Less People Camping. Options

[jamarynn1]

Hmmmm I think there's a cold front just getting ready to plow into Florida!

Ah, yes, but we Floridians know how to bundle up when the wind chill factor gets down to 65. After all, we do have orange juice in our veins instead of blood. I had some guests once visiting from Michigan when the temp got down in the 40's. They were complaining about the cold and I said "well, just put on a jacket and you'll be fine!". They didn't want to wear jackets in Florida. Amazing, they'd wear jackets in Michigan if it was in the 40's but would rather walk around in Orlando and freeze their a$$s off.

[edcornflake]

According to the RV Dealers' Association (RVDA), there was a 12.6% sales increase in motorhomes between June 2010 and June 2011. In the same period, sales for towables experienced a 4.2% sales increase.

I'd love to see a demographic breakdown - I'm in my late 30's (for a few more months) and have young children - how does my age range fit in this vs. Baby Boomers looking to full time. Not any kind of value judgement, just curious - is RVing maintaining it's young family end or is it eroding on that end but picking up amongst retirees? Based on what I've seen, it's pretty much an even split, but my experience is limited to mostly NJ, PA and a little in DE and SC.

[togators]

I am also in the upper 30's down in Florida. We bought our first RV 8 years ago after my son was born in order to tailgate football games with AC for the baby. 3 rv's later we get out about one weekend every month and also use it for my sons travel baseball games. We have had two families stay with us over the years that now own rv's. I think the thought of RV's are for just the retired is slowly changing. The manufactures are also designing the new rigs with families in mind. Just my thoughts, but I see a constant with the more mature population but a slow increase in the 30-40ish age frame.

[jamarynn1]

We're run into a lot of people in the last two years who are full-timing with children. They're homeschooling in the RV. Some are just traveling and some are going from work site to work site.

[Wink]

Well waiting to see what happens now. Paid over 4.00 dollars a gallon last week in south Florida. As we have trips booked till June we will take them as they are paid for.After that will be looking close to home I think. Will still camp but not put on the miles but when we do will stay longer at each stop.At the time my mileage direct cost is around .50 cents a mile for gas only.

[jamarynn1]

Well waiting to see what happens now. Paid over 4.00 dollars a gallon last week in south Florida. As we have trips booked till June we will take them as they are paid for.After that will be looking close to home I think. Will still camp but not put on the miles but when we do will stay longer at each stop.At the time my mileage direct cost is around .50 cents a mile for gas only.

We're going to plow on regardless. Just dig a little deeper into the war chest. Last year we spent five months zig-zagging from Florida to Seattle and back. 13,000+ miles. This year, it's just up to Maine and back so fewer miles, but the rv parks are going to be more expensive. So, we're going to get slammed one way or the other. But I refuse to let the economy mess up what I worked and saved all those years for -- to travel the way I want to travel.

[Wink]

We're going to plow on regardless. Just dig a little deeper into the war chest. Last year we spent five months zig-zagging from Florida to Seattle and back. 13,000+ miles. This year, it's just up to Maine and back so fewer miles, but the rv parks are going to be more expensive. So, we're going to get slammed one way or the other. But I refuse to let the economy mess up what I worked and saved all those years for -- to travel the way I want to travel.

As you I am going to camp but just no short trips so I can make more out of the miles I do pull.

[Texasrvers]

I refuse to let the economy mess up what I worked and saved all those years for -- to travel the way I want to travel.

We feel the same way. I don't want to be 90years old and saying "I wish I had seen such and such, but gas was too high, so we stayed home." We'll make adjustments and keep on traveling.

[Dutch_12078]

Over our camping years, we've built a list of locations that we'd like to return to when we can spend more time enjoying the surrounding area and attractions. This year looks like it will be a good time to do that. With less road travel and longer stays at each location, we think we can pretty well stay within our existing fuel budget, and still have a great time experiencing new things.

[togators]

I bought my first RV from a retired Master Chief. I asked the question "How much does it cost to fill-up". He responded with, "Son, if you have to ask me that question, you cannot afford this rig". It was a little bit more colorful than that...but since then I try not to worry about fuel prices and just look at it as investing in my families memories.

[jamarynn1]

We feel the same way. I don't want to be 90years old and saying "I wish I had seen such and such, but gas was too high, so we stayed home." We'll make adjustments and keep on traveling.

The way I look at it is....when I'm sitting in a wheelchair in a nursing home, I do not want to be saying "Gosh, I'm so glad we didn't make those trips when the gas was so high. I saved all that money so that the government could take it away from me when I went on Medicaid." What I want to be saying is "Woo-wee! How 'bout that time we went hiking in the Grand Canyon and they had to send a mule train to get us out!" Now, THOSE are the memories I want.

[Wink]

The way I look at it is....when I'm sitting in a wheelchair in a nursing home, I do not want to be saying "Gosh, I'm so glad we didn't make those trips when the gas was so high. I saved all that money so that the government could take it away from me when I went on Medicaid." What I want to be saying is "Woo-wee! How 'bout that time we went hiking in the Grand Canyon and they had to send a mule train to get us out!" Now, THOSE are the memories I want.

I got my loan approved for another tank of gas so we are hooked up and getting on the road.

[edcornflake]

I got my loan approved for another tank of gas so we are hooked up and getting on the road.

HAAAAAAAAA! That's funny!

[B. Kidd]

HAAAAAAAAA! That's funny!

As funny as a heart attack!
I shouldn't get political here, sorry, (but can't resist),
welcome to Obamanation.........

[KentuckyCampin]

Too early to tell here in KY, however, I have already reserved my spots for memorial day, 4th of july weekend and labor day. I have found that the earlier I reserve the better. The gas prices wont affect me, we WILL be camping as much as possible!! LOL
Happy camping!