Your experience with Escapees?

[ganchan]

Escapees RV Club looks like the right choice for me once I begin prowling the Southwest as a full-time vandweller (especially since I'll be spending some of my time in TX anyway, so occasional trips to Livingston would be easy enough if the need ever arose). I wonder if some of who who are already members can give me your insights on questions such as:

1. How long it takes to set up membership, domicile address etc
2. Whether the fact that my "RV" is an ordinary minivan makes any difference 
3. Which level of mail forwarding service you decided to spring for (and whether you felt you made the right choice)
4. Any special features or options you particularly like

...etc. Thanks!

 

[VanKitten]

Since I am a Florida resident, the escapee requirement that all mail get forwarded to Texas, and then I would pay extra to have it return to FL was just ridiculous.

The address in FL which is used by to establish domicile is an RV park. They required me to have an RV. Not anything else..

So..I went with American Home Base. They are in Pensacola. They do not allow the address on the drivers license so my license has my plate number and the zip code of the DMV, which it turned out was great for me. I had my purse stolen in Delaware...someone tried to use my debit card at the pump ... but the zip code on the account did not match the zip code on my license. What great security!

Anyway, I rejected escapees because of too many rules and too little customer service.

 

[SoulRaven]

We have been Escapees members for a long time. I don't have the highest opinion of them at this point as it seems there are blocks to the supposed benefits since our family is non-traditional.

Are you just looking for a domicile and mail forwarding or do you plan to use their RV parks for boondocking? I know that the SKP co-ops only allow self-contained units in the boondocking area. Some of the SKP co-ops also have limits on number/size of pets. If I remember correctly with the Rainbow Parks, they use a first-in, first-out policy or they did.

If someone had to choose between Good Sam and Escapees, I would advise using Good Sam. We have been Good Sam members for almost 30 years. They only have a mail service in FL but I have heard it is very good from people using it for years. We have often used the RV park discounts also. Escapees have limited parks offering a discount.

I guess if you define your wants/needs, it would be easier to guide you. If you are set on TX domicile, Escapees may be your best bet. I don't know if this will help, the article is very, very long but explores the different choices in the major states: http://www.technomadia.com/2012/07/...stics-domicile-mail-taxes-banking-and-voting/

Found this where someone details becoming a TX resident thru Escapees: https://weretherussos.com/how-to-become-texas-residents/

 

[ganchan]

I would be surprised to find that either Good Sam or Escapees allowed my minivan to stay at any of their parks, so I hadn't really thought about it. (Would be nice, of course.) Mainly I need mail forwarding and domicile. I've already got so many things set up in Texas -- my insurance guy, my driver's license, my longtime CPA, and (when I make the move) my storage unit as well -- that it just seems like the path of least resistance. Plus I'll be in Texas much of the time for business and personal reasons.

Wherever I domicile, I'll be worried about whether institutions (banks, IRS etc) are really accepting the address I give them. I'm not sure there's a bullet-proof workaround for that, other than providing a relative's home address. I suppose my parents would oblige,but they're New Mexico residents,which is likely to throw some red flags and make me liable for NM state taxes.....

 

[bullfrog]

When we started out we used Escapee's mail service because it was easy while traveling, but now we sit for long periods of time P.O. boxes, work addresses or friends addresses work better. Some, maybe even most parks will require a holding tank to camp, but now we have been on the road boondocking is so much better. Maybe a PVC pipe with a gate valve would meet their requirement as all parks have restrooms and showers if you needed to stay there. Most are over 50, friendly, well off, and fulltiming in large rigs. Makes Texas, Florida or South Dakota easy.

 

[Gunny]

I joined Escapees for a year, I found them more geared for the wealthier clients. I always sensed they did not like to be bothered when I called about my mail. I let my membership lapse.

Rob

 

[ganchan]

I could without the other features, I think, as long as I had mail forwarding (which I think is available from many different providers) and a domicile address that could serve reliably as a residential address. That last point is the one that concerns me; I don't want hassles from banks or the IRS because one of their automated checks discovered that it wasn't my "real" address.

 

[closeanuf]

The only downside of Texas residency is the annual vehicle inspection.  And now you have to get an inspection before you can register your vehicle so you would have to return at least once a year to register your vehicle and get it inspection.

 

[ganchan]

The only downside of Texas residency is the annual vehicle inspection.  And now you have to get an inspection before you can register your vehicle so you would have to return at least once a year to register your vehicle and get it inspection.

Yes, but living in TX my whole life I've gotten used to the yearly inspection/registration dance. It's a pain...and there have been times when I was a bit less than responsible about it   
...but it's manageable.

 

[abnorm]

I'm an Escapee member in Fl for about 6 months..........first thing I did was to travel to the Bushnell RV Park and talk and visit with the folks there.....walk the park

They were very friendly........they "liked" the concept of my smaller 'almost' RV .......a large transit van............. because they ALWAYS had a couple sites right near to the bath house facilities that the BIG RV's could never fit because of size and terrain change........I plan to have basic facilities within the van save for the shower which would be outside....but of course the park has a bath house

I'm a Florida resident for many years so changing my LEGAL address to the Bushnell park should be painless..............I have yet to sign up for the Domicile address and Mail forwarding service.............I know it's funky that I can't receive my mail in Fl if it's mailed to the Fl address unless redirected to the Tx service and forwarded to me

The Fl park was full of big RV's...........many of a permanent nature........some of whom were the operating members......The park is OLD but well maintained........clean, grassy sites with slabs........and directly adjacent to a beautiful lowland cypress wildlife wetland........(read mosquito heaven !).........I strolled the park for several hours ......mid summer many folks were holed up in their a/c'd rigs................BUT everyone I spoke with was friendly.....and I did make a point of introducing myself and asking opinions of the camp/campers

I'll have to return soon during this cold busy season and confirm my expectations.............I'll ask about smaller vans and SUV's and their 'acceptance'......I'm only a generous hour away in Orlando.....................YMMV    doug

 

[ganchan]

Another thing: I noticed that Escapees makes a big deal out of the fact that they can help you "establish a domicile." But what are they actually providing along those lines that other services such as Texas Home Base or Traveling Mailbox aren't?