Ok - We are seriously thinking of buying an ATC Panther shell or a Four Wheel Hawk shell. With a pop-up cabover camper, can we use Tent-Only sites?

Maybe, but probably not.There was a long thread about this a year or two ago.My experience from interviewing a ranger at Zion NP is that "tent only" there was to fairly allocate scarce camping real estate. They even had a placard at the fee station with all kinds of trucks, vans and campers that were not permitted in, even if you "promised" to sleep in a tent. Basically, no pop ups or heat or water on the rig.In other locations, the camping site is a walk away from the parking, hence, tent only.In other situations, it is justified by citing reduced environmental impact. Some cite fire marshal restrictions.You can always ask, but don't get offended and be prepared to be denied and look elsewhere.

RickW wrote:Maybe, but probably not.There was a long thread about this a year or two ago.My experience from interviewing a ranger at Zion NP is that "tent only" there was to fairly allocate scarce camping real estate. They even had a placard at the fee station with all kinds of trucks, vans and campers that were not permitted in, even if you "promised" to sleep in a tent. Basically, no pop ups or heat or water on the rig.In other locations, the camping site is a walk away from the parking, hence, tent only.In other situations, it is justified by citing reduced environmental impact. Some cite fire marshal restrictions.You can always ask, but don't get offended and be prepared to be denied and look elsewhere.Interesting. Thanks for the explanation. :B Guess I'll have to plan ahead and contact the campgrounds and ask about our setup specifically (just a shell, no water, heat, LP, elec, etc). I'd rather sleep with the tents than big ol' RVs :WThanks again!

Hmmm ... I've seen plenty sleeping in their cars in tents only sites... at Zion. Yes, they setup a tent, but when it dipped into the 30s overnight, their skin tight yoga pants and northface parka didn't keep the youth warm and they retreated to their vehicles, starting the engine even.I don't know how the rangers draw the line, sleeping in a car at a tent site is OK, but sleeping in a truck, at a tent site maybe not?

GordonThree wrote:Hmmm ... I've seen plenty sleeping in their cars in tents only sites... at Zion. Yes, they setup a tent, but when it dipped into the 30s overnight, their skin tight yoga pants and northface parka didn't keep the youth warm and they retreated to their vehicles, starting the engine even.I don't know how the rangers draw the line, sleeping in a car at a tent site is OK, but sleeping in a truck, at a tent site maybe not?When I inquired, they screened by type and configuration of vehicle at entry. Car? OK. Truck? OK. Truck plus shell higher than roof, go apply over at the RV campground to confirm you are not staying in this park tonite. I don't think they check the vehicles parked in the tent campground after it's full and the sun goes down.Non sequitur: I was at a campground last year where many tent dwellers slept in their cars right after the evening bear visit. :E

Varies, we have stayed many times in the tent section after checking with the camp host or park ranger. Sometimes the designation just means no hook ups and shorter parking spots. Sometimes it just means that they have a flat graded spot that better suits a tent. Other times the specifically don't want RV's amongst the tenters. Sometimes it depends on how full the park is. With a more minimal camper you will probably have a little more flexibility.

Dumb Question about Tent Only sites | Good Sam Community

Eric_Lisa
Explorer II
May 09, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
Cool. So the answer is yes or no or depends.

I think there is a difference between "tent-only" and "no hookups" campsites. While a "no hookup" works for a self-contained RV and has a tent pad, a "tent-only" probably means just that.

HTH,
-Eric
GeoBoy
Explorer
May 06, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
Cool. So the answer is yes or no or depends.

That’s right.:B
toedtoes
Explorer III
May 06, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
Cool. So the answer is yes or no or depends.

Yep. That's basically it. Too many variables by region, type of campground, biases of camp hosts, and so on, to have a single answer.

Best thing is to ask politely and accept the answer politely at each campground. Don't take a no answer personally. And just enjoy your camping.
time2roll
Nomad
May 06, 2019
Check with the person in charge. Expect to camp like those around you with probably no generator.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 06, 2019
Cool. So the answer is yes or no or depends.
toedtoes
Explorer III
May 06, 2019
towpro wrote:
look at the other side of the coin. If I am tent camping, I don't want to have to listen to the noise and light pollution caused by RV's

heater cycling all night
hot water heater running
water pump cycling on and off at night
TV's running
worse yet Generators running
lights turned on all night.

ON the other hand as an RV owner I avoid tent sites because they seem to have a higher rate of late night partying. I realize in some spots if the nation its inherently cooler (like out west during summer) but I have seen people with tents running generators so they can have AC in the tent.

I've seen and heard tenters using generators for all sorts of things - including lights (all night), AC or heaters, tv or stereos or projectors for movies, fridges, etc.

At the smaller campgrounds I visit (under 50 sites), tenters are mixed in with RVers with no problem. Usually a tent only site designation is made dependent upon tree growth over the sites and varies each year.

At larger campgrounds (over 100 sites), there are tent only loops that have the group parking pad and you walk a ways to each site.

At none of these campgrounds are there "RV only sites" - whether hookups or not.
Dually
Explorer
May 06, 2019
towpro wrote:

ON the other hand as an RV owner I avoid tent sites because they seem to have a higher rate of late night partying. .

That has been my experience, BTW in FL state parks for the most part if you fit in the site it is ok to camp in it
towpro
Explorer
May 06, 2019
look at the other side of the coin. If I am tent camping, I don't want to have to listen to the noise and light pollution caused by RV's

heater cycling all night
hot water heater running
water pump cycling on and off at night
TV's running
worse yet Generators running
lights turned on all night.

ON the other hand as an RV owner I avoid tent sites because they seem to have a higher rate of late night partying. I realize in some spots if the nation its inherently cooler (like out west during summer) but I have seen people with tents running generators so they can have AC in the tent.
BradW
Explorer II
May 06, 2019
We have stayed at many "tent only" site in our truck camper. Never had a problem if it fits in the parking spot.
jimh406
Explorer III
May 06, 2019
In WA, State Parks haven’t cared if I parked my Truck Camper or not in Tent areas. In those areas, tent just means no rv pad and no improvement for RVs. However, Yellowstone explicitly calls my rig an RV. That means no camping at Tent spots according to the guys on the reservations, and also means no driving on roads that don’t allow RVs if my Truck Camper is on.

BTW, I’ve been down a few of the roads in Yellowstone when I took off my Truck Camper. I can’t imagine a problem driving them with the Truck Camper. I think it’s just simpler to so no which I’m ok with.

Sure, it’s kind of arbitrary, but those are the rules as far as I can tell. There are also explicit hard side camper areas in Yellowstone if Fishing Bridge is open.

Once upon a time, I think the intent was to separate the quiet tent campers from the RVs, but as noted, that isn’t very real any more. There are just as many loud tent campers as loud RV campers.