OK - here's a question for you full timers...We are hoping to become full timers sometime next year if we can dot all the "I"s and cross all the "T's....Our preferred lifestyle would be to stay at National Parks and other such wild places (hopefully as volunteers...) for 2-3 months at a time - rather than moving from place to place after much shorter staysIs there anything we need to take into account to do this?I'm imagining we would want to fire up the coach main engine every week to endure its successful operation for instanceIs there anything else we would need to do to accomodate longer stays at campgrounds?Thanks for any advice you can offerChris and Octavia

You don't need to worry about it that often.Bill

Trackrig...your link won't let anyone in (or at least me..it won't let me in)Chris and Octavia..... We full time. Looking into camphost jobs. I'm not all that excited. Mostly it seems they want 40 hrs work week and you get a free space. Figure the cost of that space and see if it's worth it. Some DO pay a wage. If you're on social security you want to be careful....you make over a certain amount they'll start reducing your SS.We have found many RV parks have reduced rates for parking for a month at a time. We stayed near Yuma last winter for $295 a month and we paid elect. Since it wasn't all that hot that time of year, our elec bill was about $75. a month. If you "buy" into a space for a year, the cost of much much less. Consider looking into state, county and city parks....Have fun!

Take a 2 month RV trip and check out LIVING in less than 280 sq. ft 24/7We loved FT......but we traveled weekly. HATED being parked!

If that is your goal, consider something other than a motor home. They are really expensive to leave sitting for months at a time. Second you will have to figure out how to get 120VAC or learn to live frugal. Most NF campgrounds are dry camping, even the host sites. Hosts might get water, but your going to need electricity, plus a means of getting rid of waste. In the far west most NF campgrounds are operated by contractors. The contractor hires camp hosts, usually for the season which can run from May to October. They do everything including cleaning the pit toilets. I think you need to rethink your ideas and goals and then come up with a plan. Many full timers do volunteer as camp hosts in state parks, staying 1 to 3 months in one place and maybe find another park for more time. This might be a better fit for your ideas?

As you can tell by a couple of the above answers you've received, volunteering is not for everyone. When you start applying keep a list of questions to ask so you're not surprised later.It sounds like volunteering would be ideal for you because you seem to enjoy public parks and their surroundings and you're willing to stay in those spots for periods of time.A small area of space to live in has no bearing on staying parked for a few months. You're going to be out doing things and talking to campers. You're not staying inside all the time. Having volunteered in national parks, state parks and fish hatcheries, etc. we have found no issues to be concerned about. Actually, it's more harmful for you to sit in the campsite and leave the motorhome running for a short time than to just leave it turned off. We never ran ours. There's no harm having a motorhome sit.Whatever supplies are needed, the park will supply it - including perhaps a golf cart or truck.The majority of public campgrounds do have hookups for the volunteers. If not, they will provide an easy way of working around that issue - sometimes by giving you portable solar panels, sometimes by sending a truck to you to dump your tanks or to bring you fresh water - not from the same truck :). This is true even in national forest campgrounds. They're not going to leave you stranded out there!If you're hired by a concessionier like some national forest campgrounds, then you're not a volunteer, you're a paid employee and yes, one of your duties will be cleaning bathrooms. Yes, there will be some very remote campgrounds that don't have hookups. Most often you'd need a very small RV to get to those spots. You'll know when you apply to them; they'll give you the options and then you can decide if it's doable to you or not.Especially in national parks, you most probably will not be cleaning toilets. We never did. They have regular paid personnel to do that - their maintenance dept. You might have to check for toilet paper need during the day or to see if it needs any special attention - by maintenance.Camp hosting is not meant to give you a free campsite. The majority of folks do it to help out the parks that they love visiting. Just being able to live in those beautiful surroundings is pay enough. If you're doing it just for the free spot then perhaps you're not the right person to be there.Another area that you might consider is in interpretation in these parks. We loved giving lighthouse tours.Every park will be different. You'll get the hang of what kind of park you want to be at. Good luck!

