Conversion Vans not allowed at some RV Parks?

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I've been happily turning a new Transit T250, medium-high roof van into a "travel van" to get us back and forth from FL, and to do some sightseeing and weekend camping. The dinette turns into a bed with ample storage underneath the benches; the kitchen sink disappears, and we have a portapotty so we don't get booted from our condo complex for having an "RV". From the outside, it just looks like an upscale cargo van with extra windows.

I read on another forum, that some RV Parks won't allow "converted vans". As we travel, we plan to use RV parks - I enjoy the quiet and safety that comes with being amongst RVers. I intend to reserve space for a Class B, since that's more or less what we have. After all - ALL Class Bs are converted vans.....LOL!

Are we going to pull into a park, only to have someone turn us away because we have a "conversion"??

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

In defense of RV park owners: not everyone who drives an RV or van or truck combo, is a wonderful person. Our motorhome insurance had a provision that we were not insured if our Class C was used for "business purposes" including making xxx-rated movies. Or a meth lab (who didn't love the old Winnebago featured in Breaking Bad?). And cargo vans also make great vehicles for people transporting illegal substances. Or humans. A year or so ago, a young lady disappeared from a West Michigan business, and when they finally caught the man they feel is responsible - he had turned a van into a torture chamber 😞 Women who find a cargo van parked next to their car in a large parking lot, are encouraged to go back into the mall and request an escort to their car.

So I get it. Our van will always be "pretty"; and inspections would be welcomed. If we get turned down (I'm beginning to think this won't happen) there's always another park down the street.

[Sea_Dog]

JaxDad wrote:
I suspect that most people posting here are unaware that in every jurisdictions I've ever looked at, the RVIA or CSA Z-240 endorsement is required by law in order to stay in a campground in an RV.

In this litigious society we live in I doubt ANY park owner will knowingly 'look the other way' on a legally required safety issue. Sure you might get past a few parks management but the registration form always asks for the make of the RV so 'none' might stick out.

I do not ever recall being asked the make of our RV.

Size and type, yes, make, never!

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

pira114 wrote:


Here's a practical option. If you don't need hookups, you can rent a tent site and just not set up a tent. Doubt anyone would care or notice.

Well, when you first pull in, the tent campers will give you the Stink Eye....LOL! Two years ago, we toured the Pacific NW in an old pop-up truck camper that had been stripped of most of its systems - all it needed was electric, and we were capable of living without that, if need be. As we called ahead for a campsite, I would ask if they would let us into a tent site; or many parks have a half-way site with electric only. In many cases, we'd be let into the tent sites provided we didn't run a generator (we also didn't have A/C) - the idea being that tent campers expect a quiet environment. We had some pretty nice sites! And when the tenters realized we'd be quiet neighbors, they warmed up 🙂

Our new van will be a silent creature, too - so we'll try to utilize these rustic sites when possible, and leave the full H/Us for the true RVs.

[JaxDad]

I suspect that most people posting here are unaware that in every jurisdictions I've ever looked at, the RVIA or CSA Z-240 endorsement is required by law in order to stay in a campground in an RV.

In this litigious society we live in I doubt ANY park owner will knowingly 'look the other way' on a legally required safety issue. Sure you might get past a few parks management but the registration form always asks for the make of the RV so 'none' might stick out.

[pira114]

My experience was that it was all about looks. Of all the places I was refused, it was the ones who considered themselves upscale. This was a normal travel trailer, but old. 1987. They pulled the 10 year old rule on me because it looked old. Only because of color scheme. The normal 80s tan with brown and red stripe.

To be fair, they all warned me when I made reservations. One manager came out and looked at my rig, saw it was very well maintained, and allowed me in. He explained that their 10 year old rule was for preventing run down looking rigs, and the possibility of an old rig causing fire. Ok.

Either way, if the van looks good, it'll probably be allowed.

Here's a practical option. If you don't need hookups, you can rent a tent site and just not set up a tent. Doubt anyone would care or notice.

[free_radical]

Sea Dog wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:

Adam H wrote:
If the RVIA sticker is indeed the major hang up, have one made and stick it on. I don't put too much faith in the RVIA anyway because they certify all the RV's and we all know how crappy they are built.

Adam

If we don't want your rig in our park, we will turn it away for one reason or another. RVIA certification does mean that it was built by a company that supposedly knew how to wire the electrical circuits, the plumbing etc. The reasoning behind only allowing RVIA is a safety issue, a concern for our facilities and quite honestly, an easy way to turn away schoolies, hippie mobiles and rent-a-wreck vans driven by Buffalo Bob wannabes. But if you insist in trying to circumvent those motivations by a sticker, I will easily come up with another way, up to and including, "sorry, your rig does not meet our standards, and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason".

