Bottom line, it appears we're going to be stuck with the antiquated size limitation imposed on RV towables. Travel trailers and fifth-wheels, the total square footage in set-up mode cannot exceed 400-square-feet to be certified as an RV. In 1998, RVIA was successful in eliminating the 400-square-feet-limitation for motor-homes. Over 400-square-feet trailers are classified as park models and/or mobile homes and fall under Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations.
In 1999, the RVIA attempted to have the federal law amended so that the 400-square-foot limitation for conventional travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers removed. The Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA) opposed this action and the RVIA backed off on the proposed change.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">ARVC Issues Confab Airs Park Sector's Concerns
RV Business
Monday, May 7, 2007
The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association's (RVIA) February decision to pursue expanded square-footage limits for towable RVs was a focus of discussion among state campground association representatives and National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) leaders attending the 20th annual ARVC National Issues Conference. The conference convened May 1-2 at Cherry Hill Park, College Park, Md., and on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.
The proposed measure to expand the size of towable RVs had already drawn heat from the Recreation Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA), which claims that expanding towable RV dimensions will blur the line between over-the-road RVs and recreational park trailers that typically are more sedentary once sited.
RVIA Director of Government Affairs Matt Wald set the tone at the opening issue discussion when he presented the RVIA proposal to expand the square-footage limits for fifth-wheels and travel trailers on the premise that the proliferation of large slideouts in those units justifies raising current square-footage limits.
"The park representatives and the RVIA official engaged in a spirited discussion," reported David Gorin, a Washington-based public affairs consultant whose firm, King & Gorin, developed the agenda for ARVC's National Issues Conference. "RVIA built its case on meeting consumer demand for larger units while the park industry representatives pointed out both the potential difficulties with local zoning and other regulatory officials, and with accommodating ever larger RVs in campgrounds."
Bringing a somewhat different message to the conference, Richard Dolesh, director of public policy for the National Parks and Recreation Association, reviewed trends in outdoor recreation. On a positive note, Dolesh cited a growing interest in human-powered recreation that provides considerably more physical exertion than motorized pursuits. On the not-so-positive side of the scale, he pointed to a decline in the availability of open spaces and to continuing budgetary stress on public lands as more and more government agencies turn to fees to pay for the upkeep of properties.
Dolesh, meanwhile, suggested that a growing interest in recreation and physical fitness may help revitalize public lands.
Among the other conference highlights:
" American Recreation Coalition (ARC) President Derrick Crandall announced a plan to launch GO USA Get Out USA a program that might do for outdoor recreation in general what the Go RVing program has done for RV sales. The goal of the GO USA program would be to reverse the declining interest in outdoor recreation among younger people.
" John Satagaj, president of the Small Business Legislative Council, warned of the potential dangers of congressional activity to address the tax gap that is frequently placed on the doorstep of small business.
" Rick Webster, vice president of government affairs for the Travel Industry Association of America, and Grant Miller, senior vice president, clubs, for Affinity Group Inc. (AGI), addressed the great potential for expanding the camping market by attracting and serving more international visitors to the US.
Also part of the program was recognizing U.S. Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif., an active longtime RVer, as the association's first "Congressional RVer of the Year." In accepting the award, Cardoza related some of his most memorable RVing moments. At the same time, he agreed to work with ARVC to identify other influential individuals around the capital who are candidates for a bipartisan Washington, D.C., RV Club.
In addition, ARVC presented its annual Public Service Award to Representative Nick Rahall, D-W.V., chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and an advocate of recreation and public lands. The award was presented by ARVC Public Affairs Chairman Mark Anderson of Camp Chatauqua, Stow, New York, and ARVC President Linda Profaizer. Rahall was cited for his chairmanship of the house committee on which he is widely perceived as providing "balanced, focused and exceptional" leadership to federal public land agencies. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
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