RV News - Florida’s New Camping Bill - People Respond - June 2023

[@lorrieprice6408]

I live in Florida and bought a travel trailer and RAM truck to tow it with a year ago. Both are 2 years old but in like-new condition. I spent about $100K on these two things and have yet to be able to book a campsite in my own state. The only reservations that are availble are for random weekdays, usually just one day. That isn't worth getting my trailer ready to take out, paying for gas, setting up and tearing down onsite and needing to dump the tanks. I know when the sites become available and make sure I am ready to book at that moment. The problem is the campsite reservation clubs are using AI to book up the sites. Faster than I can put the site in my cart and enter my credit card info the reservation clubs have already booked the site. Robots are faster than people. I support Florida's economy all year and pay property taxes that pay for the expense of the state parks. It's high time Florida residents will be able to book the campsites they pay to support. I agree that you have to book as soon as the sites become available or hope to get a cancellation at the last minute when somebody else cancels. That's another problem. The fines for booking multiple sites then cancelling one of them at the last minute are not high enough to prevent people from being selfish and rude. We need to use licence plate numbers and eliminate the possiblity of booking multiple sites for the same days. Thanks for your videos. I have my opinions but appreciate those of others also.

[@dandudek5753]

I am a Florida resident, who sent an email to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection last year suggesting that Florida residents be allowed to make reservations at Florida state parks a month before non-residents. Numerous times over the past several years my wife and I have had our computers, cell phones and tablets signed on the reservation application waiting for sites to open at exactly 8:00 a.m. It has been extremely frustrating time and time again not being able to make a reservation as all the desired sites are taken as soon as 8:00 a.m. arrives. When I am lucky enough to obtain a reservation, I notice 11 months later when I arrive at the campground, most of the sites in the campground have vehicles with out-of-state licenses. As a resident, some of my taxes go towards maintaining the state parks. Basically, residents are subsidizing the state parks which helps the state parks charge camping fees that are in many cases substantially less than commercial camping facilities in the same area. In some cases, the camping fee is less than half that of commercial facilities. Don’t get me wrong. I have no objection to out-of-staters spending time camping in Florida, and staying at our fantastic state parks. However, campers should be given a slight priority in obtaining a desired campsite in their state’s campgrounds, no matter what state in which they reside.

[@patricialmt5272]

Thanks!! Planning in camping in my own state in the next year!.

[@jacquesolivier1110]

Very detailled analysis - Good Job John

[@donaldhoudek2889]

John, Great Video!!! As for the Florida Camping Bill, we are 100% behind it. My wife are Florida residents for the last 25 years and we used to go down to the Keys in December or January and occasionally in February. About 6 or so years ago we started being unable to reserve sites in the State parks in the Keys. The last few years that we were able to get sites, most of the other sites had RVers from out of state. Well we finally gave up and we parked our RV in the Georgia mountains. Now with the new bill passed we are planning on trying again for getting down in the Keys in those months. Time will tell. I totally agree with a "Penalty" for no-shows, and it needs to be a large dollar amount, maybe a "VERY" LARGE dollar amount. Keep the great videos coming.

[@ralphp3057]

Well, good luck ! I remember when I could just drive to any state park in Fl without reservations. Yup, like almost 50 years ago ! I’m camping right now at Highlands Hammock SP ! Wish you well .😁👍

[@totalamateurhomecooks6833]

Stay in the know! Great information.

[@JohnMarucci]

Glad the newscast was informative!

[@EmilyFerris-h1j]

Thanks for the information. I just watched your Ember video as well since we were considering purchasing one. We had the 2018 R-pod 190 and after 5 years of ownership discovered a bowed floor and significant underlying water damage. Thankfully it was covered by insurance and the r-pod was totaled. We are still searching for our next RV and hope to avoid any major issues!

[@JohnMarucci]

I was trying to think what new RV I would consider right now if I had to buy one. I can't think of any lower priced brand/model I'd be interested in. In the mid-price market, I'd probably consider the smaller Grand Design and Winnebago towables. I was most impressed by these at the Tampa RV show this past January. Higher-priced, I'd likely consider ATC, Oliver, and Airstream. Hope this helps. All the best!

[@carolsmith-hk5hp]

thanks for keeping us informed!

[@JohnMarucci]

Glad the newscast was informative!

[@mudpie8104]

Great stuff! Glad I found your channel. I appreciate most the data driven information.

[@JohnMarucci]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@clintstinytrailerconversio5560]

As a state park volunteer, at many campgrounds in the past, I might know a thing or two about campground sites laying vacant and have brought it up to upper management. I have looked at sites online that might show none available, but upon looking (being there evening and morning) many are vacant. Of course, there are some no-shows, but the number concerned me. Competition on the reservation website at 8 AM Monday each week is intense and frustrating, with the most popular campgrounds impossible no matter how quick one might be on mouse and keyboard. I have no proof, but suspect that there are systems that automatically grab sites for folks, but again I have no proof. I live about 25 miles from one of the most popular CG in Florida called Fort Clinch, that has a handful sites near the beach. I have tried many times to secure a reservation there for even a few days together, with total flexibility as to whatever days, and have never been able to pull it off. Maybe I will be able to... we shall see.

[@JohnMarucci]

Thanks for sharing your experience as a state park volunteer!

