Timeshare RV Parks (Resorts)

[Passepartout]

Obviously from hanging out here for some years I have some meager knowledge of timeshares. But here's the deal....

We recently bought a shiny new 5th wheel RV that we are planning to use on some road trips and camping along the Northwest's byways. Now on a local Craig's List, I saw an ad for a resale 'membership' in a RV resort at a fairly nearby lake. The seller provided information that indicated that it 'exchanges' with other RV campgrounds and even some condo timeshares. It seems there are lots of smallish, independent parks that have banded together into 'associations' with no leading RCI, or II equivalent.

A quick Google search for an internet interest group (a TUG equivalent) for RV park memberships comes up pretty sparse.

Anyone know of a TUG equivalent group for RVers?

Jim

 

[richardm]

The RV forums are probably even more plentiful than timeshare forums. Good Sam Club is probably the most active and with the most benefits (but does require an annual fee). RV.net is a simpler format.

 

[DaveNV]

Jim, I had a travel trailer and camped quite a lot, until I got more interested in timesharing.

Good Sam is a great group, and local RV parks will affiliate with them, offering users a chance to stay at a discount. That's somewhat different than the membership organizations.

There are numerous RV membership associations that have cooperative use for its members. Thousand Trails is one such organization, as is Coast to Coast, and several others. Depending on what you buy into, you can literally travel the country, going park to park, staying free (or nearly) in the local member RV park as you go. In the case of Thousand Trails, you can stay for free in a member park for (I think it was) two weeks, then leave for a week, then come back for another two weeks. If you owned a liveable RV, you could live in the parks year round, by traveling up and down the highway, kind of like RonandJoan as full-time timesharers.

However: There are membership fees, association dues, and ongoing costs associated with your membership. I found the location of the member parks was far enough away from where I live, and my work schedule was such, that I couldn't enjoy owning with them long term, because the per-night costs was very high for me, and the dues went up annually. It was much like timesharing maintenance fees. it became cheaper to stay at a per-night fee RV Park when I wanted to, rather than have the camping membership.

Do your due diligence, and decide if you really want to buy into such a group. One advantage is that it's a renewing membership, so you can usually opt out if things get to be too expensive. That was what I did.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other questions.

Dave

 

[Passepartout]

Thanks, Dave and Richard so far. I find the info on Coast to Coast and RV.net quite helpful. I did find a C to C membership on eBay, and there are others. We have no desire to full-time it Ron and Joan style, though that seems far more common among RVers than TS owners. DW wants to keep working and that sort of makes trips longer than 2-3 weeks impractical at least for now.

I will keep looking into the various links and see what fits for us.

Richard, I see what you mean about RV forums being more plentiful than TS forums. And at least as confusing.

Jim

 

[DaveNV]

Jim, I agree that owning a camping membership isn't convenient if you don't have time to travel enough to use it. Full Time RVing is a HUGE industry, and there are plenty of folks who like doing that. When I first retired from the Navy I traveled full time in an RV for over a year. Eleven Western states and 3300 miles. It was excellent traveling. But it was also expensive, and had its share of inconveniences. I even had a website about it, cleverly titled "How to Live in a Motorhome." It's long gone, but gave me a chance to share some of my lessons learned about that lifestyle. I'd like to do it again someday, now that RVs and the camping industry are more user friendly.

If you're working, and will only be able to travel now and then, a camping membership may be more expense than you can justify. And then, of course, you'll have to figure out what to do with your timeshares while you're off traveling in your fifth wheel. Too much to do, and never enough time to do it.

Dave

 

[Passepartout]

Too much to do, and never enough time to do it.

Dave

Boy, isn't that the truth. As my old TUG sig said: 'So many places, so little time.'

Well, we'll see. Not to sound too morbid about it, but DW's 94 y.o. dad is in a nursing home and is failing. Ultimately we will be going back to Wisconsin and preparing the house he built in 1954, and has done little to since, for liquidation when the time comes. This was one of the justifications for buying the new trailer- and we're sticking to it.

