Tow and go to a permanent site

We had a seasonal for 16 years. It was great while the kids were growing up and we were still working. Then as the kids got older they quit coming there. We got bored with the same scenery and the campgrounds cliques were really starting to take over. Sold the trailer and moved on. Now we have a fifth wheel and travel every Winter. Love the life. If we get bored or tired of the cliques, (they all have them) we just move on. We're liking this much better.

B.O.

We just got a seasonal site a bit over an hour away up in the Lake Sunapee region of NH (we're in Nashua). For $160 extra, you can leave it there over the winter, which saved me a lot of hassle. Up here a seasonal site near water runs about $2500 (near the water) to $3500 (on the water). It would cost me over $100/month to park it at the local u-store place, so I figure it's only costing me $1300/year to store it near the lake. The seasonal site we picked is seasonal-only, no transient campers, and is very country-club like. It was much nicer than the ones we looked at with seasonal and weekend campers, and was the same price as some really awful places we looked at as well. We still have our smallish hybrid TT and plan to tow it out of our site on occasion to visit the inlaws, etc. - but we will enjoy going to the lake much more often this coming summer. Looking at Google maps, there are several seasonal RV parks in your area with good reviews. If you find one you fall in love with, you might have to wait - we were lucky as they had one unexpected opening for a small trailer and we jumped on it. Good luck with your search!

My family (of 5) did the Tow the PUP, tow the 19ft TT, tow the 29ft, the seasonal site with our 29ft phases as well. We did seasonal for 7 years and near the end, we got tired of "same old / same old" CG. And, all the wasted money of CG fees and trailer depreciation. Sold it all and we now have our own little cottage (on the lake with our own boat lift and our own swimming area). Will probably stay in our current little cottage for 7 full years, then sell it - to upgrade to "retirement house on the lake". Only time will tell.... Long mumblings short, we loved our seasonal site - during that phase of our previous life as well.

ENJOY after being seasonal for 3 yrs. we wouldn't have it any other way, much less stressful and we get to use it every weekend.
Weekenders are known as transients in the seasonal world.:B

I've been RV'ing for 25 years - first in a PU and then in a TT. For most of those years I despised seasonal campgrounds. It just wasn't camping to me - and many seasonal sites were not maintained well, or were filled with trashy looking stuff that distracted from getting back to nature (including old broken down trailers).

But this past summer we decided to try and place our TT on a site for the month of August, about an hour from home. We were not sure how it would go or whether we would use it enough. Between the four of us, we ended up staying a total of almost 20 nights, so we definitely got our money's worth. It ended up being an enjoyable time, and I could save a lot of gas driving the car down to the site instead of the truck.

Although we were a little sad to have to eventually pack it up, we also looked forward to going back out on the road for the rest of the season.

The bottom line is that we would consider staying for a month again, but not settle down into a full seasonal site. We just enjoy seeing different parts of the area and new CGs too much.

We stayed at a very wooded CG a couple weekends ago, and we were amazed at how some very large TTs were placed on sites between trees. I venture to guess that the CG used some type of forklift or other equipment to manuever the TT on to the site, because there was no way I would be able to back my TT into the confined space with my TV.

Based on my personal experience, here are some tips:

Some seasonal campers really build up their areas with decks, screen porches, sheds, firepits, etc. Some of these are done in an aesthetic fashion, and others make it look like a flea market or junk yard. So I'd be very careful as to where I select a site for my TT, since you probably aren't going to move it for a long time.

Make sure the leveling and stabilization is done well, and that you don't have to run the sewer/electric/water/cable lines a long distance or near walking paths. Position the TT so that you have good space to park vehicles and free space to move around in the front of the site. Consider the orientation relative to the sun, such that you get sun in the front when you want it and not when you don't want it. Same goes for the sun in your bedroom window in the morning, if that is what you like or don't like.

Pick a site that doesn't have tripping hazards like tree roots and rocks. See if you can get a site on the outside of the ring road so that you don't back up to another site and have a little more privacy. If you like isolation, get a site as far from the bath houses, pool, playground and office as possible. I remember a few years ago we were given a site that backed up to the entrance road, and we heard and saw traffic all day and night (headlights were really annoying). Conversely, if you use the bath house and pool often, you don't want to be too far away (unless you have a golf cart).

