I am a veteran USMC and a 17 year veteran trucker who is stuck with a truck that has to be converted into an RV because of California CARB regulations as RV's are exempt from DPF restrictions. I was thinking of converting my truck to a Renegade IKON or a Showhauler. It would be classified as a "Big Rig" to the RV community. Do the RV parks allow these large RV's on average?

Sure, as long as they have a site long enough for you, and your truck doesn't look like something from a junkyard.I've seen all kinds of things in my travels, but the "Quartzsite specials" are not what you see in most RV parks.

Semper Fi! Thank you for your service. We have seen many semi truck RV conversions in RV parks across the country. As long as it looks nice, you won't have to worry.A few upscale big rig RV Resorts do restrict certain types of RV's and RV's of certain ages. I would stay away from them.

Are you talking just using the tractor to pull a 5ver or large TT? Or are you going to customize the trailer portion to a RV. I have seen lots of tractors, generally they don't take up any more room than a big dually or long base P.U. My first advice is don't let it set and idle, that gets folks dander up quick. Most parks I have been to, don't care about the hauler as long as they have the room.

We have not had a problem yet, I have however read about a few Snooty campgrounds that only allow A's.......who wants to go there anyway....LOL

It is a show truck that is totally custom exterior and interior. It wouldn't be pulling a 5th wheel. It would be about 34 feet long and new the Renegade IKON's go for 700K so I am not concerned about it being ugly. In fact it is usually an eyecatcher. Marble counter-tops, ceramic tile floor 12.5 Kw genny and 3 A/C's. So then if the RV park like the way it looks I am good? I thought that anyone would take my money regardless of what I was parking there, but I haven't yet been to too many RV parks.

Are semi-truck conversions welcome in RV parks?

30 Replies

camperpaul
Explorer
May 05, 2013
In Illinois, you register it as a "home-built RV".

You have to take it to the DMV where it will be inspected to see if it has at least one built in bed and a built in stove.
Jarlaxle
Explorer II
May 05, 2013
The Escapees have a forum on their BBS dedicated to HDT conversions...I suggest looking there for how to re-title.
Wildwillie
Explorer
May 05, 2013
I can register this vehicle in any state. All you need is a valid address. Most UPS stores will give you a valid physical address to use for a small fee. Currently it is registered in Illinois. I will check on that. That is good advice. Thanks. I wonder how they change commercial buses to RV's then or school buses to RV's. I know a guy from Washington State who had converted his 1965 semi truck into an RV by gutting the inside of a trailer and completely customizing the inside.
Jarlaxle
Explorer II
May 05, 2013
Not true. It CAN be done, it HAS been done. It's harder in some states, but it CAN BE DONE!
az99
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Are you allowed to change the registration in your state from commercial to RV? In some states you can't. Once titled and registered as commercial it can never be changed. No matter how you modify it. A friend of mine tried it and found out.
Wildwillie
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Krease wrote:
Any pictures? I'm quite curious to see this rig.

These are just a couple of examples of what mine would look like. That is my model of truck and the wheelbase of the white one is more like what I would have without altering the frame.

Technically, it already is an RV except it is registered as a commercial vehicle and it isn't ideal for what I would want as an RV that I would be living in part time.

Everything that Renegade does is custom. I would have to change out the front axle from a 13260 lbs. front axle to a 16,000 front axle and move the fuel tanks so they are under the cab, then replace the 7.5 KW genset I have now with a 12.5 KW, but otherwise the engine is 515 HP with a 13 speed tranny and 3.42 twin screw gears and the truck is already double framed so it is just a matter of time and money. I just didn't want to go to all of this trouble to then be restricted on where I could take it.
Ric_Flair
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Jloucks wrote:

...Looks like a perverts lair, gonna be problems....

That sounds a lot like my college apartment.
camperpaul
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Jloucks wrote:

I have seen some really really cool tractor trailer conversions.

One of my friends built this a few years ago: Wayzalot
Jloucks
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Wildwillie wrote:
I am a veteran USMC and a 17 year veteran trucker who is stuck with a truck that has to be converted into an RV because of California CARB regulations as RV's are exempt from DPF restrictions.

I was thinking of converting my truck to a Renegade IKON or a Showhauler. It would be classified as a "Big Rig" to the RV community. Do the RV parks allow these large RV's on average?

It is going to depend on how it looks.

Looks good, no problems.

Looks like a perverts lair, gonna be problems.

I have seen some really really cool tractor trailer conversions.
JN_B
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
I think the access road (once in the campground), and length of your vehicle could be the only challenge. But I guess if you're hitting up more "resort" style campgrounds, that wouldn't be a problem.

Up here, my Parents have a 38' DP, and it can be a challenge to try and keep the full body color unscathed.. Although most of the CG's up here were designed/built in the 70s, and there's only a few that have widened the roads.