Extra Things to do regarding the RV? | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

chrisandoctavia
Explorer
Aug 11, 2015
Thanks Michael - that was the response we were hoping for!

Chris
mgirardo
Explorer
Aug 11, 2015
chrisandoctavia wrote:
Our RV is a 31 foot C Class with a gasoline not diesel engine....

If any of you have a similar vehicle - or an A Class - if you are going to be parked for a while at a campground - do you ever drive the vehicle a short way say every couple of weeks to keep the drive-engine in good order?

Chris

We've camped in one campground for a month at a time, 6 weeks at a time and for 4 months at a time. Our Class C does not move once it is leveled, unless it has to be re-leveled - that's only a few feet of movement though. I do periodically check the chassis battery and make sure it is charged. If need be, I stick a charger on it until it is fully charged.

When gas was $4/gallon, we didn't use the motorhome as often and it would sit for a month or two at a time between trips. I would just check the battery to make sure it was charged. I didn't bother taking it out on a drive.

If the engine is suffering as a result, it doesn't show it. No metal shavings in oil changes and it runs as strong as the day we brought it home.

-Michael
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Aug 11, 2015
ncrowley wrote:
4X4Dodger wrote:
ncrowley wrote:
If you are going to sit for months at a time, I would recommend a fifth wheel. You are not supposed to just start up a diesel engine and let it idle. If you want to exercise the engine, you need to get it up to operating temperature and roll the tires. A 30 mile trip will work. If you cannot get the tires rolling, do not start it up.

I am sorry but this is a myth. You can start it up and let it idle for DAYS if need be, but you need a high idle setting which kicks up the idle so the engine will warm up. Most diesels have this built in to their electronic engine controls.

Having said that Diesels are perfectly happy sitting for long periods. But when you do start it it will clatter and rumble a bit more for a few seconds then settle down.

Bottom line is dont worry about it. For the time you will be staying it is your battery you will need to worry about.

I am not an expert but I have done a lot of reading and taken classes. What I have been told by people that supposedly know and work on diesel engines was not to start it unless you were going to drive it at least about 20 miles. They said you want the engine to get up to operating temperature. They said if you are not going to move it, then do not start it. I do not have the knowledge to argue with you or with them. I am just trying to learn as much as I can so I can take good care of the coach. Is there somewhere that talks about this that I could look into?

I understand. But this is still a bit of old wives tale. There is some truth imbedded in it however.

If you start up a diesel and dont let it run long enough at a high enough idle setting to actually warm up then moisture in the oil pan will not get hot enough to steam away. That moisture can cause problems including acidifying the oil. If done REPEATEDLY over a long period it can be harmful. But for a short period once in a while it will be fine, as long as it gets run well at some point.

Diesels love to work. But the mechanicals of the engine are happy to high idle for long periods too.

I have owned diesels as class 8 trucks for much of my life (as a sideline to my "real" career) and grew up in a family business of trucking. I watched my first overhaul when I was about 10. Diesels have changed dramatically since then and the newer ones are less susceptible to all the old bugaboos of the older ones and will go many many more miles.

Getting any engine up to operating temperature before working it is a good idea, but not really necessary.

If the engine can be left off then do so. There really is no need to start it at all. (for the engines sake)
ncrowley
Explorer II
Aug 11, 2015
4X4Dodger wrote:
ncrowley wrote:
If you are going to sit for months at a time, I would recommend a fifth wheel. You are not supposed to just start up a diesel engine and let it idle. If you want to exercise the engine, you need to get it up to operating temperature and roll the tires. A 30 mile trip will work. If you cannot get the tires rolling, do not start it up.

I am sorry but this is a myth. You can start it up and let it idle for DAYS if need be, but you need a high idle setting which kicks up the idle so the engine will warm up. Most diesels have this built in to their electronic engine controls.

Having said that Diesels are perfectly happy sitting for long periods. But when you do start it it will clatter and rumble a bit more for a few seconds then settle down.

