Ok. Here is the story. I did an earlier post asking about places to stay on my way to the Keys. Several responded and a few stated how nice Larry & Penny's park is in Miami and stated that would be a good place to stay. Did any of you stay there in a BUS? I just called to make a reservation for a week and was told they do not allow bus conversions unless it was done by a professional company. I told them I had asked about places to stay on a bus forum and theirs was highly recommended. I asked them when this policy had begun. They told me that it has always been a policy and they did not allow BUS conversions unless done by a professional company. SO....My big question is this...Have I bought myself a nice big beautiful bus, got hooked into being a busnut, and got my family somewhat hooked only to find out that many, I have called several over the past year, parks will not allow the best motorhomes to camp in the their spots? My bus still has all windows, so there is no way to state it was not an OTR bus at one time.
If I seem to be frustrated, it is because I seem to be hitting a brick wall finding places to stay.
Thanks for all responses in advance,
James
James...when park owners hear 'Bus'...they are thinking of 'The Partridge Family' bus.
Always say that you have a 'motorhome'.
Others will chime in hear and say basically the same thing I said.
Jack
Another bus nut and I took our buses to Larry and Penny Thompson Park in 2009 and again in 2010 with absolutely no question about the nature of our conversions. In fact there was a long term seasonal camper there in a conversion and he said he's been going there for years. Not a clue how this has come about.
Mike in GA
Quote from: jackhartjr on April 19, 2011, 01:42:16 PM
James...when park owners hear 'Bus'...they are thinking of 'The Partridge Family' bus.
Always say that you have a 'motorhome'.
Others will chime in hear and say basically the same thing I said.
Jack
Exactly correct Mr Hart,
I have never been turned away (in any state of conversion) and have always said 40' motorhome.
Plus if there to hoity toity I couldn't drink a beer there either....oooops wrong thread... ;D
Cliff
Thanks for comments.
Jack,
I have no problem doing that, but I do not want to be 8 hours away from home and when they see my bus and say sorry we do not allow those in our park. I have two girls and my wife with me when I camp. I would probably not be a very nice BUS person if I got there and they would not allow in with my Bus. They ask for make and year model when I was making a reservation. Now they have my make model and address. Oh well......
Mike,
You posted on my previous post and your comment about L&P was the reason I called them.
Thanks,
James
Probably Just a hiredhand thinking hippie open air conversion. with wild cat and hawgs(animal). Year of conversion converted in 2002 by Ga Conversions(example). Never been turned away but have been aware of ten year rules that could be enforced for park owners protection. Most wouldn't know a 80 from a 2000. If it's clean and neat apearing and you don't have 50 kids pushing it in you should be good. Lot's of State parks there John Penny camp one of our favorites.Don't forget Corp of Engineer facilities. Really don't know if there are any in keys. But those are usually nice and inexpensive.
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Amazing! No ones bus looks more like a bus then mine. And yet I have parked in several campgrounds without ever having any problem whatsoever.
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If they are so busy they can turn folks away then so be it. I guess I wouldn't tell them "bus" in any conversation. I would imagine you have a better rig than some of the s&s rigs that show up all the time. As Bob stated, it's hard to beat anything the Corp of Engineers maintain. Always worth a look see.
We spent a month in L&P Thompson in 2009. My coach is a 1978 MC8. Never questioned. Staff and Park were excellent
Quote from: Chopper Scott on April 19, 2011, 05:16:11 PM
If they are so busy they can turn folks away then so be it. I guess I wouldn't tell them "bus" in any conversation. I would imagine you have a better rig than some of the s&s rigs that show up all the time. As Bob stated, it's hard to beat anything the Corp of Engineers maintain. Always worth a look see.
When asked, we just say, 40' Silver Eagle
motorhome, no problems.
BCO
If they let in professionally done, but not self done conversions, but both are called "Bus conversion" , Motor-home or Coach, etc. That my friends is called Discrimination and could be fought in court or bought to the media and they wouldn't want their name on that.
What do we have on this board and others say 3,500 Owners that might want to camp at said place. Maybe they don't relize how many might want to spend their money in their town or campground etc.
Just sayin
Dave
Anybody have their email address?
