| Author | Message | ||
| H3-40 Rating: N/A |
Has anyone been turned away from a campground or RV park due to your rig being too old? A friend of mine was turned away today at a very nice 230 unit RV park before he even signed in. The first question they asked was what year RV he had and when he told them a 1983, they replied that they couldn't under any circumstances accept ANYTHING older than 10 years old. My H3 is a 92 making it 14 years old and I would really like to see the reaction if I were to pull in as to sign up for a stay. It looks newer than a 92 but in actuallity it is over the age limit. He was looking at staying there under a 1 year lease but got very discouraged about the age limit. After riding thru the park, we noticed MANY rigs that appeared older than a 1996. Oh and the lady at the desk said it was an insurance clause and that was the reason for not allowing anything older than 10. Does this sound right? Ace | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
It's not the age of the vehicle (the chassis) that you should be quoting, it's the date of the conversion completion, that should be quoted. This is one of the reasons I quit the FMCA. They support through advertising, the KOA and other parks that discriminate against 10 year and older RV's. Screw 'em. | ||
| Nick Rating: N/A |
We have lived and traveled fulltme in out 1976 MCI 8 conversion for almost five years and have never been turned away from an RV park. But we also avoid the types of snooty parks that would do so, prefering the mom and pop type places. Nick Russell www.gypsyjournal.net | ||
| JW Smythe (Jwsmythe)
Rating: N/A |
This is something that I never considered. So when I hit the road in my '82 RTS, some places will say "go away"? I don't think too many places trying to follow the 10 year old rule are going to be very accepting of me saying that my '82 RTS is a '06 conversion. Ah, screw 'em. I'll sit outside their gate, and let my engine idle all night while I sleep.  | ||
| H3-40 Rating: N/A |
Ok it was late last night when I got home from corn poppin and I forgot to mention that my friends rig is not a bus conversion. Can't say it was converted in so and so year. It's a stick and staple mh that he just acquired. He's looking at fulltiming due to his apartment rent going up to 815 bucks a month. He tried to get into a bus but over the years and a bad wide or two, his credit is similar to the capt.'s so he is limited as to what he can get. He is trying to get back on his feet and this was one way to get started. The rv park charges 360 per month plus metered electric. He has a dog that is with him 100% of time so that was ok with the park. The only drawback was the 83 rv. Travelling yesterday thru various small towns while heading towards Arcadia I saw numerous parks with much older rv's parked in them. They didn't look like mom and pop parks either so I guess he'll have to look elsewhere. In town would have been more convenient for him and his job! I still think I would want to pull up in my H3 and see what kind of response I get IF they even ask me what year it is! Ace | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
So, we're now anonymous as to parks in addition to names? How 'bout a name/location, Ace? You're the first poster reluctant to name the particular park - as far as I can remember. I'd be curious to follow up on the particular park with the insurance angle. There's little to burn in a RV park - most of the damage would be contained within the RV itself, a mess, yes, but not the makings of a huge insurance claim sufficient to justify such a policy. Or is this place configured like the commercial side of a California rest stop?, with no room for parking on one side and an awning deployment on the other? There would be a risk of collateral damage if truly parked side by side. But who'd want to spend a year in such a place? The way things are in the RV park industry, this "insurance company rule" would be affecting alot more of our (potential parks), across the good ole USA. According to the reports on the major Bus BBs, regarding the warranty problems and condition of typical sticks and staples, the incidents of problems endemic with them would have the insurance industry setting an age limit much less than 10 yrs. Them insurance actuarials, with this much of a data base to work from, ain't that stupid! This insurance angle needs to be investigated further. How 'bout a name of park and person contacted???? This is a call I'd like to make! | ||
| pete hyser (4501pete)
Rating: N/A |
i think id back into the check in shed with my 56 scenicruiser! ooops | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
Ace must have posted seconds before mine. That's clearer, I was interested only as to bus conversions, not stick and staples and I don't need a reply. | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
