Hubby and I are planning to do a TT with two dogs, going to Gulf Shores/Mobile Bay area for 3 months (Jan thru March, into April). We have not yet purchased a TT, but we are hoping to buy it in the area, have it setup for us, and have it stored in the area. We've been researching TTrailers, RV Parks, including State parks, and Storage/hauling services. So.. we are wondering- are their good sites available? Are their storage spots available? Are there services that will setup 1-2 days before we arrive, then move to storage 1-2 days after we leave?? andybody else doing this??- surely we are NOT the only ones with this plan....We live in Ohio, would be driving down with a SMALL trailer attached to our SUV...Any advice/ resources would be SOOO appreciated!:@

Don't know about Alabama but here in FL, some RV parks have on site RV storage and will move units on and off sites for you. State parks will normally limit the length of your stay during peak season. But, since your new TT will never leave the area, why not just get a park model?

Be sure to ask what happens to your RV when a storm approaches.

I suggest you call Anchors Aweigh campgroundat Foley AL and discuss this. I believe theyprovide such services. Foley is about 15 milesnorth of Gulf Shores.

bgum wrote:Be sure to ask what happens to your RV when a storm approaches.I would suspect it's going to get wet. Are you implying that a storage facility should evacuate all RVs on the premises?

HappyIndeed not but it gets the OP thinking about their plan.

Dipping our toes into snow bird with TT | Good Sam Community

JeffnEmJay
Explorer
Oct 14, 2014
Following up (again!) We've had great luck with Big Daddy's RV in London KY- they were very responsive to questions, helpful, communicated, AND the pricing was AWESOME. We've also been very pleased with help from Anchors Aweigh- they will be our "home" for January, February and March.

Thanks all for the recommendations and insights. We are NOT planning to tow our TT, it is "Gorgeous", and spending TONS of time considering floor plans was certainly well worth it.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2014
Corky12 wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
Corky12 wrote:
pasusan: We spent several months in various places in AZ and NV. Maybe our problem was our Midwest work ethic. It just seemed a lot of people were wasting their lives with their daily trip to Wal-Mart, playing cards/bingo/horseshoes/etc., standing in line on Wednesdays for their free piece of pie, watching their clothes go round and round in the dryer at the Laundromat. Plus I missed my grandkids like crazy. There were good parts but we will do several shorter trips and stay in hotels. Lot less complications than pulling a trailer.
So why are you posting here :H

Am I not allowed to post if I have a different opinion of "snowbirding"? We will continue to use our RV but not as a snowbird. My response to OP suggested a trial run because we did not care for our winter experience. pasusan asked why and I responded to her with the above post.
Sure you are - but the OP wasn't seeking opinions of snowbirding and your response which I quoted did not contain any suggestions to rent first. Here is the origonal post in case you missed it:

OP wrote:
Hubby and I are planning to do a TT with two dogs, going to Gulf Shores/Mobile Bay area for 3 months (Jan thru March, into April). We have not yet purchased a TT, but we are hoping to buy it in the area, have it setup for us, and have it stored in the area. We've been researching TTrailers, RV Parks, including State parks, and Storage/hauling services.
So.. we are wondering- are their good sites available? Are their storage spots available? Are there services that will setup 1-2 days before we arrive, then move to storage 1-2 days after we leave?? andybody else doing this??- surely we are NOT the only ones with this plan....
We live in Ohio, would be driving down with a SMALL trailer attached to our SUV...
Any advice/ resources would be SOOO appreciated!
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jul 23, 2014
Once arriving at your chosen snowbird location you may notice a recurring issue in those areas. It is called death. Not to make light of a family's grief but many RV's are dumped at low prices by the survivors. They are often on a site ready to use and complete with furnishings, bedding, and dinnerware.

Many of our friends have purchased this way and tell me that the annual rental is only slightly more than the snowbird seasonal rental fees.
Corky12
Explorer
Jul 23, 2014
2012Coleman wrote:
Corky12 wrote:
pasusan: We spent several months in various places in AZ and NV. Maybe our problem was our Midwest work ethic. It just seemed a lot of people were wasting their lives with their daily trip to Wal-Mart, playing cards/bingo/horseshoes/etc., standing in line on Wednesdays for their free piece of pie, watching their clothes go round and round in the dryer at the Laundromat. Plus I missed my grandkids like crazy. There were good parts but we will do several shorter trips and stay in hotels. Lot less complications than pulling a trailer.
So why are you posting here :H

Am I not allowed to post if I have a different opinion of "snowbirding"? We will continue to use our RV but not as a snowbird. My response to OP suggested a trial run because we did not care for our winter experience. pasusan asked why and I responded to her with the above post.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Jul 23, 2014
Corky12 wrote:
pasusan: We spent several months in various places in AZ and NV. Maybe our problem was our Midwest work ethic. It just seemed a lot of people were wasting their lives with their daily trip to Wal-Mart, playing cards/bingo/horseshoes/etc., standing in line on Wednesdays for their free piece of pie, watching their clothes go round and round in the dryer at the Laundromat. Plus I missed my grandkids like crazy. There were good parts but we will do several shorter trips and stay in hotels. Lot less complications than pulling a trailer.
So why are you posting here :H
dpowli
Explorer
Jul 23, 2014
NORM WADDELL wrote:
I suggest you call Anchors Aweigh campground
at Foley AL and discuss this. I believe they
provide such services. Foley is about 15 miles
north of Gulf Shores.

X2. Was there in April. Nice campground, great owners It did get pretty cold last winter, but was not typical for the area.
JeffnEmJay
Explorer
Jul 20, 2014
We have begun the journey... we've visited the coast several times, and went down before Christmas this past winter. We are certain we will "like" being away from the cold, cold winters, and while we will miss the g'kids, we will only be gone for 3 months. Rentals don't appeal to us, so we are "diving in" to this adventure. Looked at real live TT for first time, and quickly realized we need something bigger- 25-30 foot is where we are looking now. We keep coming up with so many questions!
Will search these forums before I ask here.
Will keep you all updated...MJ
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jul 20, 2014
Corky12 wrote:
pasusan:..... It just seemed a lot of people were wasting their lives with their daily trip to Wal-Mart, playing cards/bingo/horseshoes/etc., standing in line on Wednesdays for their free piece of pie, watching their clothes go round and round in the dryer at the Laundromat......

:?
Corky12
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
pasusan: We spent several months in various places in AZ and NV. Maybe our problem was our Midwest work ethic. It just seemed a lot of people were wasting their lives with their daily trip to Wal-Mart, playing cards/bingo/horseshoes/etc., standing in line on Wednesdays for their free piece of pie, watching their clothes go round and round in the dryer at the Laundromat. Plus I missed my grandkids like crazy. There were good parts but we will do several shorter trips and stay in hotels. Lot less complications than pulling a trailer.
HappyKayakers
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
JeffnEmJay wrote:
Thanks, all- great advice! I have urged hubby to do a trial run, we will see if that flies- would also help us be more realistic about minimum size tt for us.
As far as I can tell, a Park Model costs more than our $20000 budget, and we don't want to leave a big ticket item unattended for the majority of the year, don't want to rent out our space, etc. etc. So HK I appreciate the thought, but I'm not sure that will work for us. We are def looking in the Foley area, so great to hear about a specific park. Such great advice- thanks a million! Will post on here again to let you know what happens in this journey!!

You don't have to buy a park model to 'dip your toes' into snowbirding. Many parks have rental park models and mobile homes. Either one would give you more room and be more efficient to heat. Just another thought. And if you don't like snowbirding you don't have to worry about what to do with a TT you just bought.