Help me convince "FHU only" friends to try electric only CG

[bout2buy]

I'm very lucky to have an RV that I love and a great group of friends to camp with. We're starting to plan our 2014 camping trips, and I really want to try some state parks that don't have the full amenities that the RV resorts do. My husband and several friends will only camp with water, electric and sewer. How can I convince them?

We have a Coachmen Freelander (21qb). It has a 50 gallon freshwater tank. Grey and black are both 20-something but plenty if we're conservative and use the bath houses. I'm only talking about a 2 night trip. Our friends have travel trailers, toy haulers, class a's with anywhere up to 100 gallons of fresh. I don't see the problem, but they're not budging.

For our first trip of the season I'd like to go to a nearby state park (Tuckahoe in Maryland). It has a great playground for the kids, tons of trails, and a lake for kayaking and fishing. It has great reviews on rvparkreview. AND, it would cost 50% or less of any of the other choices. Why can't I sell them on this?!

[Lantley]

opnspaces wrote:
I always fill the tank before leaving. At least that way I know I'm using water I trust.

You know in retrospect it's funny that I feel that way. If I go to a FHU or elec/water site I'll use the water hookup without questioning it. :h

Okay I fill up before leaving so I don't have to stop on the campground road and fill up once I'm there. 🙂

Oh also people like to bring flip flop sandals or other shower shoes so they don't have to stand on the public shower floor.

You'll have a great time, start small with just the hubby and gradually bring the other friends into the fold.

I'm the same way but a a FHU site you have no choice if you want to use the CG water and not use water from the tank.
However Why take a chance and fill your fresh t.
Sort of apples and oranges I think.

To the OP glad to hear your going to give it a try. There is a learning curve to managing the water,portable tanks,filling fresh tank, dump station etc. However its well worth it in the end.
Let us know how it goes

[opnspaces]

I always fill the tank before leaving. At least that way I know I'm using water I trust.

You know in retrospect it's funny that I feel that way. If I go to a FHU or elec/water site I'll use the water hookup without questioning it. :h

Okay I fill up before leaving so I don't have to stop on the campground road and fill up once I'm there. 🙂

Oh also people like to bring flip flop sandals or other shower shoes so they don't have to stand on the public shower floor.

You'll have a great time, start small with just the hubby and gradually bring the other friends into the fold.

[GaryWT]

My wife and I are FHU people. We bought a trailer with a bathroom to use it and not have to use the campground bathrooms. If a campground does not have a full hookup site available we look elsewhere. Now I know we can save some water but in general we fill the grey tank in one day. Our black tank is usually 3 or so days. We just like what you get at private campgrounds. Also we do not want to have to run off batteries and almost all state and national parks in our area have no hook ups at all.

[2gypsies1]

bout2buy wrote:


My husband has agreed (reluctantly surrendered! LOL) to go this spring/summer. I agreed to handle all RV issues (I will drive, pull up to spigot and fill tank before parking and setting up, and dump on the way out).

You go girl! Awesome!!!

[bout2buy]

Thanks for the awesome tips! I was thinking that maybe if we get one of the interior sites near the water we could use our long hose to refill the tank if needed.

My husband has agreed (reluctantly surrendered! LOL) to go this spring/summer. I agreed to handle all RV issues (I will drive, pull up to spigot and fill tank before parking and setting up, and dump on the way out). Therefore it will be no different for him from any regular camping trip. The kids and I will use the bathhouse so he can even take a shower in our rig if the bath houses are not satisfactory to him.

I have yet to hear one negative thing about Tuckahoe, yet no one I camp with has been there. I'm thinking this place is a hidden gem!

[Dakzuki]

I have a couple of collapsing 5 gallon water containers. If I need more fresh water I can suck water out of the portables into the tank using the winterizing system.

[eb145]

I prefer State Parks as the campsites are usually much more private and separated from each other.

I can understand that some people prefer being closer to other campers for more socializing opportunities. And the convenience of FHUs is definitely nice - but usually kind of crowded for me, especially private campgrounds.

At State Parks I often see several families camping near each other and spending most of their time together - obviously good friends and family gatherings. The kids especially seem to enjoy state park camping as they are running around together in the woods, fields and streams that come with state parks.

