is pre-paid. Some campgrounds charge 50 cents a night for 50 amps. In my experience I have found that when the park is close to being full the ranger highlights where the vacant spots are, if they don't assign you a space. If there is a problem with cleanness in a rest room or shower, tell a ranger. They usually have it taken care of promptly.
We are new full time RV’ers and joined TT in May of this year. We absolutely love it! We have the elite membership and can stay for 3 weeks at a time at any TT Park in the entire country year round with no time out of the system. One thing not mentioned in the video is that you can pay your annual dues monthly (around $38 per month for a zone pass). Even with the elite membership, you can finance that as well (everyone is approved!) so you can pay less than $170 per month total for the loan and dues and stay year round in any TT in the county for 3 weeks at a time. After a few years the loan is paid off and you’ll just be paying the $38 per month for the rest of your life. So essentially, we are paying about $165 per month for our “rent” (RV space), electricity, water, sewer, trash, as well as amenities such as the gated community safety factor, pools, fishing, arcades, mini golf, and other amenities that vary from park to park. No generator gas (which can get expensive), no filling fresh water tank, no needing to find a place to dump sewer. Oh and some parks have free WiFi, some have paid WiFi (worth it!), most have great cell service. We are a full time family of four and we have two businesses we run from the road, two teenagers...we need connectivity. TT isn’t for everyone - certainly if you’re seeking solitude in nature it’s probably not for you. If you want the modern amenities of electricity, water, sewer, recreation, internet, and also safety, but you still want to be nomadic and see the country and live a more minimalist lifestyle than you did in your sticks and bricks with your 9 to 5, then TT makes the most sense. So far our only complaints are: not all TT have WiFi (free or paid), a lot of people do NOT follow the leashed dogs rule, and....I actually can’t think of anything else lol. We have had zero problems with noise or rude people. All the TT have been clean and the staff friendly and rarely have we been in a park that was jam packed full. Usually there’s plenty of room and no one bothers you. We have a 27 ft travel trailer and are primarily on the east coast for now. Very happy with our membership, it’s the best decision we have made so far other than choosing to go full time!
I’m replying to my own comment to say that before we chose this lifestyle, we paid $1,100 in rent, $300-400 in utilities and my husband was busting his butt working 60-80 hours a week in a job that he was only supposed to be working 50 hours as a salaried employee. We were barely making ends meet...and for what? A roof, a bed, electricity, etc. which we still have, only my husband and I work a few hours a week in our businesses, enjoy our lives, spend time with our kids and my husband’s health has improved dramatically (he was working himself to death literally). Bob opened our eyes to a new way of life and although we started out in a pop up camper, Boondocking....we adjusted to our needs as a family. My advice to anyone considering the nomadic, minimalist lifestyle is DO IT NOW before it’s too late. I think a common thread among us in this lifestyle is we all say our biggest regret is not having done it sooner. Whether you are going to be van-dwelling or in a luxurious Class A....or somewhere in between, just do it. Enjoy your life! And know there is a community of like-minded people who are rooting for you and want to help you!
That sounds like an excellent package, How much is initial cost?
Thanks.
What's the name of this package?
this lady has an awesome vibe! glad to hear someone that is new to the full time life style is loving it, hoping I will too!
I like Bob because he almost always thinks that regardless of the info presented "it is a good deal". Even when tell him their gas mileage he says "that's awesome". He's a good host.
Thanks Bob & Kim, My friend Mel has a lifetime membership and he just loves it. He's been saving lots staying at 1K Trails and hopes to recoup his upfront cost within a year or two. Some parks he reports are less then desirable but he puts up with the negatives like Kim. Safe Travels Bob & Kim
Thank you for this information. Not all of us who watch CRVL want to exclusively boondock and many of us are in RVIA certified rigs. Although I don't belong to TT, I have considered it. TT seems to be a budget-friendly camping alternative. So I do appreciate this information and I think it will be useful for many of your subscribers.
Newbie here. How do you know if your rig is RVIA certified?
If it was built by a manufacturer, it will likely be RVIA certified. RVIA certified rigs always have permanently affixed sticker somewhere on the rig (usually at a door entry) that will say it is certified.
