You tube Fulltimers getting squeezed

How on earth does this thread keep getting bumped? It was only moderately interesting when it was first created last June.

At least we've finally established though that RVIA certification means that the rig is certified to have wheels, some tanks, a stove, and either a hitch or an engine. Nowhere do they use the word "quality", just "standard".

^No, but you probably didn't show up in an old school bus with rusty wheels, an obligatory gray water tank delete kit (hose hanging down under the "kitchen") and a 2 stroke Detroit with bad injectors burping as much blue smoke out the back as the front was making noise!

JaxDad wrote:

Pbutler97 wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

LMHS wrote:
The big deal is getting the lousy thing titled as a motorhome and getting insured. There is basically only one outfit that will insure a skoolie. A few others will but they often get the policies cancelled at some point (usually at the worst time).

…….

As for long term winter parking, try mobile home parks. And a lot of private campgrounds/rv/mh parks do not want a skoolie in their parks for long term stays.

I suspect both of those issues are because of the same issue, you touched on it in your post, unless these units are built to, and certified as complying with required standards, it’s usually illegal to insure them or allow them in a park.

What required standards? DOT standards? State Motor vehicle standards?

If you're referring to this,


It's basically self certification. 1 out of a 1000 might see an inspection by the RVIA, and thats probably a low total number, probably more like 1 in 10000. Its a joke. Ask any buyer who discovered crushed HVAC ducts filled with debris, leaking pex fittings on supply lines or drain connections left loose, or bad wiring or better yet or wires pinched between frame and floor.

Where are these parks that are not allowing RV's/Campers in without someone approving some imaginary standard? Do they have a standard officer at the front gate?

Self-certification is a joke?

Don’t tell pilots, architects, engineers, lawyers or doctors that, all professions with ‘self-certification’ of very strict regulations.

Next time you open the door to get in your vehicle pause for a moment and look down at the white label that says the manufacturer ‘self-certifies’ that it complies with the FMVSS.

Is it legally required? You betcha! Does anyone stop you to check it’s there? Not very likely.

But to answer your question, yes, read that label, it clearly says the unit it’s affixed to conforms to certain life safety standards. In most cases the requirement for a certified unit is not the park, but the States life safety requirements. Almost every State has these requirements.

I can point you however one particular park where it is absolutely both in their written policies, and enforced as such, I know because I watched someone get turfed because of it.

Jetty Park at Cape Canaveral Florida. Clicky, clicky.


Read item 24.4.

Ok. I sure would like to see a regulation by some government entity be it local, state, federal where that certification is required.

The RVIA is a trade group where the folks doing the spot inspections, 2000 per year per the RVIA, out of 500,000+ or so RV's built, are basically paid by the Industry they're inspecting. BTW, 2000 of 500,000 is @ 0.4% of all units produced. That should make you all warm and fuzzy. It goes a long way to explain why a new RV might have an electrical short where a wire was pinched in the build, the plumbing leaks, and the heat ducts are crushed or blocked with debris and rubbish. But it's indeed certified.

I've been to a lot of different RV parks and campgrounds over 25 years and have yet to have anyone ask or check if my RV was certified. I've also never seen anyone refused a campsite or ejected for lack of one either. I bought trailers in the past that did not even come with that decal certifying an imaginary inspection and requirement.

pianotuna wrote:

free radical wrote:


Then there are people with real talent,

https://youtu.be/LwpbK4kwo9E

Is this a test to see who actually clicks on a link??

I hope not, cause I failed. LOL I hate click-bait. One, of many, things I hate about Facebook. And don't watch YouTube videos, except if I need to research something. "Influencers" don't interest me, and why do I think of the Kardashians whenever that term comes up. :)

free radical wrote:


Then there are people with real talent,

https://youtu.be/LwpbK4kwo9E

Is this a test to see who actually clicks on a link??

Pbutler97 wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

LMHS wrote:
The big deal is getting the lousy thing titled as a motorhome and getting insured. There is basically only one outfit that will insure a skoolie. A few others will but they often get the policies cancelled at some point (usually at the worst time).