Private campgrounds don't have 1,000 acres of forests and miles of trails to hike and streams to kayak on. Unless they are next to a park or forest I suppose.

Tuckahoe State Park Secret: you can put kayaks and canoes in the creek at the non-electric camping loop and float downstream to Tuckahoe lake. You can even paddle up the creek if you want. I like to bring my dog kayaking there as there are a couple sandbars where we can splash around and enjoy lunch in the shade. Rentals are cheap.

Also at Tuckahoe if you bring along some long fresh water hoses you can string them together and refill your fresh water tanks pretty easily from the spigots along the camping loop.

No more Tuckahoe secrets. I don't want it to get too popular.

Ed

[donandmax]

Jim Shoe wrote:
You can't even convince hubby, let alone your friends. Reminds me of the story about a lady watching a parade go by. Her son was marching in it. She remarked that everybody was out of step but her son.
I'm a single RVer and seek out RV parks that have FHUs plus cable and wifi. On site laundry and a camp store for something I'm out of are pluses. So are paved sites and a picnic table with a daily newspaper on it every morning. I'm gone all day every day seeing what I came to see. Its OK if they have a pool, public restrooms and showers, dog walking areas and playgrounds. I just don't use them.
Must be the reason for so many different types of CGs.

Hehehehehe, love that one Jim !!!

[Sinnettc]

Your friends should try a week on a 22 foot sailboat! We're talking wag bags, alcohol stove and solar charged 12v power. Electricity and running water is going to be a step up for us. FHU must be camping heaven. 😄

[jjotmo]

 If you see a line at the CG dump & there is an empty FHU site that you can get into & out of quickly, use that. In & out in minutes.

I can't believe this I never thought of this. Seen like such a good idea at so many places

[stetwood]

All we ever look for is electricity, only because we don't have enough battery power or generator. Most campgrounds have potable water someplace to fill the tanks, which may take at the most 15 minutes, and they will almost have a dump station that will take another 15 minutes when leaving. Besides those campgrounds without full hookups don't have any "accidental spills" at the campsite.

[Carb_Cleaner]

2012Coleman wrote:
Order a waste water tote from Camping World and have it delivered to your house with his name on it.

"Golly Hon, you read my mind. I've always wanted one of these. I can't wait to use it."
NOT!

[Veebyes]

It might be our departure time habits but in 7 years & many many vistits to the CG dump on the way out, we have never had a to wait with more than 2 in line.

There are a few time saving tips. Wait for the rush to leave. Sunday will be the busiest morning at the dump. Go early or go late. Sunday is a slow night at most CGs so most don't mind a late departure. Use another site dump. If you see a line at the CG dump & there is an empty FHU site that you can get into & out of quickly, use that. In & out in minutes.

If you are traveling & tanks are nowhere near full don't even bother dumping. Do it at the next stop. The sloshing around in the tanks will do them good.

"I need FHUs" argument just does not hold water.

[bout2buy]

dieharder wrote:
Personally, I like FHUs. I, too, have done weekends with no sewer hookup, but I prefer that it's there. I'm one that, once that motor starts, it's to get out of the campground. Not to drive to the dump station where it'll take me another 5-10 minutes or so to get out, if there is no wait.

If hubby went without sewer and is uncomfortable doing it again, why force him to do it again? Do the FHU campgrounds make you more uncomfortable than camping without it makes him?

I agree, FHUs are great. We have pulled out of campgrounds and seen long lines at the dump stations and been glad we had sewer at our site so we could take our time.

But, I definitely think it's worth at least TRYING a local state park that has awesome reviews (not only on rvparkreviews.com, but also from actual users who have posted on this thread). If they hate it, I wouldn't force the issue again, but I don't see the harm in trying it. As many have mentioned, the sites are often more secluded, the campgrounds less crowded, there are beautiful trails and activities for the kids, and it's HALF the price or less of many FHU campgrounds we frequent! I am betting that those things will far outweigh the inconvenience of having to wait at the dump station on the way out. I could be totally wrong though...only way to find out is to try. 🙂

On an unrelated note, I found a video review of the tuckahoe campground that someone posted on youtube. It was great to be able to see the campground via the video before we decide to go, and it totally looks like my kind of place! Plus now I know which sites are higher and which ones are closer to the water spigots. Awesome!