Snow-birding; Texas instead of Arizona?

[stepdad]

Hey good folks,
We are going to be snowbirds for the first time this winter. We are from Washington State. I checked rates at snowbird parks in Arizona and I thought they we quite high. Then I checked Texas and WOW way cheaper. Any pro's or con's with Texas as a snowbird destination?

~Thanks, John

[TomG2]

Might be like the cars and trucks of the 70's. They were rusting before we got them home.

[John_Joey]

TomG2 wrote:
. Do you know the full history of this incident?

No I don't, and I was thinking the exact same thing just didn't want to say it out loud. I'm guessing that steel comes in different quality's and it's very possible that maker uses the cheaper stuff.

To give them some credibility though, is my story of looking at a 5'ver in San Benito a few years ago. It was all rusted to heck, so I figured they used it on the coast during the summer months. As I was leaving I noticed their massive steel gate was also rusted much more then it should have been.

[Edd505]

I have found if it has "Resort" in the park name it's likely over priced unless you plan on partaking the activities offered. For me the RV park is a home base for exploring what the area has to offer. Probably the only time you find me home is evenings after site seeing all day.

[Us_out_West]

No rusting in AZ. :B

AZ works for us in the Winter.

[TomG2]

John&Joey wrote:

Agreed. That's the reason why I found it so surprising that they had issues in Rio Hondo to the extent they needed to take it back to the manufacturer for fixing.

This part is strictly my opinion, but I would say up to 10-20 miles inland of the Laguna Madre you'll have issues of premature rusting. Half a mile I think is very optimistic.

Not challenging your story, but there are other reasons for premature rusting than being in South Texas. Perhaps the factory goofed in the first place or it was exposed to much saltier air than in Rio Hondo before coming there? I have seen trailers on the beach pulled by soon to be rusty tow vehicles. Do you know the full history of this incident?

[John_Joey]

TomG2 wrote:
...The RGV (Rio Grande Valley of Texas) is much more than the little strip of land along the Laguna Madre. Premature rusting does not appear to be a problem in the heart of the Valley near Weslaco.

Agreed. That's the reason why I found it so surprising that they had issues in Rio Hondo to the extent they needed to take it back to the manufacturer for fixing.

This part is strictly my opinion, but I would say up to 10-20 miles inland of the Laguna Madre you'll have issues of premature rusting. Half a mile I think is very optimistic.

[her_I]

TomG2 wrote:
Out of over one million people, only a relatively few RVers live that close to the Gulf. Salt air will be encountered in any area lucky enough to live near salt water, no matter what state you are in. No surprise there.

The RGV (Rio Grande Valley of Texas) is much more than the little strip of land along the Laguna Madre. Premature rusting does not appear to be a problem in the heart of the Valley near Weslaco.

Had our rig in San Benito, Texas for 5 years and never experienced any rusting.

[TomG2]

Out of over one million people, only a relatively few RVers live that close to the Gulf. Salt air will be encountered in any area lucky enough to live near salt water, no matter what state you are in. No surprise there.

The RGV (Rio Grande Valley of Texas) is much more than the little strip of land along the Laguna Madre. Premature rusting does not appear to be a problem in the heart of the Valley near Weslaco.

[John_Joey]

TomG2 wrote:
... The only reports I have heard are from people who drive/camp right on or within a half mile of the Gulf.

That would be me.

[BarbaraOK]

We arrive Oct 1st, nights are already cooler, not many people around, we love it.

[JackInAZ]

Problem with AZ is two-fold: Can't expect moderate temps until November and rates have gone out the window. Until this year, Cal-Am offered a 3-month special for $599, from October 1 to January 1, not bad even if delaying until late October when the temps became somewhat bearable. This year, the same offer is $995, ridiculous when you add utility charges and few activities before years-end.

[TomG2]

After ten years in the San Benito to McAllen, Texas area, the subject of premature rust has never come up in any of the half dozen parks where I have stayed. I am actively involved in RVing including happy hours etc. I am surprised at how bad some people must experience it. The only reports I have heard are from people who drive/camp right on or within a half mile of the Gulf.

[John_Joey]

When I'm talking about Salt air on the Texas Gulf coast you need to factor in the Laguna Madre. This is something that most salt area's do not have to contend with.

The Laguna Madre is a hyper saline lagoon. One of five I believe in the world.

Hyper Saline Lagoon Clicky

[almcc]

Just another opinion and comments about rust and salt air from a northerner!

Having spent years following salt trucks (and now occasionally following brine trucks that wet the road with a salt-water mix!) I don't worry too much about rust on the RV. I spent 4 winters on the pacific coast in Mexico 50 ft. from the ocean and got a bit of rust on the RV frame, cosmetic but no structural damage. Our 4 year old RV has a slight bit of rust on the frame, not caused by salt exposure but poor quality painting, not a big concern.

Years back when up on the Alaska Highway I got a real laugh when some southerners were going ape S**t over the calcium chloride that they got on their RV's from going over gravel roads treated with the CC to keep the dust down!