The 10 Year Rule: How to Keep Your Older RV Welcome

Are you concerned that owning an older camper might limit your access to certain campgrounds due to what’s commonly known as the “10-year rule”? As RV resorts become increasingly popular, this rule, which potentially restricts entry for recreational vehicles over a decade old, is enforced with greater frequency.

So, what is the 10-year rule?

In essence, this rule allows campground management to deny access to RVs that are more than ten years old. However, the application of this rule varies, and not all hope is lost for older RV enthusiasts. There are numerous strategies and modifications you can employ to ensure your camper remains welcome at most sites.

This guide aims to provide you with insights on how to navigate the 10-year rule effectively. We’ll cover essential styling tips and modifications that can help your camper project an ageless quality, thereby increasing your chances of seamless entry into various campgrounds.

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As someone who has lived full-time in a 35-year-old Class C RV, I have gathered valuable experiences and tips to help you and your older or vintage trailer gain acceptance across the country’s campgrounds. Through this guide, you’ll learn how to adapt and possibly avoid the need to invest in a new camper prematurely.

Continue reading for practical advice on making your cherished older RV compatible with today’s campground standards.

The Purpose of the 10-Year Rule

While the 10-year rule might seem discriminatory to owners of older recreational vehicles, it’s important to understand the valid reasons behind its implementation by many campgrounds:

• Safety
• Consideration of other campground guests
• Legal reasons

1. Safety

Older campers and motorhomes might present various safety risks, ranging from minor water leaks to more serious concerns like oil leaks or sewer waste issues. County regulations often dictate strict penalties for campgrounds housing such vehicles, including potential fines or even shutdowns until problems are resolved. Faulty wiring in aged RVs could also pose significant risks, potentially damaging campground infrastructure or causing fires.

2. Guest Consideration

An older, poorly maintained camper can detract from the overall campground experience for other guests, potentially leading to complaints and compensation claims. To maintain a high-quality environment and prevent reputational damage from negative reviews, campgrounds are cautious about admitting older RVs. The aim is to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable experience for all guests, without the discomfort of neighboring an unsightly or unsafe vehicle.

3. Legal Reasons

The legal landscape surrounding campground operations is complex and varies by location. Concerns arise when an older RV’s condition suggests its owner might overstay their welcome, complicating eviction processes, especially for stays extending beyond 30 days. While newer RVs might also pose overstay risks, the challenges with older vehicles often involve potential legal and operational complications for the campground.

Sometimes it’s not a particularly “enforced” rule in the park, but more of a right-to-refuse-service kind of thing, as echoed in the iRV2 forum post below:

Navigating the 10-Year Rule Across Different RV Styles

Owners of older recreational vehicles might find navigating campground age restrictions challenging, depending on their RV’s style. Here’s a closer look at various types and their typical experiences with the 10-year rule.

Airstream

Airstreams stand out for their timeless design, mirroring the shape and aesthetics of vintage models even today. With a well-maintained finish and minimal wear, owners of older Airstreams generally face fewer issues with age restrictions.

Vintage Travel Trailer

The allure of vintage-style travel trailers remains strong, often allowing them to pass under the radar of campground scrutiny, especially when paired with a modern vehicle. Their quaint design, characterized by bold color stripes and matching awnings, often earns them a pass.

Fifth-Wheels

Fifth-wheel RVs, known for their consistent exterior design over the years, can also present an ageless appearance if kept in good condition. Their enduring designs help them blend in more easily with newer models.

Teardrops and Pop-Ups

The resurgence of teardrop campers and the timeless appeal of pop-ups mean that well-maintained older models are less likely to encounter age-based restrictions. Compact size and the condition of the canvas are key considerations for pop-ups upon arrival.

Travel Trailer

The classic design of travel trailers has changed little over decades, making well-kept older models blend seamlessly with newer ones. Their exterior design and cleanliness play a significant role in avoiding age scrutiny.

Class A Motorhome

Class A motorhomes, especially well-maintained or restored vintage models from the ’60s and ’70s, often impress campground staff. Their original high cost and durable construction contribute to a lasting, impressive appearance.

Class C Motorhome

Class C motorhomes can be more readily dated, with design elements like the front cab’s build, exterior cladding, and the presence of a cab-over window being telltale signs of age. Owners might face more challenges with this RV style unless it’s meticulously maintained.

Class B Motorhome and Conversion Van

Generally newer to the RV scene, Class B motorhomes face fewer issues related to age, assuming they’re kept in good condition. However, conversion vans, particularly those with unique or older paint jobs, might attract more attention. A neutral, metallic paint job can significantly update the appearance of an older conversion van.

Understanding the nuances of how different RV styles interact with the 10-year rule can help owners make informed decisions about maintenance, restoration, and presentation at campgrounds.

What You Can Do to Circumvent the 10-Year Rule

The good news for all of us with old campers is that there are several options to get around the annoyance of age-restriction rules. In this section, I’ll go over ways to update the look of your camper, tips on making your reservation, and places you can go that don’t ever ask how old your camper is.

Affordable Camper Update Tricks

With some elbow grease, a few hours, and a small investment, you can dramatically update the look of your camper with these simple tricks. I put many of these to use to throw off anyone trying to put an age to my camper.

Take these steps after you have done the obvious tasks of removing and replacing old, cracked caulk and washing your camper very well.

#1 – Clear Coat

The fastest way to make your camper appear newer is to freshen up the clear coat on the exterior of your RV. All types of siding material that RV manufacturers use start to dull over time, making them look old. A quality automotive clear coat can be relatively inexpensive and will make a world of difference in the appearance of your camper.

When sunshine reflects off the glossy clear coat, any imperfections in the paint finish below will be much less noticeable.

