Have you heard of the “10-year rule” at RV parks? If not, you’ve probably not been an RVer very long.
Here’s the rule, as it applies to camping in an RV park: If your RV is 10 years old or older, you may not be allowed to stay. If you’re asked while making a reservation the age of your RV, you might be turned down if it’s 10 years or older. The rule is never, to our knowledge, applied in public parks, like state parks and national forest campgrounds. It’s exclusively enforced only at commercial RV parks. Many parks, of course, have no such rule.
While many RVers with well-kept RVs even older than ten years have never encountered this rule, others have, some plenty of times especially in snowbird states like Arizona and Florida. And to many, it may seem downright unfair.
The rule is there mostly for one reason: It allows a park to turn away junky RVs. They’re an eyesore to other RVers, and if enough of them are present in a park, other RVers with well-kept rigs will choose to stay elsewhere.
Some RVers with well-kept rigs will fudge about the age of their RV, saying its a 2013 model rather than, say, a 2011. If the RV is a mess, the park management may ask for proof of its age in order to easily justify turning the RVer away. However, if it’s in pristine condition, it’s unlikely the RVer will even be questioned.
This video from the folks at Drivin’ and Vibin’ does a good job explaining the rule and how it is applied at RV parks.
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We had an 18 yr old Newmar Class A that looked no more than 2 yrs old and never had a problem. As a matter of fact several times in routine discussions when someone found out it’s age they couldn’t believe it. If you keep up with routine maintenance and cleaning you’ll never be rejected. A three yr old unit will look bad if nothing is done to protect it from the weather.
Ditto. 2002 Newmar Class A. Most people are shocked if the age comes up. Recently made a reservation at a new RV resort in Florida. She asked age. I told her and said I can send pictures. She said to send them and they would review & get back to us. Sent them after I hung up the phone. Within 5 minutes she called and said your site has been booked, your coach is gorgeous :-).
I don’t want to stay somewhere that has a 10 year rule. I have seen 20 year old rvs that look better than 10 year old ones, or even 5! People are what I object to. I’ve met great people in converted busses, and trash in 100,000 dollar diesel pushers. Anyway, it’s camping. Who cares if I park next to a trashy looking trailer? Just move the next day if it bothers you so much.
You alway make the headline read like regular family campgrounds have this 10 year rule. When in fact it’s just the very high end RV resorts that have these rules. Enough with the click bait about “campgrounds” having a 10 year rule.
I would have thought you were right until I encountered this rule last year at an RV park in Montrose, Colorado, with all gravel sites and no special amenities. It’s just the kind of park I like and we’ve stayed there a few times in the past, but now new management apparently thinks its “high end” like the kind you’re referring to. Our trailer was 7 years old at the time, so we had no problem with the rule, but I don’t expect to stay there again. Just doesn’t feel friendly anymore.
Disagree. I travel in a 1976 FMC and never camp in”high end” campgrounds. Many times I have encountered the rule on the list of rules while checking in, but I have never been denied entry. I see them looking out the window and that is all it takes as I take care of my coach.
Silliest one I encountered was a park insisted on photos of all four sides of a three year old class A before accepting my reservation. Did it because I was in a time bind but found another park for future travel through that part of Texas.
I have seen junkie new ones and beautiful old ones. However, no campground owner wants one that is going to die on his property, and he cannot get rid of it. Some campers follow “leave no trace”, other campers follow “leave your trash everywhere”. What would you do?
We travel in a 2000 Fleetwood Bounder DP, 39z, we have not been denied at any campground as of yet.
It is in Great shape.
We have been full timing for 5 years now and have stayed at literally hundreds of campgrounds across the country with our 2003 Motorhome. We have NEVER had anyone try to turn us down.
However, we have always asked and read the campground policy and if there IS a 10 rule, we have found it is usually the fancy “Resort” type campgrounds and we don’t want to stop there at $100 per night anyway.
The only other times the 10-year rule might apply is if you’re going to be staying for a month or more – they don’t want people dumping their derelict RVs in the campground. (You’d be amazed how often this happens).
Just Lie to them about the Year.
They never check. ( Unless your rig is a Dumpster).
We have not been denied with our 1996 Flair, however we have been questioned.
One park with that rules looked at our RV in the registration lane, and said it did not look that old to them. I’ll take that as a compliment.
For some reason that “10 year” rule must be a convenient number. Our local tax assessment office used to lower property taxes on rigs 10 years and older. When our rig turned 10 last year, we went in for our adjustment. Seems they have now extended that rule to 15 years!! Clerk didn’t have justification. Apparently that is just another convenient number.
Some days you just can’t win.
It’s all about the $$$ when dealing with tax assessments. They don’t really care, just pass the $$$.
Do these campgrounds understand that most of them themselves are well over 10 years old and some in desperate need of a makeover as well?
10 year rule should be a suggestion, not a rule at all. Rewrite it stressing importance of good maintenance and unit appearance.
