One
of the best ways to break into the RV Lifestyle is by
joining a rally. But which kind of RV rally is for you?
There
are several different types of RV rallies including RV
club rallies, manufacturer club rallies, and RV touring
company rallies, just to name a few. These can be loads
of fun, but only if they’re done properly.
Our first experience with rallies was back in 1975 when
we joined a chapter of the Winnebago International Travelers
– having a Winnebago product was mandatory in order
to join, making this a manufacturer rally. When we arrived
at the campground, it was the first time we had seen so
many Winnebagos in one place.
Manufacturer Club Rallies
A company that has its own RV club is terrific. After
all, members are provided all the more reason to use their
units when the manufacturer organizes rallies and caravans
to interesting locales that they enjoy along with the
company of fellow RVers. Manufacturers will also have
a national rally each year, which potentially hundreds
or even thousands of their customers will attend. Here
you’ll find great entertainment, seminars to help
you with your RV questions, and sometimes you can even
get your RV serviced. The manufacturers know the importance
of having brand loyal customers, so they’ll do their
best to keep you happy – and hey, maybe you’ll
even keep buying their product!
We learned a lot of useful RV tips from belonging to the
Winnebago club, and made some wonderful friends too. The
only problem with belonging to such a club is if you sell
your RV and buy another brand. Say goodbye to your membership
with your first manufacturer’s club, and start looking
for another that’ll allow you to join.
RV Clubs
Eventually we traded our Winnebago in for a Triple E motorhome.
Triple E didn’t have a RV club, so we ended up joining
the Good Sam RV Club, which is open to all RVers. We also
formed the Canadian Motor Home & Trailer Association,
which was also open to all RV families.
It was here that we learned what RV clubs and chapters
are all about. Not only that, we discovered that people
can mean the difference between a successful or unsuccessful
club. We’ve seen some RV clubs do great work for
charities and the community, while everyone had a great
time. However, club meetings can be the toughest part
of the weekend rally. Believe it or not, we’ve witnessed
grown adults arguing over who’ll get to bring the
beans, and who’ll bring the corn for a potluck dinner.
The key to a successful club is a good leader, one who
is liked by the members and who is willing to work hard
for the club’s interests.
RV Touring Company Rallies
RV touring company rallies are open to everyone. They
offer rallies and caravans all over North America. You
don’t pay dues (all you pay is the rally fee), you
don’t have to belong to a club, there are no club
meetings, and it doesn’t matter what brand you drive.
A good wagon master can show you a great time and teach
you many useful tips to help improve your travel experience.
An organized wagon master will put a detailed agenda together
for your trip, making sure everything is in place, from
bus tours to show tours. Your rally fee will cover not
only the tours you take, but also your camping facilities,
dinners, and luncheons. It’s the duty of a great
wagon master to make sure you see more and do more than
you would if you were on your own.
Before making a financial commitment to a touring company’s
rally, thoroughly check the trip’s agenda to make
sure you’d actually want to go where the organization
is planning to take you. If you’ve never dealt with
this company before, talk to someone who has gone on one
of its rallies before. Did they have a positive experience?
Make sure that all of the tours are included in the rally
fee. If it’s an optional tour, that means more money
will be required, and there’s the possibility that
the tour might not even happen.
We met a couple in Fairbanks, Alaska that wanted to go
on an optional paddle boat tour with their rally group.
Sadly, they couldn’t get enough people to go. Just
imagine, you’ve traveled 2,000 miles and can’t
go where you wanted to. Fortunately that wasn’t
the case for our Wagon Trains group. We had built the
same paddle boat tour right into our agenda, so our group
went. It’s your vacation, so make sure you’re
getting your money’s worth.
For the last 30 years, the RV Industry has grown in leaps
and bounds, and it has so much to offer you. Regardless
of which method you choose to see the countryside, solo
or with fellow RVers, remember that North America is waiting
for you. Go take your RV and enjoy it! (Page
Top) |
