Second Vehicle Fee

[billy79]

My wife and I plan on full-timing starting next spring. We will be getting a TH as I will need to continue to work (telecommute) and I want a separate work space so the garage will become my office.

It of course also gives us the added benefit of hauling toys, we are currently thinking about wether we want to pick up a touring bike and if we want to take our ATV with us so we could potentially be hauling one or the other or both.

So this brings me to two questions:

1.) We see in some campgrounds, especially Forrest Service campgrounds, national forrests, state parks, etc. that many charge a second vehicle fee. I don't want to unload the toys (bike, atv or both) each day, set up the garage as my office then tear down my office and re-load the toys each day.....so I would probably unload and leave them out.

Do you know if I would be charged a second vehicle fee for a vehicle I hauled in via the TH if I leave it out? I am just wondering if I unload a bike if they are going to want me to pay an extra $5 - $10 a day for the bike that is sitting there....that could get expensive really quick.

2.) Still up in the air on if we will take the ATV. We have seen there are a lot of places that say no ORV use in the campground. How strict are most CG's on this? Would they have a problem with me unloading it from the TH and then just leaving it parked next to the TH? What if I unloaded from the TH and then loaded it via ramps into my TV so that I can take it to a trailhead? Seems like since I am not driving it around the CG that would be something I could do, but I would hate to take the ATV with me assuming that to find I get in a pissing match with someone whenever I try to unload it from the TH so I can use the garage as an office, or load it into the TV so I can take it to a trailhead where I can use the ATV.

Thanks in advance for any help. We have decided on a TH no matter what as I really want to use the garage as an office, but this research will greatly help us in figuring out what else we may bring with us on our journey.

[Rollnhome]

billy79 wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Here's a bizarre one:

A couple of years ago when camped in a California DNR campground, I was informed that the TT I was towing "counts" as a second vehicle; and since there was a two vehicle limit at each site, this meant that my family members who came along in their own car had to pay for and park in a second site!

I will add that this was the very first year they'd imposed a fee schedule on those lands, and I complained very bitterly about this ridiculous stricture, pointing out that in California State PARKS, a travel trailer/tow vehicle combo is counted as one vehicle. Hopefully CA DNR's changed that rule by now...

That brings up another good question, similar but a bit different from my original post. Has anyone ever had a visitor (for the day, not overnight) and do you get dinged for a second car for that?

Scenario, lets say we are staying somewhere close to a family member and invite them to our spot for dinner. They come over for a handful of hours to eat dinner at our campsite and chat and then leave. Now there is obviously an extra vehicle there at the time, but it is only for like 3 or 4 hours, a one time thing, not overnight, etc. Do you get hit with second vehicle fees for that?

Some parks do some don't. Example I camp hosted three years at a Washington state park. I went back the fourth year to visit the camphost we had made friends with, planned on being there a couple hours. The ranger (that we had worked with for those three years) charged us a $10 day use fee to go visit or old camphost buddies.
My advice plan on paying if you are not charged smile and drive on through.

[Rollnhome]

Typically I have found the second vehicle charge is because someone has to drive it to the park. Therefore more people occupying the site. I have not yet heard or seen firsthand any park charge additional fees for a cargoed vehicle that could be parked on your site. The problem I see is finding a site large enough to fit all your stuff on. Right now I am towing an enclosed car hauler behind my MH. All the parks have accommodated us with a large site or parking for the trailer at no addition charge. Nor have they charged me additional for the car I unload from the trailer to use as a daily driver as I explore nearby sights and attractions.

[billy79]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Here's a bizarre one:

A couple of years ago when camped in a California DNR campground, I was informed that the TT I was towing "counts" as a second vehicle; and since there was a two vehicle limit at each site, this meant that my family members who came along in their own car had to pay for and park in a second site!

I will add that this was the very first year they'd imposed a fee schedule on those lands, and I complained very bitterly about this ridiculous stricture, pointing out that in California State PARKS, a travel trailer/tow vehicle combo is counted as one vehicle. Hopefully CA DNR's changed that rule by now...

That brings up another good question, similar but a bit different from my original post. Has anyone ever had a visitor (for the day, not overnight) and do you get dinged for a second car for that?

