Are campgrounds turning into low income housing?

[Pullin' Chocks]

What matters to us is what's in you heart, not what's in your yard.

[Dr4Film]

Originally Posted by bdickson

Folks, this thread is about Are campgrounds turning into low income housing? Let's stay on that topic please.

X2

It was starting to turn into another Walmart Thread!

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[RanCarr]

Originally Posted by SarahW

I am noticing this trend as well. However I guess I "assumed" that most of these permanent-looking campsites were full-timers, parked for the season. I don't know how RVs can be considered "low cost housing."

They are low cost housing. Someone who lost their home in the crash can buy a used TT or 5th wheel or older well worn Class-A or C for under $6000 and rent at a CG by the month for less than $300 depending on location. And some of those cheaper CG are pretty nice. They can even find older small TTs for under $3500 that are in livable condition. Rent in any decent neighborhood is going to run them more than that unless they settle for a room, not an apt.

[RanCarr]

Originally Posted by trode

I have posted about this before. I am confused about it too, as most communities have limits as to how long a stay can be at a campground because of residency issues.

The people living in these CGs can rent PO boxes. It's legal as far as I know. And almost all CGs have boxes for long term residents as did the place we stayed the past few winters.

Many is the time that I have felt uncomfortable in, off the beaten path, campgrounds that have beat up old trailers, with run down old furniture strewn about on campsites. Many also allow the setting up of "Portable" building used as garages, work shops or extra rooms. One we recently were at had sites cluttered with commercial vehicles, boats on trailers, and these temporary garage type buildings.. looked like a shanty town. If that is what owners want I am fine with that, but don't put me beside it without future notice, and make it an RV park not campground. This is a growing concern for us.

This is the chance you take if looking to spend a night or two somewhere. Been there and done that BEFORE we decided to Wally-dock or TruckStop-dock for the night. Before we decide where to spend the winter we go in person to check the place out. What looks so good on a website can be a dump in person. We learned that pretty quick. Honestly, one Resort (get that name ) just outside Ocala looked like most of the residents were escapees from a mental hospital and ex-cons mixed in with a few retired beat up hookers. The rest like motorcycle gang members complete with some nasty tattoos. I'm sure there were a lot of sad stories to be told there. Every trailer and vehicle in the place was dirty and old and beat up. Junk was all over the place. Both of us unconsciously rolled up our windows..... I know people like that need a place to live but this was not a place we wanted to stay for 3 months. And to top it off, it was not that CHEAP! So yes, this "place," as I can't really call it a CG or a Resort had become housing for these low wage people with only a few sites for snow-birds. If you decide to look for a CG on 441, make sure don't drive into this place.

[bdickson]

Multiple warnings have been given about keeping this thread on the original topic: Are campgrounds turning into low income housing? Off topic posts have been, and will be, deleted.

[StStg1]

My last TT was a 2006 model. I admit I wasn't physically able to keep it pristine clean, but it had no damage. So it looked a little dirty but was still in good condition. We were never turned down entrance to any CG or Park we went to. We always kept our site clean. As far as long term residents,, I have no problem. My next door neighbors(in our stick and Brick) are electrical contractors and very nice people. They use their 5er to go from job to job and come home when they can. So just because you stay long term, doesn't mean you are trailer trash.

[RanCarr]

Originally Posted by t55watson

Best comment in the whole thread but i bet it went right over some heads.

Originally Posted by StStg1

. So just because you stay long term, doesn't mean you are trailer trash.

This is so true. I think the management has a lot to do with what their CGs look like when renting to permanant residents. The place we stayed for 2 winters had a lot of permanent residents over 55 yrs old living there but there were rules and the place was clean and well cared for. Some of the rigs were very old but still maintained. Only a few looked a bit neglected but when a resident is in their 80s or 90s you can't expect them to keep it up like a younger person. Some of the people there were truly poor, living on nothing but a SS check. Another place we stayed for a long weekend had the permanent residents (not an over 55 place) living down at one end of the CG away from the others. Lots of kids toys and junk laying around plus abandoned and/or lost pets roaming the place. All the TTs were in poor condition and almost all were small. It's so sad that anyone has to live like that and raise children in that, in a country as rich as this. Unless this recession eases I believe more CGs will end up with permanent low income residents.

