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ohhell10339's avatar
ohhell10339
Explorer
Feb 11, 2018

If your RV is older, keep moving, stranger!

I've been investigating monthly stays in high-rent RV parks (places like San Diego, Oregon coast, etc.) where I might want to stay for an extended period. Most places I'm seeing charge considerably less per day for a monthly as opposed to a daily or weekly stay.

Though I consider many of these prices horrifying and ludicrous at the same time--$1000/mo or more for a 15x40 concrete slab with a water and sewage line!!!!!!--what seems to be an insurmountable obstacle is the idiotic and arbitrary 10-year rule. If your rig is older than 10 years, you DEFINITELY can't stay for a month and we might not let you into our Slabotopia at all, PEASANT! My rig is a perfectly presentable 1993 Class C, and though that obviously means I'm not one of the 1%, nothing about it says that I'm a no-good hippie who will deal drugs, leave trash on the lawn, or molest your sister.

You would think that such a policy would drive away business, but there are apparently so many deep-pocket seniors driving new Mastodon Industries 85-foot General Electric jet-powered Luxury Cruisers who are perfectly cool with coughing up $100+/night (to park on a slab!!!!) that I guess they don't need us little folks.

So for any of you who have suffered this bizarre form of age discrimination, how have you gotten around it? Does the prevalence of the "age rule" depend on how la-de-da the RV park is and how much the area is in demand? Have you managed to talk park managers into waiving the rule, maybe by dragging them by the scruff of the neck out to see your RV? And as far as that goes, how is such a blanket policy justified? Shouldn't it be on a case-by-case basis, or do these folks really think that the sight of a 2006 rig will detract from everyone else's experience?
  • ANY rule I do not like is no problem, that is because I am on wheels, and the road beckons!
    I have never been turned away because of the age of my RV.
    However, I have been turned away because we were traveling with 2 cats and a dog (RULE: No more than two pets). Since I called ahead looking for a spot for 13 weeks, I didn't even darken their entryway.
    I have refused to even consider an RV park because they had a "No firearms" rule. No, I didn't have any in the RV, I just didn't like the rule, and didn't want to support them.
    I never consider any RV parking lot that has "Resort" in the name. Such places (and the people they attract) are simply too sophisticated for this ol' country boy.
    Nearly all of our travel these days is in-state, and either to a Forest Service campground or the Famcamp at the AFB.
    Either way, no problem with damfool rules. Just common-sense, logical rules.
  • The 10 year age rule isn't strictly enforced, in my experience. Like other's said, its a way to keep out the people with tarp covered mobile home style campers. They can't say "no trashy campers allowed"... so they say "campers 10 years or newer". I'm perfectly fine with that. Until 3 years ago we had a 17 year old camper. It was a little faded, but in nice condition. We stayed at a $130/night "resort" in Florida one winter that had a 10 year old camper rule... at 15 years old they accepted our money.

    By the way.... $1000 a month is right around $34 a night. Out on the east coast, that's a pretty reasonable rate in my opinion. Most campgrounds where we stay are more than that... sometimes TWICE that.

    And yes, there are plenty of people with brand new rigs right now so parks can afford to refuse service. Heck, we are staying at a house in Florida right now because our favorite campground is booked full and has a 150% waitlist for the 2nd year in a row. Lots of new campers, cheap full and rising savings funds are fueling a boom in RV'ing right now. Try again in 2 or 3 years when fuel costs rise and the stock market levels off...
  • Ductape wrote:
    With the size of that chip on your shoulder, you may need a larger site.

    :B
  • These posts always crack me up.
    The indignation because somebody might say no to you.
    Move along.
  • With the size of that chip on your shoulder, you may need a larger site.
  • Since there are thousands of parks that don't have such age restrictions, and don't have those horrendously high prices either, why would you choose to stay at one that has both???
  • ohhell10339 wrote:


    Though I consider many of these prices horrifying and ludicrous at the same time--$1000/mo or more for a 15x40 concrete slab with a water and sewage line!!!!!!


    With the caveat I am one of the largest cheapskates on the face of the Earth, and wear the badge proudly, $1000 per month seems like a bargain.

    Not that concrete slab packed em in resorts even interest us in the least, but I would be close to that at the State and Federal facilities we frequent. As an example at PA State parks, an electric only site where the amenities may be a lake or river, and some room between sites, I would be looking @ $880 for a month. If wanted to go the FHU route that would set you back close to $1300.
  • We have never been turned away with our 1996 Southwind. I keep it clean and in good condition.
    I don't see it as discrimination. I do see it as a way to keep Cousin Eddie and his RV from setting up camp.
    If I am eventually refused entry because of the age of our RV, I'll just move on down the road and not lose any sleep over it. This is not a big deal to me..
  • Your post had me laughing/cracking up on many levels LOL :) :)


    but if your 1993 is 'perfectly nice and acceptable out there' in the eye candy land world, then you can easily say your rig is UNDER the 10 yr rule...people do it all the time. I have a 1998 Class C .....blah blah and when ya drive to your cg, they will wave ya thru cause your rig 'is nice' and if ya drive there and your rig is total **** they are gonna call ya on it :)
    Of course you can call management and chat with them, say my 1993 is 'sweet' and easily ok and not a 'train wreck' and will fit well into your cg. and ya convince them on some level.

    either way ya got this if your rig is nice. If it is **** you might not be so lucky in getting past a 10 yr rule that some parks want.

    Every place can make whatever rules they want :) tis life!
  • Once you get over the indignation of having someone judge your choice of RVs, you'll find that the 10 year rule is just a tool for park managers to keep the riff-raff out. It's like the sign on a restaurant door that says "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone". This has been discussed in the past and the general recommendations boil down to;

    1. Lie
    2. Ask them if you can send a picture of your rig and if they still don't want you in after that you'll respect their decision.

    Bottom line is these are not the kind of places you would enjoy anyway. It's best to avoid them. Even the most fru-fru place we stayed (Hilton Head Island Motor Coach Resort) didn't care that the Sahara was 20 years old.

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