10 years old or younger

[Foxbrook]

Hello Fellow Airstreamers,

It has been a while since I have posted but I have been lurking now and again. My wife and I have sized up to a 1979 31ft Sovereign with the rear bed and center bath. It is so much roomier then the 23ft we were full-timing in until very recently.

The time has come for us to leave North Carolina for a while and tow to Southern California (Claremont/Pomona/Upland area) for 6 months to finish graduate school. The most frustrating thing has been RV parks will not accept us for more then 21 days because our camper is over 10 years old. Our new to us 31 ft coach could use some exterior TLC but rv park owner have not seen the coach. The management says they have a blanket policy of 10 years or younger for stays longer then 21 days.

Anyone experience this before? Any ideas for parking near the Claremont Colleges area affordably?

Thanks!

[andreasduess]

It's an Airstream - they will have no idea of the real age. For as long as the trailer doesn't look like a wreck, call it a 2007 anniversary model and be done with it.

The 10 year policy is in place to discourage wrecks, if you turn up with a nice looking AS, nobody will ask any questions.

[TG Twinkie]

Unless they own an A$. Or would like to own one.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

Unless they own an A$. Or would like to own one.

Not going to happen. An owner or aficionado of Airstreams would never run an RV park with a 10-year rule in the first place! They might open a "Vintage Only" park where they don't let in anything younger than ten years…

[Harry W]

I have run into the same restriction. I just tell them it is their loss and find another park that is more accommodating. You can't fix stupid.

[Kevin245]

We've stayed at several such parks where the "No over 10" rule exists. We've never had it enforced though. When I first started "Work-Timing" the park I approached had the rule. I showed them pictures of our 73 and 76 and they quickly exempted our rigs and welcomed us in for a long term stay. The general consensus is that many rigs (SOB's) lose curb appeal around the 10 to 12 year age. As such many places don't want to deal with shabby or rundown in appearance RV's. Airstreams tend to be the exception and I think most folks could not tell the difference between a 1979 and a 2009 if put to the challenge.

[John&Vicki]

There's a beautiful high-end RV park here in Bend that I visited before we got our trailer just to look things over. They're very friendly and not snobbish at all, but they have the 10 year rule. I told them I was getting an older Airstream and was disappointed I wouldn't be able to stay there. Their response was an immediate "Oh, we exempt Airstreams from the rule. We love Airstreams.".

Poppy

[Foxbrook]

Thank you for the responses. Maybe the solution then is to polish the 31 ft and then roll into the rv park and see if they will let us stay or not based on our appearance. It is a long drive coast to coast for a maybe but that may be the way it has to go. I have to be back at school before February so I have might be able to get it all done.

[Foxbrook]

Update: I figured there was no time like the present to power wash and see how the skin looked. We thought that the airstream was that cloudy silver white and mostly needed a good scrub, paint stipper and then the buffing process.

WRONG!!!! The PO painted it with a dull rubber silverish color paint. It is now even worse looking as the pressure washing has peeled little of the paint away here and there and left an ugly mess. Also, they applied gunk on the roof, under the paint but over rivets. They must have had leaks or something. I might not have time to fix this before I am due back in Southern California. I definitely will not be permitted to stay for very long at any of the campgrounds until this is stripped and polished.

[John&Vicki]

Polishing is time consuming and hard work but from what I gather it is a doable DIY job. And do they ever look great polished! They'll give a VIP spot in the park. Go for it!

Poppy

[Denis4x4]

Every time this subject comes up, I find it interesting that posters here find it difficult to understand the concept of private property rights when it comes to setting rules and regulations.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Denis4x4

Every time this subject comes up, I find it interesting that posters here find it difficult to understand the concept of private property rights when it comes to setting rules and regulations.

Not so odd. Not everyone camps on private property. A lot of us prefer State Parks, National Parks, CoE, BLM…

The point is well-taken, though. A private campground owner has the right to set whatever rules they wish, as long as those rules don't violate laws or local ordinances. He or she also has the right to determine how rigorously to enforce those rules. Just because one makes an exception for Airstreams doesn't mean anyone else has to.

Now, if the rule was "10 years or younger" and you were turned away with a 9-year-old trailer, you might have a case. But if you were turned away with an 11-year-old trailer, then you have no grounds for complaint just because the rule was enforced.

You always have the right to vote with your feet— or wheels in this case— and take your business elsewhere. You even have the right to politely ask the recalcitrant campground owner, "Well, since you won't take my money, where do you suggest I camp?" Which reminds him that his policy is putting money in competitors' pockets. But if you do that, please ask politely; if you're rude about it, he'll be glad you're not staying at his campground.

[Foxbrook]

First, I will need to think about the work involved polishing it since I have successfully made it look worse instead of better. That rubber paint is going to be messy to strip.

In the Southern California area, I have not found one (via phone call only) that doesn't have the 10 year or younger rule. I could always move to a different location every 21 days. That might not put me close to school but could work. I do hope that they see a gleaming silver Airstream and let me stay on longer after my arrival.

It will be up to them to judge and deems us presentable enough.

[Ganaraska]

Might be fun to pull into one of those places with a 1998 Rolls Royce towing a 1998 Airstream and see what they say.

[overlander64]

Greetings Foxbrook!

Originally Posted by Foxbrook

First, I will need to think about the work involved polishing it since I have successfully made it look worse instead of better. That rubber paint is going to be messy to strip.

