Older motor homes and campground age rules

[66gt350]

How much trouble is everyone have getting into campgrounds with a twenty year old coach? I've been told some of them are very strict. I'm looking at buying an 06 Holiday Rambler in very nice condition and don't want to not be able to find a place to camp.

[Bigceasar]

No age limits at state and federal parks. At private parks you will seldom run into age limits at parks that cater to overnight or short term stays (less than a month).
Long term seasonal parks are where you will likely see those restrictions, especially at the higher end. Sometimes those parks will make exceptions based on your RVs condition, sometimes they won’t. Since you will seldom just show up day one for a seasonal stay without doing any research, you will almost assuredly be able to avoid being turned away.

[DarkSideJeep]

Originally Posted by 66gt350

How much trouble is everyone have getting into campgrounds with a twenty year old coach? I've been told some of them are very strict. I'm looking at buying an 06 Holiday Rambler in very nice condition and don't want to not be able to find a place to camp.

That will be at high end campground resorts even then many will accept your coach if you provide recent photos showing the condition of your coach. They really just want to avoid the trailer trash crowd with poorly maintained equipment that looks as though it is about to fall apart on the spot.
.

[caninecop]

Originally Posted by 66gt350

How much trouble is everyone have getting into campgrounds with a twenty year old coach? I've been told some of them are very strict. I'm looking at buying an 06 Holiday Rambler in very nice condition and don't want to not be able to find a place to camp.

We had a 03 Allegro bus that for 10 years never was questioned about the age. If you keep looking good and take care of it, I doubt that you will be questioned on the age.

[Smhutto]

In almost 8 years, I’ve had one campground (on Tampa Bay, in FL) say no to my 2006 Diplomat due to an age restriction. They said they don’t care what my coach looks like, they are firm on the 10 year requirement. Every other time, even if they published an age limit, they accepted us after seeing pictures of my coach. During that time we’ve traveled rather extensively covering dozens of states…

[George Schweikle]

Not necessarily high end parks. After using the Wayne County Fairgrounds RV park in Michigan for quite a few years, we were asked to provide pictures of our 2005 Motorhome this year and then received notice of our approval. This is an operating fairgrounds, with animal related events, and they may have needed some sort of control. Related to animal health? not sure or if a newer RV is "safer" than an older one or they had trouble with squatters, etc.

Originally Posted by DarkSideJeep

That will be at high end campground resorts even then many will accept your coach if you provide recent photos showing the condition of your coach. They really just want to avoid the trailer trash crowd with poorly maintained equipment that looks as though it is about to fall apart on the spot.
.

[DarkSideJeep]

Originally Posted by George Schweikle

Not necessarily high end parks. After using the Wayne County Fairgrounds RV park in Michigan for quite a few years, we were asked to provide pictures of our 2005 Motorhome this year and then received notice of our approval. This is an operating fairgrounds, with animal related events, and they may have needed some sort of control. Related to animal health? not sure or if a newer RV is "safer" than an older one or they had trouble with squatters, etc.

It was probably Trailer trash squatters.

[Flyer15015]

OP, your "new" coach will be 2 years newer than mine and like what has been said, if it is kept clean you should not have any problems camping at 99% of the parks around the country. The high end "resorts" don't interest me, and I've never been turned down at a state or national park.

Makes me wonder what the average age of the coaches are on these forums?
I see a lot of signatures showing coaches in the '90's up to present.

Mike in Colorado

[SandiaMan]

We haven't run into that issue either, full body paint on our coach still looks great, very difficult for anyone to tell if our coach is more than a few years old. Secondly, we try our best to find state, federal, city, county, and COE park options in any given area before having to stay at a private park. Being at a filled up private park crammed in like sardines is not our cup of tea at this phase of RVing.

As stated above, if your motorcoach is in good condition it rarely is an issue, of course to avoid any issues with a particular park best to verify before booking. Unless they are extremely busy and they have open sites chances are good you will not get turned away. For the most part these rules are in place to give a private RV park a reason to turn away unkempt and unsightly RVs, their park their rules.

[chuckbear]

We have never been denied entrance with our 1999 Bounder. We have been ask for photos a couple of times. But we don't use high end "resorts" since we have much better things to use our money on. Chuck

[Mkayers]

Until we got up close you couldn't tell this was a wrap on the entire rig lol.

[DarkSideJeep]

Originally Posted by Mkayers

Until we got up close you couldn't tell this was a wrap on the entire rig lol.

Allright I think I have that owners' number. He was obviously trying to draw negative attention, like campground entry refusals so he would have something to sue over.

[ArtJoyce]

We have been camping with RV's since the late 80's and most of that time have had older RV's. Now some of those you would not know they were as old as they were.

I have never had an issue. In planning for trips, I've come across a few private CG's that that had age restrictions. But they have always been at CG's that are priced at almost 2x the price I would expect to pay for the area.

[NLOVNIT]

There are WAY more parks that will accept vs those that won't. Don't worry about it.