By Sam Suva
This list is not in any order of importance: Each campground and each opportunity can have some or none of these perks for work campers. However, it is important to know potential benefits when considering work camping. This is the third part of our list. If you have not yet read the first two parts, they are here: Part 1 and Part 2.
Laundry
Don’t have a washer in your RV? No problem! Every campground we have personally been at has a laundry with washers and dryers. Can your position include a stipend to be used in the laundry? We have been compensated with marked quarters in the past. For example, an amount of quarters are spray painted and then we use them for our time there, then the last payment at the end of our stay will reflect whether or not we have returned them. Newer machines have credit card readers, so ask the campground for refillable credit cards or for reimbursement per pay period for the amount agreed upon for laundry costs.
Firewood
Some work campers have fires several nights a week. At as much as $8 for an armful of wood, that gets expensive! Firewood cannot be transported across most state and county lines, so find a way to get some help with your evening social entertainment.
Cable TV or high-speed internet
Is your site wired for cable TV and/or internet? Does it come with the position or does it require account activation from the provider? Asking for the campground to help with or provide this amenity is smart negotiating.
Year-end bonus
Some campgrounds offer an end-of-the-year bonus. An amount of pay is added up each day/week/month as the work progresses. If the work camper stays for the entire contract, the campground will pay the bonus. We have used this bonus to get to the next job – it can add up to a substantial amount.
Camper port
A covered spot is ideal for warmer climates. Some campgrounds have built sites that have a metal or wooden cover that the camper parks under, protecting it from inclement weather or the glaring sun. Is it possible for your use, maybe with an additional cost?
Diner/cafe
Onsite restaurants can offer a full menu for those weekends that you simply do not want to cook, or you may wish to take that special someone out for a relaxed dinner. Does the campground offer a discount for using their cafe or diner? An incentive to use the company’s restaurant is beneficial to the bottom line.
How are you finding the list so far? There is a great deal to know about work camping, but don’t be overwhelmed. When we started we didn’t know what we do today, and I wouldn’t change a thing (almost). Well, I guess I wouldn’t have dumped the sewer with that old hose, but that is a story for another time.
Your comments help me more than you may realize. What have I not covered that you would like to know about? Let me know below.
See you down the road,
Sam
Sam Suva and his wife are work campers. They began work camping more than 10 years ago and have spent a lot of time working as they traveled. In this new weekly feature, they will share their experiences with you, with an emphasis on how to incorporate work camping into a full time RV lifestyle.