Just wait a day and call back. Be sure to say motorhome rather than bus!
I have the same problem, keep calling it a bus. But once the passenger seats are gone and you have converted it over it now becomes a motorhome for living in. It not longer transports passengers for a fee. Just keep saying motorhome, motorhome, again and again.
When we call to make a reservation for our 73 MCI we say we have a 40' coach. If they ask for the make and year, we say 2003 (year we finished the conversion) MCI. Never have had a problem so far.
Only place we have ever been turned down was when we pulled up to O'Lena State Park in FL without a reservation. The person at the check in building, looked at our coach and asked "how long is that?" I told him 40'. He said all the bigger sites were full, only thing he had availasble was tent sites. He did say we were welcome to walk through and see if we could find a site we could fit on. From the tents sites we had seen at other campgrounds, we did not bother walking through to look for one. Jack
Quote from: mugsytrpt on April 19, 2011, 02:19:49 PM
Jack,
I have no problem doing that, but I do not want to be 8 hours away from home and when they see my bus and say sorry we do not allow those in our park. I have two girls and my wife with me when I camp. I would probably not be a very nice BUS person if I got there and they would not allow in with my Bus. They ask for make and year model when I was making a reservation. Now they have my make model and address. Oh well......
James
i agree with mugsy. if i have to play word games, then i think maybe there are better places. It's their park, and as far as i'm concerned, their rules. Not a lawyer court issue imo. i'd just find another place, or ask further for the manager to get clarification because of recommendations you got on this board. if they still say no, post it here. but the last thing i want to do is say "motorcoach" and be turned away after driving out of my way and my planned visit.
my 5 cents.
If y'all would stick together and boycott a few of the places that turn a fellow knut away, that stuff would end pretty fast. They feel pretty bold turning away one or two here or there. But I never saw a campground that wanted to lose out on a bunch of campers.
Whats rediculous is that many of the places that would turn away a Bus, allow tenters with crappy old cars. Do they ask how old your car or tent is? Sorry, but of all the creeps your likely to run into in a campground, some tenters can be a real hair raiser. And sometimes thats the area to restrict alcohol.
I think we are beating a dead horse here.
The campgrounds don't want hippie buses, (My goodness...I hope I don't tick off any old hippies here!LOL)...coming in with some of the 'stuff' that entails.
Just like the no alcohol signs posted...they don't want trouble.
Just tell them you have a 40-foot motorhome...unless yours really looks like crap you should have no problem.
I have seen none at the rallies I've been to that would have been turned away.
Jack
Probably the main concern about converted buses is quality of the work performed ( no stuff attached with bailing wire or bungees) and risk of fire or worse from stuff done with total disregard of common sense. I am talking about stuff like having a propane water heather installed in a closed bay right next to the propane tanks, wiring done with extension cords, and crap like that. I've seen it. If you show up in a piece of junk (quality-wise) that has a manufacturer's label on it and looks good they figure that, if **it happens they may be able to sue somebody for damages (knowing that your sorry @$$ is worth zilch no matter if you have insurance or not). In this world the people who screws up do it not just for them but for everybody else also.
Quote from: pipopak on April 20, 2011, 09:54:11 AM
Probably the main concern about converted buses is quality of the work performed ( no stuff attached with bailing wire or bungees) and risk of fire or worse from stuff done with total disregard of common sense. I am talking about stuff like having a propane water heather installed in a closed bay right next to the propane tanks, wiring done with extension cords, and crap like that. I've seen it. If you show up in a piece of junk (quality-wise) that has a manufacturer's label on it and looks good they figure that, if **it happens they may be able to sue somebody for damages (knowing that your sorry @$$ is worth zilch no matter if you have insurance or not). In this world the people who screws up do it not just for them but for everybody else also.
No bungees? LOL they work as 2 of my bay door handles/hinges haha!! Believe it or not, I was never turned away at a campground with them either....
No bungees? LOL they work as 2 of my bay door handles/hinges haha!! Believe it or not, I was never turned away at a campground with them either....
[/quote]
(Sigh!)
Go to your local courthouse and file a document of operating under an assumed name. You file "your name" as operating as "High Tide professional Coach Conversion". Then you have your local plastic engraving make a label for your coach with the date of conversion.