Beautiful lady living her life as she wants!
I share her confort limitations as I have not started out yet. but will in 2 weeks...heading to RTR 2019, from MO by way of AR to AZ
Love all of your videos. Bob, you are the ultimate author, host and caring person! Just discovered your 3 months ago as I am a former female, solo, trailer 'tear drop (1965) style dweller. I towed my trailer form North Carolina to the state of Washington and lived in it for 4 years. Lots of wonderful travelling memories, which will last me a lifetime.
What a lovely bubbly personality. I really enjoyed watching and some good information on another option.
Thousand Trails is not for everyone and it's far from perfect, but where else can you have access to a national network of campgrounds with (mostly) full hookups for pennies on the dollar? I have to remain on the east side of the country for my work and since there are very limited boondocking/public land options in this region Thousand Trails fills that gap with cheap places to camp. If I had to stay at privately owned RV parks and state parks I'd spend an average of $1000/mo. So even though I shelled out the big bucks for a premium membership it still pays for itself within the first year. I look at it as an investment because by year #2 and beyond my cost is $1.55/night 365 days/year. Can't beat that!
I was able to buy my membership from a friend who just wanted me to pay transfer fee of $750 and my yearly fee is $665 which includes all 5 zones. My friend wanted to upgrade her membership to the Elite so she made me a deal I couldn't refuse. She also bought her Elite membership used
Bob is amazing, always helping others.
Thank Bob and friend for this video, I am new to r.ving, and am more inclined to campgrounds than boondocking, but am still working too. Good info
Bob is no nice is encourages people to do what they are okay with! So wonderful! He is a wonderful human being and he empowers so many people
Very interested and informative. I like pools. Haha might look into this!
Thank you Bob, great vid as usual. You'll have to forgive me for this but I have to say you two would make a great couple!!!
Thanks, Bob, for all that you do!
Thanks, Bob. Lots of choices out there. What it comes down to is: You just have to do what's right for you.
Great video. I am sure there are tons of people who would feel so much less anxiety about going full time if they knew they had some familiar spots they could always return to when they want full hook ups and security and maybe if they run through their monthly budget. Great, inexpensive option that makes a lot of sense. Certainly worth the money in the long run for any full timer who may not always want to boondock. Thanks for another great video!
Interesting. Thanks Bob and Kim.
Thank you, Bob, for posting this video. Although my camping days are over I always wondered about Thousand Trails when we were actively seeking campsites. Keep up the good work that you do because many retired campers like me are following you and Carolyn, too.
What a wonderful interview! I definitely would like to see more fulltime experience videos from her and Bob. Great information.
I like the idea of a zone pass. Because it's not so expensive, I wouldn't feel bad if I didn't stay at a park for a month or two here and there. I would hate to be limited to just the states I have a pass or passes for. I like to travel. Thanks for this video. Excellent info!!!!
A big thanks to Kim and Bob for this video. It's one of the best ever on CheapRVLiving. I did not really understand the Thousand Trails thing before. Now I do understand it much better - and that gives me another option (even though I'm not sure it's the right thing for me).
Thank You Bob and Kim !! I like the New mexico deal that you had talked about Bob that was very affordable ! Not sure if thousand trails would be good for me , BUT I Can see Kim was very happy with it ! Thanks again Bob !
Kim, you're fabulous! Thanks to you and Bob for the great interview. I hope I run into you on the Trail!
I had never heard of this group - very good information. I may look into this for traveling the ease coast where boondocking is much more difficult.
