Best Discount Membership

[AloraDanin]

Hi,

Hubby is retiring in February and we are going to try full-timing. We've heard a lot about different companies that give discounts at various campgrounds and were wondering which one is the best option.

Also...is buying a warranty/insurance to cover repairs worth the money when buying used? And, if yes, which company is the most reliable?

Any other helpful info for us newbies would be appreciated.

Thanks
Barbara

[Wanabee FTer]

At around $50 per year, Passport America is probably the best value out there. You will recoup your money the first time you use it. I will not renew Good Sam, only gives a 10% discount and almost everywhere I used it also takes Auto Club with the same discount.

There is a current thread discussing extended service contracts here

[mgosselin]

I just signed up for the membership first of December. We used our PA membership two times over the holiday's and saved $180. While driving to our second location we called the other families that were joining us and had them sign up before they pulled in. They all saved $80 on the 4 night stay. PA membership will be the only one I renew next year.

[EDALLSAILS]

Passport America is good. Got to be careful of many other deals. thousand trails has a new deall were you buy a zone for 500 bucks good for a year, but check out the fine print. That entitlesd you to 40-or 50 nights in one of their parks. See if they have a park in the area where you wish to travel and camp. Good Sam, AAA, FMCA, and there are many others who offer discounts, usually 10% off.
When it comes to "extended Service Plans" SAVE YOUR MONEY! There is an old saying from Biblical Times "The large PRINT GIVETH and the SMALL Print taketh away." Watch the small print for exclusions. Most MH's and other camping rigs are little more than boxes built onto someone elses chassis. Then different appliances are added again from for many different sources. It is NOT like you buy a specific brand of camper and everything in the camper is under that camper warrenty. So, these extended plans are all different, all different exclusions. You must follow the MFG recomended service intervals on everything in the camper or you may be denied payment on the failed unit. Good Camping. ed

[Wanabee FTer]

Good advice from EDALLSAILS, read the fine print first, then decide if you still want the peace of mind an extended warranty may give you. They are not designed to cover everything, but I have bought them in the past and they have paid off big time on certain vehicles I've owned. They are contracts, (not warranties) and as with any contract there are certain things you are responsible for and things they are responsible for.

[mrrving]

Before you purchase a membership, go to their web site and see which campgrounds they honor. Then check out the reviews on RV Park Reviews and see how they rate. I did that for a few clubs and many of the campgrounds received moderate to poor ratings. It will also depend on the time of year you camp. In the off season they will be less crowded and may suit you needs. Another factor is do you go to a campground to use as a base while you explore the surrounding territory or are you interested in the 'activities and facilities" of the campground.

[historyljc]

I would get into at least three programs. 1) Passport America 2) Coach-Net for roadside assistance 3) You don't have you RV type listed but if it's a motorhome then I would also join FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) for the emergency medical benefits if nothing else. I'm also a Life Member of Good Sam. It saves me a little most of the time when the park doesn't honor Passport America. On any of the other campground memberships (Thousand Trail, Coast to Coast, Escapees, etc.), I suggest you wait until you have been on the road for at least 6 months. That will give you some experience to test whether or not one or more of these will be beneficial to the way you travel and camp. Some of them can be a bear to get out of if you buy in and later decide that it's not for you. If you do decide to buy into one, check the back page of the different RV magazines. There is always someone wanting to sell their membership in one or the other of the various plans. We got a 6 month trial membership in Thousand Trails when we purchased our motorhome. We were not impressed with their campground that we stayed in and found the campground locations to be far to remote from the places we go. After the 6 month trial we let it go.