RV's too old to park in their campground???

[Cheryl_B]

I bought my motorhome with the intention of leaving CT, and spending quality time with my family who has relocated to the outskirts of Indianapolis this year. I was paying my rent here in CT yesterday and I told them that this would most likely be my last month camping here.

I get back to the rig and find that finally, this IN campground has answered my emails (I sent them 2 and got no response and called them instead.) So that's how I found out that the RV's need to be 15 years old or newer. I called 2 other places (only places open year round there) and they had similar policies. I'm persona non grata.

I've researched RV living for YEARS, accumulating into decades and this is the first I have heard about age limits for RV's. Is this a typical problem that you encounter in your travels?

Do I really have to spend the winter in CT????

[The_Logans]

Wow, Lord help anyone with a restored classic RV.

[eichacsj]

Cheryl_B wrote:
So that's how I found out that the RV's need to be 15 years old or newer. I called 2 other places (only places open year round there) and they had similar policies.

I've researched RV living for YEARS, accumulating into decades and this is the first I have heard about age limits for RV's. Is this a typical problem that you encounter in your travels?

It is what drove our decision to trade our 13 year old TT that needed resided (delamination) and re-roofed. We didn't want to spend many thousands of dollars (closer to $16k) and still be rejected at a RV park when we traveled.

[j-d]

Post - Painting. Some old Class A's really show their age from the styling. Harder on Class C, but on ours, the "Holiday Rambler Rear Cap" that they used on all sorts of units, A, C, TT... sticks out. Nowadays, so does the older "square" Ford cabs than ended in 1991. The Chevys look enough alike that they're the hardest to date just by the look.

[CA_Traveler]

It might be a issue with popular or almost full CGs. But my experience is that most welcome decent people who fill a site which is more desirable than an empty site.

Others that travel the east states are better qualified but I'd head south.

[Cheryl_B]

You're right. I have to research winter camping. This was not how I saw my winter playing out, but now I'm afraid to travel only to be turned away due to my rig's age. I don't know which fear is worse, right now. Experience my first CT winter here or hit the road and pray like crazy.

[CA_Traveler]

Another factor may be related to legal residency. If a person becomes a legal resident vs short term stay in a area then eviction may be much more involved. Independent of rig age some CG's limit stays for that reason.

[CA_Traveler]

BTW If your are not up to speed on winter time camping in rigs that have minimum insulation etc then suggest starting the research.

[CA_Traveler]

Cheryl,

In your case I'd call and talk to the manager. Explain your rig and your intention of visiting family etc and ask to send pictures directly to him/her.

And yes some CGs will question/restrict older rigs as you found out.

[Cheryl_B]

j-d wrote:
We used to go to a park near the Gulf of Mexico in FL. I'm sure it was very nice in its earlier days, but upkeep had gone more to downkeep. We had an old Holiday Rambler Class C with aluminum sides, and the light tan paint was coming off so the sides looked leprous. It also had the original black "racoon eyes" trim paint around the cabover widows. That had faded to charcoal gray. We went over there often, and got to know some others who were also "regulars." Through generosity of a neighbor and his employer, the Holiday got a coat of white hardened synthetic enamel. When we returned to the park with the coach's new "Do," several regulars actually thanked us.

Great story!

[Cheryl_B]

(I quoted the wrong post)

[Cheryl_B]

Due to the time of year, there are only 3 RV parks that are near my family and open all year. I called them all and it was the same. The state fair grounds wasn't that way but they are only open "in a sense." No water at the site and sounds like nobody there to manage anything, so no wifi, etc.

I never planned to live out of my RV this way, but doing it is how you learn what is and isn't feasible. I won't drive all the way to IN just to take a chance that they will look at my rig and say it's good enough to park there. It's too far of a drive just for that.

It is what it is. I'll see if they get back to me via email after they view the pics of the rig.

[westernrvparkow]

naturist wrote:
This happens because they haven't figured out how to exclude riff raff directly and made up a rule like that to justify drawing that line. I don't often make reservations but when I do and hear the question "how old is your rig," I know they (1) have such a rule, and (2) have a riff raff problem. The question gives me pause whether I want to stay there at all. And my TT is less than 10 years old. My TV is a BMW X5.

Be interested in what park you think has that rule and also has a riff raff problem? The ones I have visited (Outdoor Resorts Indio, Outdoor Resorts Palm Springs, Outdoor Resorts Chocoloskee Island, Motorcoach Country Club) have nothing but exceptionally well kept rigs, no riff raff need apply. And some of the rigs in those parks tow things even more upper crust than a BMW X5. Come to think of it, maybe that would be an even better way to judge rigs. The heck with the age and condition of the RV, don't let anyone in unless their tow car has been written up in the Robb Report. That would put you and your X5 on the borderline at best.

[j-d]

We used to go to a park near the Gulf of Mexico in FL. I'm sure it was very nice in its earlier days, but upkeep had gone more to downkeep. We had an old Holiday Rambler Class C with aluminum sides, and the light tan paint was coming off so the sides looked leprous. It also had the original black "racoon eyes" trim paint around the cabover widows. That had faded to charcoal gray. We went over there often, and got to know some others who were also "regulars." Through generosity of a neighbor and his employer, the Holiday got a coat of white hardened synthetic enamel. When we returned to the park with the coach's new "Do," several regulars actually thanked us.

[westernrvparkow]

Though you didn't say it, I assume you are looking for a long term stay. The questions about age and condition of an RV only comes up in those types of situations. It just isn't part of the normal reservation process for overnight and short term stays.
Many RV parks and campgrounds are not interested in becoming trailer parks. They are not interested in having their guests become full time residents and bringing all the problems and concerns that come with that business.
Age restrictions are put into place to prevent a park from accepting rigs that look like props from "The Grapes of Wrath". They also discourage those people who are looking for a place to live, not a place for recreation. That may be detrimental to your goals, but it isn't necessarily detrimental to the goals of the park.

[Captain_Happy]

If people would just quit staying in these kinds of parks with there 10 year rules. Then I figure after a year or two, there rules would probably get changed. Personally I won't I don't stay in these types of parks. In the years that I've been RV'ing I've only run across one. The that was in Las Vegas. Haven't stayed there since. I hate to say this, but I'm not going to go out every 10 years and buy a newer RV just to stay in parks with there 10 year rule. That's my story, and I sticking to it.