By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, the Grateful Glamper is fed up. They just got turned away from yet another RV park because of the 10-year rule: RV parks not accepting rigs older than 10 years. This is despite the fact that their diesel pusher motorhome is in immaculate condition.
The same happened to a friend of hers with an older but pristine million-dollar bus. The bus is pictured above. Does it make sense for this RV to be turned away from anywhere? It was, in fact, rejected under the 10-year rule.
Our hostess thinks that is ridiculous. I agree. While I do see a need for a rule, it should be judged on a case-by-case basis.
That said, I have an older RV and have never had this issue, as I never stay in places that would have such a ridiculous policy in the first place. State, national, and Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds never have any such rules and I FAR prefer them to RV parks anyway. But that’s me.
Our hostess also thinks the 10-year rule is ruining RVing as we have come to know and love it. You may or may not agree, but here are her reasons why she says the 10-year rule negatively impacts RVing and RVers:
#1 Destroying the sense of community and adventure: In this point, she discusses the immense pride of ownership many owners of older RVs have. Sometimes these classic RVs are family heirlooms, maintained and passed down through generations that have grown up loving RVing.
#2 Economic discrimination: The 10-year rule limits guests of a campground to only those who can afford newer RVs, regardless of condition. Even if you can afford a new RV, buying one often does not make financial sense, as is discussed in the video. RVing can be an affordable way for families to travel, but this rule alienates a significant portion of the population.
#3 It lowers the value of older RVs: Because so many people are concerned about the 10-year rule (I see the question in RV groups constantly), it makes older RVs less desirable, regardless of how well they have been maintained.
#4 It limits travel options for RVers: This is technically true, but as I said earlier, there are plenty of other options besides RV resorts.
#5 Negative environmental impact: I agree with this one. Encouraging the constant purchase of newer RVs wastes resources, no matter how you look at it. It’s definitely more eco-friendly to use older, well-maintained RVs than to keep replacing them with newer ones because some RV parks have deemed anything beyond 10 years old too old.
What do you think about the 10-year rule? We welcome your comments.
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10 year rule versus 20 year loan. Have seen some RV parks demand photos of the coach.
We have friends with gorgeous restored GMC Motorhomes. Since the last one was made in 1978, do the simple math.
I don’t stay in any park with the 10 year rule. They do not need my custom.
Agree. If RVers will not stay at any campground with a 10 year rule, it will eventually impact their bottom line($).
Years ago we were refused a campground stay in California even though we had an existing reservation.
The 10 year rule is sometimes ridiculous. I have seen seasonal or permanent MH’s and trailers that have been grossly neglected in these parks and the park owners ignore the problem, but won’t allow a nicely maintained 10+ year old unit to stay for a few days. My trailer is only 8 years old, and except for some normal wear and tear so I have not had to abide by these rules.
We won’t get into (or even be considered by) any of these RV Parks. Of our two travel trailers, one is 26 years old (1998 Layton) and the other is 23 years old (2001 CrossRoads). So, as they say in the big city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, “Oh, well”.
While I agree that the 10-year rule often makes no rational sense, if a park is privately owned, it is the owner’s prerogative to make whatever rules they feel are appropriate. Not really any different from “motor coach only” parks. Just stay somewhere else.
Frankly, we have never run into the 10 year rule and never been asked for photos. Maybe that’s because we stay in public campgrounds–state parks, COE, USFS, national parks and monuments, county and city parks–or boondocking. If I ever do find a place with the rule, I’ll go somewhere else.
I am the same, I just don’t go to those kind of places and wouldn’t regardless of what kind of RV I have.
I recognize all the reasons for a 10-year rule, and for every reason there is someone who will skirt that reason. And at the same time, there are a lot of very nice 10+ year-old rigs on the road to which the reasons don’t apply.
I’ve noticed a lot of parks now only apply the 10-year rule to new arrivals looking for a month or longer reservation – meaning subject to visual inspection when you arrive. And they have a follow-on rule that they reserve the right to terminate the reservation for any unmaintained RV (which can be incorporated in “we can kick you out for any reason”).
I have seen some campers only a few (3 or 5) years old (covid years) that were in really bad shape compared to my “older” camper which has been upgraded and remodeled by us personally. And Yes, we do have two campers and the other is a new one also. But I do understand that campgrounds have been saddled with older campers that have broken down and abandoned, so I do understand what they are trying to accomplish with the rule. But in saying all that I would still put my “older” one up against some of the “new junk” any day of the week.
