RV Buyer's Remorse

Above, at Circle Pines KOA in Williams, Arizona last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Travel has posted an interesting article.

It states that 70% of RV buyers have "buyer's remorse" over their RV purchase. I am not one of them. I knew ahead of time what I wanted and what I was going to use it for.

It has been ten years since I bought mine and has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned.

The article starts with:

According to MJ and Izzy of Endless RVing, a whopping 70% of RV owners regret their purchases. Yowza, that is a lot of unhappy travelers!

The couple has learned from their own experiences buying RVs and from countless conversations with other RVers. In the video below, they break down some of the biggest reasons why people regret buying an RV, and what you can do to prevent RV buyer’s remorse. They’ve made mistakes in the past and don’t want you to repeat them.

To read more and view a video, go here. 

KOA Kampgrounds Explained

Above, Los Banos, California KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On my recent RV trip to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, I stayed at a "no-frills" campground a block away from the Billy the Kid Museum.

The campground was so "no-frills" it didn't even have restrooms or showers. That's okay, I rarely use them anyway since my motorhome has a bathroom and shower. The cost to camp there was a mere $30/night. Not too shabby!

Generally, whenever I am on an RV trip, I usually stay at a KOA Kampground if there are any in the vicinity. Some are expensive, but I have accrued points through KOA and when I apply some, the price comes down. I stayed at Circle Pines KOA in Williams, Arizona last month.

RV Travel has posted an article asking if KOA Kampgrounds are good or bad or even worth the price. It also has a video where all this is discussed.

They begin with:

In the video below, Jason Epperson of RV Miles, one of the winners of our 2024 RV Video Awards, leads a discussion about KOA campgrounds.

With the astronomical prices of campgrounds these days, many are saying that KOA campgrounds are just no longer worth it. Jason discusses the pros and cons and, as always, gives us a lot to think about that we may or may not have considered before.

To see the video and read more, go here. 

Combating Fatigue On Long RV Drives

Above, an overnight rest stop at Circle Pines KOA in Williams, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Being an early riser, I generally hit the road before the sun rises. If I am driving eastbound, having the sun in my face is not pleasant and it also causes me to get drowsy. With that in mind, I leave a little later so that the sun can be covered by the sun visor.

Whenever I am going on a long drive (over 200 miles), I will make it a point to stop for short coffee breaks. I usually make a pot of coffee before departing and bring some along in a Thermos. Or, if I am not in a hurry, I leave home early enough to allow myself an overnight stay midway to the destination. That's a great benefit of being retired.

Recently, I took a trip to California to attend a four-chapter campout of E Clampus Vitus at Rice Army Airfield in the Mojave Desert. About halfway there, I stopped in Williams, Arizona to stay overnight at Circle Pines KOA Kampground. It was an enjoyable break with nice surroundings. 

There are some other ways to combat drowsiness on long drives and Do It Yourself RV has posted some tips.

The begin with:

Long driving days in the old RV are just as taxing as a full day’s work in a physical labor craft. It’s mentally and physically draining, especially if you do it often. Playing the ABC game or “punch bug no hit-backs” will only take you so far. For some, long drives are invigorating, especially if the scenery is spectacular.

Regardless of your persuasion, it eventually takes a toll. It’s not hard to understand why RVers take on excruciatingly long trips from time to time. Reaching your destination, especially an exciting destination, is a keen motivator. On the flip side, it can be tiring, which is when things become dangerous.

It’s one thing to fall asleep at the wheel in a Toyota Prius, and quite another in an 18-ton Class A motorhome going 60+ mph. According to a study conducted by the AAA, 17.6% of all fatal crashes between 2017 and 2021 were due to drowsy driving, with nearly 30,000 people losing their lives as a result. With that being said, the most important focus is safety, with the comfort that comes from plenty of sleep and not overdoing it.

 To read more, go here.

KOA Camping Report: Boomers Are Back

Above, camping last week at Circle Pines KOA in Williams, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To be honest, I didn't know that the baby boomer generation ever left camping. 

But according to a KOA annual camping report, apparently they had. Now they're back.

RV Business reported:

Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) reports that nearly 88 million households identify as campers and that nearly 54 million households took a camping trip in 2023. 

The data is part of KOA’s tenth edition of its North American Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report. The report, conducted by Cairn Consulting Group, has become a key bellwether for the industry and includes data collected from both KOA parks and non-KOA parks. 

“The past year also saw a higher proportion of baby boomers, 59% of whom were retired and on fixed incomes, and a lower-income Gen Z group,” notes the report. “Additionally, a drop in the participation of Millennials, who are currently at peak earning years, significantly influenced the new camper dynamics.”

To read more, go here. 

Early Rising

Instead of waking up in Arizona time, I ended up waking up in Mountain Time, which is an hour later during Daylight Savings Time. It's a good thing I went to bed at 7:00 last night. I was very tired.

Arizona doesn't have Daylight Savings Time except for tribal areas such as the Navajo Nation. So during the spring and summer months, Arizona is essentially on Pacific Time.

I'll be heading to the clampsite in a few hours. According to Google Maps, it is around 3 hours away. 

I think I have enough beer for the weekend.

Tonight's Dinner

Above, the KOA's main building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The evening has been nice and relaxing.

The weather has been also pleasant. I noticed some clouds, but my weather apps indicate no rain is in the forecast.

Above, fired up the Weber barbecue. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the neighboring campers has her cat with her, so I am not the only one who travels with a cat. 

I barbequed a porterhouse steak for dinner. I had Bush's Baked Beans and some Del Monte Green Beans to go along with it. I had bought the steak for Thursday night's dinner at the clampsite, but one of our group will be making dinner for everyone.

Above, enjoying an after-dinner coffee. The saying on the mug means, "he was
ugly, strong and had dignity." It is from the John Wayne Stock & Supply Co.

The clampsite is three hours away, at least that's what Google Maps says. We'll see.

At Circle Pines KOA

Above, after setting up camp. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This afternoon, I made it to Williams, Arizona where I'll be spending the night at Circle Pines KOA Kampground.

I decided to go half way to the clampout and spend the night in Williams to take care of some RV-related chores such as filling the water tank, emptying the holding tanks and some general cleaning.

Above, after the chores, it's Alien time!

I last stayed at this KOA way back in 1992. It was the last family vacation we took before my marriage took a dump.

It looks pretty much the same, except it has a few more amenities.

I'll be heading to the clampsite in the morning.