permanent sites

[dtzackus]

We have been pulling our camping around for the past 7 years. We are considering doing a permanent site to take a year or two off. Any sugguestions? I am curious if people simply leave their slides out and I see half the people leave their awnings up or leaning down. Any help would be suggested. I also searched for this subject and found nothing....

[dethrower]

I have my TT on a permanent site. Currently it is leveled by blocks underneath the tires. Should I block it off around the axles and frame and remove the tires? The site isn't completely level and the back end of the trailer hangs off an incline.

[colliehauler]

Newbie4Life wrote:
Believe it or not, there's other things to consider with seasonal sites than awnings and slide outs in or out - like politics and drama.

I've been a seasonal for 12 years at a spot, and decided this is our last year. Seasonal site campgrounds are like a small city - except you're closer together, causing gossip to travel like wildfire. There are little 'clicks' that develop that speak ill of other little 'clicks'.

And, if you attempt to avoid the drama, and choose to just "do your own thang"... you're considered an outcast. Stared at as you drive by and wave - Think you'll get a wave back? Nope.

Almost sounds as if I'm speaking from experience, doesn't it? 🙂 Maybe we are strange - but I don't go to the campground to get hammered Friday night, continue the stupor saturday, and Sunday wake up with a heck of a headache and drive home nauseous.

And if it's an election year? Forget it. Every arm-chair politician comes out in their white shorts and black socks and spews 'facts' they've 'heard' along the way.

I'm not stating that all seasonal campgrounds are like this... but the two in the area that I've got experience with -- are. I'm not sure how you would ever tell of issues in advance -- from the nightly camping side, it all looks so inviting. But it seems as though, for sure the last two years, it's become irritating to go to the camper, and it NEVER should be that way. I'm not sure if it's due to the polarization of America through politics (which is worse than I've ever seen it.) or what the deal is. But after doing it for 12 years, I guess it's time for me to hit the road again.

We have one couple at the seasonal site that is the same way. They stay to themselves and do there own thing. It's there time off they can do what ever they want to do. We are cordial to them and they bother no one. I have invited them to cookouts witch they have declined, did not want them to feel left out. I never discuss politics or work while on vacation. Life is to short not to be happy. Once a year I have a hamburger feed for the campground owners and staff as a thank you.

[Newbie4Life]

Believe it or not, there's other things to consider with seasonal sites than awnings and slide outs in or out - like politics and drama.

I've been a seasonal for 12 years at a spot, and decided this is our last year. Seasonal site campgrounds are like a small city - except you're closer together, causing gossip to travel like wildfire. There are little 'clicks' that develop that speak ill of other little 'clicks'.

And, if you attempt to avoid the drama, and choose to just "do your own thang"... you're considered an outcast. Stared at as you drive by and wave - Think you'll get a wave back? Nope.

Almost sounds as if I'm speaking from experience, doesn't it? 🙂 Maybe we are strange - but I don't go to the campground to get hammered Friday night, continue the stupor saturday, and Sunday wake up with a heck of a headache and drive home nauseous.

And if it's an election year? Forget it. Every arm-chair politician comes out in their white shorts and black socks and spews 'facts' they've 'heard' along the way.

I'm not stating that all seasonal campgrounds are like this... but the two in the area that I've got experience with -- are. I'm not sure how you would ever tell of issues in advance -- from the nightly camping side, it all looks so inviting. But it seems as though, for sure the last two years, it's become irritating to go to the camper, and it NEVER should be that way. I'm not sure if it's due to the polarization of America through politics (which is worse than I've ever seen it.) or what the deal is. But after doing it for 12 years, I guess it's time for me to hit the road again.

[Denlor]

We have been at one site for 9 years. We left the slides out all year and the awning (manual),just dropped it down and secured it as well but put all in when winterized. We now have an electric awning on our new unit and won't leave it out if we leave for a golf game as they will not take a beating from wind or rain even though they will retract when some weight is put on them. They will contract if water builds up on the awning but we are not taking the chance. Have seen some bad results on neighbors units with wind and rain and it can be expensive.

[Doug33]

With a motorized awning, we only extend it out when we are using it. I've seen way too many awning damaged/destroyed by quick powerful storms that pop up unexpectantly while people were out for the day. I also turn my water off when I'm going to be out for several hours, just in case a leak springs up.

When I park the TT on the side of my house, I extend the slide in order to load/unload, and then the slide gets put in after that. For the winter, I'll definitely have the slide in.

Based on my observations at CGs I visit, most seasonal renters leave their slides out all season. Some leave the slides out over the winter while others retract them.

[rjf7g]

I have two seasonal campsites (the big house and the guest quarters). We winterize the big house and continue to camp in the guest quarters (with no campground utilities) during the off season. We run a generator and bring bottled water in unless they are calling for a mild winter (we run off of the fresh water tank if that's the case).

During the season, we leave the awnings out but we lower them and even bungee the one on the big house. We leave the slides out on the big house during the season (April 1 - November 1) but close the slides and cover it during the off season. The guest quarters doesn't have a slide.

We have had the big house set up this way since 2007 and we are in our second season with the guest quarters.

[JJBIRISH]

back when my trailer was built the mfg. recommended that the slide be extended and retracted as a part of a maintenance ritual and to prevent the seals from sticking…

I though it made sense then and I think it does today…

while they didn’t recommend intervals I doubt putting it out in the spring and in for winter is what they had in mind…

I know a lot of people do leave them out all season and even all year… I see risk with no advantages to the practice, but that is just MHO…

[Bumpyroad]

colliehauler wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

samsontdog wrote:
I see no reason to leave the slides or the awning out if I am going to be away
for extended time

x2
just a potential for a problem IMHO.
bumpy

X3 less chance of a problem. I have had a seasonal site for 6 years. It takes very little time to run them out or in.

and probably not a bad idea to use the mechanism every once in a while.
bumpy

[colliehauler]

Bumpyroad wrote:

samsontdog wrote:
I see no reason to leave the slides or the awning out if I am going to be away
for extended time

x2
just a potential for a problem IMHO.
bumpy

X3 less chance of a problem. I have had a seasonal site for 6 years. It takes very little time to run them out or in.

[dadmomh]

Most likely slide left out. Absolutely awning put away. A good wind storm or a monsoon will have your turning in an insurance claim for a new one. IMHO, just dropping it and tying it down just advertises that you're not around and you may lose some security. If I hade a seasonal, I'd also be inclined to have a lamp on a timer just to give the look that someone's home.

[dadmomh]

Most likely slide left out. Absolutely awning put away. A good wind storm or a monsoon will have your turning in an insurance claim for a new one. IMHO, just dropping it and tying it down just advertises that you're not around and you may lose some security. If I hade a seasonal, I'd also be inclined to have a lamp on a timer just to give the look that someone's home.

[mowin]

Slides out in May, and back in on Oct 15t. Old camper had a manual awning and I would anchor the awning arms to the deck with bolts and use ratchet straps to further anchor it. I would always drop the awning further when leaving for the week.
New camper has a power awning, so that comes in when we leave.

[laramies]

We're finishing our first year of seasonal. Like a lot here we left the slide out and the awning in when we leave.

[GaryWT]

Most leave there slides out for the season. I use to leave my awning out but would lower it and use a tie down in case there was wind. Did not want to show up to everything wet that we had on the patio.