Just be careful with the used memberships. Thought I was getting just what I wanted.....Lifetime elite for $500. Called TT with membership number to confirm what this eBay guy was telling me. Yep all was cool. All went smooth until I got the new contract from TT and they changed the contract on me. Now to upgrade they want $5 K. I never got the name of the person I originally spoke to at TT. Plus the TT campgrounds are very few in the east, unless you have the upgrade and the encore parks and now for an addition $199 a year you can add some other parks nation wide. Hope this is helpful. TT personnel are very helpful so do your checking and TAKE NAMES. Good luck, Debbie
better yet, record everything
Jake2670 True and repeat the questions more than once so you have a good record of it. LoL
We are originally from NY and boondocking is nearly unheard of here. Other private membership parks are also jammed and very expensive. State parks are filled months in advance. We started out the with the zone pass but it just wasn't feasible moving very 4 days to stay in the system. Just the fuel costs alone with a large truck pulling at 37' RV can add up. So with payments spread out over 5 years and the dues, we have already paid for our lifetime membership considering how much these park cost on a daily basis. Bouncing from one park to the other every 21 days and being allowed to extend the stay to 28 days (twice a year) at a cost of about $29 comes in handy. We bought the RPI membership and the Passport America to cover places where there is no TT. Sure, the state park pass idea is great and we will also consider this later. Loving it!
Wow! She’s so articulate and analytical! I love her brain! Lol. I don’t have that kind of money that I wouldn’t rather put into my rig..... or rather, it’s not as valuable to me to invest in! But very interesting. I had never heard about 1000 Trails quite like that. Thanks for the introduction! Very informative!!
Lauri
She’s so lovely. 😊
You’re the best Bob!
Yes its a family love this life. Big hugs Bob. You r my inspiration
I just got my membership ... I’m so excited! Thanks!
Yea!
I had a camping buddy who had a TT membership and we camped all the time. LOVED it!!! Loved the parks. Yosemite, NV, Soledad Canyon, Idylwild, Oakzanita, Wilderness Lakes and Pio Pico were AWESOME.
This made me feel so much better about my TT Elite Membership I bought last month! I definitely made the right decision for my new full time RV life coming up at the end of the year!
We full time it! Our VIP Elite membership has already paid for itself in less than 6 months. Only thing we paid for is our propane and when the resort does not offer free cable. Member services is fantastic with friendly gals, or doing your own itinerary online. Most resorts are very friendly and accommodating. The "Trails Collection" upgrade for $199 was well worth it and allows you to use the Encore Resorts. All together, 21 day stays, (14 days at Encore) resort to resort, nonstop and no bills other then the membership and dues. i believe the freeze on dues is 62. Remember, this is a lifetime membership, it's yours.
I"m an Old dog trying to learn new tricks ( i like that better than RV newbie lol ) and started out watching your solar videos. Now I watch your videos to find out what else I didn't think of, like WATER! Thanks so much for sharing this wisdom with us and wish you all the best. now back to watching more of your videos!
John that's cute. I would rather be known as an old dog learning new tricks too.
It started at $500 a year. Then bye the time she finished, it was $3000+$500 Yearly Dues. And you can't stay more than 14-21 Days and you can't go back to the same place ! 🤯 PLUS THE SUMMER ZOO ! Kids,Dogs,Loud music, parties, Packed in like Sardines. And you get to PAY for that Privilege. 😆 As always Bob has great info. Very much appreciated Bruther. Good vibes👣
It’s about $545 a year. Some who are families may enjoy the busyness. I know I would. I have two kids 😂
Thanks, Bob. Another helpful video, as usual. You do wonderful work!
Great interview, thanks for the info, love her honesty.
Bob Wells. I just love your videos. I learn something new each video. I think that 1000 trails sounds good
That is a Great deal and no worries about being moved at the middle of the Night.
And you have laundry and power and security
Thank You Bob for alerting me to this... T.T. has only 80 locations not evenly spead-out over the lower 48 states... T.T. another time-share headache at noisy camp grounds. No Thank You.....
Thank you Bob.
You can buy membership contracts from individuals that want out. There are probably a hundred different contracts, so be careful when you shop. Some of them will not include all of the parks in your area. Some contracts are yearly some are lifetime, (which means you are obligated to pay over $600 a year maintenance fee even if you no longer use it). This is why people want to sell their membership.
I would start out with a yearly zone pass to see if you even use it. Some States have very few parks.
Good advice
Thank you so much Bob and Kim! I have wonder how 1000 trails membership worked and the pros and cons. Great interview!
She seems to be a fun lady that is enjoying her new life.