Bottom line is dont worry about it. For the time you will be staying it is your battery you will need to worry about.

I am not an expert but I have done a lot of reading and taken classes. What I have been told by people that supposedly know and work on diesel engines was not to start it unless you were going to drive it at least about 20 miles. They said you want the engine to get up to operating temperature. They said if you are not going to move it, then do not start it. I do not have the knowledge to argue with you or with them. I am just trying to learn as much as I can so I can take good care of the coach. Is there somewhere that talks about this that I could look into?
RGar974417
Explorer
Aug 10, 2015
donn0128 wrote:
If that is your goal, consider something other than a motor home. They are really expensive to leave sitting for months at a time. Second you will have to figure out how to get 120VAC or learn to live frugal. Most NF campgrounds are dry camping, even the host sites. Hosts might get water, but your going to need electricity, plus a means of getting rid of waste. In the far west most NF campgrounds are operated by contractors. The contractor hires camp hosts, usually for the season which can run from May to October. They do everything including cleaning the pit toilets. I think you need to rethink your ideas and goals and then come up with a plan. Many full timers do volunteer as camp hosts in state parks, staying 1 to 3 months in one place and maybe find another park for more time. This might be a better fit for your ideas?

Maybe in the west National Forest campgrounds don't have electric,but in the east and south,most of them have electric and some have water too.
chrisandoctavia
Explorer
Aug 10, 2015
Our RV is a 31 foot C Class with a gasoline not diesel engine....

If any of you have a similar vehicle - or an A Class - if you are going to be parked for a while at a campground - do you ever drive the vehicle a short way say every couple of weeks to keep the drive-engine in good order?

Chris
blangen
Explorer
Aug 10, 2015
ncrowley wrote:
If you are going to sit for months at a time, I would recommend a fifth wheel. You are not supposed to just start up a diesel engine and let it idle. If you want to exercise the engine, you need to get it up to operating temperature and roll the tires. A 30 mile trip will work. If you cannot get the tires rolling, do not start it up.

X2 on the above. It's not that idling is bad, necessarily... it's that a diesel engine run for a short period of time can't get up to the necessary temperature to dry out the condensation. No, I'm not a mechanic, that's just what I was told. But, if that's not enough, getting the engine and trans up to temperature will lubricate the seals. The only way the trans comes up to temp is driving.
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2015
ncrowley wrote:
If you are going to sit for months at a time, I would recommend a fifth wheel. You are not supposed to just start up a diesel engine and let it idle. If you want to exercise the engine, you need to get it up to operating temperature and roll the tires. A 30 mile trip will work. If you cannot get the tires rolling, do not start it up.

I am sorry but this is a myth. You can start it up and let it idle for DAYS if need be, but you need a high idle setting which kicks up the idle so the engine will warm up. Most diesels have this built in to their electronic engine controls.

Having said that Diesels are perfectly happy sitting for long periods. But when you do start it it will clatter and rumble a bit more for a few seconds then settle down.

Bottom line is dont worry about it. For the time you will be staying it is your battery you will need to worry about.
stickdog
Explorer
Aug 10, 2015
Fulltiming 5 1/3 years volunteering 9 months each year USFW, ACE, USFS, state parks, we have always had full hookups or equivalent. Hours required as few as 15 per week to as many as 32, this was our last volunteer assignment in Alaska. Most are 24hrs per person for a couple or 32 for a single. As a couple we have always had the same hrs though we did not necessarily work together. Our longest vol position was 7 months our shortest was 6 weeks. Most are 3-3 1/2 months.
We find this the best way to spend our retirement, traveling to places we want to explore and getting to learn about the uniqueness of each area we visit.
We're not rich or poor but we get much more than a RV site, life is a learning experience and we gain knowledge at every position we've taken.
darsben
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2015
If in a coach you will have to take the coach to town to shop. This can be 25-30 miles. Or for entertainment, a movie and just to sight see. I think a towed would be very desirable or else a TT or fifth wheel. Remembering that most Government CG will have a length restriction