By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Need a place to “settle in” for a little while but don’t have the cash to pay high rates at RV parks? One enterprising RVer explains his methodology for developing leads for places to stay in his RV.
He hit a real estate office in an area where he needed to sit tight. He explained he was an RVer, was basically self-contained, and would be happy to provide “on-site” security for homeowners who needed to be away from their properties. He stressed that he wouldn’t sleep in their beds, dirty their dishes, or run up their utility bills. All he needed was a place to park his RV and in return he’d “keep watch.”
Very soon the RVer had a place to park his RV with free electricity. And since he was able and willing, he also fed the horses and kept up the hot tub. The owners loved it so much that they threw in some nice financial compensation. At other times he’s stayed by a farmer’s stock tank for free, “just to keep an eye out for trouble.”
Friends of ours vend out of Quartzsite in the winter but leave in the blisteringly hot summers. So last summer they tooled back to the Northwest and asked around. Soon they had a full hookup site at a small RV park. Once a week they vacuum the “rec room” and make sure the swimming pool water is kept just right. They know for sure that the latter is okay – they get to go swimming whenever they wish.
Yes, you can opt to work through an agency that promotes “work camping.” Most are reputable – just ask other RVers about their experiences.
And remember that when you “interview” for a job be sure your rig looks neat and clean, and that the rest of you matches up, too. If you’ve performed a similar service before, it would be a good idea to present a few testimonials to a prospective employer or host.
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We prefer state park volunteering. We pick the location and usually the time period. Full hook-up.
My in-laws did that for 2 summers, from April into September at a local race track parking field near where they liked to summer. They got free water, a great view and no neighbors 6 days a week. And the other day they got free admission to the races. The track owner loved having him there at night. He said he didn’t get one attempted break in while they were there. The one week they were away, someone broke into the office. He could come and go as he pleased. My father in law also like to help out when they were working on the track. Only draw back was that it was a dirt track and his camper got dirty. But he had access to all the clean potable water he wanted, and no one cared that he washed the rig in the lot.
I worked at an RV park in New Mexico for six winters; cleaned office, rec. hall, & bathrooms. Free site including electricity and free laundry. Worked about 15 hours a week.
Great tip.
Interesting that this should come up at this exact moment.out of the blue friends of ours who own a pack station just outside Yosemite asked us to property sit for them when they need to be away.just watch that no one bothers the stock or trespasses while they are off doing things that need to be done, June-Oct.
What exactly is a pack station?
Thanks, Joe
For pack animals like Mules and Horses, Donkeys to go into Yosemite by Horseback.
Great Idea!!
But, did he have to stay at that owner’s home 100% of his time or was he able to venture out to sight see? Thanks