Tow and go to a permanent site
Been pulling the rig and DW and I have opted for a permanent site about an hour from the house. Any recommendations, comments, etc... tried searching the subject, but with no luck. Thanks in ad...
Forum Discussion
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.
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.