The trigger for my question about membership parks came about because of seeing the one at a mountain lake nearby. I know Alan takes one to the Chesapeake Bay for the summer near his place, and have been envious of those with second homes.

Maybe a new Sig. 'I don't need a mansion in the valley, I just want a shack-up in the hills! '

Jim

 

[stanleyu]

Jim, I don't know of a TUG-equivalent, but since you are looking for travel in the NW I do have a suggestion. We've had RVs for more than 30 years and belong to a membership RV park called KM resorts (http://www.kmresorts.com/). They have eight really nice resorts scattered around Washington state, and if you get a membership in one you can stay at any of them. I don't remember how long we've belonged, but when we joined there was only one location. We especially like their site just north of Ocean Shores on the Pacific coast.

Since this is a membership park there is an annual fee, but if yo contact them I'm sure you can get a free pass for several nights to give them a look-see.

 

[Passepartout]

oops. duplicate.

 

[Passepartout]

Jim, I don't know of a TUG-equivalent,

We've had RVs for more than 30 years and belong to a membership RV park called KM resorts (http://www.kmresorts.com/). They have eight really nice resorts scattered around Washington state, and if you get a membership in one you can stay at any of them.

Thanks, Stanley
RV.net comes close to TUG.

I'll look into KM when we get headed that way. Having kid/grands in Redmond, we might be in WA more than a little.

Jim

 

[presley]

My first ever timeshare purchase was actually a campground membership about 13 or 14 years ago. Ownership changed to Colorado River Adventures when the other owners went bankrupt. Long story short, it has had several different affiliations throughout the years.

Currently, I can trade a week in a cabin (a perk that came with a recent upgrade) for a cabin week in lots of other places and also into some condos - which the listings are pretty sparse. My upgrade came with Preferred-Access, which in similar to a mini-RCI. There are constant weekly rental specials for very nice resorts like Worldmark, Wyndham, Shell, etc. Last minute travelers can get some incredible deals.

However, I have never used any of the trades. Maybe someday I will, but I bought where I wanted to stay. They gave me an RV campground book that shows all the areas across the states that I can get discounts at. For now, it is a free perk. I pay almost $400./year for my MFs. At some point, my Preferred Access won't be free and if I have to pay a membership fee, maybe I will just let it expire.

Sorry for being longwinded. What I wanted to really say is to be very picky about where and what you buy. Find a place that you know you want to visit regularly and see what they offer. Affiliations can change from year to year, so buying where you want to stay is an important consideration.

Thousand Trails looked good to me until I really priced out everything. It seems way too expensive, unless you love Thousand Trails and want to use their campgrounds a lot. Buying a campground membership is much like buying timeshares. Buying where you want to stay is important and resales will save thousands of dollars. Remember that any affiliations or perks can change from year to year, so they shouldn't be a primary reason for any purchase.

 

[heathpack]

What? Very confused by this. Camping is expensive? We never camped in an RV but we camped a lot in tents and one of the main reasons we did so was because we had more time than money. What does it cost to go camping in an RV?

H

 

[richardm]

You can always combine the two interests.. Silverleaf has resorts that offer free RV sites to timeshare owners.. Presidential Resort at Chancellorsville has a RV membership that gives the owner a week in a timeshare cabin every few years. Plus I've always been a fan of the R-Ranch resorts which offer tons of amenities including horses.

I stayed in a park model at Wild Acres Resort in Old Orchard Beach, Maine all summer and had a great time. For some reason, RV'ers seem to be some of the most friendly and relaxed travellers.. Not sure if it's all the highway fumes or what- but the vast majority are always in a good mood!

 

[Timeshare Von]

Regarding a Good Sam membership, we joined in 2010 in planning for our RV Adventure in Alaska, when we bartered for the use of an RV for just two weeks. The membership fee was paid for itself the first time we stayed at a "Good Sam" member RV camp by refund paid back to us. Add to that, the Good Sam 10% off discounts at other member camp grounds, and clearly it was worth it to us even as a 2 wk short term, non-owner member.

