RVing with Pets

myredracer wrote:
We have one dog. For the first time ever, we took him on a 3 week trip and to date have only taken him one the occasional weekend trip. Worked out great and it was nice to mostly just hang out in the CGs for a change. Dogs and cats are very common at CGs all over the place. He's getting older and sleeps a LOT now and isn't hyperactive like he used to be so is much easier to have with us.

Biggest problem with a dog(s) is that you can't go sightseeing, shopping or whatever any time you want. When grocery shopping, one of stays in the truck while the other goes inside. In the past, we've used a doggy daycare on occasion which has been good but it's always been the same place and we trust them. Good excuse to drop him off for a haircut too. Many RV-ers put out a temporary fenced area outside their RV but would depend on the particular dog(s). Some cat owners use one of those long tube things connected to the entry door.

Obviously RVs have all sorts of floor plans. We have an enclosed bedroom with about 1 1/2' from foot of bed to wall and that is the only place in our TT for a dog bed. DW has to be careful not to step on him in the night. But he does invite himself onto the bed occasionally. :) You might want to consider sleeping arrangements for pets when shopping for a new RV and maybe even where to store pet food and where to put down water and food bowls. I installed a sheet of lexan in the lower part of our entry door in case our dog ever decided to chase after something but he likes to sit at the door with it wide open though so he can see, sniff and here what's going on outside. There is a spot that we can tie his leash to near the door.

We are Thousand Trails members and like their CGs. They're all dog friendly that we've seen. Some California CGs might be rather hot in the summer to have dogs outside? Some Thousand Trails CGs have fenced dog runs and they strictly enforce their leash rule.

We used to be members of another CG org. in Wa. & Or. and they did not enforce their leash rule. Our dog even got attacked by an off-leash bulldog there. Someone DW knows at work got his family jewels chomped by a bulldog at the same CG and had to get stitches. We think it was the same dog. The CG did NOTHING. That was one big reason that we eventually sold the membership there.

A Thousand Trails membership is a very economical way to RV, that is if you can live with the occasional low voltage problems, lack of 50 amp pedestals and often, a lack of sewer hookups. Their CGs are usually several decades or more old and not up to "modern" standards. Doesn't bother us in the slightest. There are many high end MHs at them.

If interested in a Thousand Trails membership, forget about buying one directly from them. You can find them on CL for around $1,000 or less and can buy one from anyone in the US. We got ours from someone in Arizona for $800 (plus annual dues) and it is a top of the line membership. You need to get the membership number from a seller and then phone head office to find out what the features and benefits are because membership contracts are all different. There is usually a max stay of 2 weeks in a CG and a max. length of time you need to be out of the system unless you get one of the premium memberships. You could also buy a one-year zone pass from them to try them out (around $500). There are also other CG orgs. out there. If planning to travel much, look at where there CGs are located. Thousand Trails has none in the central area of the US. Casinos can be a good place to stay and usually have good power, water and full sewer hookups and don't cost much if at all.

We stayed in a Thousand Trails in Morgan Hill (near Gilroy) last summer. Nice CG but hotter than Hades and most folks were inside with the AC going full tilt. Awfully hot for taking a pet outside. It's shut down this year due to being flood-damaged (after years of no rain).

We stayed in a Thousand Trails in Chehalis, Wa. a couple of weeks ago and it is the nicest CG we've ever been to (except no sewer and voltage was low). About 360 acres in a beautiful forested setting with most sites spaced well apart. Lots of dogs there and great place to take them for a walk.

I think you'll find that membership CGs get RV-ers that are more respectful of others and also their pets.

Low voltage can be solved by using a Hughes autoformer. Make sure to get a Progressive Industries EMS if you plan to get around much. If you need AC to keep pets cool, you need to do what you can to make sure power won't go out on you.

Thank you for such a well written and informative response. I had NO idea you could purchase the Thousand Trails membership through a previous owner. That is SO good to know! I don't know what a Hughes autoformer is, or a Progressive Industries EMS....lol We plan to spend 4-6 months travelling in the beginning. More if we end up loving it! The plan is to travel every winter, though.