Campsite Squatters

tuna fisher wrote:
Seen it for years, mostly in the higher elevations of Utah.Asked rangers and they ho hum about it.When you see grass growing around the wheels it's obivious the rig hasen't been moved in months. Pisses me of but there's nothing I can do about it. A lot are for hunting camps.Some nice rigs just sitting. They usually are pulled out before the snows.

And there lies the problem, those that are paid to enforce the rules, are not willing to do so.

valhalla360 wrote:


Who said the people doing this are rich?

I know if I had a cheap hunter special camper, I'd be a lot more comfortable leaving it out in the middle of no-where unattended as opposed to a $80k 5th wheel with all the bells and whistles that could easily be stripped during the week.

I did not say "rich", but do the arithmetic. Most of my working life, I could swing a couple of nights rent per month, in a state park, and feel I got my money's worth. But if I had to pay for 4 nights and could only use 2, that doubles the cost. Maybe you have the disposable income to think it's worth it, but many do not.

bukhrn wrote:

tuna fisher wrote:
Seen it for years, mostly in the higher elevations of Utah.Asked rangers and they ho hum about it.When you see grass growing around the wheels it's obivious the rig hasen't been moved in months. Pisses me of but there's nothing I can do about it. A lot are for hunting camps.Some nice rigs just sitting. They usually are pulled out before the snows.

And there lies the problem, those that are paid to enforce the rules, are not willing to do so.

They are indeed paid to enforce the rules but probably know from previous experience that the citation they issue will not result in any legal action. The rangers are just like every other law enforcement officer in that they have to choose their battles.

Lots of people live in campers now. They commute to work. In summer they like to live someplace cooler and more beautiful so they head to the mountains.

Homeless people are everywhere in western big cities. At least Rvers have a home.

jimh425 wrote:
Unless they are violating the time requirement, I don’t see the issue.

Being rude is not against the law either, and yet most people have a problem with that.

JRscooby wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:


Who said the people doing this are rich?

I know if I had a cheap hunter special camper, I'd be a lot more comfortable leaving it out in the middle of no-where unattended as opposed to a $80k 5th wheel with all the bells and whistles that could easily be stripped during the week.

I did not say "rich", but do the arithmetic. Most of my working life, I could swing a couple of nights rent per month, in a state park, and feel I got my money's worth. But if I had to pay for 4 nights and could only use 2, that doubles the cost. Maybe you have the disposable income to think it's worth it, but many do not.

The average Forest Service campsite is less than $20.00. Half that amount if the camper has a Senior Pass. With the average household income in the US over $60,000 per year, paying for a few extra days to insure they have a space for the weekend isn't going to send most people to the poorhouse.
No matter what your income, there are likely hobbies and activities that you cannot afford. That is, and always will be, a fact of life. Sitting around bemoaning that fact won't make it go away. Instead, spend that time being productive and it might just allow you to earn the extra money you need to reserve those extra nights.

In my mind, you'd have to be nuts to leave your camper out in the woods for extended periods/days without being there. Hell, I don't like leaving mine in a regular paid campsite for more then a couple hours.

Some camp grounds have people that have been displaced by fires living there permanently. It is a fact of modern life. Have some compassion for people that live in campgrounds.

JRscooby wrote:
This, IMHO, is not right, but better than the scams used to game the res systems. At least the CG is getting the money.
It also is evidence to me that the well off are more likely to rip people off than poor.

Are you trying to be argumentative with this statement? Jealousy perhaps? Retired Occupy Wallstreeter? And how exactly is this evidence to support your position? You hardly have to be well off to afford a few extra nights at this type of CG. Find a new boogeyman. Sheesh.

Geewizard wrote:

bukhrn wrote:

tuna fisher wrote:
Seen it for years, mostly in the higher elevations of Utah.Asked rangers and they ho hum about it.When you see grass growing around the wheels it's obivious the rig hasen't been moved in months. Pisses me of but there's nothing I can do about it. A lot are for hunting camps.Some nice rigs just sitting. They usually are pulled out before the snows.

And there lies the problem, those that are paid to enforce the rules, are not willing to do so.

They are indeed paid to enforce the rules but probably know from previous experience that the citation they issue will not result in any legal action. The rangers are just like every other law enforcement officer in that they have to choose their battles.

The FS LEO's are overwhelmed w huge territories and gobs of people. They can co-ordinate the ticketing of campers that overstay the 14 or 16 day Forest limits, but that requires effort from those FS employees not working law enforcement. Once a FS LEO writes a ticket the matter will be get before a court or the ticket will be paid.