RV age & park rules?

[PNW_Steve]

Hello All,

I recently bought a 1992 fifth wheel and tow it with a 2001 Dodge 3500. We bought it with the intention of mostly dry camping. We are finding that it is not nearly as well suited to dry camping as my prior coach was. The tankage and electric are best suited to full hookups. (My coach carried 200 gallons of diesel, 200 gallons freshwater and 220gallons waste. It also had 2 8-D house batteries, an inverter and an 8kw diesel genset.)

Now we are looking at a road trip and I am remembering issues I had with some RV parks when we traveled back in the late '90s.

My coach was a 1980 Eagle that was converted in 1993. When checking in to some parks I was asked "what year is your coach?". When I told them it was a 1980 they told me they did not allow rigs over 10 or 15 years old. I remember more than one occasion that I stopped at 3 or more parks before spending the night on the local Walmart parking lot. I finally started telling them it was a 1993. After all all of the body work, systems and interior were "new" in 1993. That worked but did bother me that I had to bend the truth.

That was 20 years ago. Have things changed at all? If not, how do those of you running older rigs deal with it?

My latest trailer is clean and in good shape but does look a bit dated.

Thanks

Steve

[TMCopeland]

cochise49 wrote:
Only found this rule one time in Sparks, NV. We were within the 10 years so no problem. Manager said they use the rule to keep the "riff Raff" out during "Burning Man" and "Hot August Nights." Not sure what that meant but there were lots of rigs there older than ten years. I would guess....if they "don't ask....don't tell." If they do ask....fib.

Burning Man is a huge "festival" about 60 miles north of Reno in the Black Rock desert. Any vehicle spending a week there will come back white from all the salt to which it has been exposed. As a result, nobody takes a good vehicle up there, RV or otherwise. I can understand why the campground wouldn't want something from there. BTW, they will attract 50,000 people as temporary residents in the desert. Look it up online and you'll find some really weird folks in attendance.

Hot August Nights on the other hand, is worth the price of admission to one of the nearby RV parks if you can find one with space. You will see thousands, yes thousands, of beautiful classic cars all over the Reno/Sparks area. It is truly amazing.

Terry (former Reno resident)

[Boxerslave]

Went to a ten year park, knew it ahead of time, rig was 12 years old so they asked for pictures of rig. Sent them and was approved. Park was not that special and I have never been back. Victoria area of the island is a hint. Dave

[John_S_]

Run into this a few times but no issue so far.

[noe-place]

colliehauler wrote:
Their park their rules. My money my choice.

I totally agree. If they want your dollar, they shouldn't holler!!

[colliehauler]

Their park their rules. My money my choice.

[TyroneandGladys]

wbwood wrote:
Do your research before going to a park and avoid the ones that have he rules. No need to lie to them about it. Just go elsewhere. People would hate it if the park said one thing and then did something else. So why is it any different. They don't want your rig there, you don't want to go there.

We always check when making reservations yet even after checking the rules at Napa Valley Expo and making reservations the host checking us in wanted to deny us entry because of age. His rule not apparently the parks since it was not on any of their rules and we were "allowed to stay" for two days.

[mowermech]

wbwood wrote:
Do your research before going to a park and avoid the ones that have he rules. No need to lie to them about it. Just go elsewhere. People would hate it if the park said one thing and then did something else. So why is it any different. They don't want your rig there, you don't want to go there.

EXACTLY!!
I will not go to a park that limits the number of pets one can have. I will not go to any park that has rules about what I can have in my RV.
I will not go to any park that doesn't like my jeans and boots (I have never heard of one, but then I haven't been to every park in the area).
My RV is over 10 years old. If they have the 10 year rule, I will assist them in enforcing it, by not going to their park.
They lose, I don't, and they will never know it!

[wbwood]

Do your research before going to a park and avoid the ones that have he rules. No need to lie to them about it. Just go elsewhere. People would hate it if the park said one thing and then did something else. So why is it any different. They don't want your rig there, you don't want to go there.

[noe-place]

Our MH looks pretty new even though it'll be ten years old this December. That's because I'm a maintenance nut and also have a garage to keep it inside when not in use. Never had it questioned.

[D___M]

For all of you that take a hard stand about not staying in a campground that has a ten year rule - thank you. We that don't have your feelings and will be happy to take your space.

[mowermech]

In Montana, any vehicle of any size/type that is 11 years old or older can have PERMANENT license plates.
Given the choice between never having to renew my registration and staying in a park that has a "10 year old rule", I will take the PERMANENT registration!

That does not apply to trailers of any size or type, though. ALL trailers have PERMANENT registration. But, I don't have a trailer.
The "10 year" RV park loses.

[TyroneandGladys]

The only time that it was an issue with us was at Nappa Valley Expo, No mention of age restrictions in there rules yet when we pulled in we were told by a very rude camp host we could not stay because of the age of our RV when they got the rules to show me they found out there was no age restrictions only restrictions for RV's with damage such us missing doors etc.. Less than two hours later they let a new class A in the park that had damage and a missing door makes you wonder.

[ncrowley]

I am just within the 10 year mark but if I know they have the 10 year rule, I will not stay there. I just recently passed up an RV park because of that rule and went to another park just so I did not give that park my business. I told them on the phone I do not like parks with that rule. I do not know if it does any good, but it cannot hurt to tell them what you feel about that rule.

[JohnnyG73]

I have never camped at a park that asked the age of my TT. Length and type yes, so they could reserve me in an appropriate sized site. Most of the campgrounds I have stayed at however only allow a 2 week stay unless you are seasonal. Some of them stipulate that you need to check out for a week before returning while others only state that you only have to change sites. I guess they are trying to discourage non-seasonal people from "living" at the campground or parking trailers that are nearly non-functional.

Indian Shores Campground and RV park in Wisconsin is a place I often stay. I see many new and old RVs. Some very old. I previously had a 1975 Aristocrat and there were RVs there that made mine look new. Some of them were restored and great looking while others were a little run down and faded.

Everyone camps within their budget and there are many that can't afford anything but an older "fixer-upper" but they still enjoy the hobby as much as anyone else. As long as the trailer can be pulled down the highway, I personally could not care any less how old other peoples trailers are. It's none of my business anyway.

It's not like a beat up, worn out '50s Shasta parked between two brand new trailers is going to lower their property values. I admire the people that own older trailers, either out of necessity or love, and enjoy seeing them being used.