Workamping and Your RV Site

Today marks two firsts, our first guest blog post and our first post on a series we are doing on workcamping. RV Lifestyle expert Jaimie Hall Bruzenak shares how to find the right worksite for you and some of this research can be done using RVParking.com.

Work camping and your RV site

Often when you take a work camping position at an RV park a free or low-cost RV site is included as part of your compensation. During the interview, you would certainly ask about your duties, hours and compensation. However, it is equally important to check out your site since you’ll usually be there for several months. Here are a few things you should ask about:

•     Location in the park: Often, if the park has a Web site, there is a map so you can see the layout. How far you are from the office could make a difference - a long walk, or available to guests anytime of night.
•    Size of site: Is it long enough for both your RV and tow or toad vehicle? Wide enough to put your awnings out? How far between RVs?
•    Full hookups: Will you have 50 amp service if you need it or at least 30? Do you have a sewer connection at your site or will you have to move to dump or be serviced by a honey wagon? Water at the site? Verify even if the ad says full hookups.
•    Reception for cell and TV: Shade is nice but you may need a clear sky for satellite TV reception. Does your cell provider have service in the area?
•    Hours for site: If you have to work a certain number of hours for your site, find out what happens if they don’t give you enough hours. Will you owe money? Is the number of hours per person or per couple? If you are single, will you work the same or fewer hours?
•    Value of site taxable: Will the value of your site be included in your W-2 as barter income or will you receive a 1099? Remember the value of your site is not taxable if it you are required to live on the premises for the convenience of the employer. See irc 1.119 (b) for complete details.

Checking it out

You will be able to ask questions during the interview but you can find out some of this information ahead of time by checking the employer’s Web site, if there is one, and also by checking RV park reviews. Reading RV park reviews, you can often find out things you might not realize otherwise. For example, you could find out how noisy the location is, type of clientele, or safety issues. Check an RV park review site like RVParking.com where people who have stayed at RV parks leave candid reviews. Sometimes you find out things that make you realize this is not the place to work. On the other hand, you could find out positives that signal you to move forward with the interview.

About the Author

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak is the author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider’s Guide to Working on the Road. She is the Workamper Viewpoint editor for Workamper.com and has articles on working on the road at her Web site, RVLifestyleExperts.com.