Dear Dr. R.V. Shrink:
We just spent a night in Marfa, Texas at a commercial campground, which might be stretching the definition. It was pretty sad looking, but we were tired and it was late. I went inside and I was told $12 dollars for no hookups. This place made me think twice about even paying that, but again we were tired. After talking it over with my skeptical wife, we decided to stay. When I went back inside they charged me $24. When I asked for an explanation they said it was $12 dollars per person. I was irritated, but paid. Then we parked out in a tumbleweed field. My wife said we should have just left. She thinks I should have come out and discussed it with her one more time, with the new pricing info. I say someone has to make a decision and that is the one I made. How should we deal with these arrangements in the future? —Seeing the Marfa Light
Dear Enlightened:
Well, you are in Texas and that park just charges per person from the example of their State Park system. Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but that is how someone has figured it out. We spend time in Texas every year and seldom stay in their State Parks because of the per person charge, per day. In some parks that is as much as $14 extra per day, for two adults, on top of camping, unless you invest in a $70 annual pass. So depending on how much time you plan on spending in the state, do the math. If you don’t mind road traffic noise, train traffic noise and the bright lights of alien craft landing nearby, you can stay for free at the Marfa Lights roadside viewing area eight miles east of the town of Marfa on Hwy. 67.
My suggestion would be that whoever goes in to negotiate a campsite, makes the decisions. I would also add that stopping before dark, and advanced planning of some degree, will lessen the chances of having to make last minute, sometimes expensive, decisions. There is so much information available online for camping sites of all kinds. If you are not online, I suggest you get wired. It will pay for itself every month. Boondocking is the most challenging. We use "RV Boondocking," published by the Frugal Shunpikers.
Click here to visit Frugal Shunpikers Guides to RV Boondocking.
It gives us many options at one source.
—Keep Smilin', Dr. R.V. Shrink
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Murphy's Law
Dear Dr. R.V. Shrink:
My wife is a closet pessimist. She seems positive most of the time, but she has this irritating habit of calling tiny incidents “Murphy’s Law.” It’s harmless but it drives me nuts. I always know when it’s coming. We will be driving across flat, empty Texas for hours without seeing another vehicle and just when I come to a narrow bridge I will pass a semi-trailer. I hear from the passenger seat, “Murphy’s Law.” The dump station will be empty all morning as we prepare to leave a campground and just as I pull up to dump, someone else will pull in ahead of me. Again, I hear from the passenger seat, “Murphy’s Law.” The examples go on and on. I just can’t take it any longer. Do you think there really is a “Murphy’s Law?” Is there any way of breaking “Murphy’s Law?” I just can’t take wave after wave of Murphy. Please help me.
--Murph the Surf in Medford
Dear Murph:
I think it is called the law of averages. It’s the glass half full - half empty syndrome. Why not make a game out of it. You seem to know when it’s coming, beat her to the punch. Every time you cross a narrow bridge and do not meet another vehicle, ask her “what happened to Murphy?” When you arrive at the dump station and have it all to yourself, tell her Murphy must not have to dump today. It might be fun to keep score and see how often Murphy actually rears his ugly head. If this is your only problem traveling together, I think you are doing just fine. If you pull into a campground and the last site has just been taken by the RV in front of you, well, that’s just “Murphy’s Law.”
--Keep Smilin', Dr. R.V. Shrink
##RVT845
My wife is a closet pessimist. She seems positive most of the time, but she has this irritating habit of calling tiny incidents “Murphy’s Law.” It’s harmless but it drives me nuts. I always know when it’s coming. We will be driving across flat, empty Texas for hours without seeing another vehicle and just when I come to a narrow bridge I will pass a semi-trailer. I hear from the passenger seat, “Murphy’s Law.” The dump station will be empty all morning as we prepare to leave a campground and just as I pull up to dump, someone else will pull in ahead of me. Again, I hear from the passenger seat, “Murphy’s Law.” The examples go on and on. I just can’t take it any longer. Do you think there really is a “Murphy’s Law?” Is there any way of breaking “Murphy’s Law?” I just can’t take wave after wave of Murphy. Please help me.
--Murph the Surf in Medford
Dear Murph:
I think it is called the law of averages. It’s the glass half full - half empty syndrome. Why not make a game out of it. You seem to know when it’s coming, beat her to the punch. Every time you cross a narrow bridge and do not meet another vehicle, ask her “what happened to Murphy?” When you arrive at the dump station and have it all to yourself, tell her Murphy must not have to dump today. It might be fun to keep score and see how often Murphy actually rears his ugly head. If this is your only problem traveling together, I think you are doing just fine. If you pull into a campground and the last site has just been taken by the RV in front of you, well, that’s just “Murphy’s Law.”
