When traveling in an RV you would assume you could stay at any RV park you come across. But can you camp at an RV park with an older RV? This isn’t the case for all RV Parks. Many will not allow an RV to stay there if it is over ten years old, this is appropriately referred to as the “10 Year Rule”. You should always call an RV Park ahead of time to make sure that your vehicle meets their age requirements. But if you have an older RV, all is not lost, there are still plenty of RV parks that will allow you to stay there. If you’re new to traveling in a vehicle then you can check out our article about different types of campsites for vehicles.
The 10 Year Rule
I had a 1979 Class C RV and when I was trying to find an RV park to stay at, it seemed almost impossible. Every time I called an RV park I would be rejected because of the 10 year rule. Sometimes RV parks may have a 15 year rule instead, but it is less common. I was told that these age restrictions are implemented because of insurance reasons. Older RVs are at a higher risk of catching fire and more commonly break down.
Although, you can find some RV parks that don’t enforce this rule. And some even only will deny an RV based on how it looks. If you have an RV that is 12 or 13 years old, it will be hard to tell apart from a 8 or 9 year old RV. So you may be able to slip through the cracks on the rule. Most places don’t actually ask you for a year, make and model if your vehicle looks like it is newer. But, if you have a vintage RV you may have a harder time, unless it has been restored and looks nice. It’s unfortunate that RV parks judge RVs on their looks but that’s just the way it works..
Where To Stay With an Older RV?
If you can’t find where to camp at an RV park with an older RV, then where do you go? There are campsites that allow older RVs but usually the amenities aren’t as nice as an RV park. Campsites usually have limited RV spots available, if any at all. The RV spots at campsites also could have stricter length limits as well. Campsites don’t always have hookups available either. If you need water, sewage and electricity then primitive campsites wouldn’t be a good fit for you.
You could always go boondocking too but if you need hookups boondocking wouldn’t be a good either. If you’re traveling and just need a place to stay for the night you could try to stay at some Walmart parking lots, but each store is different. You should always call ahead and speak to a manager to make sure you can stay in the lot overnight. Some cities have parking regulations for oversized vehicles too. Always double check with local laws and regulations before you stay over night to avoid the infamous knock in the middle of the night. It’s never fun to wake up to a ticket in your window.