Ask them to sent you the photo of their RV park (not sold photo ) ask them when was the place update with stuff (pool ,Spa tub, new restrooms ,water line etc?
We have run across it a couple of times over the years, my favorite 🙄 is there’s no fudging the ones that ask you for your registration at check in.
Yeah, if they want my registration,they can sell the site to someone else. They have no legal NEED for it. Their park, their rules, but my money and my choice on where it is spent…..
I’m not sure about the registration issue. One benefit is that if there is a stolen camper it would help to find that one and report it. All campgrounds should have a list of stolen campers no matter of the size. The affected owners would be delighted to get it back when reported. Right now that is the only thing I can think of…..Oh yes one more thing. If the RV owner is alone registering for a spot it would be a good thing to have more information if there is a sudden sickness or death. There are a lot of us who are alone with ages of 70, 80, 90. We could die in our camper and no one would know who we are.
I’ve sent pictures and never been turned down. I have been turned down because my Class C was not 26′ long, even though it is with the back slide out.
I own a well kept 2008 Casita travel trailer. It is in great shape inside and out. I have never had a problem getting into an RV park/campground. I hadn’t even heard of the 10 year rule until this summer. I was traveling/camping along the Washington and Oregon coastlines. While looking online for our next campground in Oregon, we came across one that wanted a picture of our Casita before we could request a reservation. I chose to just ignore this campground and find another one. It’s hard enough to find available campsites right now without this rule.
Well, it does happen in a range of “campgrounds”, but I have only been asked a few times. Usually, they ask for pictures and that is all it takes. The exception for me was a so-called “higher end” resort (based on a roadside emergency taking our driving time, we needed it) that wanted a hundred bucks a night. When I saw the actual “resort”, I decided I would stay elsewhere. RVs were not the problem, the facilities were.
I prefer state or national facilities, or boondocking.
The thing that aggravates me is, it’s the ones driving these expensive pushers that complain about everything showing up in resorts and then complain about kids in a state park CG…. I have witnessed those folks on several occasions…..
We just left a RV Park in FL where thar rule exists. If your older RV is in good shape, presentable, they normally wouldn’t turn you away. To be honest the worst looking rig around us was much newer than 10 years.
I am staying at one in Florida right now. It was the least expensive around and had an opening so I wasn’t expecting a fancy resort and wasn’t wrong. Lol. When I booked they asked me what year my RV was. I asked them for pictures of the campground since there were none on their website. For 2 days They didn’t want to send me pictures. I told them that without pics I could not tell whether they were a luxury resort or a run down homeless camp. They assured me that they were neither and sent me 1 carefully framed pic of the site I would be on that of course did not show anything around it. I bet 3/4 of the sites here are permanent residents (cheaper than renting an apartment or house) and at least half probably haven’t been moved in at least 10 years. Most have all their junk piled all around their trailer. I am ok with that because we are just sleeping here while visiting our son but it sure makes me laugh that they asked about the age of our unit.
They are in planning stages of building a 700 plus site rv resort next to our subdivision in Florida. At a meeting the lawyer said rvs must be worth over $200K, must do a credit check, and cost would be about $200 per night. Personally I think this is crazy,
Lots of empty slots. Wrong end of the RV cycle.
Seems they need to adjust the ten year rule. RVs took a major decline in workmanship in 2008. We have a 1996 Pace Arrow Vision motorhome that has been well maintained and it outshines newer RVs that have been neglected.
I believe the park owner should have some discretion in how they want their park to look but we have been allowed into parks with the ten year rule by sending a photo and found when we arrived that a number of the RVs in the park were less than ten years old and were in total disrepair. Maybe everyone should have to submit a photo.
Wow . Just another thing to worry about. I have 19 footer Majestic class c and have not had to face that so far . I use it mainly to stay at the Air Adventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They don’t seem to mind what ever you bring. Problem I am having is with our sub-division in Matteson, Illinois not allowing RV’s on driveways. Any body on here been successful in getting rules change with their HOAs to stop being so old fashioned and allow RVs.
I always thought this could have something to do with the RV parks insurance, considering older RV’s may be more at risk of fire or other breakdowns during their stay.
I wonder why no social justice lawyer/activist has challenged these rules as discriminatory against the lesser privileged? How is this not profiling against lower income folks? How can operators arbitrarily choose not to enforce the rules? Again, obvious discrimination!
I can see the point of the 10 year rule. I tow RVs, now over 900 moves, and I have a 15 year rule after several problems with RVs that are older than that. I won’t tow junk and often hear “it’s like new” or “it’s in really good condition” but the owner can’t tell me how old the tires are, when were the wheel bearings last repacked, or even if all the lights work. Rules are there to protect the majority.
My campground, my rules, don’t like it go somewhere else.
Thank you, RV Travel!
I like the 10 yr rule as I don’t want to camp next to a dangerous PoS or an eyesore… as stated..this rule simply gives the owner the ability to send the 1980 Class C covered in a green tarp away! If the older class C looks to be in really good well maintained shape they can also not ask for proof of year.