It is not that some parks enforce the 10 year rule, it is that just about everything in the RV's start to brake, we have a 2001 24 foot C class and so far we have replaced the refrigerator's guts, replaced the air conditioner, got rid off the carpet, re-caulked the the roof seams, repaired the bathroom shower faucet the spigot for the hose parted company, replaced the sink drains with metal drains, the bathroom sink is racked diagonally needs to be changed, and today we woke to no water, of course the water in the park has good pressure, none in the RV just the one way valve made from plastic is now working backwards so no water coming in, broke the plastic parts inside and re connected, and yes I did that off the RV's hose, do not want pieces in the tank.The 10 year rule?They do not want you to fix the rigs in the parks, makes sense, buy a new one every 10 years, it is under warranty and will live at the dealer for the first year or until you figure it out! Me I will keep my RV for at least another 15 years or until I can no longer climb in to the overhead bunk, then the kids can have at it.I will bypass all those snob parks with 10 year BS.navegator

We were looking at a C last week and the salesman told us the interest rate for a 240 month loan. We would pay cash like we do on most everything so I asked him if it would last 20 years. All he would say was that the bank thinks so.

Most if not all RV Parks, won't allow you to have an RV Tech work on the outside of your rig. So that's not it. It's the looks of a 10+ year old rig, they're substandard in many cases.

Never had an issue with a 10 year rule, or heard of one for that matter, and just traded a 12 year old TT that still had nothing major to 'brake...' We traded for more space.

A lot of parks I have encountered will consider the rig if over 10 years old depending on how it looks. My FIL has a 12 year old PUP that looks better than some pups many years newer. My dad had a 2001 Fiver and often was allowed in parks with the 10 year rule because his fiver looked immaculate. Thanks!Jeremiah

Do you live full time in your 10 year old rig? They weren't built for that purpose.

10 year rule, I figured it out | Good Sam Community

45 Replies

Dtank
Explorer
May 10, 2015
K Charles wrote:
We were looking at a C last week and the salesman told us the interest rate for a 240 month loan. We would pay cash like we do on most everything so I asked him if it would last 20 years. All he would say was that the bank thinks so.

The bank will win (profit) - no matter how long it lasts.

I'm 73 and a plethora of lenders will give me a 30 year home loan.

They must think I'll last 30 (more) years!..:B

.
mpierce
Explorer
May 07, 2015
We have a 1990 Bluebird. Things need fixing, but so did they on our 5 year old RV. I guarantee you in 10 MORE years, the Bluebird will still be a strong RV, but the SOB, not so much!
bshpilot
Explorer
May 07, 2015
our coach is 10 yrs old, actually 11, w/ more than 100k miles on it & over 3k hours on the gen....ours is not some broken-down POS. We maintain it well & rarely if ever have any issue enough to have to work on it in any RV park.

We have minor stuff occasionally - how water heater switch went bad (4 dollar part) & i once had a GFCI outlet (in one of my basement storage bins) fail....no big deal.

I've seen (and helped) folks w/ newer units replace melted power cords or busted hose fittings...piece parts wear out more frequently from LACK of use than over use.
Doug33
Explorer
May 06, 2015
I've owned 3 PUs and 2 TTs in the past 25 years. I've never owned any one of them for more than 8 years. As the kids grew our needs changed. When we got older we wanted more space, more conveniences, and less hassle.

We bought all 5 new, and when we sold them, the common comment we received was "this thing looks brand new". That's because I am a stickler for upkeep and cleanliness. After looking at several used TTs on a dealer's lot, I quickly understood that many people do not maintain their units.

So the bottom line is that we didn't trade up because of the age, and we never reached the 10-year rule.

I do own a truck that is now 13 years old. While little things have broken, which is annoying, we still tow our TT with it. I hope to get 20 years out of it!
colliehauler
Explorer III
May 05, 2015
This gets rehashed over and over again on the forum. Most campgrounds will let a over 10 year old rv in if it's well maintained. If it has more duct tape then Red Green and is a dilapidated piece of junk no they won't let you in.

And as always, Their campground their rule's. Your money your choice.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
May 05, 2015
wa8yxm wrote:
Considering the gorgeous 22 year old Bluebird
that was parked near me for the last few months....

X2 :B

I was fortunate to be at a CG that had a impromptu Bluebird Rally.

The CG owner asked if I wanted to move to the other side of the CG during the rally and I graciously declined and stayed at my site so I ended up being surrounded by these drop dead gorgeous coaches.

Many of them I think were 1970's.

What a great bunch of RV'ers! They all were inviting me over and into their MH's for a drink and to show off the interiors of their beloved Bluebird's. And the horns! They all had horns that played music what a stitch!

...And this CG had a VERY VERY strict 10yr old rule.

Get the picture? Nice rig, no problem! :W
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
May 05, 2015
I didn't read all 4 pages of this thread and I don't want to comment on the 10 year rule.

But, I have a 22 year old TT I did not purchase it new. I've had it for about 4 years. It is obvious that not that many things have gone wrong. I did have to put a Dinosaur board in the fridge. I replaced the original tires when I bought it. And, the awning is in sorry shape. I don't use the awning often so I don't care.

The curtains need to be replaced , and I really should have the roof coated. But, I store the TT inside a shed, I'm just a weekend camper, and the TT is so old it's not worth the effort.

Those are the only problems that I've had.
TyroneandGladys
Explorer
May 05, 2015
obgraham wrote:
I think the parks just want the opportunity to get rid of some Jed Clampett rigs if the need arises. For the typically well maintained 15 year old rig, it's "don't ask, don't tell"

Does that mean I need to take down the sign on the back of my RV that says Kaliforne or Bust??????????????
toedtoes
Explorer III
May 04, 2015
seaeagle2 wrote:
I keep meaning to take some pictures but here goes pictureless. Here in the Seattle area, there are a lot of people living in old decrepit Class A's, Class C's and the odd TT or 5th wheel. There are parts of the city ie Ballard, Crown Hill, where there is mixed industrial / residential and there are blocks where there are several parked per block. Seeing these rigs, I can fully understand why some parks use the 10 year rule. Some of the private parks around here have a "older than 10 years subject to management approval". There's a guy with a camper in the back of a Ford Ranchero, and in front of Ivar's Salmon House, a Seattle landmark, there's a converted bus (the kind with the woodstove pipe venting out a window covered in sheetmetal) that must move up and down the street just enough to keep from getting impounded because it's always on the street in that block.

We have those folks around here also. But, realistically, how many of these folks do you REALLY think are trying to get into RV Parks charging $20-$75 per night? They are parked on the roads because it's free and they have no money.
seaeagle2
Explorer
May 04, 2015
I keep meaning to take some pictures but here goes pictureless. Here in the Seattle area, there are a lot of people living in old decrepit Class A's, Class C's and the odd TT or 5th wheel. There are parts of the city ie Ballard, Crown Hill, where there is mixed industrial / residential and there are blocks where there are several parked per block. Seeing these rigs, I can fully understand why some parks use the 10 year rule. Some of the private parks around here have a "older than 10 years subject to management approval". There's a guy with a camper in the back of a Ford Ranchero, and in front of Ivar's Salmon House, a Seattle landmark, there's a converted bus (the kind with the woodstove pipe venting out a window covered in sheetmetal) that must move up and down the street just enough to keep from getting impounded because it's always on the street in that block.