No RV parking signs

[brholt]

Having a truck camper I am a bit confused about signs, rules and regulations that specify no RV parking. Are we RV's for the purpose of those signs or are we just trucks? At 25 feet in length I'm not exactly small.

Does anyone have any actual experience where they were allowed, or not allowed, to park in a "no RV parking space"?

[trail-explorer]

To the OP, where in Washington have you seen such signs?

[travelnutz]

Michigan classifies a TC as cargo when on the truck. TC's are titled here only to show state registered ownership but are not licensed. Basically, in Michigan, if your truck unit fits in the public parking space/lot you can park there but not staying overnight as in camping unless it is signed as allowed in that particular location/space. However, you can stay in privately owned parking lots/areas when the parking space/lot owner allows and the the local code doesn't prohibit. Like Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, Cabellas, etc.

"No RV Parking" in our state has mostly to do with the public parking space sizes or the blocking of other vheicle movement it would or could create.

[Ski_Pro_3]

I'd argue any ticket written as an RV for my truck camper set-up. I pay for a truck registration here in California that's what it says on the registration an LEO is going to ask to see. What I put in the bed is of no concern to any LEO or anyone else for that matter, long as the load is legally secured.

[PEIwoman]

billtex wrote:


Bill

p.s. we even squeezed through here;


?

OMG, Bill!,

That is one of the coolest photos I've seen on here!

Way to go, Dude!

[Joe417]

Mesa Verde NP limits RVs to 30' I believe but they don't restrict all. If you have a trailer, they will turn you into a large lot just outside the park to drop it. Otherwise they won't let you go up.

That's where we were when my wife first saw an advantage of having a TC.

[fatmanobx]

The only place I've ever had a problem with was at a couple of Casinos. Even with the handicap tags they wanted me to park with the rv's.

[MKish]

There are a few places in national parks--like the road to Mineral King--where RVs aren't supposed to go due to the road being unfriendly to larger vehicles.

One of these days I'll test it. The ranger on the phone didn't think it would be a problem for a TC, but he said it was full so I didn't go. 🙂

[billtex]

Our TC does not require a registration...so our truck has the only plate.
In Yellowstone, there were many side roads that restricted RV's...I started to enter one (it was a tight/twisty road) the Ranger just waved...after that we drove on any road we wanted and were never questioned. OTH, we parked in "RV' spots at many NP's...so the TC was the best of both worlds. I actually felt bad (not TOO bad) for the difficulty Folks in Class A/C's had trying to find parking in the NP's. The TC was so easy...we could fit anywhere.

Twice we have pulled into to State beaches here on the East Coast, that said "No RV's", the attendants never batted an eye...they charged us the automobile rate and in we went.

We have camped in "tent sites" at NP's, NF's, etc with the Rangers permission, if there were no RV sites. We take only 1 parking space, same as a tent camper...

As noted, I guess it depends who is posting the signs and why. If you are not registered as an RV, you could always point that out to who ever asks.
Ask nice, explain you only need a single space. We have never had a problem.

Bill

p.s. we even squeezed through here;


Can anyone guess the location?

[Camp__Forrest__]

The only time it has ever come up was when we were parking at Safari Park in Escondido and one of the attendants came up and asked us to move over to the RV parking. (Which was even closer!)

Other than that, we parked at a valet surface lot right by the ferry terminal to Alcatraz that said no RV parking. I asked the attendant and he had no problem with us parking in the lot. He said the sign was for, "big RV's" and let us park it ourselves.

[mlts22]

I think it boils down to how in need the local area is for funds... with a high influx of out of towners, a "ticket now, let the judge sort it out" is a prevailing attitude since most towns love the citation revenue.

Here in Texas, truck campers are not registered nor titled; they are, as described above, cargo, pure and simple.

[camperpaul]

In one of the parking lots on the South Rim there is an area that is very clearly marked "RV AND BUS PARKING ONLY".

A couple of us pulled in there with our families and our RVs and found a Mercedes parked right smack in the middle of that area, so we parked him in.

We came back a few hours later to find the local LEO (Ranger?) writing him a parking ticket. 🙂

[jmcgsd]

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
One type of place where I have seen RV's forbidden: national parks.

I don't mind too much if the sign said no vehicles over a certain weight or length or height, but I really object when they forbid by function. I've seen this occur where much larger vehicles (a tour bus for example) were allowed and my RV was not. Grrr. I have written to park administrators and have received "thank you for expressing your opinion" sorts of answers but not really any satisfaction.

I bought just about the smallest RV made. It fits into one parking space. It is shorter than the crew-cab longbed pickups that seem to be everywhere. Grrrr.

Not to hijack the thread, but what National Parks have that sign? I've been in many, but never have seen it. Certainly there are roads where RV's are restricted - 198 into Sequoia for example, but you just go in via 180.

[Tiger4x4RV]

One type of place where I have seen RV's forbidden: national parks.

I don't mind too much if the sign said no vehicles over a certain weight or length or height, but I really object when they forbid by function. I've seen this occur where much larger vehicles (a tour bus for example) were allowed and my RV was not. Grrr. I have written to park administrators and have received "thank you for expressing your opinion" sorts of answers but not really any satisfaction.

I bought just about the smallest RV made. It fits into one parking space. It is shorter than the crew-cab longbed pickups that seem to be everywhere. Grrrr.

[VintageRacer]

It probably depends on the reason for the sign. If the idea is to keep people from camping on the side of the road, you're an RV if you camp on the side of the road in your RV, you're a pickup truck if you park for a few hours while you go for a walk. If the idea is to keep scrappy looking campers out of a neighborhood, you're an RV no matter what you're doing (some neighborhoods just hate RV's). If the idea is to keep people from camping in the Walmart parking lot, you're an RV if you camp overnight, but you're a pickup truck if you just go in to shop and the camper happens to be loaded.

The guy who writes your ticket really could care less if you have a truck camper or a class C, and can't tell the difference. Big box on the back of a van/truck, windows, door, maybe a bike strapped to the ladder, it's an RV.



Brian

[monkey44]

Some states count a truck camper as "cargo" ... Mass and Florida for example.
When I went to insure my TC, the insurance guy called it "Cargo", made a note of name, model, value on my policy, and it did not increase my insurance.

Depends on the state -- some require plates (More Revenue) some do not.