Hey Paul,

We have had 1000 Trails (TT) since 2002. Their site is 1000 Trails. The first trial 6 month membership came with the motor home when we purchased it. We picked up the dues @ about $510 a year after the first 6 months and have used it heavily ever since. Our current level, allows us 3 weeks per park and go to the next. RPI is include for $70 dues per year and ROD @ $100 per year was also offered.

All I can say is TT works well for us. The parks are generally very nice. Most have a cafe or some type of week end meal service. Most parks have some kind of activities director and the standard amenities. About half of the parks have free wifi and more are being added each budget year. The parks are usually within a few miles of a fair sized town. There are about 5 in a 50 mile circle around Los Angeles, 4 on the Oregon coast, 5? in Texas, 2 in Florida. There are 52 in all and the number is increasing. We just finished 8 days in Cottonwood, AZ and it was non stressful and pleasant.

We will have stayed by the end of December, more than 80 days in TT parks this year. Works out to $6.50 a day this year. In 2007, I expect the cost to be about $3.00 per camp day as we are already reserved for more than 30 days in Jan and early Feb. RPI costs $8.00 per night (up to 14) and there are quite few parks. Part of RPI is Enjoy America, a 50% discount plan like Passport America. Resorts of Distinction (ROD) cost per night is already less than $8 this year. We are currently in a ROD park this week, so it works for us.

E-Bay ( search for 1000 trails ) is an okay place to purchase memberships. The best memberships include LT (Leisure Time) and NACO parks. The Gold membership allows you to stay up to 14 days in a park, then out of the system 7 days and up to 14 days in the next park and so on. We stayed RPI for the 7 out. 4 years ago, in southern California, for 6 weeks we spent about $100 for camping costs.

There are levels of memberships. Usually, the member ship number is advertised, as is the TT customer service number. CALL THEM to verify the type of membership offered as some folks really don't know what they have. There is a transfer fee involved and I believe it is 10% of the original cost.

I have only been a little disappointed in 1 TT park and it has been improved since then.

Please remember, your mileage will vary and I am sure someone has had issues with TT, we haven't.

Mike

 

Although many of the points mentioned by others may be correct for specific circumstances, they are not applicable to all resales.

Each existing member has a contract that is germane to that member. Being there are so many different contracts out there, it would be impossable to give one explanation.

Applicable costs associated with buying an existing members contract will be as spelled out in that contract, as will be resort utilization.

Remember thing can be changed for future members but once you have a contract, it is germane.   

We have had TTN and Deluxe CtoC for going on 20 years, for us, it has been the great.   One of the things we have always liked was the comradery with other members.  Some of the recent reslae memberships have great built in advantages.

You need to look at each resale and check with TTN office before purchasing.

It is like being a member of this forum.  DO YOU GET A WARM FEELING HERE  ?   I do.          

  

Hi,

We're really new at this and need to ask a question.

Are these private campgrounds, not open to the public? and who are they aimed at? Are the ammenities so great that they out weigh the "shady" reputation they have? Every discussion we've seen on them always come up with warnings.

With that said, what is the lure? Who wants to do business in this trusting lifestyle with someone who you have to carefully read all 9 pages of the contract carefully.

Pardon the babble, I'm watching the election as I type this.

Fred

I posted in a thread on the campgrouds section earlier, but now realize I should have posted here, so the following is still my question.

We have a relative interested in selling a Outdoor World/Thousand Trails membership.  They have only used it for cabin rentals and have owned it for about many years (20 I think).
Here are the features they know about:
1) 2 weeks in/ 1 out
2) PA based home park
3) $720 Xfer fee
4) Anual Dues for them =$260, but when transferred they go to $502

They think they have no max number of nights per a year.
I am going to call and get the exact details.  I figured I would ask here and get some advice to make sure I ask all the right questions.  I do have the membership number.

So folks, what should I ask?

I also need to determine fair compensation to pay them for this membership.  Any advice from those who bought used.
-- Bruce

Thousand Trails recently bought Outdoor World and the members make the reservations using the Thousand Trails website and office but cannot reserve at Thousand Trails, NACO or LTR campgrounds unless they spent $4000 (that was the number I was told).  You need to get the membership number and ask Thousand Trails exactly what you are getting.

Well it turns out Bill was right on the money (as usual) and that this is a outdoor world only membership.  I would need to spend $4000 to get into the TT system, which makes no sense since resales are cheaper.  I do not think outdoor world has enough variety for us as most of their parks are on the east coast.
If I was given the membership then I woulod probably pay the xfer fee and yearly dues, but they think this membership is work over $1K, and I would rather spend it on a TT membership when ready.
Unless someone thinks I am passing up a good deal and points out why I am going to skip this offer.
-- Bruce

Well we just bought a used membership Platinum Plus and are using our first site here in Ca. I think this particular campground needs to be up-dated and I would not return here...we are moving on in a wk or so not staying the full 3 wks.  I do hope we have better luck as so to speak at the next one!!   Go to campground reviews as some TT campgrounds on on it.
southwestjudy

I am talking about Pio Pico....it needs to be up-dated and they have just lost theyre current manager. You have to go across the main road to the adult club house for wi-fi, building is falling apart, grass is high up to your you know what.  Sites are not good very hilly behind your rig in most of the sites. I do know they had a bad fire in 2007. Blacktop road is falling apart with pot holes. Litter in some areas. One pool is not working burned out heater. Wilderness Lakes has a feed lot for lots of smells according to internet. I sure hope we find Palm Springs  TT nicer!
southwestjudy

We will have our own experience with Pio Pico in December when we get back to the San Diego area.  Unless we change our plans.

