Let's start a camping club to replace the Good Sam's club.

[fowler2765]

We need to be start a club to camp and promote charity activities.

 

[LMHS]

I assume you mean Good Sam and not Sam's Club.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

...and what would your group do differently to make it more successful than Good Sam, or FMCA, or Escapees, or any other group already out there?

 

[fowler2765]

Good Sam has closed their clubs. A few operate on their own. corporate didn't want to sponsor it anymore. The concept and principles were good.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

Good Sam has closed their clubs. A few operate on their own. corporate didn't want to sponsor it anymore. The concept and principles were good.

... and yet almost all of their chapters were having issues with attracting new members. Same with FMCA - as the existing membership ages it's becoming more difficult to attract the younger population. I don't know if it's because the young folk don't like socializing, or what but it seems for whatever reason they don't like organized group camping.

 

[fowler2765]

I think they are more independent and want to do their own thing. Alot of people don't have spendable income to participate in these things. With pension funds not offered anymore their fixed incomes don't go very far.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

It seems that social media has changed the ways campers interact and find each other.
With sites like this, or groups on FB, what does a paid membership group like FMCA or Good Sam provide that they cannot get from FB groups that have a wider audience?

Full disclosure - I do not have FB account

 

[fowler2765]

The organization provided material and sponsorship for the clubs. Social media has definitely made it easier to connect with others. It gives unity and purpose to be united under a name or logo.

 

[Yellowrose]

We need to be start a club to camp and promote charity activities.

I'm down for that. I cannot become a member due to the age of my RV. She is a 1997 and when I called to join they informed me of their age discrimination rule.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

I'm down for that. I cannot become a member due to the age of my RV. She is a 1997 and when I called to join they informed me of their age discrimination rule.

Who did you call? When we were in a Good Sam Chapter there was no maximum age limit; we are currently in 2 FMCA Chapters and neither one has an age limit. Neither Good Sam, nor FMCA, as national entities have age limits. It's entirely possible that an individual chapter might be focused on newer units, but they would need to fashion their by-laws to avoid anti-discrimination rules.

 

[fowler2765]

I have been looking for a chapter or club for the GS. I was told only 9 in Indiana. Corporate pulled them in 2021. Only those who wanted to go on their own have kept the clubs going.

 

[Yellowrose]

Who did you call? When we were in a Good Sam Chapter there was no maximum age limit; we are currently in 2 FMCA Chapters and neither one has an age limit. Neither Good Sam, nor FMCA, as national entities have age limits. It's entirely possible that an individual chapter might be focused on newer units, but they would need to fashion their by-laws to avoid anti-discrimination rules.

I was wanting the Good Sam extended service plan and from their website "To qualify towable RVs must be 15 model years or newer, cars trucks, SUVs and gas Motorhomes must be 15 model years or newer with less than 100,000 miles, and rear engine diesel Motorhomes must be 15 model years or newer with less than 120,000 miles. Coverage is renewable up to 18 model years or 150,000 miles. All program benefits are subject to limitations set forth in the current Terms & Conditions." The above snippet is from Terms of Use | Extended Service Plan | Good Sam When I purchased my 97 Dolphin in Feb. I took it to Camping World to have the house section checked out and at first they told me that it was beyond the age of RVs they worked on. I told them that I was not asking for them to work on anything just to have it checked out so that I would know what needed attention. Since Good Sam owns Camping World and it is the preferred repair location I can see running into problems. For the few things that needed to be repaired, I have had no problem finding the parts. The one exception is the rear vent panel for the refrigerator, I went to a local camper store and found something that filled the need. I have run into quite a bit of age discrimination with RV repair shops. She is currently at a business that works on semi trucks they actually found that the wires on my battery bank are incredibly old, something that Camping World missed, they are doing that repair along with a few routine maintenance items. This is the very reason I am interested in learning all that I can about my beast so that I don't have to rely on repair shops. I do have tow reimbursement through my insurance and now know that shops that work on semis can change RV tires and tow Class A Rvs. I am going to look at FMCA to see what they offer. I am very open to any other companies that are out there. Thank you. Michelle

 

[Joe Hogan]

In my opinion it is quite reasonable to limit age of vehicles when it comes to repair. especially RVs. Finding parts, finding documentation is very difficult for new RV, much more so for 15 year old units. Warranty companies are in the business of profits not favors