Can a total RV newbie be a campground host?

[oldberkeley]

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

[Grit_dog]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[mds1]

I can only answer the first two questions with any experience.

1. How long might it take to get comfortable and moderately skilled at driving an RV?

We rented a 25' class C. Watched some videos on backing and turning. After 400 miles and backing it twice it was no big deal. By 1600 miles for sure felt I'd have no issues. I've towed and backed trailer up to 20' long. We are getting a much longer fifth wheel. Everyone else learned to pull them, so will we. I may take a class from a driving school located just north of our home to learn all the tricks. I also have a friend with a 40' trailer that will take me out for some pointers. I suspect equiping the rig well might make a difference such as the property hitch arrangement, tow vehicle capacilities and similar.

2. How long might it take me to learn how to correctly use all the systems (electrical, water, waste, etc.)?

Easy. Make a list like what was already suggested. The basic stuff such as water managment and controls are way easy to learn. Trouble shooting issues, such as slides that stick, may take a little longer and more research. Best you test everything and understand them well before the first trip. I had to help my brother-in-law figure out how to start up his gas/electric fridge on his new diesal Class C. He did not know what an inverter was or believe it or not even where the built-in propane tank was located. He bought it and used it two days later, apparently with no walk-through at the dealership.

[Naio]

For just you, you can get a small and easy to drive RV. Like a class B (a modern camper van with bathroom and kitchen) or a truck camper (same amenities, but based on pickup instead of van).

[Old-Biscuit]

An honest smile, a willingness to help, like dealing with public and can do attitude......

Sounds like you would be a good camp host

Go for it!

[wannavolunteerF]

Not sure how many state park host positions are on volunteer.gov, but many of the state parks have info or listings on their website.

I would say if you have done the jobs that you say you have, you can learn many of the basics quickly. Most of the host type work you would do, would be basic common sense. I had a host help me get my awning shut and ziptied closed when the arm got bent during a storm. Many years later, at the same park, a host helped me catch the water that was in sewer hose, when I discovered the sewer connection was stopped up. (I didn't have a bucket without a hole in it)