As a side note, we also bought their annual roadside assistance plan at a significant discount as really more of an insurance policy should we bust a wheel or have a flat tire somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, we never had to use it . . . but the good news was that the policy was also good for the other 50 weeks of the year on our personal vehicles until we canceled the policy and our membership.

 

[DaveNV]

What? Very confused by this. Camping is expensive? We never camped in an RV but we camped a lot in tents and one of the main reasons we did so was because we had more time than money. What does it cost to go camping in an RV?

H

Depending on where you stay, some RV parks charge up to $50 or more per night for an RV site. Even KOA Kampgrounds, the "7-11" of camping places, can be expensive. I just did a rate check at their site, grabbing the KOA in Spokane, Washington, as an average place.

For a two-night stay over July 4th this year, a 50amp hookup RV site for 2 adults, no kids, and one pet, will cost you $42.38 per night, plus tax.

Not to be outdone, a tent site for the same dates at the same KOA will cost you $38 per night, plus tax.

Even camping in Yellowstone Park runs between $12 to $45 per night, depending on where you stay.

And at Tiger Run Resort (a seriously AWESOME RV park near Breckenridge, Colorado), during Summer season a river front site runs $80 per day.

So yeah, camping can be dang expensive...

Dave

 

[Passepartout]

What? Very confused by this. Camping is expensive? We never camped in an RV but we camped a lot in tents and one of the main reasons we did so was because we had more time than money. What does it cost to go camping in an RV?

H

I can relate to your question. There is camping, and then there is CAMPING. You can dry-camp around here (no hook-ups park wherever you find space) pretty cheap- to free. But think of parking in Wal-Mart lots and using on-board water and battery power and looking for places to dump holding tanks every few days. Up a notch is State parks. They are generally in the mid-$20s/nite category and often have power and (incoming) water. Ours have (fee) wi-fi and nearby DIY activities. Hiking, fishing, rock climbing, observatories, etc. Commercial campgrounds generally are $40/nite and up. The <up> category can be like luxury timeshares, with pools, golf courses, activities, extensive grounds, nice landscaping, adjacent beaches. You name it, but it comes at a cost.

One of the draws of the membership outfits is reduced cost and guaranteed access. Online reservations and the ability to stay for a couple of weeks at a time.

Like TSs there are resales I find and unlike TSs, RV campground memberships aren't deeded, most last as long as you pay the dues, and hold their value better. One I have looked at costs (developer) $1800+ $250 MF, yet resale is about $1k. Would that my TSs had held their value as well!

As has been mentioned, Like TS, it's doubly important to 'buy where you'll use' It's a mantra well repeated.

Jim

P.S. Oh, and need I mention that there is some difference between pitching your $20 K-Mart tent out under the stars and 'camping' in state-of-the art RV. A lot of them are $40-$50,000 5th wheels pulled by $50,000 pickups or motor homes that regularly cost $250,000 to almost a million dollars for one of those movie-star bus conversions.

Everything has a 'scale.'

I'm sure that you and Mr.H, as sailors, see the difference between 'taking the boat out' and 'going yachting'.

 

[heathpack]

Everything has a 'scale.'

I'm sure that you and Mr.H, as sailors, see the difference between 'taking the boat out' and 'going yachting'.

Lol, on the camping scale, it sounds like we are more dinghy-esque.

On the boating scale, we are maybe a little more yachty.

Moorings BTW are not cheap either- if we go visit Catalina Island, it's $50 a night to hang on one of their mooring balls. Visiting other yacht clubs is usually free for the first 1-3 days, then about $40-50/night thereafter.


H

 

[easyrider]

http://www.campingforums.com/forum/ this was just a quick google search for camping forums so idk if it helps.

Many of my buddies have bought newer motor homes and use them at state parks and free parking areas on the Columbia River. There are many places to park for free in the mountains but not so many on the coast. These motor homes are pulling jeeps, boats or other toys.

I still use my boat, suv or a tent for sleeping in these places unless there is a timeshare nearby.

good luck
Billl

ps, you could always find a wallmart ...

 

[richardm]

Actually, boondocking at Wal-Mart is not a given any longer. Many of the stores apparently are "evicting" rv's at night- but the policy seems to be inconsistent at best.

