Extra Things to do regarding the RV?

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.

And don't write off the private parks. We were accepted at a park in Bar Harbor that paid minimum wage for every hour worked, 20-30 hours per week, guaranteed same days off for both workers. Big family park, 500 sites. Free site.

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!

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?

Take a 2 month RV trip and check out LIVING in less than 280 sq. ft 24/7

We loved FT......but we traveled weekly. HATED being parked!

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!

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

Bill