I was a little put off by a Thousand Trails experience. When I was in Oregon on the coast. I called them to see if they had a spot. A rudish person answered the phone and said we don't have any spots, but then he asked if I had a membership. The second I said no, his demeanor changed and suddenly, miraculously they had a spot open. So we did get to stay. They had no idea what spots were open. We just had to drag the trailer through the whole park before we found one and then go back and tell which one we took. Why, I don't know, if they are not going to track what spots are open. We were not impressed by the quality of the facilities. In other words they were not maintaining it.
So what sticks with me is that they were willing to let a paid member go without a place to stay on the coast, but would let me go in hoping I would buy a membership. That shows me they do not care about the member's experiences and only want to sell as many memberships as possible.
Certainly sounds like that specific park manager has an ethics issue. Probably specific to that park since people are saying other parks are well maintained.
Second Act, thanks for sharing your TT experience. What YOU experienced is exactly what "I" feared with this in popular areas.
Second Act follow the money trail. You pay full rate to that park. A paid member can stay in that park for two weeks at a cost of less than 35 dollars for two weeks. Thats less than three dollars a day for a paid member.
And so how much for non member to stay??? That suspiciously sounds to me like he wanted the extra money and probably pocketed it for his profit! I know some do that!
@@susannichols4372 I was a TT member for 13 years..when traveling they would say they were full..I went in with a day pass to ck since I was a member, there were at leat 12 empty sites that they had signs on no member parking..they were saving them for people traveling to stay at $45 a night instead of a member..not right.
I like Kim. She seems like a nice and fun person. I hope maybe I can meet her at the RTR.
So informative. Learning so much on this channel! Thank you, again.
In the late 80s and early 90s my grandparents had an Airstream trailer and then a Coach and we visited them at Thousand Trails on Native American land in Washington state. It was ALWAYS SUPER NICE and the vibe all around was awesome! I will save up to get a Thousand trails membership with my own Happy Little Camper that I now own!
1000 trails might be attractive to families. We're considering it because I have kids and I want the amenities for them.
Good information especially for the east coast. You are always so gracious Bob. This next comment is off topic but I would be interested in a video about the different propane hot water heaters such as Zodiac, eco temp, triton etc. Covering how much water pressure you need and if they work in a shower tent etc. thanks!
MTrefiner okay thank you.
For a single female, this sounds safe and makes sense.
It's perfect. I have my pass just havent been able to use it. Its summer here PNW. I hot my pass free when I bought my RV and adding CA for 59.00. Cant beat that... thanks Bob.
I am a TT member. They run specials often. I paid $460 for the year 1 Zone pass. I plan on spending Sept - December in Las Vegas. It's still warm in September. I get free A/C (free electric) in the TT Resort. 2 weeks in the Resort then move down the street to the $100 a week place and about $30 elec. then back to TT. So by the month I spend (with the membership fee) about $250 mo. for rent. & elec. for 4 months. I live on my SS. In Vegas I work UberEats and build my bank account. Then I'm going South to the RTR. I'll Boondock Jan. then Feb head back to Central Cal. to visit my son and friends with a stop at the Palm Desert TT. I have a 28' Class A. I considered the van life but I have loved the space, the shower, & toilet. My only fear Boondocking is when I pull my motorcycle out of the trailer and go into town, unless I have trustworthy neighbors, my rig is vulnerable to thieves. I have an alarm but if no one is around to hear it does it exist? This year I'll make a circle. Jan. Quartzsite, Feb & Mar Central Cal. April & May the beach (just cuz I love it) Big hit to my budget but off season it's not "as" bad. then Yosemite TT for 2 weeks, Pahrump for the summer. $269 mo. elec is $100 (gotta have A/C), pool, gym, game room, etc. Then my TT will run out. Not sure what I'll do then.
Bob has plans for traveling tribes you can join so you don't have to boondock alone
@@cynho3093 Thank you so much Cyn. I will be in Vegas through most of December then I really want to catch up to the tribe. I may not until RTR this year.
