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Old 09-03-2021, 10:14 PM   #1
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport 27K
State: North Carolina
Posts: 343
THOR #11007
Recreation.gov - Dawg Help You if you have to call

I've used recreation.gov several times in the past to reserve spots in NFS campgrounds. Never happy with the extra fees, but I do understand "covering the cost" of partnering with a third-party to manage reservations and payment processing.

We'd booked a spot for this weekend weeks ago, and were counting the hours to getting some quiet down time. Everything packed, just needed to grab the Dawg, raise the jacks, and hit the road. Then that strange noise when raising jacks.....and the hydraulic fluid spraying all over the driveway, side of the engine block and transmission.

Yeah, I'll be asking questions about leveler hydraulics later....

But since today was check-in day, can't cancel the reservation online. First it takes a lot of digging on the website to find the phone number (877) 444-6777 btw). Once you find it and dial, you have to sit through about 5 minutes on COVID protocols and California closures before you get to the menu. Then a 5-10 minute wait for a representative.


But wait! There's more!

After the "wait time", I hear the "ring - transfer" tone. And listen to silence for another 5 minutes before the line disconnects. And immediately get an email from recreation.gov to "rate our customer service". This happened not once this afternoon - but twice. I finally had someone pick up on the third attempt - who to his credit, did efficiently cancel my reservation, keep me out of the "no show" penalty queue, and processed what refund I could get.

Bottom line? If you've booked through recreation.gov; plan your breakdowns well in advance, so you can cancel online at least two days in advance.

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Old 09-04-2021, 02:56 AM   #2
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Model: Vegas 25.6
State: New Mexico
Posts: 5,100
THOR #20220
We love rec.gov..many campgrounds have open sites if stuck
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Old 09-04-2021, 02:59 PM   #3
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 25.5
State: Florida
Posts: 278
THOR #12686
One thing about Recreation.gov is, you don't get views of the campsites. I'm considering joining Campground Views which offers full views of all campgrounds on recreation.gov and is expanding to include ALL campgrounds in the US. I've heard YouTubers praise it but they often have affiliation. It looks intriguing. Just wondering if anyone here has tried it yet???
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Old 09-04-2021, 03:48 PM   #4
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport 27K
State: North Carolina
Posts: 343
THOR #11007
I've never had issues MAKING a reservation on rec.gov, and this is the first time I've ever had to deal with any cancellation - much less a "last minute" one. But it turned out to be for the best....

I'd considered going ahead and make the trip, just not use the levelers as my site is coastal and pretty flat. Turns out my leak is NOT in the leveler hydraulics; but the f'ing ABS lines!

If I'd forged ahead....? Might not have been pretty a few miles down the road.

But now I get to arrange an expensive tow (doubt Good Sam Roadside will help from my driveway), and wait in line behind commercial vehicles at our closed compatible Ford center. I'm likely grounded until Spring.
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