Check out where all the street lights are located. On our last trip, there turned out to be a street light right in front of our TT, and it was really bright. Fortunately we have black-out curtains so it didn't really affect us. We certainly didn't have to leave our porch light on. LOL

And if possible, get a site well away from the garbage and recycling collection area! Garbage smell can carry pretty far, especially in the heat of the summer. It can also be noisy with people disposing of these items, especially slamming of container lids. Also, there is potential for odors and/or noise coming from sewer manholes and pump stations, if applicable.

You may even want to note what vehicles your neighbors drive. Many times I have been woken up at 5 am by a very loud diesel truck or motorcycle as someone left to go to work. Same even goes for golfcarts, as some people drive them like maniacs and light them up with neon lights, horns, and other annoying features. It's get tiring after the tenth time they pass your site....

Given all these suggestions, you may want to rent the site for a week or weekend to try it out and see whether you may have any of these potential issues, before committing to setting up permanently. That would eliminate most of the major issues you may encounter.

Just leave the battery connected and the trailer plugged in, all will be good. The battery will be ready if the power goes out. As for tanks, yes keep the black tank closed but the gray can be left open if you wish. Just close it the night before dumping the black and then open it again afterwards. That is what I do while traveling. When we were seasonal, one of our units did not have a gray tank, just a black so the gray always flowed out whenever we used water.

Once I finally connect to the campground site's power. Do I still need to keep my battery charging? Or disconnect it or just leave it alone?

Dan

We had a seasonal site for 17 yrs. ( good advice closing and dumping as needed , on the tanks )
here is a list of things that pop into the pee brain.
1. I only kept one propane tank open and drawing at a time. I was a 'lazy propane tank watcher' . Keeping one tank shut off allowed me to be sure I always had one full tank when the valve changed over. If you don't keep a close eye on it, you tend to forget .
Some seasonals used a larger 100# tank set up. It was a little cheaper and less trips to refill.

2. In our CG searching process, we were told the CG does not provide insurance for damage. It was up to the RV owner to provide his own insurance. Sometimes your homeowners covers it . Check into that because CG owners tend to not cut down iffy trees to prevent them from crashing down on your RV because its not their insurance claim . Just something to keep in mind. Ask about cutting down a dead tree, sometimes its on your dime and some owners forbid it entirely .

3. If you know how to make RV repairs, that's a plus. If not, secure an on site RV repair service (prior to making your seasonal contract) that will come to the CG in a timely fashion.
If you have to take the RV somewhere to make repairs , you will want your site set up to be easy enough to undo and go.
4. Mouse proof the RV as best as you can. When you are absent, they move in.
5. Use common sense . While you are absent , use the breaker or unplug the power . Disconnect the RV battery if you do that, so it doesn't drain it . Shut off the water.
If SAT/TV is important to you, make sure you get reception on that site when the foliage is full.

do you plan to leave it on the site all year ? if so......
6. Talk to others as to what they do when they leave the rig unattended all winter...cover it, don't cover it , or move to off the site to an open field away from trees.
I was not able to get to my trailer to check on it all winter unless I snow-shoed it 1/4 mi. to the open field site. Some owners head south leaving the CG unattended.
Ask if the CG owner makes rounds or not .
7. Locking the RV door.....DEAD bolt it . The dead bolt lock on the TT door uses your personal key. The handle/paddle lock uses a universal key. Don't just lock the paddle lock. The storage compartment doors also use a universal key.
Every teenage kid in the CG has a set of those keys from mom n dads trailer. A lot of drunk young people , I wonder where they got that booze from ?

Just because you go to a seasonal site does not mean you cannot still travel... on occasion assuming it's easy to get in and out of the site. You will probably use it longer... into the winter so do not leave the water hose hookup when it's below freezing. I do not allow roof overs but I do allow SilverTop awnings but now you cannot travel.

One of the biggest pluses is you'll develop some close friends.

X2 > Do NOT leave the gray or black tanks open ever. Fill tanks and dump. No matter how many of your new seasonal neighbors tell you it's ok to do! :W

Many of my friends have opted for a season site close to home. The best part is you can go every weekend if you so desire. Some of them even go there during the week after a hard days work, just to chill out. You will love it!

Only down side is be prepared to see a LOT, and I mean a LOT, of your friends and relatives visiting you EVERY weekend once they find out you have a seasonal site! You will save on gas being at a seasonal site but it's a moot point when you have to buy extra food to feed all your visiting relatives!!:B