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Oct Prime · 07-29-2019, 07:10 AM

I wasn’t sure where to post this question.

We thoroughly enjoy the Texas Hill Country. In fact, we are usually there at least once per year in our TT.
The biggest expense is fuel, as we are about 370 miles away, give or take.
It costs us a lot in gas to tow the trailer.

We are both educators, and we have four weeks available in the summer to travel for 2020. We cannot stay away for that long, however. We would need to come home (preferably on weekends since the parks won’t be as crowded on weekdays) to take care of our lawn, check on house, check on cat (she’s old, and we won’t take her camping unless we are evacuating for a hurricane), etc.

We considered just leaving our camper in a campsite during the days when we are away. We reasoned that it is less money to pay for a campsite than the additional fuel cost in towing.

The downside is that our camper would be obviously vacant while we are gone. I’m not altogether keen on keeping a campsite from other campers.

Has anyone done this before? Is there a better way to do this?

UTTransplant · 07-29-2019, 07:23 AM

You can usually get a steep discount from a private campground for long term stays. The campgrounds like getting some money all the time instead of a lot of money only two days a week. You shouldn’t worry about keeping someone else from a campsite; if you don’t rent that long term site, someone else will! Another option is a nearby storage lot, but there aren’t many that have electricity to keep the refrigerator on. It is very unusual for a public campground to have seasonal sites, but I have seen a few that allow it. They were county parks, IIRC.

Gary RVRoamer · 07-29-2019, 08:37 AM

Be aware that some parks do not allow unoccupied RVs left on the site, so check the park rules before making your plans.

twogypsies · 07-29-2019, 09:16 AM

As Gary stated above.... some won't allow it. Some have a separate storage area where you may have to move it to. Worth a try! I wouldn't worry about theft if it's in a campground. Be sure to tell the manager that you are leaving if you're leaving it on the site.

JRS950 · 07-29-2019, 09:23 AM

We're done that several times over the past year. We just let management know, turn off water and go. Never had a problem. We were on monthly basis not just overnight. Check into it.

SteveNSue · 07-29-2019, 10:14 AM

Most campsites we have visited offer storage for your trailer. We were at Morro Dunes just before a holiday weekend and they were pulling out trailers with a tractor and parking them in open slots so when the owners arrived they could just hook up and enjoy. Saw the same thing in Michigan. You might have to ask about what they offer.

RTC1 · 07-29-2019, 10:33 AM

The KOA in Fredericksburg has storage and even moves your camper to site when you tell them your coming. Very nice place and central to all that Texas Hill country has to offer. Worth a phone call.

Oct Prime · 07-29-2019, 11:15 AM

We tend to stay in state parks. How would it work there?

twogypsies · 07-29-2019, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oct Prime

We tend to stay in state parks. How would it work there?

They, most likely, wouldn't have storage. You'd have to check with the particular state park if you want to leave it on site. State parks normally have a 2-week limit. Would this really be worth it to you to pay for days you're not there. 370 mi. in fuel can't be that expensive to drive it back and forth.

Another thing you could do is to just store it permanently at a storage facility and take it out when needed.

Gary RVRoamer · 07-29-2019, 06:22 PM

State parks generally do not have storage nor any services to assist with storage. They are also likely to be the ones that prohibit unoccupied trailers - they prefer to have the sites in-use rather tan tied up by absentee owners. Definitely check with park management before leaving a trailer on a site.

It's common for there to be RV & boat storage yards near larger campgrounds, especially those on lakes. You might check around for a facility near your target area.