Hi, first post here. I'm a fit, active and healthy 69 year old single male with grown kids. Former teacher & coach, former Realtor, former home remodeler, along with a few other things! Just sold my home and trying to decide what to do next.I love to camp. I've done it my entire life, all over the U.S. and Canada, including a one-year trip in 1995 in a VW Vanagon. I'm comfortable in the wilderness and in campgrounds, have no problem with solitude but also a good communicator, good with people.Virtually all my camping has been tent camping. I don't think I've even been in an RV more than a handful of times! But I'm very handy, adaptable, a quick learner, not scared of challenges. Last week I visited a large RV dealer in my area, just trying to get the lay of the land as far as the different types. My questions:1. How long (on average, of course) might it take a lifelong car, van, and pickup driver like me to get comfortable and moderately skilled at driving an RV?2. Again on average, how long might it take me to learn how to correctly use all the systems (electrical, water, waste, etc.)?3. I've been looking at the Volunteer.gov website listings for campground hosts. I'm sure that there are other similar sites. It looks like something I'd be interested in doing. Can a total rookie/newbie/beginner adequately fill one of these positions, or would I be biting off more than I can chew?All constructive feedback and suggestions welcome, TIA.-Gary

If you get along well with others and can remember the rules, your good to go. Go drive one and only you will know if you can, and you will know very quickly.

You should start feeling comfortable in a month or so. Make a check off list for 1. getting ready and 2.setting up and 3. taking down. post these lists up by the driver's seat and use them religiously. :) even after 18 years, we still forget to lower the tv antenna once in awhile. Camp hosting chores vary a little, but most require your presence in the camp during the a.m. and p.m. hours, checking in people, answering questions, selling firewood, handling trouble makers (loud, drunk, etc)by calling the law or whatever the campground management says.Some places require you to work in the entrance booth, clean out fire rings, stock toilet paper in bathrooms and outhouses.

oldberkeley wrote:2. Again on average, how long might it take me to learn how to correctly use all the systems (electrical, water, waste, etc.)?Electrical will likely take the most time. Even seasoned RV mechanics don't know what I think they should know.Not that anyone is going to expect you to repair their coach, but simply knowing how to use a voltmeter would be a good skill.

oldberkeley wrote:My questions:1. How long (on average, of course) might it take a lifelong car, van, and pickup driver like me to get comfortable and moderately skilled at driving an RV?2. Again on average, how long might it take me to learn how to correctly use all the systems (electrical, water, waste, etc.)?3. I've been looking at the Volunteer.gov website listings for campground hosts. I'm sure that there are other similar sites. It looks like something I'd be interested in doing. Can a total rookie/newbie/beginner adequately fill one of these positions, or would I be biting off more than I can chew?All constructive feedback and suggestions welcome, TIA.-Gary1. Depending on the length of the RV, about 5 minutes to get used to driving it; backing up will take a bit longer.2. For basic knowledge about 5 minutes. While the electrical is different than household, the wiring, etc., doesn't differ that much. Plumbing, etc., won't take long at all.3. Camphost positions usually just mean taking payments for campsites, cleaning restrooms, etc. Depending on the individual campground, you may be asked to do some basic rule education (informing campers about dog leash rules, vehicle/people limits per campsite, etc.). Nothing you can't handle.Get yourself an RV and go have a blast!

I think it was just me but I white knuckled for several years towing my first TT. I am so much more relaxed now that it is just the two of us. I have a cousin on the DW side and she does the workcamp thing, she loved it. saw on a RV show the other day a guy doing drivers training and he said that a person usually gets the jitters on the first two trips and he advised to tow or drive often and the more you drive the more relaxed you will get

Can a total RV newbie be a campground host? | Good Sam Community

Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 20, 2017
New vs used is no different than buying a vehicle or anything else expensive and mechanical.
Almost new can be a huge discount or it can be someone upside down who paid too much and is asking the same as a good deal on a new one.
Warranty? I don't place much value on it and most are a year? That's not long and unless you buy from a big franchise, the propensity of something breaking under warranty 1000mi from the dealer is ....well it depends how much you use it.

The other thing I've noticed with many friends and family that buy new campers is the warranty seems to be when all the little quality control defects show up when it's new. Once the bugs are worked out, warranty is gone anyway and it's a house on wheels so things need fixin sometimes, but my last 2 campers are/were older and no significant issue with any of the systems or appliances. (Except that AC I tried smashing off the roof, it don't work anymore!)
bikendan
Explorer
Jun 20, 2017
oldberkeley wrote:
I'm going to go back to the large dealer that I previously visited and look again, which brings me to one additional question. Having no experience with RVs, I was more than a bit surprised at the cost. Wow, these things are not cheap! The dealer sells both new and used (or as they say, "pre-owned"). I can afford a new one, but I'm also going to look at the used units. Any general thoughts--pros, cons, etc.--about buying a pre-owned RV?