We have a 2003 Newmar with full body paint done in January. Since I prefer state parks and COEs I’ve not run up against the rule…yet. I will stay elsewhere if I do. After hearing all the complaints about new RVs I’ll stay with what I have.
I’ve run into this situation several times. At one RV park, they refused me because my MH not only is “too old” but also not long enough! It is only 26 feet long. It is a 2001 Lazy Daze — a 5-star rated unit, which I keep well maintained.
This is just more corporate greed and BS to get people to buy newer junk that shouldn’t be on the road. Many older trailers..and some motor homes…were built like a brick out house and are still better than the new junk they call “quality”. Stereotyping has become a fad in this country.
If you’re being turned down because of the 10-year-rule, be sure to ask how old the park and any improvements are. Not necessarily to do anything; just to mess with their little pea brains.
Good idea, John.👍 Thanks! Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Perhaps campers should have similar requirements for the park operators. Lets say…. 45 years old maximum and documented perfect health only. The rationales are similar:
Aesthetics: Older operators are less aesthetically pleasing.
Breakdowns: More prone to medical issues
Abandonment: Cranky older operators have less energy and have greater difficulty retaining staff and family members.
Safety: Older operators are more likely to drop things, make errors and generally be forgetful
The list, obviously, could go on. Many by now are in outrage screaming “Older people are like this”. Quite so. And not all 10 year old RV’s are piles of junk on wheels.
Thanks, Martyn. I doubt that many of our readers will be outraged by what you say, and probably a lot of them will agree with it. I especially enjoyed the “Older operators are less aesthetically pleasing.”🤣 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
No matter what we think, most of our beautiful looks and shape goes away as we age.
Hi, Bob. That’s true, although, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And older folks are beautiful in their own way. In other words, you don’t have to be young to be beautiful. Still, I’d rather get older than not.🤔 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Only been asked once and they looked at it thru the office window and said “looks good,” we will accept it. I think it was 15 at the time. Most of the time I call and ask if they have openings and then ask if they have an age restriction. You can clear that little problem up without driving.
Except for body style giving away its age it looks like new.
A friend wanted space in a Florida campground and he had to send them pictures of his very expensive Tiffin. He was accepted. Snobs?
Our San Antonio, TX RV park and campground does not have age restrictions for any stay under 30 days. For all the reasons you mentioned we strive to keep family vacations affordable and stress free and greatly enjoy the various cross section of guests we are privileged to serve. On the other hand, we reserve the right to ask for photos as a basis of longer termed RV stays. We look for things like torn awnings, window ac units, missing compartment doors, burnt water heater stains when we examine the photos. If it looks a little bad when they arrive and they want to stay a year or more, it could look much worse by then. It also gives evidence of the care someone takes of their possessions.
I’ve run into that a couple of times. They asked me to text them a photo and once I did that they said OK.
How is an RV owner supposed to know how if the park will let them camp there without pulling in? It seems to be wasting a lot of time and gas because of camp owners who want to discriminate against those of us with older RVs. I have a 22 year old RV that only has 66k miles on it. It is still relatively new because of non-use and now I am being told I cannot stay in parks? Next motels will be telling people who are over 35 that they cannot stay because they are too old and might die in the room. As long as the person pays for a space, that should be sufficient.
I think the names of these “Resorts” should be published. Particularly in a case like this where they disinvited a camper. Did they have the fact that they didn’t accept older RVs on their web site? Our RV is about 20 years old. It is very well maintained and paid for because aside from our sticks and bricks, it was our biggest investment. We have from time to time looked at newer RVs and always say “no way”. My daughter lives in a beautiful upscale shared housing complex. She parks her 2006 Saturn among $250,000 and up cars. Nobody has told her she can’t live there because her vehicle is too old. Why, because that is discrimination.
The crazy thing is they INVITED them in the first place as RV influencers to get publicity for THEIR “resort”. SO yes I would put the name out there.
Thank you, Cheri! 🙂 I saw this video several days ago and was disapointed. I thought that her title was melodramatic and that her arguments had more conjecture than fact behind them. Certainly many do not like the rule, but there might be some logical reason(s) for the rule. I liked the video that Endless RVing did on the 10-year rule. It was helpful to understanding the campground owners’ perspective. Thanks again, Cheri, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
So far, so good…03 39L