Scenario, lets say we are staying somewhere close to a family member and invite them to our spot for dinner. They come over for a handful of hours to eat dinner at our campsite and chat and then leave. Now there is obviously an extra vehicle there at the time, but it is only for like 3 or 4 hours, a one time thing, not overnight, etc. Do you get hit with second vehicle fees for that?

[Francesca_Knowl]

Here's a bizarre one:

A couple of years ago when camped in a California DNR campground, I was informed that the TT I was towing "counts" as a second vehicle; and since there was a two vehicle limit at each site, this meant that my family members who came along in their own car had to pay for and park in a second site!

I will add that this was the very first year they'd imposed a fee schedule on those lands, and I complained very bitterly about this ridiculous stricture, pointing out that in California State PARKS, a travel trailer/tow vehicle combo is counted as one vehicle. Hopefully CA DNR's changed that rule by now...

[Bumpyroad]

Dirtclods wrote:
Off road toys are Not vehicles and they can't charge you for them. .

hogwash. they can charge for anything that they want to. if you don't like it, don't stay.
bumpy

[billy79]

Sorry for the confusion in my questions, maybe I should have put them as two totally different questions, but since they are somewhat related (both about pulling things out of the TH) I figured I would lump them together.

Regarding the Touring Bike questions, that is referring to a street legal motorcycle. Not trying to find out how to avoid fees, just trying to figure out if this is something I would be feed for on a regular basis or if most have found it is rare, so I know how often I should plan on paying such fees.

Regarding the ATV question, definitely not intending to ever ride one around a CG, I know they are not for that. Just curious if I can unload it from the TH so I have space in the back, and if needed load it into my truck (so I can trailer it to the trail head). Sounds like each CG is different but that many will get pissy at me with this....I'd love to hear more though as it sounds like it might not even be worth taking it for us.

[Rollnhome]

The entire 2nd question is about his ATV.

[Strabo]

ScottG wrote:
The OP isn't talking about off road vehicles, he's talking about a road-going licensed motorcycle.

I thought so too

[ScottG]

The OP isn't talking about off road vehicles, he's talking about a road-going licensed motorcycle.

[Rollnhome]

They are called off road vehicles....not off road toys. I'm sure every public park has their own fee schedule and private parks can charge what ever they wish. To be sure you would need to contact each park to verify their fee schedule.

[Dirtclods]

Off road toys are Not vehicles and they can't charge you for them. The area of the law is gray in most states but I'd be up to debate it. Now if there plated they could. Just roll in a night if your pre register already.

[DesertHawk]

Bumpyroad wrote:
by "touring bike" are you talking about a pedal type bicycle? if so I can't imagine any campground charging extra for that. now if you are trying to sneak in a motorcycle under a touring bike label, that is different.
sort of like the fella who fussed here a year or two ago who got sore because they wouldn't let him drive his "golf cart" around. turned out the "golf cart" was a high tired, off road vehicle. :s
bumpy

Bumpy, I'm pretty sure it is not a pedal bike. Something like one of these: GoldWing

[ScottG]

In our state CG's, unless you keep it hidden inside they're going to charge you for an extra vehicle.
And frankly that sounds fair to me. After all, it is an extra vehicle.

[Y-Guy]

Almost all campgrounds that allow off road bikes or ATVs make it very clear they are to be ridden to access the trails, not ridden around camp. They are not for going between sites to visit your friends.

Many campgrounds that have no-ATV/MX rules will not allow you to unload them as they think you may try to ride or they start getting complaints, even if you don't ride them. We ran into this at a State campground in Utah while we overnighted in Ogden, host gave us a good 5 minute lecture even though I told him repeatedly that we were just passing through and staying for the night.

I agree with the others on the 2nd vehicle fee, but keep in mind that parks are lean on budgets and looking to make extra money any way they can. If you unload it they very well may try to charge you the fee. If it's an on road vehicle and unloaded they probably can charge you, they can't try to keep track of who's going in/out like the used to.

[Bumpyroad]

by "touring bike" are you talking about a pedal type bicycle? if so I can't imagine any campground charging extra for that. now if you are trying to sneak in a motorcycle under a touring bike label, that is different.
sort of like the fella who fussed here a year or two ago who got sore because they wouldn't let him drive his "golf cart" around. turned out the "golf cart" was a high tired, off road vehicle. :s
bumpy