Our experience has been that buying new was better than buying used.

We found that many value their RV much more than it was worth.
We found that we could buy new for nearly the same price used and we got a factory warranty.
We had no problems getting warranty things fixed.
oldberkeley
Explorer
Jun 20, 2017
I want to thank everyone who replied, I'm pleasantly amazed and overwhelmed!

It must be just as 2gypsies wrote, that "RVers are very friendly for the most part and they will be very willing to help you out with any question/problem you might have".

I feel more assured that learning to drive an RV and operate the systems will be a matter of time and practice. As far as my campground host question, I'd thought that perhaps campgrounds only wanted very experienced folks in these positions, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

I'm going to go back to the large dealer that I previously visited and look again, which brings me to one additional question. Having no experience with RVs, I was more than a bit surprised at the cost. Wow, these things are not cheap! The dealer sells both new and used (or as they say, "pre-owned"). I can afford a new one, but I'm also going to look at the used units. Any general thoughts--pros, cons, etc.--about buying a pre-owned RV?
joanne0012
Explorer
Jun 20, 2017
For learning the driving and the basic systems management, a couple of hours at the most. Remember, first-timers buy or even rent these things and get by just fine with the very brief introductions from the dealers.

The people-management skills that you used as a teacher, coach, and realtor are much more relevant for camp-hosting than your RV skills. You aren't going to be expected to drive anybody's RV or help them with it. When I graduated from tent camping to a Class C, it was just heaven!
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Jun 19, 2017
What is your concern? Driving an RV or being a campground host?

Being a campground host is not exactly rocket science. A 12 year old could handle most of the tasks. Driving and maintaining an RV is another matter. Some people can barely drive a car and never quite get the hang of an RV. It also helps if you can learn to do some of the maintenance and repairs yourself. Otherwise you will be inconvenienced and pay a lot for someone else to do everything needed.
valhalla360
Navigator
Jun 19, 2017
Camphosts aren't typically expected to be RV mechanics.

If you can live comfortably in a tent, the RV is going to be luxurious.

Driving: On the road, it's easy. Go a bit slower, leave lots of braking room and take turns wide. Otherwise, it's easy. Backing isn't hard but does take some practice to get good at it. Just take your time and if it's not going right, hit the brakes, get out and look things over. You won't be the first to take 15-20min to get into a site but after doing it a few times, should only take a few minutes.

Systems: How long does it take to learn the electrical and plumbing systems on your house? Same kind of question. There's a few different things but nothing too exotic.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 19, 2017
Sound like you're better prepared than a fair number of people starting out doing everything you're asking about.
Jump in have fun with it!
Flapper
Explorer
Jun 19, 2017
And...in many of the campgrounds, things can be lightly populated mid-week. The perfect time for you to practice backing into the various configurations of sites at the campground you are hosting at!
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jun 19, 2017
You will have absolutely no problem with driving and maintaining the RV. At first, pick easy spots to park like a pull-through site. When you're comfortable with sizing up your RV in turns then start choosing backin sites. Try for a park off the beaten path (secondary road/small town) and during the week and preferably not in summer when parks are full to practice your backing up skills. That way there won't be a gaggle of onlookers watching you. :) Really, you'll be surprised how quickly you'll learn.

Also, RVers are very friendly for the most part and they will be very willing to help you out with any question/problem you might have. Even backing in - if you see someone sitting outside near your site, stop and ask him to help you back in since you're new.

As for hosting, you'd do just fine. It's no biggie. You just have to enjoy being around people. Each position is different so be sure to ask exactly what your duties will be and how many hours. There are many hosts that don't have to clean bathrooms, especially in national parks. They have their own maintenance people doing that. The same is true for many state parks. Many parks also have other positions from hosting. We've always enjoyed interpretation and have given lighthouse tours. If you enjoy working with your hands there are also maintenance positions and grounds people. Volunteering is an awesome experience. Hope you will do it!!
Johno02
Explorer
Jun 19, 2017
To learn everything, never. To learn about the sewer systems, just a few times, to learn well, about as long as it takes to pull the the dump handle without double checking your connections. Same with all the other systems.