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by Spoonman

With everyone staying at Wal-Mart, cracker barrel, rest areas ect, ect CG owners have to rent to who ever to get by.

Good one.> here are some numbers.. First background, Folks ask me about the cost of gas with a 38' Class A. Well

Sticks and Bricks:
Electricity and gas, over 200/month
Water, and sewer about 50
Telepone.. is a wash so we won't mention
Taxes. over 3,000 a year
Insurance, About what I pay on the motor home.

Motor home (Full time)
Gas (Propane) about 120-200 a YEAR! (major savings)
Electricity, water and sewer, and usually WI-Fi, included in site rental
Telephone, Well what I pay for my Smart cell phone with unlimite data is about what I paid for land line with DSL so as I said, a wash.. ONly I no longer pay for a 2nd line (The cell). so more savings.
Taxes. 382/year (Registration renewal)

Site rental: I have two memberhips in different camp ground chains so summer I spend 2 weeks here and two weeks there sixty miles in between gets engine nice and exercised... 90 dollars a month

Winters it's two campgrounds 17 miles apart, one week in the "Week out park" at 12/night and 2 in the membership park, Total cost is thus 210/night. Though this year will be a bit different.

Average 150/month (That's 100 less than I paid for utilities at the house)

Gas. Summer I spend less than 100/month, winter closer to 50. In between about 500 (moving from summer to winter) or 1,000 a year for migration gas.

That's still 2,000 less than I spent on the house.

Yes, Campgrounds are "low cost housing"

Though the house.. Well. the peak value of the motor home and the peak value of the house I used to have are within 10% of each other.. (Another wash).

[spritz]

I really take offense because I drive a 31 year old Motor Home, that I spent under $4500.00 on that shines like a new one (sometimes better) sounds like a new one and runs better than some new ones. I have to show pictures of our MH because of a 10 year rule. I spend a total of 4 weeks a year waxing her NO FLOOR WAX. I fix things that have broken or take it into the shop for repairs or ask on irv2. We are going next month to Quartzite with her and the toad for 3 months. We stayed at our CG by one of the casinos this summer and was parked next to a truck camper that was ready to fall apart and there was stuff all over the site. (That was lack of mgmt) but they were the nicest people we have parked next too for a long time. We just closed the blinds if it bothered us. Our blinds where only closed @ night.
Give me a break
Maybe I will see you on the side of the road sometime in my 31 soon to be 32 year old MH and I will honk...

[az99]

Hey spritz- I believe there are 1 or 2 emoticons you missed.

[Cooperhawk]

Aaaaw Apritz, Get over it. Until this Summer we were driving a 1985 Airstream and doing all the fixin ourselves. The one we have now is ten years old already. Look at it this way, most of these folks couldn't maintain an old unit like that. We actually had a forum a while back called "This Old RV", but the forum owner found he could make more money with other subjects.

The CGs used to ask the age and we would just say a restored Airstream and they would say come on in. What they're worried about is some of the junk on the road that might break down and be abandoned in their CG.

We used to get so many folks that wanted to see inside our MH that we had a sing made up saying "Tours at Seven".

[jackfish]

I think much of it has to do with housing shortages in the face of high housing demand, caused by seasonal and boom economies. How campgrounds and their inhabitants maintain things is really up to the management of the establishment.

[RVThere]

Wow, did not think this post would hit such a raw nerve with everyone!

So after reading the replies, it seems we have these segments of people in campgrounds:

1. Travelers - there for a night or two on their way to somewhere else
2. Vacationers - whether there for a weekend or a season, they plan on leaving when their vacation is done
3. Seasonals - have a home somewhere else but keep their RV there in a de facto permanent state. They add porches, roofs over the top with no intention of ever moving the thing again
4. Workers - living in the campground while they work at a temporary job in the area
5. Residents - the RV is their ONLY home

Reminds me of some Jeff Foxworthy's jokes:
-if your home is mobile but your car isn't - you might be a redneck!
- if your richest relative just got a new house and you have to go over and help take the wheels off of it, you might be a redneck!

My intention was not to start an RV class war but to point out how some campgrounds are really going down hill and frankly don't feel too safe.

Its does not cost anything to take pride in what we have and put forth the effort to keep it clean and neat.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by RVThere

Wow, did not think this post would hit such a raw nerve with everyone!

Its does not cost anything to take pride in what we have and put forth the effort to keep it clean and neat.