Thousand Trails memberships
Appreciate your opinions and experiences with Thousand Trails. I am considering a membership and seek experiences with the same.
Forum Discussion
For us, a Thousand Trails Premium Elite membership, purchased used through a broker, works very well. We got a zone pass to try Texas parks. Within four months we were searching for a higher level membership which would include the entire system.
But understand:
(1) These are not premium level parks. Many are 40 or more years old. The various sales of the company have impacted support for maintenance, amenity upgrades, etc. Most I would put right in the middle range of commercial parks. Frankly, most parks need about a million dollars worth of maintenance and upgrade, and that ain't going to happen quickly.
Many parks have only 30 amp service, or very few 50 amp sites. Some parks do not have sewer at all, and many have sections with no sewer. Park wifi is spotty and inconsistent. Many parks have gone to commercial vendors for wifi, which is a pay system. At times I hear complaints.
(2) For decades, park mangers have had a great deal of freedom in interpreting and enforcing, or not enforcing, system wide rules. The current owner, Equity Lifestyle, is trying to bring the system into alignment. Some success, some stumbles.
(3) Almost every park has 'annuals'. These are sites rented for an extra fee on top of the membership cost which are used for the entire year. The current contract only allows the site to be occupied for 210 days per year of the contract, though the rig may stay on the site all 365/366 days of the year. Of course if someone local is going to rent a site for a few thousand dollars extra per year, they are going to choose a prime site.
Traveling members like us, most often had to take second level sites. Also, you do NOT reserve a specific site. From the start, TT has been check-in and go look at open sites to find one you like.
As mentioned in the second post, look at how much you will use the parks. Our per night costs are down to $10-11 per night after paying our yearly fees and utility upgrades for 50 amp costs at some parks. But we are full-timers.
Go into the system with a Zone Pass and your eyes open. And understand that every park has its little quirks.
But understand:
(1) These are not premium level parks. Many are 40 or more years old. The various sales of the company have impacted support for maintenance, amenity upgrades, etc. Most I would put right in the middle range of commercial parks. Frankly, most parks need about a million dollars worth of maintenance and upgrade, and that ain't going to happen quickly.
Many parks have only 30 amp service, or very few 50 amp sites. Some parks do not have sewer at all, and many have sections with no sewer. Park wifi is spotty and inconsistent. Many parks have gone to commercial vendors for wifi, which is a pay system. At times I hear complaints.
(2) For decades, park mangers have had a great deal of freedom in interpreting and enforcing, or not enforcing, system wide rules. The current owner, Equity Lifestyle, is trying to bring the system into alignment. Some success, some stumbles.
(3) Almost every park has 'annuals'. These are sites rented for an extra fee on top of the membership cost which are used for the entire year. The current contract only allows the site to be occupied for 210 days per year of the contract, though the rig may stay on the site all 365/366 days of the year. Of course if someone local is going to rent a site for a few thousand dollars extra per year, they are going to choose a prime site.
Traveling members like us, most often had to take second level sites. Also, you do NOT reserve a specific site. From the start, TT has been check-in and go look at open sites to find one you like.
As mentioned in the second post, look at how much you will use the parks. Our per night costs are down to $10-11 per night after paying our yearly fees and utility upgrades for 50 amp costs at some parks. But we are full-timers.
Go into the system with a Zone Pass and your eyes open. And understand that every park has its little quirks.
