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Escapees - Join or not ????
Yahoo Message Number: 145753
Hi All,

I have a couple of questions plus I seem to have gotten kinda windy at the same time.

(1) I've never joined Escapees as I didn't think it was worth $70 per year.  But . . .  now I'm wondering if I have been missing out by not joining.  First thought, can they be a better source of where to spend the night than some of the apps I mentioned below (seems doubtful).  What do YOU think of joining the Escapees???

I have 3 different apps for travel, Ultimate Campground, Allstays Camp & RV, and US Public Lands.  Amongst other things, I use these 3 apps to help guide me to where I'm staying the night (US Public Lands is brand new and has never been used).  Using the apps I pick out my night's destination before setting out for the day.   But I would rather be more spur of the moment and stop somewhere earlier (I'm old, creaky and whine a lot).  The problem becomes that I often don't know where to stop as I may be out in the middle of no-where or a small town without a Walmart (horrors).

(2) It looks like the US Public Lands app could help with stopping overnight if BLM land is nearby.  But staying on a street in a residential neighborhood or business district has eluded me (other than the obvious Walmarts, casinos, and truck stops).  I just haven't mastered the art of stopping overnight on the spur of the moment and I would really like to change that.  Should I just tough it out and stop somewhere that looks legal and then occasionally have the cops banging on the door at 3 AM, telling me to move it or else???

I've read previously that some of you do stay out in the middle of nowhere.  In a much earlier prior life with our SOB, if I found a nice spot and stopped by 3 PM, other RVs would join me.  This was back in the days when I didn't know better.

Helpless San Diego Bob
2000 MB
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145758
I love boon docking and dry camping in the wide, open spaces and do so nearly six months of the year (as a full-timer).  However, I also enjoy the National Parks, Monuments, and National Forests which have a variety of campgounds.

I belong to Escapees because I have enjoyed a community of RVers where they welcome others into their ranks for a night, week or  more.  My wife and I find their parks provide a sense of community in between the great adventures of the American West.  To me, they are well worth the $60 tab per year.

They sure beat overnighting at a Walmart!

David (1998 LD MB)

On Sunday, April 13, 2014 7:16 PM, "rkarrow@..."  wrote:
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145762
First of all Escapees is $60 a year, or as a prior vet you get a small discount and it's $57.00 which is what I pay. They have some very nice secure parks where you can boondock for $5.00 a night with full use of the facilities (bathroom, shower, kitchen, laundry etc)'. At some of the parks first night of boondocking is free. Coarsegold CA. and Pahrump NV. come to mind. If you need full hookups it's usually $15 a night. The facilities are very well maintained by many of the full time residents which have purchased a lot. Very nice friendly people always willing to help out. Sometimes a nice alternative  to staying at BLM or US Forest service parks which I frequent most of the time. Also a wonderful support network. Check out the website for more info.
Bob 01 23.5 TK, Jeep Cherokee Toad in surgery.
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145764
Quite often, "just stopping overnight on the spur of the moment" isn't feasible; one does have to use available resources to be aware in advance of local options and/or restrictions before the 'overnight squat' is needed. (Note that I'm talking about en route overnights, i.e., pull in just before dark - get back on the road early and *not* 'camping'.)  If finding convenient, safe overnights on the way from somewhere to somewhere else is what the OP is asking for, I have a couple of suggestions in addition to those already mentioned in previous posts:
 https://www.boondockerswelcome.com/

http://overnightrvparking.com/

The above are subscription sites (I think about $25 a year) but are updated frequently for accuracy from reader input.

Many towns and cities (and this number is growing) have enacted ordinances against RV overnight parking, and these rules can be enforced 'vigorously'. A van or small camper might be able to avoid scrutiny and the resulting invitation to move on from a cop or local security, but not a class C.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145772
The Escapees RV Club was founded as a support group for full-time RVers. It was not meant solely as a campground club.  It consists of many ways to help RVers - a fantastic mail forwarding service so large that the postal service has given it it's own zip code and you're given a street address, Escapade rallies, trips, and with a headquarters base in Livingston, TX, the whole town knows about Escapees. If you want to register and get a Texas license, the town offices help you through all of it in a couple hours' time. Jury duty? You're excused if traveling. Voting is easily done via mail.  Escapees has their own network of various types of their own RV parks. Some are known as co-ops where the lots are owned by individuals and rented out when they're away. Some are owned by the Club itself. They are all kept up nicely with large spacious lots. They are the friendliest parks in which we've ever stayed. They are especially nice to stay at during the holidays when you're away from your loved ones as there is a lot of festivities going on including a holiday dinner in which to partake. The rates are always more reasonable than other private parks and they also have a boondocking section for a nominal fee with showers, bathroom and dump station. Rentals vary but are approximately $250/month and up or $12-$20/day. They publish a bi-monthly awesome magazine with articles written by RVers and very little advertising.  There are sub-groups to join for folks with like interests who meet up as a group - Boomers, boondockers, computers, prospecting, quilters, SOLO single RVers, Habitat for Humanity and others. There are state chapters where you can join in fun outings and different city luncheons if you want some local chatter while traveling.
 They also supply a discount camping book similar to Passport America at private parks. These are altogether different than the Escapee parks.
 All in all, it is well worth it to joing Escapees even if you're not a full-timer. Everyone is welcome at their parks. We've been members for 18 years and have met wonderful folks through them who are life-long friends.  Do check them out!
Re: [LD] Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145776
X2!
 It really all depends on what you're looking for in an RV club.  If you're looking only for an organization that provides inexpensive places to stay, join Passport America instead.  I certainly wouldn't join the Escapees *just* to have access to their Day's End listings, although if you are a member, it's worth paying the nominal fee to download the information (as I mentioned previously, it's our most-used resources for finding places to overnight since we are not parking lot over-nighters other than the occasional casino).
 But, if you are a serious RVer whether you're a fulltimer, snowbird, or other, it's a great organization.  We think so highly of the Escapees that we became Lifetime members several years ago (not something they offer very often).