#2 – Decals

Worn, fading, or peeling pinstripes and decals will catch the eye of campground staff and make them question your camper’s age. Eliminate this cause for concern by spending a few dollars on decals to replace your old ones.

Strip off the old decals quickly with a power drill attachment like the 3M Pinstripe Remover or other similar products. You can also use the method detailed in the video below.

Once stripped off, visit online stores where you can find an incredible array of widths, colors, and lengths of vinyl pinstriping as well as large swirls, swoops, and designs that will update your RV in a snap.

#3 – Chrome

Shiny, clean chrome screams new! Visit your local auto supply store or shop online, where you can find rolls of chrome-look trim in several widths that you can add to your camper for instant updating.

You can also purchase self-adhesive chrome letters and numbers, similar to the decals, that may indicate the year your camper was manufactured. After five years and countless washings, my chrome letters are intact and as shiny as ever.

#4 – Hubcaps

For between $50 to $80, you can purchase a set of lightweight plastic pop-on hubcaps or wheel covers that will instantly make your RV look fresh. You can order your specific rim size in an array of finishes that work with the style of your recreational vehicle.

New hubcaps were the finishing touch that made my Class C look really sharp. INSIDER TIP: If you purchase this type of low-cost hubcap, expect the clips to wear out over the years due to popping them on and off to change tires or check tire pressure.

While the outer finish on my set remained nice, I lost a hubcap while traveling and had to order a new set. I’m not sure if the shop (where I had new tires put on) didn’t push the hubcap on tight enough or if the clips finally gave out. Either way, the investment in these hubcaps is worth every penny, as my camper looked surprisingly bad without them!

Reservation Tips

When making a reservation at a park you have never been to before, read over their website very carefully if they have one. Examine the information in every area since they may place their age-restrictive rules in a place you may not expect it.

New “RV Resorts” that cater to Class A motorhomes and fancy fifth-wheels will have the most restrictive age rules, such as requiring proof of age via your RV registration card.

The average camper has little interest in such a campground since they tend to be a bit uptight. I have no desire to stay at one, but if this is your ideal way to camp, I suggest that,, in this instance, you go ahead and purchase a new RV and enjoy ten years of camping enjoyment at any park.

If you don’t see any mention of age on a campground website, call the campground directly. If the reservationist asks you about your camper’s age and you have kept your RV in great condition, you can choose any of the following ways to handle the question.

#1 – Little White Lies…

If you are lucky and have one of the types of RVs that have an ageless look, many RVers will give an age that fits the parameters. Such as the Redditor below:

Comment
byu/donkusmaximus from discussion
inRVLiving

The odds of staff coming out to inspect your camper are minimal if your recreational vehicle looks clean and maintains an overall nice appearance.

With the hundreds of makes and models of RVs on the market, there is no way campground staff can know the difference between a seven-year-old and a 15-year-old camper without asking to see the registration.

This is the easiest way to avoid age-restrictive stress when booking a camping trip.

#2 – Pictures

If your camper is obviously an old version, but you maintain it beautifully, many campgrounds will bend the rules as long as you offer to send them pictures of its exterior and let them make the final decision.

I’ve had to send pictures seven or eight times over the years and have always been able to book a campsite once management sees that my Class C, while old, is not a rust bucket eye-sore.

Wait for a sunny day and take clear pictures of all sides of your older RV and keep them on your phone and computer so you can quickly send over snapshots to park staff if they ask.

Unless a campground is so busy they can afford to turn away a paying customer, you can feel confident that providing pictures of your neat-looking camper will permit you entrance into their park.

#3 – Length of Stay

I worked at a park that had a fairly lenient 10-year rule but would also allow some iffy-looking campers into the park if they were only staying for a night or two. Management will deny these same campers if they choose to book for a week or longer.

Camping trips are meant to be an inexpensive get-away, and many campgrounds may look the other way if it appears you’re trying to spend some quality time with your family, even if your camper has really worn paint.

Whatever you do, if you think a campground may question allowing your RV into their park, don’t drive hours to get there just to find out you have nowhere to stay but the Wal-Mart parking lot. Call ahead and plead your case. You may find an understanding staff member on the other end of the line.

Campgrounds That Don’t Care About RV Age

Thousands of parks would never ask about your camper’s age. National and state parks across the US and Canada are the first campgrounds that come to mind that don’t care.

Campgrounds that have a location away from tourist areas are just happy to get a customer and are far less likely to care about how old your camper is. Family-run parks tend to be very lenient and are my favorite places to stay when I want a unique park with personal touches.

The Midwest and Southeastern parts of the US tend to be more open to vintage and classic campers, whereas the West is opening a lot of Motorcoach Resorts, catering to retirement-age snowbirds. These parks not only restrict your camper on age but also on the type, as they ONLY accept newer Class A motorhomes of a certain length.

You can peruse online forums or use a park review site like RV LIFE Campgrounds to read reviews and get tips that could warn you about potential 10-year rules or other things to watch out for during your trip-planning process.

Conclusion

The best thing about being the proud owner of an older, or as I like to say, “classic,” recreational vehicle, or if you’re thinking about buying one, is the price.

You can get many older campers for a steal and then spend a few bucks renovating it to your liking. You’ll enjoy your camping adventures that much more when you aren’t stuck with a massive monthly payment for a new RV.

You will find out, just like the couple in the below video did that the scary-sounding 10-year rule is nothing to fear.

I hope you found my tips on ways to circumvent a park’s rules on camper age limits helpful.

🚐 Got Your Own 10-Year Rule Stories or Tips? We’d love to hear how you’ve navigated the waters of RV park restrictions with your vintage camper. Share your stories or even your own makeover tips in the comments below!

👍 Found This Guide Helpful? Share it across your social channels. The more we spread the word, the more empowered RV owners become, ensuring that no camper is left behind, regardless of its age.