Need some help...

mandy dawn · 07-21-2015, 11:43 PM

Hi!!!!
My fiancé and I have been working on our skoolie "Blunderbus" for a while. A 1980 Blue Bird. With work, school, and life, it has taken longer than intended of course. But we love her dearly! We found her on Craigslist while looking up RVs from some guys that used to take her to Talladega Nascar Races.. you can imagine the funny smell

.
She was once red, and now is a funny shade of pink. But she came with a party deck already!
We currently live in Alabama. There may be a job transfer to Seattle Washington soon. It is our intention to live on it while looking for our little spot of home. I have searched for campgrounds or somewhere that is skoolie friendly with no luck. It does not meet their aesthetic environment....
Does anyone know anywhere out there that may allow them? I have looked and looked. I don't know about KOA or if they allow long term. At this point we are about to ask to rent someone's back yard...lol

Mandy and John
Any help, tips, suggestions would help tremendously. Oh, we do have a youtube channel with video pics (blunderbus skoolie). Will post pics and stuff on here when its not midnight..lol

EastCoastCB · 07-22-2015, 06:07 AM

I assumed I'd be staying in yards once the bus is done.
Lots of people and establishments are real jerks about buses.

ElizaHasAPlan · 07-22-2015, 06:55 AM

The two KOA campgrounds in my area are year-round, and they charge $480 per month with all utilities, wifi and cable. I think it's $450 without the cable though.

Here's a website to find area campgrounds, although I know there are many more resources than this to search:

Campgrounds Near Me | RV Parks & Campgrounds | Campground Reviews

There's a thread here somewhere, from I think less than a month ago, where folks shared a bunch of ways to find places to stay. Can't really remember which subforum it's in though

milkmania · 07-22-2015, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElizaHasAPlan

The two KOA campgrounds in my area are year-round, and they charge $480 per month with all utilities, wifi and cable. I think it's $450 without the cable though.

I've had my experiences with KOA.... they can stuff their

$450

Mandy Dawn, lots of websites out there.... a lot of them list walmarts, casinos, and truck stops for overnight stays.
look for SMARTphone apps if you have such a device. lots of free ones.

But, the main thing is to read the reviews on the locations you choose

ElizaHasAPlan · 07-22-2015, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkmania

I've had my experiences with KOA.... they can stuff their

$450

Well, now you have to tell us the story

EastCoastCB · 07-22-2015, 09:22 AM

Payin $450 a month to live at a koa sounds like some sort of punishment to me.

M1031A1 · 07-22-2015, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Payin $450 a month to live at a koa sounds like some sort of punishment to me.

I second that!

cullengw · 07-22-2015, 12:35 PM

What is KOA and do campsites really say no to skoolies?

The-Breeze · 07-22-2015, 12:49 PM

Try here:

Map of Free Camping Areas | Go Camping for Free!

EastCoastCB · 07-22-2015, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cullengw

What is KOA and do campsites really say no to skoolies?

Yeah, lots of places will turn away converted buses.
Koa is a HUGE chain of campgrounds. Sorta the "dennys" of camping.

milkmania · 07-22-2015, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElizaHasAPlan

Well, now you have to tell us the story

nothing major, just very "rule" oriented....

The ones we stayed at have pools, but you cannot hang any of your stuff out to dry,(even on your own awning) no late night campfires, people up late sitting around the campfire, couldn't leave chairs out, no 2am arrivals, etc....

too strict & structured for me, I'd rather RELAX!!!

perhaps some are more relaxed than others, but I've spent the weekends in several over the years and it was same story.

cullengw · 07-22-2015, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Yeah, lots of places will turn away converted buses.
Koa is a HUGE chain of campgrounds. Sorta the "dennys" of camping.

Why turn away money? lol Is it the school bus frame they turn away? or is it the fear that the RV isn't up to code?

I dont see why you would turn away a paying customer lol

ElizaHasAPlan · 07-22-2015, 03:17 PM

There are a whole lot of campgrounds that won't allow anything older than 10 years. Or dirty RVs. Or if there's peeling paint. Or dents. Or if they don't like the way you smell.

They sure as heck won't allow us nasty Skoolies to mess up their view.

You'll need to try to call ahead at any campground you want to stay at, just in case it's late evening, and the next campground is 100 miles away.

mandy dawn · 07-23-2015, 12:49 AM

Thank you everyone for the responses!! I will defiantly be busy the next few days checking all of this out...
Want to hear the KOA story! I would see it as a good deal vs regular rent and utilities. But I feel that I am missing something. Lol

EastCoastCB · 07-23-2015, 01:55 AM

If faced with 450 a month, I'd buy property somewhere.

ElizaHasAPlan · 07-23-2015, 05:49 AM

I've never stayed in one, but I've called all the campgrounds in my area for price comparisons. KOA is the most expensive, so I never intended to stay there. I'm really glad for the heads up though. It doesn't sound like my kind of place at all.

Just for fun, I Googled KOA jobs to see if Hosts get to stay for free. Here's the web page (it looks like some kind of crazy-pants cult): Community Camping Programs and Outreach from KOA | Work Kamper Program | KOA Campgrounds

gbstewart · 07-23-2015, 07:15 AM

KOA= keep on adding!
We have only stayed in one KOA in Sault ste Marie Ontario, very nice place, owners where very nice and loved our bus, we have gone there a few times for our stop over on the way to Ottawa. Always clean, but yes there are rules and its about $5.00 to $10.00 more then other camp grounds.
gbstewart

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