…….

As for long term winter parking, try mobile home parks. And a lot of private campgrounds/rv/mh parks do not want a skoolie in their parks for long term stays.

I suspect both of those issues are because of the same issue, you touched on it in your post, unless these units are built to, and certified as complying with required standards, it’s usually illegal to insure them or allow them in a park.

What required standards? DOT standards? State Motor vehicle standards?

If you're referring to this,


It's basically self certification. 1 out of a 1000 might see an inspection by the RVIA, and thats probably a low total number, probably more like 1 in 10000. Its a joke. Ask any buyer who discovered crushed HVAC ducts filled with debris, leaking pex fittings on supply lines or drain connections left loose, or bad wiring or better yet or wires pinched between frame and floor.

Where are these parks that are not allowing RV's/Campers in without someone approving some imaginary standard? Do they have a standard officer at the front gate?

Self-certification is a joke?

Don’t tell pilots, architects, engineers, lawyers or doctors that, all professions with ‘self-certification’ of very strict regulations.

Next time you open the door to get in your vehicle pause for a moment and look down at the white label that says the manufacturer ‘self-certifies’ that it complies with the FMVSS.

Is it legally required? You betcha! Does anyone stop you to check it’s there? Not very likely.

But to answer your question, yes, read that label, it clearly says the unit it’s affixed to conforms to certain life safety standards. In most cases the requirement for a certified unit is not the park, but the States life safety requirements. Almost every State has these requirements.

I can point you however one particular park where it is absolutely both in their written policies, and enforced as such, I know because I watched someone get turfed because of it.

Jetty Park at Cape Canaveral Florida. Clicky, clicky.


Read item 24.4.

JaxDad wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
In short, too many bleeding hearts whos heart strings get tugged at while watching tweakers or almost tweakers live the van life that actually support them and then give them a little hope that their money for nothing scheme actually will work indefinitely.
But they are a fad not a productive part of society.

I think you need to do a little research on how much money social media mavens and ‘influencers’ can (and do) make, in cold, hard CASH before you make yourself look a little silly in front of folks younger than us.

A friends son is one of those ‘almost tweakers’ who has a YouTube channel with well north of a million subscribers.

He clears US$10k ++ per month.

I stand corrected if you’re insinuating that there are a lot, or even a few, #vanlifers and #skoolies that are making $100k+ a year doing this. Or even a median income plus all their expenses.
I’m not talking about Jake Paul and all the other YooToob “influencers” here.

JaxDad wrote:

LMHS wrote:
The big deal is getting the lousy thing titled as a motorhome and getting insured. There is basically only one outfit that will insure a skoolie. A few others will but they often get the policies cancelled at some point (usually at the worst time).

…….

As for long term winter parking, try mobile home parks. And a lot of private campgrounds/rv/mh parks do not want a skoolie in their parks for long term stays.

I suspect both of those issues are because of the same issue, you touched on it in your post, unless these units are built to, and certified as complying with required standards, it’s usually illegal to insure them or allow them in a park.

What required standards? DOT standards? State Motor vehicle standards?

If you're referring to this,


It's basically self certification. 1 out of a 1000 might see an inspection by the RVIA, and thats probably a low total number, probably more like 1 in 10000. Its a joke. Ask any buyer who discovered crushed HVAC ducts filled with debris, leaking pex fittings on supply lines or drain connections left loose, or bad wiring or better yet or wires pinched between frame and floor.

Where are these parks that are not allowing RV's/Campers in without someone approving some imaginary standard? Do they have a standard officer at the front gate?

Well, I have to confess that I've seen all I can see of Naked & Afraid, Swamp People, and The View-----So, I went to the dark side and started watching RV videos.
Understandably, my views might be different, but at least I enjoy the travel videos. Now, I think a new segment is coming on about a lady that explores hot springs in California.
See ya out there....................

Once these blogs go to complaining, pointing out the hardships and general negativity.... I assume it is the beginning of the end for their story line.
Better to move on sooner than later.