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Hey Ace, Since when did MY credit rating become A public standard for comparison? I take offence to that. Apoligee Excepted in advance. | ||
| CoryDane Rating: N/A |
I firmly beleive the credit rating thing to be a farce. I work with a clown who lives high on the hog, buys the best of everything has a live in girl friend that pays half the house mortgage because he can't afford it and he buys new cars like most people collect pens and pencils. He has at least 9 cars jammed in his garage, driveway, neighbors garage(renting space) and storage areas. I over heard this guy bragging at how high his credit rating was but the fact is if he ever used his charge cards for any sizeable amount, he could NOT pay for it. He has nothing in reserve and only a 401K for retirement. I have already decided that I won't be around when he loses everything and is living on the street cause thats where he is headed. No REFLECTION on you Cap'n, just an observation on this goof I work with. CDane | ||
| H3-40 Rating: N/A |
Ron, no applogy is needed or given because if you recall, it was YOU that made your credit history public a while back on THIS forum when you were either buying your new bus or something related. I'm not exactly sure what it was but it was you that made it public! For the park in question it is Lakeland RV resort and their web site is: www.lakelandrvresort.com I didn't see anything posted in the office OR on the site that stated the 10 year old rule! I personally didn't get the womans name that made the comment but she was there on Saturday. Let's see, it was around noon and she had short hair with glasses. Ace PS My friend has found that there are even better places for less money and NO questions as to what he owns! | ||
| Linda-4104-FL Rating: N/A |
Just as a general rule, we tend to avoid places with "Resort" in their name, because they do tend to be snooty. Having said that, I will in fairness say that in 2004 we stayed in a "resort" for a few days over the 4th of July holiday out in Washington state, and they had even truck campers ('not that there's anything wrong with that' -- Seinfeld) parked in there. There was only one campground we've encountered (it was out in Las Vegas) that even asked the age of our RV, and we tried giving a year-date of conversion but the clerk wasn't buying it. After we said 1959, he called someone (apparently an owner or supervisor) who had apparently already looked it over and said it was okay -- presumably based on appearance/condition. It seems most of the ones with restrictions are really just trying to keep the ratty-looking RVs away. | ||
| jimmci9 #2 Rating: N/A |
i was turned away from the KOA rv park in austin tx, because i was a "worker'..... not on account of my motorhome, its age... but because i was a fulltimer.... i think the name is lone star rv... and its got an adult superstore convieniently located, just outside its front gate.... | ||
| Brent Coursey (Busboy)
Rating: N/A |
We are campground owners and I can say that that women at the RV park in question was lying about the insurance thing. There is nowhere in my Campground Insurance policy that tells me that I cannot take customers that are over 10 years old. Our monthly rate is $285 a month, send him our way, upstate of South Carolina...oh I forgot, we are starting a waiting list as our spot on Lake Hartwell has gotten real popular. The previous owners wanted to own a resort and when we got here we had to take the "Resort" out of the name because of all of the snooty people showing up wanting to know where the cafe and massages were...oh and they could not take that we have gravel sites...must have asphalt or concrete... -Brent | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
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Maybe the motorhome looked like the one Cousin Eddie drove or the driver was dressed like Cousin Eddie. Would need more info before making a judgement. Not trying to say they were correct.Just can't form an opinion as of yet. " the rest of the story" | ||
| H3-40 Rating: N/A |
Dang what do I need to do, post a pic of my friend along with his RV? Nobody asked for him to be judged on personal appearance! I asked if this was a common rule by the campground/s or not! As far as I'm concerned, this topic is closed! My friend found a place and seems to pretty happy about NOT being in the one mentioned! maybe he'll move up to Brents in the future. Who Knows? That's a good thing about full timing. You can pick up and go whenever you want! Ace | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Some insight... (or as Marc would say: "inward and upward") "WHEN A PRIVATE INVESTMENT GROUP bought the Riverland RV Resort last year, it had its work cut out for it. The 47-year-old campground, located along the shores of the Kings River in California's San