Boom, you have a commercially converted coach. The company did not do well and decided not to do any more conversions after the first one.
Art
Never say bus in any situation, campground , police!!! I just recently got pulled over in Boston,Ma for driving in the left lane coming out of a toll were the I-pass(Prepaid Toll) was in the left lane. The officer said it was restricted from bus use, I preceded to tell him that it was an RV and not a bus. He argued that it was a bus, and I asked then why do I not have to go through the weigh station that says Buses weigh!!!
He said stay out of the left lane and have a good day!!! Yes officer!!!
When do the bus rules apply? What determines when we are a bus or rv, motor home. The way I look at it is if my plates say rv and my insurance card say motor home then it is a RV/Motor Home ...Right?
Quote from: mugsytrpt on April 19, 2011, 02:19:49 PM
Thanks for comments.
Jack,
I have no problem doing that, but I do not want to be 8 hours away from home and when they see my bus and say sorry we do not allow those in our park. I have two girls and my wife with me when I camp. I would probably not be a very nice BUS person if I got there and they would not allow in with my Bus. They ask for make and year model when I was making a reservation. Now they have my make model and address. Oh well......
Mike,
You posted on my previous post and your comment about L&P was the reason I called them.
Thanks,
I just ran across this same thing. My employer knew I am considering a bus conversion and noticed that a RV resort he goes to had a notice on their website stating Bus Conversions not permitted. They have a 36 ft new class A motorhome.
I decided to look this up and found a few that did state NO bus conversions or no converted buses. Here are a few I found.
Ma-Tar-Awa RV Camper Park. San Diego area... City Of Florida City Camp Site RV Park... Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort... Casa Grande AZ. White Bluff Amenities RV Parks. Bear Creek Quail Run Parks... Whitney Texas. Compiled from a Google search.
Perhaps these are real fancy resorts?
James
Here are a few I found.
Ma-Tar-Awa RV Camper Park. San Diego area... City Of Florida City Camp Site RV Park... Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort... Casa Grande AZ. White Bluff Amenities RV Parks. Bear Creek Quail Run Parks... Whitney Texas.
I'll bet if Willy or Dolly,Reba or Dave Matthews showed up in there converted "motorcoaches they would be welcome......
and I have first hand knowledge that the "55 0nly"parks have to ley in unders unless they are wholly privately owned....
Rules are made to be contested.
Quote from: ArtGill on April 20, 2011, 04:39:45 PM
Go to your local courthouse and file a document of operating under an assumed name. You file "your name" as operating as "High Tide professional Coach Conversion". Then you have your local plastic engraving make a label for your coach with the date of conversion.
Boom, you have a commercially converted coach. The company did not do well and decided not to do any more conversions after the first one.
Art
Really love this!.
Now James:
We ALL know which "converted bus" you were planning to take to this poor guy's luxury RV park:
;D :D
Quote from: eagle19952 on April 20, 2011, 07:29:24 PM
I'll bet if Willy or Dolly,Reba or Dave Matthews showed up in there converted "motorcoaches they would be welcome......
Well...maybe not Dave Matthews especially if there are any bridges involved. ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: eagle19952 on April 20, 2011, 07:29:24 PM
...and I have first hand knowledge that the "55 0nly"parks have to ley in unders unless they are wholly privately owned....
Rules are made to be contested.
Are "55 only" parks meant to be for retired people only? That's illegal age discrimination, surely. If the land is being used to conduct a business then statute law applies, regardless of the ownership of the land. There have been cases here recently where Christian types running bed-and-breakfasts from their own homes have been taken to court for refusing to allow gay couples to stay.
And what about the 'disabled only' and 'mother and child only' parking spaces in supermarket car parks? How are these not clear cases of illegal discrimination on the grounds of disability and sex? I've always assumed that such signs are technically 'advisory' only, and don't hesitate to ignore them if I feel it is reasonable to do so (such as if there's a whole row of such spaces which are unoccupied).
