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crabbey1 · 10-02-2013, 01:40 PM

I just got off the phone with a "5-Star" RV Park in Arizona. They told me that they have a 10 year old rule when it comes to trailers and RVs. I can not believe this. Are they serious? Is this something that is commonplace in the camping world?

This is our maiden voyage / anniversary trip and I wanted to go somewhere easy with plenty of access to help if needed. Does anyone have any other recommendation in the SoCal / Arizona Area?

Chris

andreasduess · 10-02-2013, 01:49 PM

Check if that is for seasonal campers only - often it is and casual visitors are excluded.

Also, who's to tell how old your trailer is? Airstreams can be any age. Frequently, this is just a rule that's in place so they can exclude obvious wrecks.

Jaxon · 10-02-2013, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crabbey1

I just got off the phone with a "5-Star" RV Park in Arizona. They told me that they have a 10 year old rule when it comes to trailers and RVs. I can not believe this. Are they serious? Is this something that is commonplace in the camping world?

This is our maiden voyage / anniversary trip and I wanted to go somewhere easy with plenty of access to help if needed. Does anyone have any other recommendation in the SoCal / Arizona Area?

Chris

Yes it is, unfortunately for the vintage folks. Sometimes you can ask them to look at the trailer so that they can see it's in good shape, etc. and restored vintage - the rule is meant to keep the duck tape & bailing wire contraptions out of the park.

So far, I've been to three parks in our '77 A/S and told them when asked, that ours was 2007 A/S and they didn't ask any questions. All they saw was silver. They weren't our "destination parks", just overnighters...

Anyway, I was just 30 years off on the model year...

Aage · 10-02-2013, 01:55 PM

When you phoned them, did you tell them it's an Airstream?

You will be surprised how that can change the mind at the other end of the phone line...

crabbey1 · 10-02-2013, 01:56 PM

Yeah this woman on the phone didn't want to seem to budge after I described that I had a 1976 fully renovated trailer. Oh well... I assume that I wouldn't enjoy the crowd at a place like this anyway.

**Stefrobrts** · 10-02-2013, 01:57 PM

I've heard some don't let you use 'blue boy' waste totes either, which would eliminate us from some parks. Those parks are too fancy-pants for us anyway!

Aage · 10-02-2013, 01:57 PM

Again: did you say 'trailer', or 'Airstream'?

andreasduess · 10-02-2013, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aage

Again: did you say 'trailer', or 'Airstream'?

You'd be surprised how many people, including those working on campgrounds, think that Airstreams aren't made anymore.

I'd just do what Jaxon suggests. Who's to know...

crabbey1 · 10-02-2013, 02:08 PM

Yes, I said Airstream, although it is an Argosy. She still recommended other parks for us...

Aage · 10-02-2013, 02:11 PM

Oh well. So, as has been said, strike them off the list.

robwok · 10-02-2013, 02:19 PM

I've heard of campsites with these rules. They don't want ugly old trailers showing up. I've also heard of shiny or beautiful restored vintage trailers showing up and then being told they'll wave the requirement.

It's to avoid having junk trailers show up with bad exhaust, loud generators, and leaky holding tanks dribbling down the road. Not because they hate vintage.

TBRich · 10-02-2013, 02:27 PM

It's not all that uncommon in private RV parks. (And happily not common in public campgrounds.) They want an excuse to keep clap-trap eye sores out. Sometimes a picture of your Airstream will settle things for them. It sounds like this lady is an employee who is just trying to follow the rules ... perhaps you could ask to speak with the manager or owner. On the other hand, I'm not sure I'd enjoy staying there anyway!

There should be plenty of other places to choose from who don't have such a rule in place. Got to the GoodSam campground locator and enter the area you want to camp in ... it will give you a list of several in the area, both those affiliated with GoodSam and those not. You can also use the Woodall's cmapgrond locator site...

Silver Goose · 10-02-2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crabbey1

Yes, I said Airstream, although it is an Argosy. She still recommended other parks for us...

Be happy she didn't just hang up on you. Awhile back I accidentally made reservations in one of those places. The TT and TV were well under the 10 year limit so they gladly accepted my $, but they parked us at the far end next to a Bluebird. Seems like all their clientele were driving Prevosts and Newells and there were a bunch of them.

Look at campgroundreviews.com for the locations you're interested in and you should spot other parks with the amenities you seek.

Alumaholic · 10-02-2013, 02:55 PM

Your Argosy looks like 2003 to me.

In 1996 we traveled from NC to AZ.
We selected a nice RV resort across the street from a relatives house in Mesa, AZ. The manager told us in the nicest possible way, "You are too young, and your travel trailer is too old," me being 50 at the time and the Airstream being a 1976.

I later learned that most RV resorts in AZ will accept a well maintained or restored vintage Airstream behind a late model tow vehicle. The 10 year old rule is there to give the manager leeway to refuse the disreputable travelers in broken down rigs.

Bk Yd Safari · 10-02-2013, 03:21 PM

We stayed at Rancho Sedona in Sedona, AZ. last fall. Request a sight on the river. Lovely, well shaded campground in a very pretty setting. We saw what appeared to be a 1950's restored trailer (not Airstream), painted in pretty pastel colors, in the park.

**jcanavera** · 10-02-2013, 03:26 PM

My trailer will never get older than 9 years. The only way I could get tripped up on this is if they examine the date manufactured label. After looking out the window or door of their office, no one has ever wanted to check out that plate. I've only encountered one park that has ever asked me the build date of my trailer and that was my Hi-Lo. Being garaged when not in use for 14 years, it never looked aged and at the time I was asked it was past 10 years old. I told them it was 9, they looked out the office window and I got a spot.

Jack

dkrug · 10-02-2013, 03:31 PM

If the trailer is in good shape most, not all, will let you in. They are trying to keep the place "upscale". Plus, as others have said, they won't have a clue how old it is.

Hittenstiehl · 10-02-2013, 04:30 PM

Crabbey 1 please believe me, you did not want to stay there at all. Yes I know there is one good review on Woodalls and the managers are nice but they did you a favor.

On the other hand I did not know that would be something we would be faced with as we work on our 66 that may never be polished.

Of course boycott's and less than favorable write ups do work.

Denis4x4 · 10-02-2013, 04:47 PM

As I sit typing this at a Park in Steamboat Springs on the Yampa river, I'm looking at a piece of crap converted Bluebird school bus, complete with trustafarians with pit bulls. While I have issues with RV age restrictions, they do not trump my belief in private property rights.