Spring is a time of transition for RVers. RVers and travel trailers on the road are more noticeable this time of year. Why? First, there are “Snowbirds” making their way from southern states back home to the North: you can bet they were glad to have a bit warmer place to live during the extremely cold season in the north this past winter, albeit their southern pads were not as warm as usual with record-breaking cold temperatures in every direction. Second, this is the time of year that Workampers take to the road to get to their next seasonal job, or else tour America, visit friends and family or go back to their home base.
Many have delayed vacations in the past few years and are anxious to hit the road. The RV Industry reports great attendance at the annual RV shows around the country with more interest in product and better sales in 2011. The Industry hates to lose the momentum that they have achieved thus far, with shipments up 46%. “Uncertainty in fuel costs, not the actual cost is the biggest concern” said Morningstar analyst David Whiston. He also points to the fact that high gas prices don’t keep people from buying RVs in Europe where gas prices have always been much higher.
Experts and RVers share tips and tricks to saving money at the pumps, a serious necessity for Workampers.
There are ways that all vehicles can use less fuel by paying attention to driving habits, such as braking less. Edmunds.com reports that avoiding fast stops and starts can save an average of 31%. Other tips include using the cruise control, speed reduction and shutting down the engine rather than idling to decrease fuel consumption. Keeping the tires properly inflated and being careful to not carry unnecessary weight are two more tips.
Workamper News advises Workampers and all Rvers to give more thought to their job and travel planning. Others should too! Plan on staying longer at one destination before moving on to the next. For those staying at campgrounds or even some resorts, the longer a guest stays, the better the rate. Workampers usually stay and work at one location about five months. Volunteer jobs are often less. Workampers save money by swapping their RV site and utilities for part-time work. Quite often, they are paid an additional salary as well and can work full time.
Rather than criss-crossing between home base and a far-away job, it is advisable for Workampers to plan their itinerary much more carefully, moving only a state or two at a time, if their intention is to make their way across the country. Besides, living on-site at a job means no commuting, a definite gas-saver!
Workampers do have choices that many other workers don’t have. They can choose where to live, how to live and what family (if any) to live near or visit when they aren’t on a job. Traveling near or far is a choice the Workamper can make, as well as part time or full time work. State and federal parks seek Workampers to fill volunteer positions at this crucial time when so many of them have lost funding for their workforce. So do other charitable organizations, where Workampers can really make a difference.
All the above choices answers the “why workamp” question: simply, Workampers wish to explore America. Workamper News’ motto is to “help great people find great job in great places.” And that’s in good times and bad times. Visit www.workamper.com to find out more.
Planning ahead and putting to use all of the ways that one can save on gas dollars while using less of this valuable commodity is something everyone should think of on a daily basis.
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Contact Information:
Steve Anderson, President
Phone: (501)362-2637
Fax: (501) 362-6769
Email: Editor@workamper.com
About Workamper News
Workamper News began as a subscription newsletter distributed to a niche market. The term Workamper, a registered trademark, was coined to describe anyone who combines any kind of work with the RV camping lifestyle. Designed to put mostly retired or semi-retired RVers and employers together, campground jobs was the initial focus In 1987, the year that Greg and Debbie Robus formed Workamper News in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Additional copies were distributed to a variety of commercial campgrounds, government agencies and organizations affiliated with the outdoor industry. As the Workamper base grew and more jobs meant more pages, the newsletter became a full-fledged magazine. Today, the issues generally contain at least 62 pages of information about job vacancies from coast to coast and some in Canada, as well as features on great Workamping destinations, Workamper and Employer profiles, and general information pertaining to Workamping and Rving. The introduction of the world wide web enabled Workamper News to expand its services in 1996, and through the years, online subscriptions and optional participation in a variety of forums, webinars, Hotline job advertisements, bookstore, email services and more has created a membership based organization with over 12,000 members. Today, Workamper News is a corporation owned and hands-on managed by Steve and Kathy Jo Anderson with nine employees and numerous independent partners. Having purchased the business in 2005, they continue to expand the opportunities to both Workampers and Employers. In February, the business model changed from subscriber based to membership based.