Joaquin Valley, about 20 miles southeast of Fresno, often attracted an unruly group of campers who were known for consuming large quantities of alcohol and, at times, urinating along campground roadways or, in some instances, in the river itself, said Dee Coleman, the campground's new project manager. The new owners, Riverland Real Property Investments LTD LP of Rolling HiBs, California, immediately set out to change the resorts image with millions of dollars worth of improvements, including new electrical hookups, a new swimming pool and other upgrades, Coleman said. The company also implemented a series of new policies designed to eliminate the rowdiness of years past while improving the aesthetics of the resort. Open containers were banned, and restrictions were imposed on the age of vehicles allowed into the resort. In Riverlands case, no RVs that are more than 12 years old are allowed into the park without management s approval. Some may view policies prohibiting older RVs as discriminatory. But Coleman and other private-RV-resort operators say such policies are often necessary to protect the image of their resorts. "You have to do it," said Reza Paydar, president and CEO of La Jolla, California-based Sunland RV Resorts, which owns and operates seven RV resorts throughout Southern California. "If you allow these older vehicles to come into your park, it's like having a neighbor with a run-down house, and it impacts the desirability of the sites nearby." " (From here) So ya' see... it ain't the age; it's the condition and appearance of the RV. No mention of the "real fat and ugly Newmar people" at the pool, however.. It seems to me, it's all about the ca$h. (Thought I was going to say "Prevost" instead of "Newmar", didn't ya'...huh..) | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A |
Sure, Let the bankers tell you where to live and what to say. Use a spokesperson that was not even born on our soil to tell you how to think. Oh... I forgot again... They already do that !! My Mistake...I am getting the distinct feeling of living in a ZOO... (monkey exhibit!)... At least I am not behaving like a howler monkey... I know how to flush! | ||
| Linda-4104-FL Rating: N/A |
Getting to the basic question Ace asked, regardless of what his friend was driving or looked like, etc. -- keep the photo to yourself, Ace -- LOL --- the question was, "is it a common rule" at campgrounds. IMHO, based on my own travels and what others have said: No, it is not a "common" rule and my personal feeling is that any such campgrounds with such policies should be avoided. Other places will be glad to have your business. | ||
| Jon W. Rating: N/A |
I have seen two ways that campground owners restrict their customers. The most common is pricing. If they want to cater to high end stuff (assuming they have a nice CG) they put an expensive price on their sites. That eliminates a lot of customers who might not be able to pay or who might not want to pay the price. The second way is to post a big sign that says they reserve the right to refuse a site to anybody. If they don't like the way a rig looks (or it's owners) they can refuse to rent a site. The age restriction is a lousy way to accomplish whatever result they are looking for because some 20 year old Bluebirds look a lot better than an abused 5 year old fiberglass coach. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Oh-ohh "The second way is to post a big sign that says they reserve the right to refuse a site to anybody. If they don't like the way a rig looks (or it's owners) they can refuse to rent a site. " No sir, that will not work. The CG owner will most certainly face charges of discrimination within short order. Restricting a specific class, year, or type of vehicle from entering your park, is fine and legal.... Restrictions based on "whim of the moment", can be considered to be against a person, and not just the vehicle. The old adage: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", comes to mind... Is the vehicle the real reason for refusal, or is the race, religion, or nationality of the occupants the true reason? Naww.... 10 or more years old, with exceptions, works well for those parks wanting to restrict foul looking vehicles from their premises... | ||
| Brent Coursey (Busboy)
