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.
##RVT1067
Thank you, RV Travel!
My campground, my rules, don’t like it go somewhere else.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…..
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.
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.
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.
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?
10 year rule should be a suggestion, not a rule at all. Rewrite it stressing importance of good maintenance and unit appearance.
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?
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 $$$ when dealing with tax assessments. They don’t really care, just pass the $$$.
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.
Just Lie to them about the Year.
They never check. ( Unless your rig is a Dumpster).