Is Your RV Past its Prime for Park Acceptance?

With the growing popularity of RV and motorhome camping, many families are purchasing used models.  In many cases, an owner may have been storing an RV for many years before accepting that it’s just not right for their family’s needs–resulting in 10 to 20-year-old models having 20,000 miles or less on their odometers.  With a little maintenance, these vehicles have many years of life in them.  But are park rules preventing them from being used?

Many parks struggle with keeping up a clean, family-friendly atmosphere.  Unfortunately, there is a segment of our population that resides in RVs full-time due to financial limitations.  These campers often have older models in physical and operational disrepair, and it may be difficult for park managers to move them off the property once they’ve set up camp.  As a result, many campsites have implemented “10-Year Old” rules which have created conversation and controversy amongst the RV community.

In essence, RV park owners with these rules feel that this limitation will keep permanent settlers from their parks as most of these travelers have models older than ten years of age.  On the other hand, there’s a large segment of RV owners who have successfully kept up their RV’s or travel with vintage models who have no desire to stay at a park past the point of being welcome.

What can you do if you have an older RV?

First of all, don’t dismiss a park because of a 10-year old rule posted on their website.  If you have an older RV, be sure to contact the park owner directly and provide them with this information to request an exception:

1. The itinerary of your trip showing clearly the check-in and check-out plan for you at the park.
2. The past several years of the professional maintenance history of your RV so they know it is in good repair.
3. Interior and exterior pictures of the RV showing its cleanliness and overall condition.
4. If possible, include brief recommendations you’ve received from owners of previous parks you’ve visited.

How can you improve your older RV?

The average lifespan of an RV is 20 years or 200,000 miles.  With good maintenance, the mileage limitation often takes priority over the years.  If you’ve purchased an older RV with low miles, there are several steps you can take to increase your chances of being accepted into parks that otherwise ban models older than 10-years:

1. Take your RV to a professional for a tune-up. Ensure it is fully functional–everything from lights, brakes, electrical systems/generator to air conditioning and awning operations.  Invest in upgrades for backup cameras and perform any repairs needed to be in fully functional condition.
2. Perform a deep clean of the interior. Rent a carpet cleaner and wash all hard surfaces with a good cleanser.
3. Repair interior issues. Even if that broken cupboard door and peeling wallpaper don’t make a difference in your ability to travel, it may make a difference in how park owners perceive your care of the vehicle.
4. Replace UV-damaged or faded stripes and give the RV a good wax and polish. Youtube videos are available to show you how you can remove and replace worn stripes on the exterior of your RV.  With a lot of elbow grease, it’s an affordable upgrade that will make your RV look new.  Protect your RV from further damage with an RV wax.
5. Replace worn RV mudflaps with a custom motor home mudflap from Duraflap. A new, customized mudflap not only protects your toad and other cars around you from flying road debris but will also give your RV a finished look that shows you care about your vehicle.  Additional tire mudflaps will protect the exterior of your RV from being damaged by rocks, mud, and ice being kicked up from the road.  Contact us today to learn more about how easy it is to add RV mudflaps to your motorhome.