Camping in a Recession

The recession of 2008 hit us all -- hard! And the RV and camping industry was no exception.  RV dealers and manufacturers have been going out of business in record numbers.   Many of the large, traditional makers of RVs have merged, reorganized, or significantly revamped their offerings due to a drop in demand.   Campers have had to cut back on recreational purchases and activities.  Many of us are taking fewer, shorter trips.  But camping can still be one of the best values around.   If you already own an RV or camping equipment, a weekend away or even a summer vacation can often be done for just the cost of the food and fuel -- and since you have to eat anyway, the only real additional cost is the fuel and even that is often at least partially offset by not commuting to work during your vacation.   If you don't already have the equipment you want, you can probably find some real bargains while people are in the mood to downsize or have a need to convert luxury and recreational items into cash.

How has the recession affected YOUR camping experience?  I think it is safe to say that most of us have had to cut back on recreational activities.  Yet, RVing and camping still offer one of the best values for your money.   If you already have an RV or camping equipment, you are in a position to take low-cost outings.   If you don't already have the gear you'd like to have, there may never be a better time to buy it.  Many people and stores are strapped and are forced to liquidate unnecessary and luxury items at bargain prices.  Check out your local classified ads, garage sales, ebay, and craigslist.  You can very likely acquire or improve your camping gear at pennies on the dollar. Camping in your RV or tent is still a very viable family activity.

If you normally patronize expensive, full-service campgrounds you may want to explore more economical options, such as county and state parks, Forest Service campgrounds, and boondocking on unimproved BLM or Forest Service lands to cut costs.   With most RVs you don't really need full hookups to enjoy a weekend camping.  And tent camping lends itself to just about any place you can pitch your tent. If taking your RV out is too expensive, you might explore tent camping again.  Or you might want to look into downsizing, at least temporarily.  You may find it less expensive to purchase a used travel trailer, tent trailer, or truck camper than to put your big motorhome back on the road.  We have been exploring just that kind of situation.  Our motorhome takes diesel-truck sized tires that cost somewhere north of $275 each and it needs six new tires!  On top of that, the size it needs is obsolete and very hard to find.  We picked up a used truck camper for $100!   Sure, it lacks the space and luxury of our motorhome, but it gives us an economical means for some weekend getaways while we save up for tires, without giving up basic creature comforts.   It also gives us the flexibility to visit smaller campgrounds and negotiate mountain roads where the big motorhome is prohibited so it will get long-term usage too.

Meals and provisions don't have to be expensive.  After all, you have to eat if you stay home.  You don't have to spend any more for meals in camp than you would spend at home. Y ou may have to forgo some of the treats you have become accustomed to taking along on your outings, but if you keep your meals simple, you might save enough to splurge on a few favorite snacks.  Simple meals save time as well as money and may conserve cleaning supplies and reduce on board water usage. Hot dogs and hamburgers are probably not standard week night dinner fare at home, but in camp they are highly appropriate. They're inexpensive, easy to fix, and tasty.

Activities that we used to regularly enjoy may be out of our price range during the recession so some adjustments may have to be made.   If you're heading out to ride your OHVs or personal watercraft, you may have to limit the length and number of OHV rides to conserve fuel and reduce costs.   There are many fun activities you can substitute to fill some of the time.   Horseshoes and lawn darts, badminton and volleyball, are all traditional campground favorites.  Do a little hiking and explore the area around your favorite campground on foot.  You may learn something useful about the trails you normally zip through on your OHV.  Perhaps even organize an on-site service project to clean up around camp or do some trail maintenance.  Might as well turn some of that down-time into productive time.  You will probably be surprised just how much fun and how rewarding such activities can be!   It doesn't have to be a major project.   Clean out the fire pit at your campsite and haul away the non-combustible stuff people have left behind.  Rock rings in primitive camping areas get broken down and often need renovation.  They get filled with non-combustible trash, like cans, and batteries and broken glass.  We once picked up about 10# of rusty nails around one fire pit where unthinking or uncaring campers had burned dozens of pallets. S ure glad those nails didn't end up in my RV or OHV tires!

Limit generator use to conserve fuel and save money.   Do you REALLY need to run the air conditioner all day?  Keep busy with outdoor activities.   When you do have to use the generator it is always good practice anyway to try to combine activities that require running the generator, like waiting until your family is ready to watch TV to run your microwave or dry your hair so you're not running the generator for each individual task.  Keep the window shades closed to prevent unwanted temperature differences and minimize opening the door.  Use a spray bottle to spritz yourself to keep cool instead of relying on cooling your whole RV.   If fuel is a serious concern you may have to sacrifice evening TV to save running the generator.  There are lots of fun things to do outside on summer evenings -- impromptu astronomy lessons, watching wildlife, and good old-fashioned campfire get-togethers.   Maybe take a moonlit nature walk and look for nocturnal animal activity.

Conserving vehicle fuel is one way to cut costs.   Make sure your engine is properly tuned and your tires properly inflated.   Then drive slower.  You might be surprised how much better your gas mileage is at 55 mph than it is at 70 mph.  Avoid driving in rush hour traffic.  The stop-and-go uses a lot more fuel than cruising at a steady speed.   Try to time your arrival at stop lights so you can keep moving.   It takes lots of gas to bring a motorhome or truck and trailer up to speed again.  If the traffic lights are properly timed you should be able to hit green lights regularly by traveling at the posted speed limit.   But don't count on it. Some places deliberately time the lights to make you slow down or stop frequently, hoping you will notice and patronize local businesses or so they can catch you in an unscrupulous speed trap.

Take shorter trips.   Look for destinations closer to home.  You may be surprised at the opportunities for weekend get-a-ways that don't require driving long distances.  Sure, those beautiful mountain campsites are really appealing, but a nicely shaded county campground closer to home might save you hours of driving and lots of gas and still be a fun getaway.

If it comes down to it, do a little back-yard or driveway camping.  You stay in practice using your equipment and will keep things ready for "real" opportunities.  You may want to put on an ocean sounds CD to simulate being at the beach, or a wind-song CD to emulate the wind in the trees at forest campground.  Build a campfire in your backyard.  Using your equipment, whether an RV or tent camping, lets you keep up with any needed cleaning or repairs and lets you get some use out of your investment!  My grandfather used to say "A man will rust out quicker than he'll wear out" and I believe that applies to a lot of our equipment as well.   Improper storage and infrequent use is likely to result in a nasty surprise the next time we do have an opportunity to use our equipment.  Metal parts rust or corrode, fabrics fade and weaken, gaskets and seals deteriorate.  Occasional use can keep things in working order and prevent premature failure.  Sometimes I've felt like I wanted to "save" something for future use only to find it was worthless when the time came.  How much better it would have been to have worn it out in the backyard than have to just throw it away without ever using it!

Take advantage of the slow economy to upgrade your equipment. You may find excellent deals on new and used items.   Dealers may be overstocked at the end of the season.  People who have lost their jobs or experience other financial setbacks may be pressured to sell off their RVs, OHVs, and camping equipment.  Sad as that may be for them, it can be substantial savings for you, perhaps allowing you to obtain things that might not otherwise be in your budget.  And meeting their fair asking price may help them more than you know. I know a guy who bought a 36' cabin cruiser and trailer for $500.   It needed some engine work that he was able to do himself for about $75.   Now THAT'S a bargain in anyone's book!

Keep on camping!