What happened to this forum?

I have been a member on this forum for quite a few years... over those years I have seen many changes take place. For one thing the many comments are spread over many, many more rooms within this forum. I think another thing, there are more and more RV'ing forums over the internet, like Facebook, Twitter and many more.

I for one still like returning to this forum when I have a question and / or comment. I appreciate that it is still active and a good source of information when needed. Maybe I don't post as much as I used too, but I am still around reading. Safe & Happy travels to everyone!


RVman / John

We’re at the same place in snowbirding.

Sold our down south 5ver last spring prior to heading north with our 28ft 5ver. After eight weeks on the road, a tornado where we heard the train, two flat tires in one day. A cancelled AAA service call requiring me to drive 50 miles while the rig was on the shoulder of the toll road too get a tire since the spare was on the rig. Mounting the tire on the driver side while knuckleheads past within 18 inches of me doing 70 to 80 mph.

That was all prior to a blown brake line requiring a double knuckle tow off the highway, an overnight hotel stay then telling the tech how to fix it without taking the whole cab off the truck. At that point I figured I had enough “fun” during the last 10 years of mobile RV snowbirding. I’m sure all the old expert snowbirds will say “been there, done that.”

Might return to RVing, but trying other options right now. When I see a post that I see I might affect a more positive experience for someone newer then I’ll make an attempt. Or when I see someone posting BS based on limited traveling experiences thinking one area fits all.

Current snowbirds have much more user friendly and technically efficient options at their disposal. No need to relive the road atlas/good Sam book heydays of now aging bingo playing park model/condo owners. That’s why I think you’re seeing a decline in old school forums that require picture servers and cut and paste backdoor HTML logic.

I haven't said much lately because I'm not sure I qualify as a real snowbirder anymore. DW and I have been very active for the last 15 years dragging our RVs to different destinations south for the winter then back north in the spring. I'm really tired of that and hate burning that much diesel. We've decided to leave our toy hauler in the south and just drag ourselves back and forth to the same place for a few more years. If we like the new regimen, we'll probably sell the Voltage and buy a little park model. If not, maybe we'll travel again.

This use to be a very active subform in the winter - very quiet in the summer, since most snowbirds are doing other things. I was just wondering why so few were posting this year.

Maybe it's just me, but this is only the second time I remember being on this forum. I read and contribute regularly to the "roads", "campgrounds", "Alaska-Canada", and "boondocking" forums, but those seem to take care of my needs and time.

We have been snowbirding for 7 years and will head for Arizona again next week. But, if the RV.net snowbirds are going to Facebook, then I probably won't need to get back on here again. I have never been on Facebook and will never get on it. But that may be because I just got my first ever cell phone for Christmas! :B

kginder wrote:
This forum has been my home for some of the best information I've ever been able to find anywhere. "Most" of the people have been extremely helpful and courteous and have literally saved me thousands of dollars over the years.

I pray that the good people stay here, the unwelcome leave and the moderators continue their good work (with a little more understanding?).

I agree with the "searching" will answer everything to a major point. If I'm in trouble and need help, searching is not helping me. Please help me. I'm stuck in a campground, on the side of a road, or just plain can't find it right now because I don't feel well.

I love this forum. I loved the CB radio era in the 70's. I could get on the radio and 15 people would be at my side in minutes.

I surely (don't call me Shirley) hope this forum will continue on and I can keep in touch with all of you good people.

We're retiring shortly and and we're surely gone to need y'all (don't call me Shirley!) We ain't got a lot of time left on this planet so we need to make the best of it!

And please hit us (wife and I) up for whatever y'all need. We're here for ya.

Keith
Jersey

My kind of RV'er, Well said!

And I can certainly identify with your comments about CB Radio...still drives my wife nuts because to this day, I keep it on when traveling(at a low level) just in case someone/anyone is out there. :-)

This forum has been my home for some of the best information I've ever been able to find anywhere. "Most" of the people have been extremely helpful and courteous and have literally saved me thousands of dollars over the years.

I pray that the good people stay here, the unwelcome leave and the moderators continue their good work (with a little more understanding?).

I agree with the "searching" will answer everything to a major point. If I'm in trouble and need help, searching is not helping me. Please help me. I'm stuck in a campground, on the side of a road, or just plain can't find it right now because I don't feel well.

I love this forum. I loved the CB radio era in the 70's. I could get on the radio and 15 people would be at my side in minutes.

I surely (don't call me Shirley) hope this forum will continue on and I can keep in touch with all of you good people.

We're retiring shortly and and we're surely gone to need y'all (don't call me Shirley!) We ain't got a lot of time left on this planet so we need to make the best of it!

And please hit us (wife and I) up for whatever y'all need. We're here for ya.

Keith
Jersey

When new members are instructed to "Do a search", which yields dozens of pages of somewhat relevant information, they move on. Many are looking for the freshest information that they can get. Not, what was new five years ago. Things do change. That might not be obvious from some of our contributors opinions.

I think current affairs in the country have caused many to pull their horns in a bit, going off to do other things to try to be happy.

I think there is a lot of competition for "computer time" on social media that there didn't used to be. I like to check in on RV.net, but also on a couple of other discussion boards for my other interests that are not as active as they once were, and people are commenting on that there as well. But there are still hundreds--maybe thousands--of us who are still participating.