Rant! HOA "storing" issues.

Lantley wrote:

DazedNConfused wrote:

smkettner wrote:
I still think it should take 3 hours not 3 days to pack and roll.

I might be able to pack in 3 hours if I didn't do all my normal maintenance/checklist stuff. And with a family of four it takes us a little longer, we fully clean the camper either before a trip or after we get back home -- inside and out, I walk the roof before each trip to ensure there are no issues with the lap sealant, inspect the slide seals, etc. etc. Just my thing -- everyone has a different checklist. I'm just a bit more anal about my stuff is all -- which is why people typically like to buy my used stuff. But I'm like this with my house, my cars, my motorcycles, my lawn equipment, etc. :)

-DNC

Being anal is all fine in good. But the reality is some of those maintenance type issues don't need to be done at home and certainly not every trip.
You lose credibility claiming it takes 3 days to load up. 24 hours should be ample time to get ready.
I think you need to make a solid case for parking your RV for loading purposes.
If I were on the board and you requested 3 days , I would not believe it and vote against you, however I be willing to at least listen to 24-48 hours.
You are in a real pickle,sounds like your community has a real HOA. Somewhere along the line you agreed to abide by the rules. The rules are not RV friendly. You claim to be anal a pay close attention to details however you seemed to have missed the details of your HOA agreement.
Obviously I'm not familiar with the particulars of your HOA, But many HOA's do not allow RV parking or have strict rules. Seldom are exceptions made. In most cases the entire community supports the HOA rules.
At this point you need to adjust your loading,roof walking etc and decide how you can abide by the rules. Don't count on the HOA backing down. They usually don't. The HOA's are on solid legal ground.

I understand your desire to park out front and do things at your pace, but it doesn't sound like the HOA is going to put up with it. I also understand your desire not to put up with the HOA, but it seems the rules were in place long before you bought your RV home
You can consult a lawyer. Maybe get a free initial consult.
But I would not put a lot of effort into loopholes etc. I suggest you put more effort into how you can comply and get loaded in 24 hours vs. having as much time as you want. If you were taking 3 days to get loaded you certainly attracted the HOA's attention vs. being gone in 24 hours.

The good news is it sounds like your camping season is over and you have time to sort this out. I suggest you explore all options including moving. You would not be the first or last to move due to HOA rules but hopefully you will not have to do anything that drastic.

I do feel for your situation. While I know many store their RV's away from home,I personally would not own an RV if I had to store it. But since storage is a must for you, I would try to get a 24 hour window for loading and unloading.
Butting heads with the HOA or pointing fingers at other violators will only create enemies and you need friends. Overlooking the existing HOA covenants falls on you. Now you need a few friends on the boards to be lenient. Try to win there sympathy vs. getting their ire. Good Luck

This is 100% on the money. I have chosen to take 3 days to do something I can do quicker. With two working parents and kids in sports, homework, etc., it means we don't normally start these tasks until 10pm -- so taking 3 days at a slow pace is what I prefer -- but of course, as you point out, is not deemed acceptable. In some email today with one of the board members, it sounds like they may be willing to accept 48 hours in my driveway on either side of a trip. I can live with that...and hoping at the February board meeting, we can agree on this with a friendly handshake....and then it's just up to me to stick to my end of the bargain or deal with the repurcussions. That's as good as this can possibly go and what I'm hoping will pan out.

I have to live in this neighborhood, I have to see these people, and my kids play with their kids -- so it's in my best interest to not make waves here. If they absolutely say no way...no more...then I'm really up against a wall. I then have to figure out if I can realisitcally prep for and maintain my RV in storage or somewhere else. My guess is that will get old very quickly...and the RV will go. Sure I'll lose a bunch of money....but this was never an investment. It was a way to continue to bond with my family, unplug the electronics for a long weekend, teach the girls to appreciate nature, see areas of our and surrounding states, etc. etc. If it cost me $10K to do that for 6 months so be it. Not ideal...but it's only money.

-DNC