Don't remove camper from truck ARGH!!

[mdpay]

I'm frustrated and tired of hearing this from campgrounds. I have heard this from all types of campgrounds. This seems like an outdated policy. Perhaps Truck Camper Magazine and Manufactures could spend a little time to educate and promote the usage of their products to campgrounds.

Me avoiding the campground won't get them to change their policy. Just saying:)

[Grit_dog]

Hope this isn't the case in National Park campgrounds. Wasn't planning on hauling the TC around Yellowstone while we're there....3days stay is enough for me to go thru the effort of unloading it if gonna be driving around a bunch.
Never really thought about it being a rule. Have unloaded it before when we had the boat with in a state park.
Not sure how a TC is easier to abandon than a trailer. And the whole emergency evacuation thing is a poor excuse. If it's that emergent everyone is going to leave their camper unless it's hooked up. That's what insurance is for, but any normal person is going to be interested in saving their "house" regardless of the shape.

[travelnutz]

Many campgrounds BAN removal of a TC from the truck and more are or are being required to by state or local laws etc. More and more common! A TC is not and actual RV as defined by most state etc laws/rules/codes because it has NO wheels or capability of rolling on roads or being moved quickly or reasonably if need be for any reason. Once an TC is removed from the truck, it becomes a stationary planted structure that's not removable by towing and doesn't meet state or local codes.

I know for a fact that the axles and wheels must be left on any and all RV units and a current license/registration must be attached in Michigan when in any CG or public land as I was on the board of directors for 9 years for a very large RV CG and Resort and the state laws were enforced and fines issued for non-conformance by the county sheriff. Seen it many times! Sometimes a warning was given first to comply within X time or the warning would become a citation and the CG got a copy. Simply put, a TC off the truck/carrying vehicle not being on the owners property, a dealer's property, a repair facility, licensed storage facility, etc is deemed to be an abandoned item and NOT an RV because it is NOT a VEHICLE! Just a structure!

Also, so many old or dilapidated/broken jack systems etc TC's have been abandoned in CG's and/or on state or federal land usually with the serial no. identifications having been removed or totally obliterated to prevent owner identification. Many states didn't or don't issue required titles or registration for TC's. Then the CG owner or local Gov or state or federal Gov has to pay the cost for removal after going thru the long process of getting full authority or court approval to do so. In a CG, this renders the campsite space unusable and an eyesore until removal is actually done.

AS a constant TC owner for over 50 years now and on our 7th TC, I fully agree with not allowing a TC to be removed in a CG or on public land as it's only an RV when on the carrying vehicle. A ~100 sq ft box with no wheels simply sitting on the ground can not be classified as an RV nor an occupiable living structure by humans in any U.S. state I'm aware of. Doesn't meet the codes and check yours!

[billyray50]

JoeChiOhki wrote:
Stop staying at resorts and asphalt parking lots (AKA RV Parks). More state parks, county parks, BLM, USFS, National Parks, etc.... and the problem will go away ;).

The fancier the concrete wonderland, the more anal retentive they're likely to be :p.

Good Point Joe. Agree.

[JoeChiOhki]

Stop staying at resorts and asphalt parking lots (AKA RV Parks). More state parks, county parks, BLM, USFS, National Parks, etc.... and the problem will go away ;).

The fancier the concrete wonderland, the more anal retentive they're likely to be :p.

[jimh406]

As far as A) abandonment goes, most RV parks ask for far too much information, so they'd be able to reach the person who left their TC.

[3_tons]

A) someone could easily abandon a camper this way, some states don't not require a title.
B) some fire marshals prohibit it since in the event of fire they can't easily be moved.
C) some CG host don't know why the real reason
D) most places seem not to care
E) JMO

[DutchmenSport]

We were at Racoon State Recreation Area, near Rockville, Indinaa last week-end and parked not to far from us was a truck camper off the truck. I will say, I've seen many TC's in driveways off the truck around central Indiana, but that's the first I've seen in a campground in a long-long time. It actually took me by surprise, it looks so odd to me. The truck was gone, probably was towing a boat and probably on the water (my guess). They did have the TC almost touching the ground, which I think made it look so odd, compared to MH, TT, 5ers, etc on wheels.

So, I'm assuming, there are no restrictions in Indiana State Parks and Recreation areas for "separation." Although I am not a TC owner, I have never heard of any park or campground in Indiana that prohibits "separation". But I suppose it's possible there are restrictions somewhere.

[mbloof]

I drop my camper for the same reasons that someone might unhitch their trailer or those in a motorhome bring a 'dingy'. Once you have your 'site' you can leave the camper plugged in and level while you use the truck to go to town or simply run around and explore.

My thoughts are that some folks might think that your jacks will fail and are not worried the camper will fall over but you'll spend a great amount of time jacking it back up and aligning the truck back under it.

(it takes me 5-10min tops ether way)

[Reality_Check]

jimh425 wrote:
I'm not understanding why you need to take the TC off, but if you always do, seems like a trailer would be a better choice.

If that isn't possible, then a different campground. I don't think education applies since the campground obviously knows they come off, but just doesn't want people to do it there.

We almost always remove ours in the 'other than snow' months. Drop the camper...easier in and out for us and better for launching the boat. Sometimes we'll hit the water twice in the same day, or two or even three different bodies of water in the same trip. So much easier without camper. And 9 times out of 10, we're way faster dropping and hooking than the average trailer.

We had a couple of campgrounds that said no.. Last one was down at Odell. Specific campground restrictions said no removing; us and three others did anyhow. Not sure the reasoning and no, we won't be back.

[jmtandem]

I'm frustrated and tired of hearing this from campgrounds. I have heard this from all types of campgrounds. This seems like an outdated policy. Perhaps Truck Camper Magazine and Manufactures could spend a little time to educate and promote the usage of their products to campgrounds.

Did this really happen to you or is this just a 'what if' kind of thing? So far since 1987 I have yet to have a campground/RV park ask me to keep the camper on the truck. I seriously doubt it is a widespread issue likely bordering on a non issue. The very few campgrounds that might not like you removing the camper are probably very easy to avoid.

[SAR_Tracker]

tonymull wrote:
Carp (sp) gets bleeped??? WTF??

Yep.

But "stuff", "junk", "toys", "trash", "rubbish", "detritus", "garbage", "rubble", or "wreckage" doesn't

[WyoTraveler]

I don't have a TC but do see that more and more. We used to go to RV parks in Vegas all the time in the 80s with a TC and never had a problem. Now they actually ban TCs in some RV parks. Since it is a lot of parks must be a reason linked to insurance for some crazy reason.

[tonymull]

Carp (sp) gets bleeped??? WTF??

[tonymull]

The reason usually cited is that it would take too long to evacuate in an emergency. This is sometimes stipulated by their liability insurance company, no choice on their part. Personally I can be loaded and on the road faster than many folks I see trying to hook up a trailer and stow all the **** they bring along. But for many it is an accurate statement. It takes a while to raise the camper and get it loaded.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Maybe they're afraid the camper will fall over and hurt someone and that they could be sued over it? I've heard of that excuse being used.

I've also heard of campgrounds not allowing truck campers at all. I guess we look to redneck for their uppity clientele. Little do they know, many new truck campers cost more than many new trailers...