Club Memberships
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: General Camping
Forum Name: Camp Grounds
Forum Discription: Share your r-pod friendly camp spots
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3315
Printed Date: 22 May 2025 at 2:18am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Club Memberships
Posted By: francoisfrogpod
Subject: Club Memberships
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 8:44am
I was wondering if anyone on this forum is a member of any national camping club and would be interested in thoughts regarding a membership. For long travels, I was thinking it might be a good idea to help locate campgrounds, not to mention the discounts. I'm not mentioning any club names because I'm not sure it is allowed.  Does anyone have any experience with club memberships?
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Replies:
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 9:51am
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Never have been a joiner so can't give you any advice in that regard. However, having RV'd over the years we have always carried a copy of one of the large camping directories. We pick a spot some hours from where we stopped and call ahead for a spot for the night. Always have been successful. Not one for pools, club houses, etc. Outdoors does it for us. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: Thinker
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 9:54am
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I have never found much value in clubs for campground location with the Internet, but when we had our motorhome we had roadside assistance via one of the clubs. It is important to get RV version of road side assistance as normal automobile only types will come out and unhook your trailer and tow in the TV if needed. Lifespan of a trailer on the side of the road is short. ------------- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171 
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Posted By: francoisfrogpod
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 9:54am
| Thanks for the info Camper Bob and Camper Sue! |
Posted By: francoisfrogpod
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 9:57am
| Thanks Thinker! You've got that right about a camper on the side of the road! I was curious about the memberships claim to "discount" on campgrounds. They can advertise anything they want, but whether or not they deliver is sometimes another story. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 2:06pm
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No problem mentioning plans/clubs/dealerships or other campers. Its one of our founding principles, since that was not - and is still not - allowed on the "other" pod forum.
I know KOA offers an actual discount, not sure what it is since we camp at KOAs so little that we've never signed up. Or for other clubs. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: thadd
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 3:51pm
We signed up for the "Value Klub" since we did our cross-country and stayed at KOAs along the way. It's $24/yr for the membership and you get 10% off your stays. On average that means that if you stay at KOAs about 7 times it'll pay for itself.
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Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 4:00pm
I tend to stay in provincial/state/national parks as opposed to commercial campgrounds, so the memberships aren't really worth it to me. But, if I travelled more, the memberships that are appealing:
For park reviews, I like to visit these websites:
On my (Android) tablet, I've bought these apps which have proved very useful in finding campgrounds:
------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Alex&Marie
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 5:13pm
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Great summary, Outbound, thanks. We are members of Good Sam and KOA and have used KOA the most over the years. especially when on long trips and found they offer consistent quality and generally friendly management. ------------- Alex and Marie 2012 R-pod 177 2006 Toyota Tundra 
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Posted By: francoisfrogpod
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 5:14pm
| Thanks for the info, everyone! |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 8:34pm
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We try to stay at state sites as much as possible. There is a great ReserveAmerica app for the iPhone. And when state parks are not available, we use the KOA's as often, so we, too, have a value card. ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents 
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Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 3:21pm
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Put us under the KOA and Good Sam lists. Have had good luck with both, us KOA a little more. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2013 at 11:11am
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We are members with Good Sam, and 1000 Trails. We do stay at a lot of state/national parks, and like the Reserve America system... I am not sure if we have ever stayed in a Good Sam park, we got a huge discount on a life membership because we are retired military, and it gets you a discount at Camping World.. that we have used.. a lot. LOL We have stayed in several 1000Trails resorts, no complaints, and in fact they have all been great. I don't know that I would pay for it myself, but it is through my parents membership, so free to us..lol. and free camping is good. They have most of their resorts out west and down along the coast/Florida area. But several within a days pull from us here at home. ------------- |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 15 Mar 2013 at 7:49am
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We used to be a Good Sam member, but we let our membership lapse as we ended up using mostly state parks and KOA's. But this year, we have to be in Jacksonville for two months and are staying at Flamingo Lake RV Resort. It is a Good Sam park and very impressive. It earned lots of awards, the people are very friendly and it has a lot of amenities. It is nice to have a good campground when you have to be away from home so long ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: geelse
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2013 at 2:34pm
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Have always had club membership and always will. Great prices, discounts , locations, and facilities. Maybe different in your parts but lots of club members on west coast. Non-clubing always there as your choice. ------------- See America First 2013 R-POD 177 HRE 2005 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab George and Linda |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2013 at 9:54pm
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I was just reading last night that two nationwide groups - I think it was the Elks and the Moose - not only have their usual lodges everywhere but they also have many RV parks for members only. Requires sponsorship to get in, but apparently not too hard to get it if you want it.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2013 at 9:05pm
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I got the Passport America, after I turned 62 it is $10.00 for a lifetime membership, it saves 1/2 off at national forests, some federal parks are free, you can't beat ten bucks. P.S. when spouse turns 62 have them get one, then you each go in in different vehicles, get side by side sites for 2 groups and 1/2 the price, that's what the people at Hoosier National Forest told me to do. With the Passport pass, entry is free I go to Hoosier national all the time with my fishing boat and it is free, just hang your pass on the mirror. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2013 at 5:25pm
Are you sure that you don't mean the http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/senior.shtml - Interagency Senior pass ? It looks fantastic. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2013 at 10:12pm
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Nope Outbound I got the America the Beautiful pass, best deal out there. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: TRICERA-POD
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 11:54am
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Until we bought are 177 ( two days ago) we have always camped in a tent. We stay mainly in National and State parks. With State parks you have all the stuff one needs, showers, elec., dump sites (never a concern for us until now) and laundry service in many.
With National Parks for the most part you do not have all these nice things, mainly a vaulted toilet. Which is fine for us since we camp for what mother nature offers us rather than what human kind offers. I am a disabled vet so we have the Access Pass which allows us to camp in any National Park, Forest, Reserve etc that offers camping. Normal price to camp in these areas is $10 per day, but with an access pass it's 50 % off the normal price. Great deal. If you are going to be camping in one state for a period of time, say more than one night at one or more of that state's parks, consider getting a non-resident yearly pass. Last year we stated 10 nights in Michigan State parks by getting the non-resident yearly pass we saved about a $100. Most state parks have some sort of discount like this. We have never stayed in a KOA, Good Sam or big box type campground, but now with the R-pod we might consider it. Sandee teaches allot ( many of her classes are online) so having access to WI-FI is a big plus. We get to travel and she gets paid while we goof off. ------------- Carl & Sandee 2013 R 177 2012 Titan |