I will bet that your park is a real fun place to be.
You remind me of the Soup Nazi on the old Seinfeld show!

Haha
And he probably wonders why some people would rather overnight at WM or rest stops..

[azrving]

Sea Dog wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:

Adam H wrote:
If the RVIA sticker is indeed the major hang up, have one made and stick it on. I don't put too much faith in the RVIA anyway because they certify all the RV's and we all know how crappy they are built.

Adam

If we don't want your rig in our park, we will turn it away for one reason or another. RVIA certification does mean that it was built by a company that supposedly knew how to wire the electrical circuits, the plumbing etc. The reasoning behind only allowing RVIA is a safety issue, a concern for our facilities and quite honestly, an easy way to turn away schoolies, hippie mobiles and rent-a-wreck vans driven by Buffalo Bob wannabes. But if you insist in trying to circumvent those motivations by a sticker, I will easily come up with another way, up to and including, "sorry, your rig does not meet our standards, and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason".

I will bet that your park is a real fun place to be.
You remind me of the Soup Nazi on the old Seinfeld show!

LMAO no kidding 🙂

[Sea_Dog]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

Adam H wrote:
If the RVIA sticker is indeed the major hang up, have one made and stick it on. I don't put too much faith in the RVIA anyway because they certify all the RV's and we all know how crappy they are built.

Adam

If we don't want your rig in our park, we will turn it away for one reason or another. RVIA certification does mean that it was built by a company that supposedly knew how to wire the electrical circuits, the plumbing etc. The reasoning behind only allowing RVIA is a safety issue, a concern for our facilities and quite honestly, an easy way to turn away schoolies, hippie mobiles and rent-a-wreck vans driven by Buffalo Bob wannabes. But if you insist in trying to circumvent those motivations by a sticker, I will easily come up with another way, up to and including, "sorry, your rig does not meet our standards, and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason".

I will bet that your park is a real fun place to be.
You remind me of the Soup Nazi on the old Seinfeld show!

[thestoloffs]

Isaac-1 wrote:
Wow, I have never heard the RVIA sticker rule, I guess I should be glad my 2002 Safari Trek has one, it was built 3 months after Monaco bought out Safari. Safari prior to the Monaco buyout was not an RVIA member so no little RVIA stickers by the door on any pre-Monaco Safari's or Beavers.

You're right, Isaac. Your manufacturer has to be an RVIA member in order to provide stickers.

Born Free, which was one of the highest rated Class C manufacturers, was never a member, and all BF's do not have RVIA stickers -- so they supplied the same vehicle data on their own cabinet sticker without the "magic seal". But, they were/are still some of the top rated units on the market.

[mich800]

We don't stay in RV "resort" type campgrounds. Mainly state parks, private parks and rustic campgrounds. I don't remember anyone looking at our rig at check in much less checking for a RIVA sticker. I would think unless it looks like some kind of abomination no one will even know.

[phillyg]

troubledwaters wrote:
Reality - They have the right to refuse you a spot. Practicality - Not likely to happen.

/\This/\

[free_radical]

MrWizard wrote:
40+ years ago i converter a used Dodge van into a camper
Stayed in KOA campgrounds all over the Midwest and South never had one question me

But KOA are camp grounds, for campers, not upscale RV resorts,
There are differences

Ah the good old days..but
That was then,,now is now..

[Isaac-1]

Wow, I have never heard the RVIA sticker rule, I guess I should be glad my 2002 Safari Trek has one, it was built 3 months after Monaco bought out Safari. Safari prior to the Monaco buyout was not an RVIA member so no little RVIA stickers by the door on any pre-Monaco Safari's or Beavers.

[nineoaks2004]

Check the state campgrounds on your route, most of them are nice and I have never been refused camping.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

Adam H wrote:
If the RVIA sticker is indeed the major hang up, have one made and stick it on. I don't put too much faith in the RVIA anyway because they certify all the RV's and we all know how crappy they are built.

Adam

If we don't want your rig in our park, we will turn it away for one reason or another. RVIA certification does mean that it was built by a company that supposedly knew how to wire the electrical circuits, the plumbing etc. The reasoning behind only allowing RVIA is a safety issue, a concern for our facilities and quite honestly, an easy way to turn away schoolies, hippie mobiles and rent-a-wreck vans driven by Buffalo Bob wannabes. But if you insist in trying to circumvent those motivations by a sticker, I will easily come up with another way, up to and including, "sorry, your rig does not meet our standards, and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason".

I agree. Here is a picture of a RVIA approved frig. Oops, that one didn't work out too well! :R