"Live-ins" or, "Long termers" and reservations!

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by barmcd

If he's truly losing money on the long term rentals, then he's a poor businessman. More likely, he's potentially losing money if he could rent the site to a transient at least 11 times a month compared to the long term rental, but he figures a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

You're right. I used to work for a worldwide electrical company. Their bookkeeping methods were "unique" to say the least. They could prove they were losing money via their bookkeeping methods, yet every year they expanded.
They forecast next years earnings, if the goal was not met, the shortage was taken as a loss on their books, even though they actually made money that year.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by dexters

they don't have a large amount of retirement savings.

Blanket statements like that are almost always wrong in some instances.

[SlowpokeSlim]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

His explanation is "do the math" and you come up with $40.00 x 30 days and you get $700 for the same site that he's presently getting $425.00 for.

Wut?

$40 x 30 = $700?

When I went to school it equaled $1200...

[nothermark]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Blanket statements like that are almost always wrong in some instances.

It's a known statistic. With the big shift to self funded retirement most folks do not have enough savings to maintain their lifestyle.

That said, living in a camper unit is not the cheapest way to go. Most places a S&B would be better insulated and cheaper to own overall.

[donnandon]

Originally Posted by nothermark

It's a known statistic. With the big shift to self funded retirement most folks do not have enough savings to maintain their lifestyle.

That said, living in a camper unit is not the cheapest way to go. Most places a S&B would be better insulated and cheaper to own overall.

The real estate commissions would be a problem though....since you would be selling and buying S&B's, moving from place to place instead of using an RV!! Just kidding! In our case the RV+Truck+Site cost is way cheaper than the S&B plus taxes (not including a vehicle)!!!! You must live in a low tax cost area.

[docj]

Originally Posted by paz

America the Beautiful Senior Pass. Good for 1/2 off at National Parks and National Forests only where the campground is NOT run by a concessionaire. Most popular campgrounds ARE run by concessionaires. However, Corps of Engineers campgrounds are typically not run by concessionaires.

You can get a discount at SOME concessionaire-operated parks, but not necessarily 50%. Specifically, we got ~$10/night off at Colter Bay in Grand Teton NP and 50% off at Stovepipe Wells (full hookup park) in Death Valley NP. We didn't get any discount at Trailer Village in Grand Canyon NP. I believe that both of the parks where we got discounts are run by Xanterra.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

. . . in many, many places we just visited in the west, CAL, NEV, Idaho, Montana, etc., when we pulled into a park, and stepped into the office, the first words out of the clerks mouth, "Reservations"???

We say, "nope". About 95% of the time, they do have a spot but, in many cases, it's not a nice spot, it's one of the last they have and is not one of the nicer, maybe more shaded or, in a better spot in the park.

Folks, don't get me wrong here. We're not looking to be treated like King and Queen and get the best spots, in all campgrounds, no matter that we don't have reservations.

Au contraire, I think you are looking for special treatment.

I've worked at a campground for the last 2 years and I've seen guys like you, but just a few times actually. Most folks without reservations are glad we just have a spot for them -- especially in the peak vacation season. BTW, from what I've experienced, the last couple of years have been busy for campgrounds.

About those "FULL TIMERS, LIVE INS, LONG TERMERS" . . .

I think many campgrounds would give their eye teeth to be completely filled with long termers. While long-term rates are less pricey than daily rates, long-term campers are guaranteed income and generally less trouble. Remember, in most parks, all of the spots aren't filled all of the time.

Also, you seem to have an attitude towards long termers because, as you said, they're now showing up in the "nicer" parks. You might want to check that feeling at the door.

Finally, my park doesn't guarantee a particular site. We need the freedom to move people around, so even someone who does make a reservation may not get a prime site.

[MtnTrek]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

You're right. I used to work for a worldwide electrical company. Their bookkeeping methods were "unique" to say the least. They could prove they were losing money via their bookkeeping methods, yet every year they expanded.
They forecast next years earnings, if the goal was not met, the shortage was taken as a loss on their books, even though they actually made money that year.

X2
Thinking this is more the norm than an exemption, err I mean an exception. every pun intended.

It's not just construction workers and riggers. We're noticing a shift in the medical services segment also with many travel nurses working through staffing services on 90-180 day assignments. Tech / engineering consultants have grown tired of the extended stay motel overhead apparently too.

Happy motoring.

[timetogo]

Sometimes we find space for transients, sometimes we don't. Its an RV thing.

[adamfolger]

I am the night manager at a popular Ca RV Golf Resort. Two free rounds of golf with every nights stay, long term or short. We have 87 spaces, with only 10 allowed long term. We have a waiting list for long term. We require long term spaces to look like overnighters. I know who the long termers are but overnighters don't. Just because you have long termers doesn't mean you have to look like a "trailer park". If a parks management lowers its standards and lets the park begin the slow slide toward oblivion, well that's where it will go. A "park" is a place one visits to enjoy something different from "home". We are acutely aware that our "park" is being judged by every visitor. Repeat customers are our main stay, not long termers. We get several overnighters off the hwy and they are about 50/50 reservations/drive ups. We usually can fit everyone in for the night. The word Resort is in our name because we are not just an RV park. We charge $40 back in, $50 pull thru and $60 on the catch and release lake. We have a full bar and restaurant and free club house for RV club visits. The point of all this about our "park" is not to drum up business. I'm not telling you who or where we are. My point is that 1 1/2 mile away on the other side of the hwy is a $30 a night trailer park. It is not about the money....but attitude. Yours and the rv parks you visit. When I travel, I never have a reservation and I have never been turned away. I get off the road early or sometimes drive all night and get the first cancellation in the morning. At the moment I am Parked in the honey hole by the lake. (for almost free)

[plasma800]

You sound like an rv mutant......http://www.irv2.com/forums/f64/r-u-a...7739-4025.html

[W0GER]

Thanks for the tip about Furkot trip planner. I just spent the last few minutes playing around with it, and I think I have a new favorite trip planning tool!

[docj]

Originally Posted by W0GER

Thanks for the tip about Furkot trip planner. I just spent the last few minutes playing around with it, and I think I have a new favorite trip planning tool!

Wow! What a versatile trip planning tool! I can definitely see using this a lot. Thanks for posting.

[Dutch Star Don]

When I read your post, I immediately new why there was an issue and many confirmed my thoughts. First, RVing is booming again. Second, more people are out of work and forced to live in RV's. The same financial issues causing people to live in RV's is also causing financial issues at RV parks. Consequently, they are looking for constant cash flow by allowing more people to full time in their parks. Some parks balance it carefully and separate the permanent residents from the regular campers, while other parks miss the mark.

This situation won't get better and the days of pulling up to a campground without a reservation are going fast, at least until the next economic downturn.

We often do like others....at the start of a travel day where we have no particular campground in mind, we'll get on the cell phone and check availability in an area we know we can reach that day. As soon as we find a site, we book it. Did just that last week on the way home form Oregon. Tried out a new park and really liked it.