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Let's cut to the chase here...I would rather look at a mid 70's Winnebago bread box in my park than have to look at a 300lb+ lady in a bikini at the pool while I'm trying to test the pool chemicals! -Brent | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Think of the parts you like, then just try to think of it as "more". | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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John MC9 - There is no legal protection for "older" RV's - I don't know where you get this stuff from - Any business owner in America has the right to refuse service to any one as long as they do not discriminate on the basis of any of the constitutionaly protected exceptions - Discrimination per se is not illegal - dis·crim·i·nate ( P ) Pronunciation Key (d-skrm-nt) v. dis·crim·i·nat·ed, dis·crim·i·nat·ing, dis·crim·i·nates v. intr. To make a clear distinction; distinguish: discriminate among the options available. To make sensible decisions; judge wisely. To make distinctions on the basis of class or category without regard to individual merit; show preference or prejudice: was accused of discriminating against women; discriminated in favor of his cronies. v. tr. To perceive the distinguishing features of; recognize as distinct: discriminate right from wrong. To distinguish by noting differences; differentiate: unable to discriminate colors. To make or constitute a distinction in or between: methods that discriminate science from pseudoscience. Sheesh | ||
| motorcoach1 Rating: N/A |
i guess i'll keep my Orphan ....... | ||
| Jon W. Rating: N/A |
John, Niles responded to your post far better than I could have. I personally am opposed to arbitrary discrimination but I have seen it happen and there is nothing that can be done about it. A private campground can decide on the spot they do not want to rent a space to anyone. I disagree with the ten or twelve year thing because the use of snobbery to prevent a not-so-nice older coach I find offensive, but that is no different than a campground owner turning aside a 16 foot RV trailer, but allowing an 18 footer. If you look you will see discrimination everywhere including on this site. | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
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Just keep the dino spinning the dyno and not worry about it. Niles, Sheesh man, I had to find my hip waders for that one.... All that evolves down to a word: "STUPID" eventually.... Somebody griped about the FMCA.. Shut-up ! I am a member and also a member of a local chapter. There are always events going on somewhere and usually include an unrestricted parking spot for a few days. Besides I wouldn't stay at any K.O.A. if you paid me. I have known entire "tent" families that live there year round, But have seen nice older motorhomes refused at the gates. Double Standards exist, You have to have a "new" & "Late model" tent. Nevermind the 15 kids and 4 junky cars... Yadda Yadda Yadda.... | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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DR Dave - ???????? | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
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Yeeeeeeessssss.... | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
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Sorry, am suffering from diesel fumes.. Had to run the isuzu to orlando and back already today.. Haven't changed it to wvo yet.. makes me dizzy.. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Niles.... What in all hell are you babbling about? (did you change meds again?) Re-read the posts again: "By Jon W. (69.138.145.183) on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 8:42 am: Edit Post ....The second way is to post a big sign that says they reserve the right to refuse a site to anybody. If they don't like the way a rig looks (or it's owners) they can refuse to rent a site....." "By John MC9 (66.217.107.105) on Monday, April 03, 2006 - 9:05 am: Edit Post No sir, that will not work. The CG owner will most certainly face charges of discrimination within short order. Restricting a specific class, year, or type of vehicle from entering your park, is fine and legal.... Restrictions based on "whim of the moment", can be considered to be against a person, and not just the vehicle. The old adage: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", comes to mind... Is the vehicle the real reason for refusal, or is the race, religion, or nationality of the occupants the true reason?" Sometimes, my friend doth protest too much.... eh? | ||
| Ken Wildman
Rating: N/A |
I have a 1968 Corvair-powered Ultra Van. You can see how shabby it is at http://www2.onu.edu/~kwildman/ultraVan.html We have never been turned away from a CG. We stay at KOA's often - just because they have a lot of them and are usally located near the interstates. I'm not saying that all are the same - but I had never heard of them "screening" for coach age. I agree with those who put it in terms of appearance. If you are trying to attract coach owners who can afford $90/day and want lots of amenities, you would be hurting your business taking in scruffy old coaches. That may be supporting snobbery, but it's pretty understandable for a business to try to keep their clientele happy. The CGs I can afford don't seem to have this issue. Ken | ||
| Bill 340 Rating: N/A |