Linda Hylton

From: twogypsies2@...

Sent: ‎Tuesday‎, ‎April‎ ‎15‎, ‎2014 ‎10‎:‎28‎ ‎PM
To: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com

The Escapees RV Club was founded as a support group for full-time RVers. It was not meant solely as a campground club.  It consists of many ways to help RVers - a fantastic mail forwarding service so large that the postal service has given it it's own zip code and you're given a street address, Escapade rallies, trips, and with a headquarters base in Livingston, TX, the whole town knows about Escapees. If you want to register and get a Texas license, the town offices help you through all of it in a couple hours' time. Jury duty? You're excused if traveling. Voting is easily done via mail.  Escapees has their own network of various types of their own RV parks. Some are known as co-ops where the lots are owned by individuals and rented out when they're away. Some are owned by the Club itself. They are all kept up nicely with large spacious lots. They are the friendliest parks in which we've ever stayed. They are especially nice to stay at during the holidays when you're away from your loved ones as there is a lot of festivities going on including a holiday dinner in which to partake. The rates are always more reasonable than other private parks and they also have a boondocking section for a nominal fee with showers, bathroom and dump station. Rentals vary but are approximately $250/month and up or $12-$20/day. They publish a bi-monthly awesome magazine with articles written by RVers and very little advertising.  There are sub-groups to join for folks with like interests who meet up as a group - Boomers, boondockers, computers, prospecting, quilters, SOLO single RVers, Habitat for Humanity and others. There are state chapters where you can join in fun outings and different city luncheons if you want some local chatter while traveling.
 They also supply a discount camping book similar to Passport America at private parks. These are altogether different than the Escapee parks.
 All in all, it is well worth it to joing Escapees even if you're not a full-timer. Everyone is welcome at their parks. We've been members for 18 years and have met wonderful folks through them who are life-long friends.  Do check them out!
Linda Hylton
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145777
Both Mary and I fully agree with you. Although we have not been too active with the Escapees during the last few years we would not terminate our membership. Over the years we have enjoyed quite a few of their Escapades, participated in local chapter events and used quite a few of their parks. For us it is well-worth the $ 60.-- a year

Aad Rommelse Escapee 34388

__
2001 MB
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145782
"It really all depends on what you're looking for in an RV club." ---- It does, indeed. I believe that 'new' RVers often join clubs or organizations because they think (or have been told) that it's 'what RVers do'; they don't necessarily have the experience in 'time served' to be able to assess the real, quantifiable value *to them* of a particular membership.

Before joining any group, particularly if membership is a 'pay to play' deal, one might want to ask the following basic questions:

Am I paying for a 'benefit' which I could get without charge from the multitude of sources on the web?

Do I already have a membership in an organization or group which provides the same services and benefits as the one I'm considering joining, i.e., 'benefits' duplication?

Have I objectively/critically assessed the benefits *to me* provided by a particular membership? (IOW, am I joining this because somebody said I should or is a particular membership cost-effective and can I see direct benefit/return?)

As ever, YMMV!

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145790
Thank you to everyone that responded with their personal experiences regarding joining Escapees.  It was much appreciated.
San Diego Bob
2000 MB
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145791
Due to the discussion, I joined. Got my interest up. Dues are $35.00 as we belong to Good Sam. There are other discounts available too.

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145793
I'll need to look into this!  I just re-upped for our 23rd year (!!!), but didn't know about that discount!

Virtual hugs,

Judie http://dorrieanne.wordpress.com
Re: [LD] Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145797
The $70 consists of the $60 annual membership fee plus a one-time-only $10 enrollment fee.
 Once you are a member, they used to offer a 3-year membership which worked out to less than $60 per year.  Since we are Lifetime Members, I haven't kept up with membership fees, so don't know if they still offer this extended membership.

Linda Hylton

Quote
I don't see any discounts on new Escapee memberships on this page; the join cost is stated as $70.00:

https://store.escapees.com/store/showmembership.asp?ORC=20140041616815YGZ&Type=New Membership (USA)

What am I missing?

Joan
Linda Hylton
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145800
Go to a Escapees store, you will find it. It might be good for new members only-not sure.

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145802
Joan, There is a one time enrollment fee of $10 plus the $60 membership fee, or $57 for former veterans. Subsequent years there is no enrollment fee.  I have been a member for so long I forgot about the enrollment fee.
Bob 01 23.5 TK, Jeep Cherokee Toad
Re: Escapees - Join or not ????
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 145831
You can always pay the local constabulary a visit and ASK where you can park for the night without getting hassled. If they seem receptive, fine, if not - try the next burg. Just try to park early enough to sort it out.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit