Community Forums

sc3283 · 01-01-2012, 12:31 AM

rules are rules...like it or lump it...right?

rmmpe · 01-01-2012, 05:19 AM

Acceptance is the 1st step to surrender.
What's next, you pay for a full hookup but can't shower in the RV?

One of the best things about an RV is that if you don't like your neighbors or community rules, you move your house.

RVNeophytes2 · 01-01-2012, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyJC

Somebody explain to me what I'm missing here. I'm paying the campground owner's asking rate for a 50 amp transient (not monthly or seasonal) site which provides me with 12000 watts of capacity (120VAC x 50 amps x 2 legs), yet I'm being told that I'm not allowed to use up to the full 12000 watts however I wish???

Frankly, I don't get it.

Rusty

I can think of a lot of parallels, my own work contract being one of 'em.

The $1 million question: does it stem from necessity or greed? In either case, it's kind of like a retailer playing the bait and switch game, eg advertising one thing and imposing additional costs to make the purchase steeper than advertised.

Meanwhile, I suppose we can cherry-pick the honorable CGs, with each others' help.

Written from a 30A state park hookup, all-electric ops mode.

Senior Chief · 01-01-2012, 05:42 AM

It would seem to me that the normal up-charge for a 50 amp hook-up already includes the additional electricity that may (or may not) be used, or otherwise what's the justification?.

With a 30 amp hook-up, most coaches (without an EMS, anyway) can only run one AC or heater at a time anyway.

With a 15/20 amp hookup MAYBE a heater if nothing else is running.

If a campground doesn't want to supply the electricity necessary to run multiple heating or cooling units, just don't offer 50 amp hook-ups. Simple and economical.

Oh, wait- nobody with a newer coach will stop there. Huh, I guess they have to "fool" the customers first, then hope they don't drive off when the customer finds out they have only a de facto 20 amp hookup.

dsbike · 01-01-2012, 05:57 AM

90% of the time we have a choice to stay at any one particular CG with multiple CG's in the area. The other 10% we have no other choice if we want to stay in that particular area. I have paid the up charges for having 2 ac units & have been told no portable heaters. When I pd the fees for having 2 ac units I did have a choice of CG's, several within a 5 mile area. But we made our choice based on the other amenities & condition of the CG & paid their ridiculous charge to us it was worth it at the time.

I find it very hard to believe that any CG can verify if I have used a portable heater or not. I will continue to use mine as long as I feel it is safe to use. In my particular situation, I don't believe over the term that I spend in a CG that I am costing them any more than someone not using a portable heater. I always stay for month long stays & my MH is usually unoccupied for at least 10 days out of each month. The only electricity being used is when my battery charger kicks on. I switch every thing else over to gas. I have in the past left every thing on electricity & the CG lost power & I lost every thing in my frig.

paz · 01-01-2012, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

I'm of mixed emotions on this issue. I rather strongly feel that when I pay for a 50A or 30A site, I am entitled to use the 50A or 30A however I see fit. If you tell me I have 50A and charge me for it, but effectively allow me to use only 15A-20A (about all I can draw if no a/c or no heat), what did I pay for?

But in general I feel that the CG owner can set the rules anyway he likes and expect me to conform. I can take my business elsewhere if I don't like it. And I do.

All that said, I would use the electric heat for a modest bit of warming, like taking the chill off in the a.m., but would use the furnace if it were a cold night and we needed heat all night.

Gary, you expressed the way I feel perfectly.

If the rules state, no electric heaters, we will try to use our heat pumps instead (same as running the air conditioners in summer, which is not prohibited). However, it it goes below 40º, we will use the furnace at night, but may use the heater minimally to keep the chill out of the rig in the morning.

RustyJC · 01-01-2012, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senior Chief

It would seem to me that the normal up-charge for a 50 amp hook-up already includes the additional electricity that may (or may not) be used, or otherwise what's the justification?

Bingo - that was precisely my point! I'm paying (or should be) for 50 amp service when I pay for the site, just as I'm paying for water and sewer. I guess next will be a restriction to 1 shower per person per week and only one pottie trip per person per day. It's the same principle - what's the difference??

Rusty

baraff · 01-01-2012, 07:22 AM

Quite simply, if I pay for Full hookups then that's what I will use. End of discussion as far as I'm concerned.

HD4Mark · 01-01-2012, 07:59 AM

You would hope that any CG that has rules against portable heaters would have that clearly stated on their web site if they have one, would inform you verbally if you call for reservations and tell you at the gate before taking your money. It would suck to get there and have this be a surprise especially if you were in an area that the CGs are full.

A better way might be to have a flyer printed that says something like "help us conserve and keep our costs down so we can keep our rates low" or something like that. Sure there are those who will wave the one finger salute to that but most will try to help.

I am also torn on this. Sure rules are rules but technically driving 66 in a 65 is a rules violation but how many of us do that.

Only getting down to 68° here tonight so not much of an issue for us and no rules on heaters anyway.

donandmax · 01-01-2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdennislee

I wonder if this is not the motive behind their request. I have not stayed at a CG that restricts electric heaters or portable electric heaters so I don't know the real motive. If it's portable electric heaters I could understand the fire hazard concern.

X-2

Never ran into this problem but who knows what 2012 and beyond will hold for us.

donandmax · 01-01-2012, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmmpe

Acceptance is the 1st step to surrender.
What's next, you pay for a full hookup but can't shower in the RV?

One of the best things about an RV is that if you don't like your neighbors or community rules, you move your house.

Probably they'll stand there with a watch and time your shower..Navy shower comes to mind !!!

bucks2 · 01-01-2012, 08:44 AM

Maybe some of you aren't totally understanding my thought about portable heaters. The campground really wouldn't care if you used the heater or not. And they certainly wouldn't be involved in "checking" on you. But, in the event of a fire, where the Fire Marshall determines that the fire was caused by a portable heater, then the campground can show that you broke the rules, caused the fire either by neglect or accident and they have a better chance at not sharing in the cost of the fire. These restrictions are often a condition of THEIR insurance policy.

Is it reasonable that they put in all their advertising that they don't allow portable electric heaters? Do they have to put in every ad that you're required to pick up after your dog? Would you require them to notify you that they occasionally have power surges in their electric lines during lightning storms? High water pressure? An uneven walkway on site 11. High mineral content in the water? Because by God I paid for "full hookups" and whatever "full hookups" are in my mind is what I demand! And if they didn't pay for full disclosure of ALL things that I might do in their ads, I'll do what I want. Sounds pretty far fetched to me.

Doing research for this post I checked several restaurant ads and found none that stated their policy of No Shirts, No Shoes, No Service. Would you insist that because their ad didn't state all the rules that you'd be able to eat there with no shoes?

BigV · 01-01-2012, 08:53 AM

We stayed at a park a few weeks ago that gave us the option of a flat rate for the week or pay metered. We opted for metered.

I ran two heaters all week. Temps were lows of 20's to highs of 40's. Total electric bill for the week was just under $9.

Park we are at now does not have meters. They charge different rates for 30 and 50 amp. I asked about it and they said it was mostly because of A/C in the summer. I opted for 30A.

docj · 01-01-2012, 09:00 AM

We usually try not to waste electricity or other resources even if we are not directly paying for them. If a CG has meters at each site and informs me that I will be charged for electricity, that is fine even if they mark up the cost a bit (the total per day usage isn't all that many $$). But if a CG rents me a 50A connection and doesn't want to go through the expense of installing meters at each site, then I plan on using the hookup in a manner that best suits my needs. I won't intentionally waste energy, but I will be comfortable. If that means A/C is needed I will use it; if my DW wants to bake cookies, she will; and if she wants to wash clothes in warm water (electric H/W tank) she will do that also. Specifying one particular type of electricity usage to forbid will annoy customers and have little real impact, IMHO. Stop being cheap and hire an electrician to put in meters.