Pio Pico may be one of the worst TT camp grounds we have stayed in. It is divided into 2 section; the full hookup side and the 1 or 2 hookup side (wrecked side and over booked side).

I have experienced low power, but at Pio Pico it became necessary to run the generator just to keep the batteries up. 91 volts is not low, it is dangerous. We have availed ourself of the website "contact us" to register complaints. We were very unhappy with the volunteer staff attitude and management there.

No serious complaints with the other parks, except one in Tennessee which needed a little TLC.

We are currently in the San Benito preserve and it is quiet, with ample power and large sites. We have stayed a Wilderness Lakes, Soledad Canyon, and Morgan Hill and enjoyed all of them. We stayed in Yosemite Lakes in the snow last year and will return there. We move to the Russian River preserve next.

Mike

We haven't been there yet. We will be there in May however, the park has received good reviews on rvparkreviews.com

Verde Valley is exceptional. Great location, beautiful sunsets and a nice cafe. We will be there in late April.

Mike

We have heard from other members that some of the parks need to be updated.  Since ownership has changed we are wondering if they will put money into some of them only time will tell.  We are planning on going to Palm Springs TT this coming wk.  Also we are planning on staying at most of them going up the coast. Hope we arent discouraged in our membership either and would not put down the new cost of a membership.
southwestjudy

I'll go back to my original question posted Nov 7, 2006 - people buy these things why?????

Fred

Ditto, we feel the same way.  Also many families cannot afford  a expensive vacation . Even though there is only the 2 of us along with 2blackdogs, it is perfect if you are full timing and want to spend some time in Ca. and along the coastl route areas.  I do hear there are some very nice TT campgrounds.
southwestjudy & Bob

Lake Texoma, Hershey, Lake Medina and Colorado River are our favorites. We love Lake Medina because we ride a motorcycle trike and the Texas Hill Country is ideal for riding. Lake Texoma and Colorado River are probably the best kept TT parks we have been to. Its Spring Break and Texoma is loaded with families enjoying all of the Easter festivities. We also like Carolina Landing as it is near our sons but their sites are not level.

-- Edited by DaveSam at 16:57, 2008-03-22

Yes, Pio Pico we shall never return here.  New manger here is just plain rude to some new members here yesterday.
southwestjudy

Well since buying a resale we are now on our 4th TT campground. Here are our results...Pio Pico we didnt like.  Desert Palms near Palm Springs we liked even though the sites were close.  Soledad Canyon in Acton, Ca. needs lots of work done on it and smell of sewer on the top campground was terrible, seems as though the system isnt big enough. We are now at Rancho Oso, near Santa Barabra, it was a heart attack coming in on the road off the main one, even a stop lite and VERY narrow road. However, beautiful area lots of horses. We shall continue up the Ca. coast stopping at more of them.
southwestjudy & Bob & 2blackdogs

mikeway wrote:

---

Since our Florida house has not sold, and the attendant expenses have not gone away, TT makes it easier to full time and we already have 60 days in TT this year. I know someone will diss us, but we decided not to wait but go. I can not imagine being trapped in a stick house, in crowded and hot Florida.

Mike

---

Mike, it's not my intention to "diss" you. 

I don't know what part of Florida you are talking about, but SW Florida around Naples is only crowded in the  winter when it's not hot and only hot in the summer when it's not crowded!   We rarely run the AC from November through March and so far just a few times in April this year.  Right now it's 83 degrees,  but very comfortable with the AC off and the windows open!

I just can't quite understand buying into a CG membership, but that's just me!

Bill


-- Edited by wmalefyt at 15:17, 2008-04-24

Many of the campgrounds have spaces large enough for you, especially the LTR ones like Seaside (OR) and Thunderbird (WA close to Seattle). We have a 40' diesel pusher motorhome and the only one we have been told to avoid is Oakzanita in southern California.

Edit: In CA we have stayed at Pio Pico, Rancho Oso (the entrance road is a bear), Morgan Hill and Lake of the Springs.  In Oregon we have stayed at Bend/Sunriver and Seaside.  In Washington we have stayed at Thunderbird, Long Beach, La Conner, Mount Vernon and Birch Bay.   In other states we have stayed at Verde Valley (AZ) and Orlando (FL).  You would fit in all of them.

Edit again: I forgot NACO Wilderness Lakes close to Temecula, CA, which is a large campground with many large sites and TT Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV where the sites are narrow but they assign the sites based on size and have many for 40' and some for 45' RVs.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 18th of May 2009 10:48:45 AM

-- Edited by bjoyce on Monday 18th of May 2009 07:54:41 PM

Bob,
What was the initial cost of the membership?

Fred,
We paid $2900 for our Platinum Plus and can stay 3 weeks in most parks with no time out and move on to next park if we want. I believe the contract was for 3 years at which time we can sell. I do not think we can sell it as a Platinum Plus when we want to sell. I think it becomes a regular membership and won't be worth much.
We really liked some of their parks. Most have activities but I think most of the kitchens have been closed, at least that's what I heard.
Bob