I hope that you don't find any surprises as you strip the paint on your Airstream, but I wouldn't be terribly surprised if you find one or more suprises hidden by that paint. While some Airstreams have been painted strictly as an appearance enhancement, that is not always the case. Often, when one encounters a painted Airstream, it was painted to hide bodywork done with bondo and other fillers/dent remedies. There was an instance about 15 to 25 years ago where there was a terrible hail storm at one of the WBCCI International Rallys held in Bismarck, North Dakota . . . the Airstreams parked there were subject to hail denting so severe that many were totaled . . . some were repaired using automotive body repair techniques with a new paint job rather than the panel replacement that would be typical of the repairs necessary to maintain the natural aluminum finish.

Good luck with your project and hoping that you do not uncover any unexpected surprises!

Kevin

[bennu36]

so this "ageism" is commmon in the boat world and I thing for much the same reason. In fact it not just age but constuction that limits morrage. many marinas Have a "No Wooden Boats " policy. For them its not just how it looks but older boats have older system and older systems like electrical and Propane fail and whne the do it can be disasterous. Howerver most dock masters can tell at a glance if a boat has been kept up or if is is a fire wainting to happen. The boat I had before the one I have now was a 1964 30 Chriscraft, the place I wanted to keep told me that they did not accept Wooden boats I mearly showed the the most recent survey and offered to let them inspect themselves and I was let right in. The ironic bit is that less that 5 years later there was a fire at that marina and it started on a nearby fiberglass boat I lost that boat. The point is that the marina owner or the park owner has the right to protect their property and the property of the other renters for something they judge to be a fire risk.
More than once I wish that dock master and looked a bit closer at some of the other boats and not worried so much what it was made from.

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by Denis4x4

Every time this subject comes up, I find it interesting that posters here find it difficult to understand the concept of private property rights when it comes to setting rules and regulations.

I don't think it's a matter of not understanding the concept of private property rights in private campgrounds, but a reaction to what appears to be a "snob" factor.

For some, this is okay. For others, it is offensive.

Many private campgrounds deal with avoiding run-down, dilapidated RV's by posting a sign that they are a private campground and reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.


Maggie

[Colin H]

Originally Posted by Foxbrook

Update: I figured there was no time like the present to power wash and see how the skin looked. We thought that the airstream was that cloudy silver white and mostly needed a good scrub, paint stipper and then the buffing process.

WRONG!!!! The PO painted it with a dull rubber silverish color paint. It is now even worse looking as the pressure washing has peeled little of the paint away here and there and left an ugly mess. Also, they applied gunk on the roof, under the paint but over rivets. They must have had leaks or something. I might not have time to fix this before I am due back in Southern California. I definitely will not be permitted to stay for very long at any of the campgrounds until this is stripped and polished.

I would spend the time to completely strip the paint & residual clear coat off the trailer & not bother with polishing just yet. As this trailer was clear coated when it was new, the only areas that will appear not quasi shiny will be where the clear coat fell off, which is typically the upper part of the endcaps along with the roof. So, then step back & try to blend the oxidized areas with the shiny areas with fine scotch brite & lots of soapy water. The soapy water will help to lube the surface & diminish the abraisiveness of the scotch brite, but allowing you to remove the oxidation. This is going to give your trailer a fresh clean appearance, so campground owners will be more likely to let you in. When you finally get the time to polish the whole trailer, the previous work will be a step towards that end. I have done this in the past & it certainly freshens the look.
Good luck with it,
Colin

[Foxbrook]

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Thank you for all the thoughts and advice.

After pressure washing and cleaning the airstream roof, the reason for the terrible silver rubber coating has become apparent. The power washer lifted some of the paint leaving a mess. I have not had the time or weather to strip it all off yet.

It has been rather stormy for the last few days and several leaks have shown up around the AC unit, the vents front and back, down the curbside wall in the rear bedroom, the vent pipe in the bathroom, the fan hood over the stove and over the bed.

Do I strip and then seal it? It is looking pretty rough right now. It looks like it will be a while before any rv park in LA will accept us. It is going to be great when it is done though.

[Foiled Again]

when has that ever stopped me?

Trying to polish a painted Airstream - well if it was done right it might have been sanded before painting, possibly sanded too deeply to ever polish. And you noted leaks since you power washed it.

I assume since you are going to grad school, money is very much an issue. I've been doing the annual re-seal on my new Airstream, and while I'm 65 and not particularly fit, it still has to be a pain in the neck to do even at 25. Then there's polishing which you can do obsessively or do a basic job to make it look respectable. If you've got friends or relatives and in this weather - if you've got a garage or shelter to do it in, you might be able to get the job done before school starts but it's a HUGE labor on a 31.

Before you start - Consider if there is ANY way you could actually get a newer or even new unit. Interest rates are pretty darned low right now, and you could get some kind of trade in allowance. You'd be stuck with payments, but you might get something that wouldn't take all that labor.

I didn't notice where in NC you are, but if it's anywhere close to Out of Doors Mart, give them a call and see if they have any newer used ones, consignments, or perhaps a left over 2013. If nothing else, Terry (Overlander63) would be happy to advise you on what you need to make your unit safe and habitable for the trip. Have him inspect your FRAME too... he'll tell you why. He'd also give you a legit idea about whether you should polish or possibly re-paint your Airstream - which might be cheaper and could fix the leaks too.

Paula

Paula