The following website maintains a list based on rv owners reporting back on which WalMarts currently allow overnight stays for RV owners. They even offer an ap for mobile phones.

http://www.allstays.com/c/wal-mart-locations.htm

 

[Elan]

What? Very confused by this. Camping is expensive? We never camped in an RV but we camped a lot in tents and one of the main reasons we did so was because we had more time than money. What does it cost to go camping in an RV?

H

When I take RV depreciation into account, I figure camping cost me around $500/night. :hysterical: I always tell my friends that I could stay at a luxury resort for less than it costs me to go camping. But there's no price one can put on getting up into the wilds with my family.

I've also done my share of backpacking and tent camping, which is awesome. That's expensive when you buy the gear (the titanium cookware, 2lb sleeping bag, water filter, etc), but afterwards is very cheap.

 

[Sullco2]

Snakes in the woods

The timeshare world is imploding and the sales execs are running for cover to the camping world. Wild Acres in Maine, previously cited by a poster above, is owned by MorganRV Resorts. This company is trying to clean up the problems they got into last summer with the Massachusetts AG's office when a gang of timeshare salespeople swarmed all over the campers and threatened them with eviction if they didn't buy the new version of timeshare.

This year MorganRV is rolling out this "deal" at many of their almost forty RV resorts around the country and guess where they are finding their salespeople? Yes, the usual timeshare recruiting spots.

So, be wary when the offer of a gift to "learn about our new program" is offered when (or before) you check in to a Morgan RV resort this summer.

For some people this program may indeed work, but given who will be "explaining" it to you, I would suggest that you carefully consider the costs, limitations, obligations, etc. versus renting from them or any other RV resort.

 

[Timeshare Von]

I forgot to mention earlier, that there are now companies that do fractional ownership (weeks) of RVs. I saw a TV show about it, and then did some research. While it seems less expensive than owning an expensive RV that many will only use 4-6 wks per year, the cost to join and be a member is very expensive as well.

 

[akanurse]

worldmark TS owner wants RV California,Washington TS part time

Hi guys, so happy to have found you. I just bought a Worldmark ownership 10000 credits (yes after market) thank goodness, and now i want to buy a small little Pull along pop up camper. I am looking for the best RV timeshare to join along the California coast and into Washington state perhaps and Nevada. Not really into driving more than that (single female) I want to know the BEST bang for my buck company to buy from and also what the expected fees are. Also, is there a "after market for this also?" If so, what should I look out for? I would want use for maybe two months out of the year only as I have the timeshare and travel internationally with women's retreats. I do not want to be around a bunch of "low-class, drunk, loud, ignorant types" More of a cool laid back ZEN vibe... lol please help me so I don't make the wrong mistakes.. also, will be looking in next few months for a low cost either pop up or is it cheaper to just rent one at the campsite if i don't want to try and lug one around? if so, what is the price to just rent one? would it be cheaper to buy a pop up used for like $5000 and then get a TS for RV then? thanks so much ...oh, and I read somewhere where if you have a Timeshare you can park your RV in their lot? is it free? how does that work? would they take your credits? thanks so much everyone...

 

[Passepartout]

akanurse, As you can see, it's been 3 1/2 years since anyone has posted to this thread. We are mostly timeshare users, though a few have RVs as well. Mine is on a consignment lot and my fingers are crossed that it will find a new home before winter.

I found the most helpful RV information at www.rvforum.net and www.rv.net I can easily see how in a perfect world, dividing one's wanderlust life between RVing and timesharing seems like it would work, but I was never able to. Maybe due to difficulty with stringing together TSs with drive time between them, as well as the simple fact that very few TSs allow trailers on the premises. Generally, parking is limited to one vehicle(car) per unit and there is scant excess. I don't know where you heard about using TS 'points' or weeks for RV stays, but I haven't found that at all.

Best wishes. There is an active group of Worldmark owners here and at www.wmowners.com who will be most happy to welcome you to the world of WM ownership and help you get the most from your new ownership.

Welcome to TUG!

Jim