Jeremy
Their Loss! More of the really good places and people available for us elsewhere---when all the better than thou go there! Just plain Busnut Bob AND PROUD OF IT
I agree with White-Eagle....This is my rule. Sorry but there are better places (for us, meaning my wife and I) than someone who has even a molecule of notion to not allow me in. I don't like RV resorts of any kind. Full of snowbirds who seem to claim some sort of ownership when that is not the case...."we have been here since October....(whilst their grandkid takes a pee into the swimming pole next to grandma)...."
I will never beg my way into one of these places if there is a state or federal park nearby. I was, in a past life, a GMC Motorhomer....and they have two national conventions a year. Now, the NEWEST GMC is a 1978, the oldest a 1973. I always laughed MAO at the whore resort parks that wanted those hundreds of coaches for that week, when otherwise their age rules would have prohibited them.
Quote from: Jeremy on April 21, 2011, 04:32:36 AM
And what about the 'disabled only' and 'mother and child only' parking spaces in supermarket car parks? How are these not clear cases of illegal discrimination on the grounds of disability and sex? I've always assumed that such signs are technically 'advisory' only, and don't hesitate to ignore them if I feel it is reasonable to do so (such as if there's a whole row of such spaces which are unoccupied).
Jeremy
Jeremy,
Handicap Parking spaces are wider to allow occupant to easily get into a wheelchair when another car is parked next to them. You can and very well may be ticketed for using one of these spaces without a handicap sticker on you vehicle.
When Paula was in a wheelchair afer breaking her back in an accident, I blocked in 2 cars that were parked in adjoining handicap spaces without stickers , because I needed to get Paula out of our van and into her wheelchair. After having needed these spaces (no longer need them), I still ghet upset to see people use them that do not need them. Jack
Quote from: JackConrad on April 21, 2011, 05:04:33 AM
Jeremy,
Handicap Parking spaces are wider to allow occupant to easily get into a wheelchair when another car is parked next to them. You can and very well may be ticketed for using one of these spaces without a handicap sticker on you vehicle.
When Paula was in a wheelchair afer breaking her back in an accident, I blocked in 2 cars that were parked in adjoining handicap spaces without stickers , because I needed to get Paula out of our van and into her wheelchair. After having needed these spaces (no longer need them), I still ghet upset to see people use them that do not need them. Jack
You can't be ticketed on private land I don't think - that was my point about supermarket car parks specifically.
Jeremy
Actually, Im not sure on the exact law...... but the stores are required by law to put up the handicapped parking and then police will patrol and ticket and sometimes even tow without a sticker. My mom has a placcard and it was issued by the DMV, it is tied to her driver's license so she can use any car she wants but she has to put up the little sign in the window when we park. So I think even though the store "owns" the parking lot, the parking spaces with handicap really belong to the state.
Quote from: Jeremy on April 21, 2011, 05:12:30 AM
Quote from: JackConrad on April 21, 2011, 05:04:33 AM
Jeremy,
Handicap Parking spaces are wider to allow occupant to easily get into a wheelchair when another car is parked next to them. You can and very well may be ticketed for using one of these spaces without a handicap sticker on you vehicle.
When Paula was in a wheelchair afer breaking her back in an accident, I blocked in 2 cars that were parked in adjoining handicap spaces without stickers , because I needed to get Paula out of our van and into her wheelchair. After having needed these spaces (no longer need them), I still ghet upset to see people use them that do not need them. Jack
You can't be ticketed on private land I don't think - that was my point about supermarket car parks specifically.
Jeremy
In the U.S. most communities have laws restricting handicap spaces to those who have the special license plate or placard that hangs from the mirror (which can only be obtained with a doctor's order). If the police see a vehicle parked in a handicap space without it, or if the store personnel call to report it, the police will ticket it. Also in many places there are laws mandating the minimum number of handicap spaces business places have depending on the total count of parking spaces their lot has.
Quote from: Jeremy on April 21, 2011, 05:12:30 AM
You can't be ticketed on private land I don't think - that was my point about supermarket car parks specifically.
Jeremy
There are other hazards to be considered when parking in handicapped spaces over here in the USA. Some of us highly opinionated, unruly, independent minded backwoods type rednecks take offense when people who don't need handicap facilities use them. There was one young man I know who parked in a handicapped spot. When he jumped out and sprinted towards the store, a friend of mine inquired weather or not he was handicapped. He replied he was not & "what the $%^# business was it of his & what the #$% are you going to do about it?" My friend told him he would have to think about it but it was very uncaring to park in a space some person who was indeed handicapped might need.
