Hello all,
Can someone explain what kind of certification I need for my bus that RVs have so they are allowed to stay at parks.
Thanks
Rick
You can't. It is a manufacturing club thing.
Some peeps have been known to pry one of those things off a wrecked rv and apply it to their bus...
If the campground is using that bit of discrimination, one must ask oneself whether or not to darken their door?
Your bus will still need to be presentable, they'll deny you for more than just that sticker...
Welcome to the discrimination...
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Generally speaking, no certification is needed for most campgrounds. I've only been asked once if the bus had a sticker, and I said yes. It has a sticker, just not the specific one they're talking about.
I think like Buswarrior mentioned having the bus look presentable and safe is the biggest thing - show up in a ramshackle mess and you might be asked for a certification (or more).
Insurance co's are getting into the RVIA sticker deal now too,better read the fine print when your policy comes up for renewal,they are like sheep one leads the others will follow
Quote from: luvrbus on March 06, 2021, 08:15:54 PM
Insurance co's are getting into the RVIA sticker deal now too,better read the fine print when your policy comes up for renewal,they are like sheep one leads the others will follow
I'd expect that certificate required for newer factory RV and I guess if they do some blanket change in terms across all RV policies, it is a problem. The math dudes behind all this hopefully are overseeing any change to policy terms, assessing risk and revenue estimates, and would see leaving the old ones probably makes them pretty good profits. Low incidence of claims and claim amounts would be low. Compared to just about all pushers less than 7 years old, for example.
Quote from: luvrbus on March 06, 2021, 08:15:54 PM
Insurance co's are getting into the RVIA sticker deal now too,better read the fine print when your policy comes up for renewal,they are like sheep one leads the others will follow
Care to share the text you are talking about? Mine doesn't have any reference to RVIA. If they insure older RVs, they have to know that not all of them are going to be self-certified to be RVIA compliant.
And the shoddy, poorly maintained chassis that are being home built into "tiny homes" are going to have no effect on insurance?
Who is the lobby group or association representing properly maintained home bus converters that is going to be sure some accountant at the insurer doesn't just say "dump 'em all" ???
The tsunami sweeps up everything...
They'll keep going uninsured, those of us with assets and conscience will be parked.
So, who is looking out for us?
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Quote from: richard5933 on March 07, 2021, 04:36:47 AM
Care to share the text you are talking about? Mine doesn't have any reference to RVIA. If they insure older RVs, they have to know that not all of them are going to be self-certified to be RVIA compliant.
I just renewed my State Farm that cost me $2100.00 a year and my agent told me to send a picture of the RIVA for her files so it would be on record and I am sure she didn't just pull that out of the air.It is coming to a theater near you ,lots of insurance co's won't touch a DYI conversion now
Quote from: luvrbus on March 07, 2021, 06:34:26 AM
I just renewed my State Farm that cost me $2100.00 a year and my agent told me to send a picture of the RIVA for her files so it would be on record and I am sure she didn't just pull that out of the air.It is coming to a theater near you ,lots of insurance co's won't touch a DYI conversion now
I was asked to submit lots of pictures of my conversion 'for the file' when I first got insurance. They presumably were sent to underwriting.
Without something in the policy requiring RVIA compliance, it sounds like a CYA move on the part of the agent.
Like I said, there are a huge number of trailers out there without the RVIA sticker, and in a state with required liability requiring the sticker isn't going to fly. If it's legal to be on the road they have to insure it.
Quote from: richard5933 on March 07, 2021, 08:21:53 AM
I was asked to submit lots of pictures of my conversion 'for the file' when I first got insurance. They presumably were sent to underwriting.
Without something in the policy requiring RVIA compliance, it sounds like a CYA move on the part of the agent.
Like I said, there are a huge number of trailers out there without the RVIA sticker, and in a state with required liability requiring the sticker isn't going to fly. If it's legal to be on the road they have to insure it.