--Keep Smilin', Dr. R.V. Shrink
##RVT845
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Flaming the RV Fan
Dear Dr. R.V. Shrink:
I think I need a drink, but I am going to start with you. I just left a Camping World store in Texas. I think there is an old Country Western song called, “Happiness is Camping World in the Rear view Mirror.” I will be singing that for some time to come. Six months ago I had a Camping World store put a Fantastic Fan in my trailer. I also bought hitch bars from them. The fan motor (still under warranty) died and one day slowing to a toll booth all of a sudden my hitch bar dropped. Camping World told me they couldn’t honor another store's warranty. I finally made them call that store and they agreed to pay for a new motor for the fan. Not a new fan, just a motor. They refused to stand behind the hitch bar problem, accusing me of backing up improperly. In fact, a defective bolt had cracked and broke in two places. I was treated as if I were a pain, and they showed not a hint of customer service. Is this what RVer’s should expect from a company that pretends to be one of the big players in the industry? Are they setting an industry standard of sub par service? Have I set my sights too high in expecting decent service at a decent price? What is the use of a warranty if no one stands behind it?
--Flaming the Fan in the Lone Star State
Dear Flaming:
RV service is much like the Old Wild West. You never know when or where you might get rustled. Every service event should be a lesson added to your list of experiences. You have to let a bad experience go, but don’t ever forget it completely. I am always suggesting that people use the now convenient RV Service Review sites. Just google them. There are several. Find reviews for most any service center you are near. Read them all. It’s like buying product on Amazon. Read all the reviews and take a consensus. Some people will complain if they are hung with a new rope. You can also use these review sites to vent about your vent fan. Let others know how you were treated at the service centers you have used. You can’t put a lot of stock in the name Camping World. They have now franchised their brand and most stores are RV dealer franchises. You are going to get service consistent with what a particular dealer's management style is. You cannot expect service consistent with one company's policy unless you actually deal with a Camping World company store. There are plenty of great service people and companies out there, you just have to be careful, do your homework, if you have the option, and make the best decision with the info you have. Never, and I mean never, let them see you sweat.
--Keep Smilin’, Dr. R.V. Shrink
I think I need a drink, but I am going to start with you. I just left a Camping World store in Texas. I think there is an old Country Western song called, “Happiness is Camping World in the Rear view Mirror.” I will be singing that for some time to come. Six months ago I had a Camping World store put a Fantastic Fan in my trailer. I also bought hitch bars from them. The fan motor (still under warranty) died and one day slowing to a toll booth all of a sudden my hitch bar dropped. Camping World told me they couldn’t honor another store's warranty. I finally made them call that store and they agreed to pay for a new motor for the fan. Not a new fan, just a motor. They refused to stand behind the hitch bar problem, accusing me of backing up improperly. In fact, a defective bolt had cracked and broke in two places. I was treated as if I were a pain, and they showed not a hint of customer service. Is this what RVer’s should expect from a company that pretends to be one of the big players in the industry? Are they setting an industry standard of sub par service? Have I set my sights too high in expecting decent service at a decent price? What is the use of a warranty if no one stands behind it?
--Flaming the Fan in the Lone Star State
Dear Flaming:
RV service is much like the Old Wild West. You never know when or where you might get rustled. Every service event should be a lesson added to your list of experiences. You have to let a bad experience go, but don’t ever forget it completely. I am always suggesting that people use the now convenient RV Service Review sites. Just google them. There are several. Find reviews for most any service center you are near. Read them all. It’s like buying product on Amazon. Read all the reviews and take a consensus. Some people will complain if they are hung with a new rope. You can also use these review sites to vent about your vent fan. Let others know how you were treated at the service centers you have used. You can’t put a lot of stock in the name Camping World. They have now franchised their brand and most stores are RV dealer franchises. You are going to get service consistent with what a particular dealer's management style is. You cannot expect service consistent with one company's policy unless you actually deal with a Camping World company store. There are plenty of great service people and companies out there, you just have to be careful, do your homework, if you have the option, and make the best decision with the info you have. Never, and I mean never, let them see you sweat.
--Keep Smilin’, Dr. R.V. Shrink
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