Community Forums

momto6ix · 10-31-2013, 04:44 PM

hi all.
we're new to this site, Rick & Theresa. (I love comic sans ) We live in Manchester NJ, and keep our camper in Shenandoah Campground in Verona VA. Many people think we're nuts, that's ok. When someone has a vacation home in the Poconos, they leave that there don't they? Our new unit is a Jayco Eagle 316RKDS. Our current truck really can't pull the rig, it's a 2010 Chevy Silverado, extended cab, regular box,1500, 5.2L, 308 axle. we pulled our old camper to the dealership, and towed the new one back to the campground, about 10 miles. The campground is about 5/6 hours from our house.

I've been camping for almost 30 yrs, camped as a kid with the parents for about 5. back then, my father had a pop up called Reliart which is Trailer spelled backwards. it had NOTHING in it, was press board, no stove, sink, nothing. and my little brother wore cloth diapers, gotta give my mother kudos for that.
my DSO, Rick, camped with his 1st wife in a pop up for a few yrs, about 20 yrs ago.

we met 10 yrs ago, I was on my 5th camper. I had it stored in a campground on the pennisula of VA right before the Bay bridge. that campground was going downhill, so we searched for a new one. Chose Shenandoah because of it's proximity to the Blue Ridge, we are also bikers, having a 2010 Harley Ultra full dresser.

My camper was showing it's age, DSO loves camping, how cool to meet someone who shares that? so we decided to purchase new, to continue using it as often as we can. if we are lucky, we can get to the campground about 5 x's a year. it isn't ideal, but it works. Retirement will make things easier. we have property in Claudville VA, and plan on putting a house there when we retire from NJ. at that time we'll only be 3 hours from the campground. I know most people tow their camper to various places around the country, and I did that. As a single parent of 6, I towed my 26' fleetwood wilderness, from NH down to FL. then the girls got older, and married, (I'm up to 10 grandchildren) and things changed, so I stopped towing it around. 'sides, gas got too expensive to go that route. Some of my daughters and their familes have used the camper, to introduce the grandchildren to this terrific lifestyle.

and that's our story. Rick & Theresa

MSHappyCampers · 10-31-2013, 05:13 PM

Hi Rick & Theresa! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined us!

That's quite a camping story! Hope you enjoy the forum!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

**Petro** · 11-01-2013, 07:50 AM

Rick & Theresa;

We are glad you found us. Browse the forums that interest you and don't be afraid to ask questions. We have a great group here who like to help when they can.

Don

RVThere · 11-01-2013, 09:12 AM

We're in Hunterdon County, NJ right off I-78.

Welcome to iRV2!

virginiamtns · 11-01-2013, 01:43 PM

Welcome! We love Shenandoah Valley Campground. We were there two weekends ago for the first Halloween Weekend celebration. We took tons of candy and still ran out. We were in site 13 this time, although one of our favorites is 74 down near the river.

Look us up next time you come down!

Steve N Sal · 11-01-2013, 01:57 PM

Howdy and welcome aboard. Glad you joined us and hope you enjoy the forum. Enjoy all your future adventures.

Medico · 11-01-2013, 05:55 PM

Welcome and glad to meet you!

DGShaffer · 11-02-2013, 06:26 PM

Welcome neighbor and fellow riding enthusiasts! Sounds like you have a wonderful life.

**JohnRR** · 11-03-2013, 08:48 PM

momto6ix · 11-09-2013, 11:54 AM

hi all, just popping in to say hi! lol

Elizabeth, we were at Shen. cpgr. the Columbus weekend, where we went up to Charlie Obaugh's rv dealership. at that time we purchased a 5th wheel, based on the girls in registration at the campground telling us the campground could put it on a site for us. come to find out, they can't move 5th wheels, yet, we were misinformed.

but we knew my unit had some major issues going on, so we looked at their available inventory online, and killed the 5th wheel deal, and bought the 316rkds. it's too heavy for us to SAFELY pull it, (cuz you can talk yourself into pulling everything and anything) so we made the very easy decision to leave it there. the staff can put it on the site for us, and we've no problem at all of visiting it when we can, and spend NO time lamenting the fact that we can't tow it. we weren't looking to bring it home for that reason, we just don't have alot of time to go camping. as I said, maybe 5 times a year. we were back at the campground the 24/27 weekend to do the switch of old vs new.
our favorite site there is 19 when we are bringing the bike with us. this site has room for our truck, the trailer, the bike, and the camper, without feeling cramped.
my kids can use the trailer without us because they can just make a phone call. even tho I camped with my kids all of their lives, they don't share the same love of camping that I do, and I'm not sure why, except for the influence of destination vacays. Disneyworld, Cruise ships, etc. I'm working hard to get the younger grandchildren down there this summer, cuz I'm totally confident, once they see how "easy" camping is, how family orientated it is, and how much their kids love it; they'll be more frequent visitors.
i'm sorry, but you'll never convince ME, that a vacay in a hotel, with parking lots outside your door, is better then a campground, where the comaraderie of fellow familes just can't be beat!

as I said, just popping in to say hi! Ricky T's

virginiamtns · 11-09-2013, 04:13 PM

Congrats on the new rig. Our travel trailer had a rear kitchen, and we loved that.

We are at Shenandoah Valley Campground several times during the year - we should connect in the spring. Sadly, they closed Monday.

We only live about 25 miles away. We'd be happy to show you around the valley!