What's it like out there?

[LarryW]

I just watched a piece on Morning News entitled "A life Well Lived". Piece talked about RV sales up 33% as people all over are getting a break from
the cabin fever by camping...seeing this great country, kids and all through the windshield of their camper. We usually leave for the south between
Christmas and New Year and not returning to Wisconsin until late April. So, what's it like out there? Are the campgrounds full? Am I gonna be able to
live this dream in the great outdoors....or wait till next year?
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.

 

[dave silva]

Last april when we realized out summer trip to Ethiopia was not going to happen we bought a Truck and a hybrid camper (the GMC had not come into the
picture at that point)

Today The Hybrid would easily fetch twice what we paid for it, we were just ahead of the buying curve.

The RV forums are filled with newbies and the veterans sometime refer to them as "COVID campers"

Remote learning and telework has allowed lots of families to travel around during the school year.

But to answer your question, i don't think you'll have trouble finding a spot if the campgrounds are open.

While there are more new people exploring a lot of the regulars are staying home.

FOr many people "camping" means going to a resort town and enjoying the beaches and restaurants and entertainment. Those people are not coming out,
replaced to some degree by true campers and vagabonds.

At the height of summer we were able to get reservations at premier campgrounds.

--
Dave & Ellen Silva

1972 Revcon Olds 455, toro drive train. All Stock

 

[tmaki]

I'm updating/revising Owner's Manuals for a local RV manufacturer (folks I've known and worked with for many years). When I was at the plant recently, they were fully occupied and the line full. They have some brilliant products with very up-to-date features. When I asked how business is doing, they said it was fine. They weren't able to do the Pomona show or any other exhibition this year, but it's looking good in the coming months.

So, other than masks, yada, yada, you wouldn't think it was any different from any other good year for RVs (at least for them).

Toby Maki
73 Glacier 23
Riverside, CA

-----Original Message-----
>From: Larry via Gmclist

>Subject: [GMCnet] What's it like out there?
>

>So, what's it like out there?
>--
>Larry
>78 Royale w/500 Caddy
>Menomonie, WI.
>
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>GMCnet mailing list
>Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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[tyler]

my experience this fall has been weekends are nearly all booked at non-private campgrounds. For example - we went to Lake Anna State park with friends
for Thanksgiving. By three weeks before, all the electric sites were booked for Friday and Saturday nights. That would never happen pre-covid. We went
Wednesday to Friday. Once there, we could have had our choice of tent sites with no hookups for the weekend. I'm set up to boondock a few days.

Looked at my South Carolina favorite park this week - it will show all availability for two months. Weekends full, decent availability Monday to
Friday. For December, I see that as different. Just what I'm seeing...

Tyler
--
1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
Raleigh, NC

 

[johnny]

The manufacturers can sell all they can build. Quality control has suffered badly at many of them.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell

 

[LQQKatJon]

They claim they are going to run out of campsites compared with number of rv’s being made. I see the cost of campsites are going up. Hotels
Too.

But we have one up as gmc is small, contained. We dont need 50 amps and 50’ of pavement. We have more options.

Like other had said even peak MN. Weekdays there are sites. Weekends can be tougher.

One thing I think is going to happen is a big crash. They over finance. And they are over priced for what they are and how
They might hold value. People are also overbuying their budgets and things like storage and other expenses are not in their mindset.

I see a big repo market coming i. Next few years then eventually people will still owe on a camper
They cant use because it needs repairs they cant afford,
Do or get parts for.

You cant just bring a camper
To a scrap yard either when it is junk.

There are fields of busted campers in the nd oil
Fields. But now this is all over the country.

--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/

 

[Carl Stouffer]

On our big Sept. trip, we found that a lot of campgrounds were pretty full. On one occasion (Grand Tetons) we had to go to our second choice because
the first was full. On another (Goblin Valley, UT. we had to camp outside the park in a dispersed camping area. In 3-1/2 weeks, we only were plugged
in two days (at the Fairgrounds in Rapid City). Some places we were luck to get a space, but there were always alternatives. Lots of free or low
cost camping at national parks/forest land, state parks BLM land, etc.

I say go for it. You may face some restrictions in some parts of the west coast states, but probably very few in the other western states. Our
travel plans have been pretty much unchanged this whole past year.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

 

[Matt Colie]

> They claim they are going to run out of campsites compared with number of rv’s being made. I see the cost of campsites are going up. Hotels
> Too.
> But we have one up as gmc is small, contained. We dont need 50 amps and 50’ of pavement. We have more options.
> Like other had said even peak MN. Weekdays there are sites. Weekends can be tougher.
> One thing I think is going to happen is a big crash. They over finance. And they are over priced for what they are and how they might hold
> value. People are also overbuying their budgets and things like storage and other expenses are not in their mindset.
> I see a big repo market coming i. Next few years then eventually people will still owe on a camper they cant use because it needs repairs they
> cant afford,
> to do or get parts for.
> You cant just bring a camper to a scrap yard either when it is junk.
> There are fields of busted campers in the nd oil fields. But now this is all over the country.

Jon,

Most of them have options too, but as you say, when they get huge the options get small. Many don't even know how to really dry camp, let alone
actually boondock. We have coaches that were built for this. I think we will be maintaining our normal 1 c(r)amp ground a season that is usual for
us.

Fear that you are correct. On the open boards, there are many that bought this year and many of those have little or no idea how to care for the
unit. They may keep it a couple more years and then try to unload it. They will take a beating for doing this.

I don't see how they can win.
Either they will not be able to afford fuel to use it or to make the payments and keep it, or they will be so busy working that they won't have time
for it.
Either way, they will show up on the resale, repo or auction block.

But, that way the campground crowding will slack off. This may cause a small backlash that won't matter to us at all.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[thomas phipps]

With the physical size of the GMC, you should have no problem. A lot of Florida State Parks have smaller sites that the big rigs cannot use. And,
there are many parks off the Winter Tourist scene that are not full. We had absolutely no problem getting into a commercial RV park, using Passport
America today.
Down the GA-FL Parkway, there were plenty of RV parks that were not looking like they were full. The park we are in right now has empty slots. But,
the place is full of park models, a very growing trend in Florida.
If you can be flexible, come on down.
Tom, in Ocala today.
--
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG

 

[scott nutter1]

Hi Larry,
Texas is open(but avoid El Paso), come on down! Live music, sit down BBQ restaurants, and great breweries! Texans are a hearty breed, if they get the
COVID they self medicate with a few margaritas and sweat out the virus. Normally are cured within a few hours..
In fact, I am in San Diego now picking up my mom to bring her out to houston for the holidays. Sitting locked up in her house is not the healthiest
for the mental health.
Have fun where ever you guys end up at!
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas