Size matters

[Steve_B_]

I'm a little tired of being discriminated against because I have a little RV. If I pay the same price as someone with a big rig, or want a premium spot that campground owners seem to want to save for big rigs, why can't I reserve the spot I want? When cg owners see that I have a little one, they just want to head me over to a little spot. I choose to have a small rig but I would like to also choose a premium spot to make my vacation complete. Is there a way around this problem?

[valhalla360]

A private owner has the right to maximize his earnings and matching the RV size to the site size does that.

As an RV owner, you have no right to ask or expect someone else to vacate or avoid a site for your use just because you choose to buy a larger RV. There is nothing rude or inconsiderate about it.

Publicly owned campgrounds are a special situation. The govt doesn't have the right to discriminate against you because you didn't buy a big RV.

[1775]

I have had the same experience as the OP. Small RV gets the worst of the sites. If I need to level I don't have a button to push or a crank to turn to level the RV. I have to try to balance on lego blocks hoping that I have enough and can make the right combination. But the big rigs with the auto-levelers are in the level sites and I am on the slope. Then there is the,"Here is your site, don't mind those two boulders you have to back through, you'll fit."

At one campground last year - that I spoke to about making the same dates each year an annual thing, put me in a site and the next day when I came back to my site after a part day's outing, we found a large trailer in our site, assigned there by the campground. (My Class B goes with me when we go out for the day.) When I went to the office I was told a bunch of c..p and then put in the worst part of the campground in a site that I barely fit in with an electric box hanging off the post. That was the end of them. Do they care. I guess not, but corporate cared when I complained to the chain. I won't go back regardless.

This happens a lot if you have a small RV - and I do get charged and pay the same rate as everyone else for a site with the same facilities regardless of the size of the RV.

[tpi]

I haven't run into the problem. Most places I'm just passing through I don't mind anything I'll fit-I'll let them assign it. I do round up a foot on the length and possibly two if I have a bike carrier. Scenic state/federal campsites I've generally chosen the site first come first served. I'll try for the smallest one which is desirable to me (views, location, level, etc). I'd probably avoid RV parks which assigned clearly inferior spots to smaller rigs (such as junkier denser areas of the park).

[mileshuff]

Escondido RV park in California has two separate areas. The older lower level where all RV's and trailers can go, and the newer upper area restricted for larger rigs. The upper area is MUCH nicer, larger wide spots, cleaner etc. The lower area has some permanents, some spots tightly packed etc. When I had a smaller trailer we stayed at top once and loved it. Went to book again and the rules changed. We stayed elsewhere. I'm paying the same price so why do I have to stay at the crappy spots?

[camper19709]

I say first come first serve. There could be multiple reasons a person picks a spot and none of the reasons could relate to it's size.

[Veebyes]

Oregon Ms wrote:
It's just wrong to take someone else's paid for, reserved site and expect them to go elsewhere to accommodate you regardless of how long they are staying. There is no rationalizing stealing someone else's site.

It's happened to me. I had a nice site, went out for dinner (took my rig, the toad was at home) came back, someone had moved into my site AS WELL AS moving my firewood, cooler, chairs etc. off the site. You're damn straight I stood my ground until the host told that couple to move. Yeah, it happened to be an ocean view site at Beverly Beach, OR. I don't care how big they are or WHO they THINK they are. That is just bad behavior and should not be tolerated (and it wasn't).

You must have only skimmed over my post.

There was NOTHING on the site. No tag on the post. Absolutey no way of knowing that it was reserved. Other than its size there was nothing special about it. No view, especially private comapred to others. Nothing to make it special at all.

The whole incident could have been avoided if the CG had placed tags on all reserved sites effectively making them as unavailable as occupied sites.

[wbwood]

Every time that I can remember, when making reservations, it always asks me what size my rv is. Sometimes it even asks the type. To me I think it's the best way. Let the parks handle it. They know what fits where. They can fill their parks better that way. Now if you have a particular site you want and they can put you there and are willing, whatever. Public parks usually don't have that issue.

[Oregon_Ms]

It's just wrong to take someone else's paid for, reserved site and expect them to go elsewhere to accommodate you regardless of how long they are staying. There is no rationalizing stealing someone else's site.

It's happened to me. I had a nice site, went out for dinner (took my rig, the toad was at home) came back, someone had moved into my site AS WELL AS moving my firewood, cooler, chairs etc. off the site. You're damn straight I stood my ground until the host told that couple to move. Yeah, it happened to be an ocean view site at Beverly Beach, OR. I don't care how big they are or WHO they THINK they are. That is just bad behavior and should not be tolerated (and it wasn't).

[Veebyes]

I don't think that big rig owners should have any problem with smaller rigs in large sites provided that site is a premium site for reasons other than its length. If somebody with a class B booked a waterside site, oh well, too bad on me who just drove in out of the blue with my, monster tag axel complete with vehicle carrying enclosed trailer, rig.

The issue is where all sites are basically the same except for parking pad length. Most CGs will asign a site based on length. They want the CG as full as possible every night so they will hold long sites as long as possible for large drive ups.

The problems come where you pick your own site. The choice pool is small for the big guys. They can't fit in a small site no matter what. The Bs & small Cs can fit anywhere.

Some CGs take site specific reservations. Others do not. Those that do usually leave a tag on the post but not all of them. Here is where a big problem, not necessarily size related, can develop.

Had that happen at Dash Point SP near Tacoma WA. No reservations, we pulled into the CG early afternoon for a 4 night stay. As instructed by office picked one of the few empty spots big enough to accomodate us & set up. It happened to be a pull through. Not a half hour later there is a knock on the door. "You are in our site".

They had a SUV pulling a Scamp TT.

After much back & forth with the ranger this person refused to take another available site. Out we went & into a tight fit backin which we could only have for 1 night & then have to move again for the remaining 3 nights.

How long did the Scamp stay? ONE night. There were cosy sites just right for their size. I don't believe the guy knew how to reverse & was very new given the fussing & time it took them to setup.

[GaryWT]

At many campgrounds where I camp in New England, the big rig sites are away from all the good stuff, far from the pools, lake, beach, activity center etc. The sites close to these things are too small for me to fit but that is not a problem as I am the one who bought a 35 foot TT. I do not hook up the TT for a weekend unless I know I have a place to park it. If they tell me on the phone there is no spot then there is no spot, I don't care who might be there. I know some places in Bar Harbor and other areas, the ocean front sites are water and electric only and the full hook ups are further back so that is what we would take, unable to have the water front. Not much we can do other than trying elsewhere.

[drenjoey]

UsualSuspect wrote:

Steve B. wrote:
I'm a little tired of being discriminated against because I have a little RV. If I pay the same price as someone with a big rig, or want a premium spot that campground owners seem to want to save for big rigs, why can't I reserve the spot I want? When cg owners see that I have a little one, they just want to head me over to a little spot. I choose to have a small rig but I would like to also choose a premium spot to make my vacation complete. Is there a way around this problem?

I have the opposite frustration. Nothing like trying to get into a place where there are a lot of 35' and down sites available, and nothing for me and my 42' rig. If I reserve a smaller spot and cannot fit they will not move me to a larger one, tell me I did not reserve a size appropriate site.
Just my opinion, but the rule should work both ways, you reserve a large site and can fit in a smaller one, you should be turned away like I am.

I don't think this is the same situation. Steve B. rig does fit in a larger site, therefore he should have the right to reserve that site.
On the other hand, The way I read your comment is.... you reserve a small site knowing your 42' rig won't fit in, therefore they have the right to turn you away !

[Steve_B_]

Thanks to all of you for voicing your opinions. I'm not sure I've changed my tune but you've given me plenty to think about. State parks are not an issue, as many have pointed out. If I'm making the 13 hour drive to get to the coast of Maine and I want an oceanfront site and I'm told that they are only for big rigs, that's when I have a problem. I'm happy to pay the rate for the oceanfront site, that's why I've gone there. I guess the only thing to do is find the individual parks that will let me have what I crave for. On the flip side, a campground owner in Maine gave me a tent site with a beautiful waterfront view and ran an extension cord down to my trailer so I could enjoy my stay. I was so grateful for that. I hate to think that just one campground is my only option though. I never take a pull-through as I know those big rigs must be hard to maneuver. I have no need for one of those. I love my little one, it's easier to pull it. 🙂

[UsualSuspect]

Steve B. wrote:
I'm a little tired of being discriminated against because I have a little RV. If I pay the same price as someone with a big rig, or want a premium spot that campground owners seem to want to save for big rigs, why can't I reserve the spot I want? When cg owners see that I have a little one, they just want to head me over to a little spot. I choose to have a small rig but I would like to also choose a premium spot to make my vacation complete. Is there a way around this problem?

I have the opposite frustration. Nothing like trying to get into a place where there are a lot of 35' and down sites available, and nothing for me and my 42' rig. If I reserve a smaller spot and cannot fit they will not move me to a larger one, tell me I did not reserve a size appropriate site.
Just my opinion, but the rule should work both ways, you reserve a large site and can fit in a smaller one, you should be turned away like I am.

[bucky]

My DW often fusses about tenters in the RV sites. Hey, if they got there first I have no problem with it. However, a new sign has popped up in 3 of the areas at Kiptopeke State Park in VA. "tents only" they say, and that pisses me off. Our BA Jayco won't fit anyway, but what about the peoples with 17' Roadtreks? Why are they not welcome in those areas? Sounds like reverse snobbery to me.

"Don't confuse my rudeness with envy" Priceless!