Ace NO ONE Will ASK the year. Bill | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Ken - Yeah man! The "bathtub with wheels"! A guy at a campground we stayed at, was refurbishing one of these. It looked great on the inside, as far as he got... There's something about the "classics" that always interested me.. I almost bought a Cortez for under a hundred, with the Tornado engine and tranny out.... but... This entire gambut is fun, when we have the time and cash to play with... Enjoy it while you can, folks...It does not last forever. | ||
| John Jewett (Jayjay)
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Upriver Campground, Bayshore Road, Ft. Myers, Florida turned me away because the 4905 was more than 10 years old. Snowy river Campground in Bend Oregon did the same, and Poor Steven's on St. Simmons Island, Georgia. H3-40 and Bill340 are both familiar with my bus, and can attest that it is not a dog that they would turn away on appearances. Just age! Have a witness with you when you check in, and use a hidden tape recorder, then stop at your friendly local attorneys office and see if you can end up with a downpayment on the rig of your dreams. Cheers...JJ | ||
| JW Smythe (Jwsmythe)
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John, Maybe they just didn't like you? (excuse me while I run and hide) | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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John MC9 - I don't babble - please quote the chapter and verse of your babbling or s t f u - FWIW - Niles | ||
| Tom Hamrick (Tomhamrick)
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Brent, What is the name of your campground on Lake Hartwell? Where are you located? I am not far away and may want to visit. Thanks, Tom Hamrick | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
Ken, Where did they get the corner windshields on the Ultra van? | ||
| Brent Coursey (Busboy)
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Tom, Go to www.camplakehartwell.com. Near Anderson, SC -Brent | ||
| Ken Wildman
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Marc: The windshields came from a a 1960-62 Chebbie Step-Van. The guy who designed these was an aeronautical engineer. He built the body like a DC-3 - aluminum struts and aluminum skin, tied together with aluminum tanks stretching across the bottom. Couldn't figure out what to do with the front until he saw the Chevy step-van. Bought a windshield at a junk yard, positioned it where he thought it ought to go and then built the front around it. Ken | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
The problem is the "discrimination " lawyers. There is no question most 10 year old sticks and staples are of very low value and many are almost death traps . SO if a campsite owner sez nothing "over 10" years is allowed , he would be setting his establishment up for a law suit if he did not apply that "Rule" to EVERY coach. A big hassle for folks with fine coach campers from the 60's. I have noticed that if the coach "Looks" grand , no questions are ever asked. Spit shine & you will do fine! FAST FRED | ||
| Tom Hamrick (Tomhamrick)
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Brent, Looks good!! I am 25 miles north of Spartanburg in North Carolina. I will have to come check your place. Tom Hamrick 1984 Eagle 10S | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
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I been to a lot of RV parks that had the 10 year rule. I had one lady in a place north or Vancuver WA. tell me it was the becouse High doller rigs will not stay there if you and your low class older then 10 year non $800000 45 foot rig is there. I know they look down at anyone that has a older rig even if it looks like new. I parked my 1968 travel trailer that looked as the day it was made at a walmart next to a high doller rig. The owner was just finishing putting plywood pads under his levers had all the sliders out. I said hi as I walked to the store and all I got was a grunt from him and whan I come out he was moved 10 spaces down resetting up his levelers. I guess I was not high class to park in the space next to him. Just think some one may have thought I was with him. Brian some place on earth | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
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Thay guy was probably JOHN MC9. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
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Play nice now guys! | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
HAR!! Yeah... really... People usually vacate the area when I pull in; they don't take any chances at all... "GET US THE HELL OUT OF HERE NOW" , the wife is heard screaming... | ||
| Geoff (Geoff)
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Hum, maybe Brian parked where they intended to set up their lawn furniture... |