A few weeks later that young man was the victim of an unfortunate attack that left him permanently wheelchair bound. The official report says it way a bungled robbery attempt. The young man said he was kidnapped and told he needed to be legal to use the handicapped spots.
I guess there are always risks to about any kind of behavior.
TOM
PS: I was just reminded that the same opinion sometimes extend to poaching other peoples traps, using foul language around ladies, deliberate failure to uphold a verbal contract ratified by a handshake, oystering, fishing, or hunting on others peoples land, and other infractions of what used to be called behaving like a gentleman.
Quote
In the U.S. most communities have laws restricting handicap spaces to those who have the special license plate or placard that hangs from the mirror (which can only be obtained with a doctor's order).
It's not often I get to clarify you Mike, but here goes:
They have to get the doctor's prescription for a handicap sticker and then take it to the DMV who issues it.
It's entirely possible that supermarkets here are 'obliged' to allocated handicapped spaces in exactly the same way, and that in theory the police also have the same powers to administer them. I say 'in theory' because I've never seen or heard of the police here showing any interest in what is parked where in a supermarket car park - however, the point is well made.
And I also take the point about the risk of other people taking it upon themselves to enforce such rules as well. Nothing more dangerous than a self-righteous man.
Jeremy
And so it is that another good thread (originally "Larry & Penny Thompson Park in Fl - NO BUSES??") gets hijacked.
;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Mex-Busnut on April 21, 2011, 06:10:00 AM
And so it is that another good thread (originally "Larry & Penny Thompson Park in Fl - NO BUSES??") gets hijacked.
;D ;D ;D
Guilty as charged!
TOM
This is not hijacked --- simply thread DRIFT --- multiple thoughts in a single place
Throw in a little ADD and you can have a party in your brain
HTH
YMMV
Melbo
I think the thread told it's friends that it was popping down to the campsite shop, but found the shop closed so it drove down to the local supermarket instead. Then it parked in the wrong spot and got reprimanded by some locals, who got even more angry when the thread kept insisting that it was a motorhome, not a bus.
Meanwhile, it's friends had organised a search of the campsite when the thread hadn't returned as expected, and eventually 'phoned the police to report that it had been hijacked. The police didn't respond straight away because they were dealing with a disturbance elsewhere.
Jeremy
;D ;D ;D Thanks for the laughs!
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OK! Since the thread has been declared officially hijacked,.......
Quote from: Jeremy on April 21, 2011, 06:07:38 AM
Nothing more dangerous than a self-righteous man.
Jeremy
How is a self-righteous man dangerous? And, when you say "nothing is more dangerous", then the most dangerous thing known is a self-righteous man?
I disagree.
TOM
Quote from: oldmansax on April 21, 2011, 06:26:33 PM
How is a self-righteous man dangerous? And, when you say "nothing is more dangerous", then the most dangerous thing known is a self-righteous man?
I disagree.
TOM
Self-righteous men (can be) dangerous because they sometimes believe they have the right to correct other people, regardless of laws or common morals. Hijacking threads is one thing, hijacking 'planes is another.
Jeremy
[Edit - Inserted a 'sometimes' to pre-empt the pedants]
Quote from: happycamperbrat on April 19, 2011, 04:43:04 PM
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Amazing! No ones bus looks more like a bus then mine. And yet I have parked in several campgrounds without ever having any problem whatsoever.
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I have never seen a pic of your bus. Sweet looking ride!!
Here is my take on the subject. If they don't want me staying there then OK. Walmart is cheaper anyway.
I agree with Wal, I avoid RV resorts because of their prices and attitudes.
I just read in Motorhome Magazine today that an RV resort in Naples, FL is auctioning off RV lots which are now selling for $98,000 - $365,000! Note this is only for the lot, not the RV too!
This is such a good deal I feel like rushing right down there and buying a couple! I wanted to post this good news because I know some of my fellow nuts are anxious to buy a couple too!!