[@gddd7650]

People are afraid of new rvs in most camping People we talk to rather buy older ones before covid like 2017 so much going wrong with new and walk away 6 mth wait to fox no parts or wait in line ugh plus People living in campground what a mess 😢

[@shellygreenan2407]

In MA , just to dump tanks at a state park, they require paying for a night stay, whether you do or not. Leaving sights empty/no shows. Old covid policies, still in place, need to end. This is what creates "no shows"

[@Cab520]

John. I have a big problem and issue with Winnebago. They have gone ESG. They put electric only fridge in 2022 microminnie that is built for off grid camping,boondock camping. They advertised them for camping outside hookup facilities. I have always done boondock camping and purchased one for that purpose. IT’s explorer and comfort packages are for this purpose with the suspension systems wheels etc. it is set up with a 190 watt solar panel for power. Winnebago also only had one battery. I purchased a second. I also plug in a 90watt panel. That’s 280. The fridge takes all the power. Therefore no heat or other uses. The fridge is off before morning ,it has used all power. I have run a generator 4 hours and the batteries will only come up to 2/3’ds. My batteries are in constant discharge. Charged batteries last night until 9 and batteries in discharge before morning. This fridge is also ruining my batteries. I camp Alaska. If you cannot get enough light in Alaska,you cannot anywhere. 22-23 hours of light. You don’t need lights at night,so you need the power for fridge,water pump ignite water heater. Heat will not ignite because the fan takes whatever power at start and then it shuts down. Nights of 30-40’s are cold without heat. I light my little buddy heater in the morning. Winnebago will not address the problem. I have contacted them a number of times to switch out the fridge for gas/electric. You always use gas except when hooked up. No matter what you have. I did not know Winnebago did this until I set to take off. I had someone drive my other camper to Nebraska to trade for the 2022 Minnie Winnie. There were a lot of good reviews on it. But that was before the electric fridge installed. The rv repair here have a number of customers come in with same problem. The rv repair tested the electric fridge issue and found it will run 5 hours on a 12 volt battery. They also said this is a reason people are buying old campers and fixing. Bottom line ,the fridge takes all the power so you do not have power for the rest. Not installing gas/electric fridge is really a stupid idea and it does not work. The camper is only suitable for hookup camping. I have to run a generator to take a shower to be sure I have enough power to run water pump for the shower. 3 minute showers are the usual. Forget heat. The rv companies are wrong on this issue and should replace the fridge. I want this to get around so others will not make the same mistake of expecting standard combination fridge and realize after purchase it is not. This what has happened. People don’t think this would be. Also, want rv companies to replace the fridges as they should. The campers are not cheaper for electric only fridge.

[@MR-si1eq]

1st very good information. 2nd We have tent camped at state parks here in KY only. We have only camped with our trailer in private places. They seem to have more of what we are looking for with our trailer. 3rd we do book ahead usually up to 3 or 4 months. But we have learned to book as much as a year ahead for certain times. Which we decided to stay away from over crowding. Loud nights. And so on. We like peace and quite when we go. We've had our share of neighbors being rude. For the most part we have had a good experience and recommended camping to many for a get away. Thank you for all the info you put out. 😊

[@robertthompson6958]

Thanks for this John. Your rv news is as good there is. As to Florida: water finds it own level. I can’t say I full agree with your conclusions but it is what it is and what will be will be.

[@mrcharliewebb]

Off topic but our Rpod paint has started to fade and dull. It's a 2019, what do you recommend?

[@JohnMarucci]

I would try Meguiar’s RV Marine Oxidation Remover. Here is a link to the product on my associate account: amzn.to/3XwLMZW

[@ricktaylor6373]

I don’t care bout Florida, go down to south west Texas in the winter, cheaper and better. Try it out.

[@sew_gal7340]

Interest is too high, i am going to wait until int are lower to purchase a good rv.

[@JohnMarucci]

Good call.

[@TrailRunning-CampingYeti]

Great information! Let me know when you want me to meet you at Colonial 😀

[@JohnMarucci]

Yep!

[@TrailRunning-CampingYeti]

@@JohnMarucci let me know lol

[@susangarthur]

I enjoyed the FL State Park comment update. Thx. In Ontario, Canada our Provincial Park system has a sliding cancellation/fee scale. From a 10% fee the closer to an original booking to 50% the furthest away (closer to the actual camping date). That certainly makes a camper think twice before cancelling. There is also the ability to legally transfer ur reservation to another interested camper for only a $10 fee. This helps to alleviate empty sites. Since our camping season is so short there is generally a demand for any site so the original booker can offload their reservation and a lucky camper can pick it up. We will probably head to Mexico (fly/airbnb) next year rather than wrestle with M-F only avails as FL residents will likely take most of the weekend reservations. May potentially be difficult to book 7-14 consecutive days for us snowbirds

[@PhotographybyTimWMoore]

West coast gas prices are considerably higher than the national average. Current price for regular gas here in Tillamook County, Oregon is $4.79/gal.

[@ralphp3057]

Thanks for another great Video! I agree with you about the Fl bill ! It might help if you plan way out ! Tourism is not number one for income in Fl . It’s agriculture. I also agree that campers buying RV ‘s will continue the downturn! Thanks for sharing!! 👍😁

[@beckyjohnstone1610]

A lot of people might have been buying with home equity loans. This source of money is tighter when the housing market softens.

[@koalabear6722]

Yes. Very informative. TY. 😊 However, camping in FL isn't the greatest for Floridians, just snowbirds.

[@israelcontreras5332]

I will just avoid all state parks and stay at national parks. Florida isnt the only place that has warm winters. As a non-resident, it is not cool to favor one group over another. I can do private campsites or national parks elsewhere.

[@leapnlarry]

I pray that those out of staters that wont come to florida because of this law, go to Arizona or Texas instead. Larry

[@rickytecon5726]

Please route the Quebeckians to southwest Texas too.