Boondocker Bill I did the same for $460 unlimited 14 in 7 out all year long. I plan to put aside $39 a month in an envelope or savings acct so I will have the renewal fee whe it is due. I do the same for my vehicle insurance so I can pay it in full when it is due.
I also use state parks on most of my 7 days out which is very cheap at half price for seniors.
In your area, NM state parks are a great deal.
@@dorisshanks7295 thank you I'll check to see how close I can find a state park
Bill ; spend $160 and get a video system that calls your phone whenever there is movement inside your class A
She is so beautiful and bubbly.
I don’t blame her at all for wanting to stay in a place like that; I would do the same as a single woman out by myself. It sounds like a great idea (to me)!!
they have financing as well! I have the elite connections 21 days park to park,, 7 days out of the same park before you can go back in it, extra bonuses as well, too many to write here but one is a free week per yr in a getaway cabin! I used mine in Pacific City Oregon a few months ago and it was beautiful and private! mine also includes the thousand trails and encore parks and a free year of RPI membership but I never used that one. mine ran about $8600 total for the lifetime membership but pay about $240 mo.(includes the 500/yr dues.) A used membership would be the cheaper way to go but watch the resale, rules, and fees n such! yes, some places during peak season (especially coastal locations!) are harder to get into as more and more people are using this system. If you refer my name when signing up we both get rewards too!
oo and you can use a day pass at any time in the parks as a member even if you are on your out days. so if you have to boondock you can still go in to use the shower, laundry, wifi, the lodge or my fav,,, use the pool or hot tub!
What is RPI Membership?
Very informative, thank you!
This lady is a delight
Very informative... as usual. Thanks, Bob & Kim!
Bob, you have slimmed down. I hope your health is doing well. I so enjoy your videos.
Bob as of today I’m managing the Thousand Trails Long Beach in Seaview, Washington on the Long Beach Peninsula. I love it! I used to travel and boondock and when I’m off work I still do.
Thanks Bob and Kim for this information. As a newbie, I need all the information that's available. Happy trailing Kim.
This is what I'm looking at thanks for additional information. It's a learning experience for sure. I just bought my RV 7 months ago. Freezing right now in WA state. 12" of snow.
Thank you for the information about about Thousands Trails
If you add on the trails collection it is another two hundred and a separate network to spend the 7 out days in that network and only just over $200.00 add on.
Thank You for this interview Bob!😁 I've been looking up info on this but got confused and heard too many varying opinions and just want the straight info and make my own choice.
I talked to them today. Can get a new membership for as low as $600 down and roughly $200 month, no credit check
I have the Southeast Zone Pass with 23 sites between Virginia and Texas. Have found it hard to get reservations especially around holidays. Between them allowing permanent site rental and so many membeships that can do 120 days out instead of 60 days like the zone pass you can not get in. I agree it can be a good deal but not worth renewing again.
1) agree this is the KEY STONE failure of the TT membership. If you wait until 60 day out you will not get a reservation during peak visit times of late spring and summer. (winter in Florida). 2) Another issue is that many have the big rigs (40 foot long) or 50A required. These campgrounds are often old and cant handle that. 3) Third issue is that you you cant not arrive Thursday to Sunday and expect a camping site. Its first come first serve and all the good sites will be gone, with you trying to live in the crappy site next to the dumpster.
Good information Thank you!
Not for everybody obviously. Some folks need to stay connected While others prefer to cut the cord altogether.
Nict to learn we have options. Something for everyone
Bob thank you I am kind of like her I'm a little bit nervous and being a lonely woman out on our own I really want to start living a nomadic life but I've been kind of nervous about doing it trying to figure out how to do it and you have helped me a great deal thank you for the website appreciate it
Great to meet Kim! She's my kind of camper!
Sweet lady. Really appreciate her candor.
What a nice lady. Caravan Carolyn doesnt like traveling alone. I understand her being new to RV life wanting to be close to people.
WOW! Kim's info is very helpful. Bob another great video! Tks for sharing!
I started with the regular camping pass and couldn't get into a lot of parks so I upgraded to the elite . I see a lot of people say they have no problems but I certainly have. I'm trying to get into parks in Arizona than are over 55 and their Encore parks so you can't go from one to the next unless you're at the very high very expensive membership. So I'm traveling up-and-down the West Coast mainly in the same type of parks. You really have to fight to get into the nice parks and when they say you can get 3 weeks at a time and go from one to the other that's almost impossible... Or at least it has been for me. I'll get 10 days here or 14 days there every now and then I can get 21 days. Keep in mind some parks like the one in Palm Springs that is not on core and the one in Vegas are more like just parking lots clearly not "resorts". I'm hoping they said to build a few more parks and upgrade the ones that they have.
Well done BOB!!! Great info, and I appreciate your interviewing style! Tks another option to consider....
Bob , your inspiring and a very good dude , thank you for all you do !!
Thanks Kim for clearing up the details.
14:30 "Why not" Because after a few years, you might as well buy a lifetime membership
Let’s a lot to be said for Not Having to Be woke up in the middle of the Night by the Police 👮♀️ and Water 💦 Power
And Sewer or dump station, it takes care of the issue and a Ranger is A big Bonus. 😊
Can’t believe that you are accepting this as a possible solution for RVers but I am very glad you did. It is an interesting possibility and especially for East Coast folks.
Bought the 21 day membership back in the early 90’s . It was paid off long ago with only the annual dues. When I decided to go full time I up to the 28 day package. It included 2 weeklong stays in the getaway cabin. Discounted rate in the regular cabin. All of which came in handy when my rig was in the shop. 10 500.00 travel vouchers. 2 free years of encore and RPI membership. I’m given visitor passes for friends, Twice a year I can pay 29.00 and bridge the 28 day stay. I combined that with the lifetime membership with passport america. It’s been 4 years and I rarely pay more than 10.00 per night coast to coast. I’m not rich but it sure is nice to know I have options. I’m also a solo traveler and like knowing where I will be parking and can stay put for a month or two if I want. It’s worked out well for me but of course it’s not for everyone.
what a fun lady, and a video full of great information! thank you!
I got a free membership to TT when I bought my travel trailer. Problem is there are no places to stay where I want to go. There's east coast and West coast, not much in the middle of country.
Happy Camper absolutely correct nothing in Wisconsin Minnesota north or south Dakota Nebraska Iowa Kansas pretty much the entire midwest!!
Are those places that have Harvest Host site? The Main problem with Harvest Hosts is that they dictate your lifestyle while there-no outside cooking, cleaning. HH Have no power hookups, dump stations, laundry facilities, pools or spas. Oh, and you have to have a built in gray tank and at least a porta potty. Oh, no tents at all
Thanks for this video!
I don't know how anyone could say this video is not good information. If you look at reviews for TT, it's a very mixed bag, and it would depend on what you wanted, plus your budget.
So many things in the RV world are now tied up with Wall Street and financial games. Thor buys Hymer, and it's a big money game. Vans are simpler and basic boondocking has more options. The more basic RV's overlap with vanlife stuff.
It looks like TT is controlled by people who want to make money, not much else:
From Wikipedia
In 1999, Thousand Trails, Inc., purchased the holding company that owned Leisure Time Resorts of America, Inc., a network of ten membership campgrounds in Washington and Oregon.[4] Since that time, ownership has changed repeatedly: the private equity firm of Kohlberg & Co. purchased Thousand Trails for $113 million in 2003,[5] Privileged Access Gp. Corp. of Frisco, Texas bought it in 2006,[6] and Equity Lifestyle Properties bought it in 2008.[7]
Business in this country is all about making money. The head of GE was just fired because the stock price of GE has dropped significantly since he took over. If a business (say a kids lemonade stand) fails to make a profit the stand will close.
is this a reflection of accounting showing a significant profit margin, and then actual income being much less? Or is it hype from analysts who want to sell the business every two years?
For me the membership did not work. I paid my fee. I was told that I could get a space in any park that was part of the Thousand Trails. The first time I tried to use it I pulled into a park on the Oregon coast and was told to go to find a space, there wasn't one space I could fit into. I have a 26ft class c. I got my money back and cancelled the membership.
sounds like you arrived saturday morning. happens at all campgrounds