Insurance co's can amend a policy when they want to do it just like a friggn credit card co and not a damn thing you can do about it.I doubt there are that many trailers on the road without a RVIA sticker since they been around since the 70's and use a different RVIA sticker than a motor home
Hold on. Let's talk apples to apples. If Clifford is referencing his newer coach, that is a commercial brand RV. That makes perfect sense the insurer wants to ensure they are RVIA compliant.
Who's to say this kind of requirement is going to be required for us old buses? I'd like to hope that their underwriters have identified brands and models and years where this is needed.
Personally, I'm most concerned that a TMC is not in anyone's book. Sometimes I say MCI but I'd not surprised when "other" disappears and then left out totally. Like don't even bother to apply.
course Cliffords Motorhome insurer is particular. 2 million dollar motorhomes ARE going to get scrutiny 😉
Quote from: luvrbus on March 07, 2021, 09:12:38 AM
Insurance co's can amend a policy when they want to do it just like a friggn credit card co and not a damn thing you can do about it.I doubt there are that many trailers on the road without a RVIA sticker since they been around since the 70's and use a different RVIA sticker than a motor home
Sure they can. I'm not going to worry about it though. What good will it do at this point to stress over something that may or may not every be an issue. Wisconsin is a mandated insurance state, so if the vehicle is road legal I'll be able to get liability no matter what else they do to the other coverage. It's not going to keep me off the road, and odds are there will still be specialty companies for the things the big companies shy away from.
And my insurance on Huggy "basic liability" is cheaper than on my &
750 Honda.
Both at State Farm.
uncle ned
You just have to word it carefully when you talk to RV parks. I have a 1980 shorty Prevost. Got it in November. So when they ask what I have and how old it is, since it is a Custom Coach conversion and I have only had it six months (which makes it "new" to me) I just say "Country Coach Bus and it is new.". But some good advice above is given above. We usually stop early in the day, so if they ask us more than one question we don't like, we hang up, keep driving, and Rita pretty quickly finds one that will take our money. We generally get approved everywhere we have tried so far. It is however a rapidly changing scenario. Last three trips the bigger challenge once in the gate of an RV park has been trying to drive around the now immensely popular 40 foot 5th wheels with a truck sticking out in the RV park road in front, and bicycles on the back of the trailer sticking out on that lane. Just have to take it slow. Record sales of big 5th wheels last two years running means we better get used to it...
Safe travels.
Quote from: Tedsoldbus on March 07, 2021, 05:09:56 PM
You just have to word it carefully when you talk to RV parks. I have a 1980 shorty Prevost. Got it in November. So when they ask what I have and how old it is, since it is a Custom Coach conversion and I have only had it six months (which makes it "new" to me) I just say "Country Coach Bus and it is new.". But some good advice above is given above. We usually stop early in the day, so if they ask us more than one question we don't like, we hang up, keep driving, and Rita pretty quickly finds one that will take our money. We generally get approved everywhere we have tried so far. It is however a rapidly changing scenario. Last three trips the bigger challenge once in the gate of an RV park has been trying to drive around the now immensely popular 40 foot 5th wheels with a truck sticking out in the RV park road in front, and bicycles on the back of the trailer sticking out on that lane. Just have to take it slow. Record sales of big 5th wheels last two years running means we better get used to it...
Safe travels.
Like I said, I've only been asked once. If they don't bring it up when making a reservation I don't offer any information.
As many rv parks are nearing full capacity for most of the season, they can pick and choose more.
As my bus (and it will always be a bus to me) nears completion and its metamorphosis into a motorhome, I'll just have to get used to calling it a "40-foot diesel pusher motorhome" - mentioning the word "bus" is usually not a Good Idea when dealing with the DMV, insurance companies, campgrounds, and pretty much anyone else. Mind you, I don't intend to stay in campgrounds any more than absolutely necessary - that's why I built it for extended boondocking.
John
We built in the capability for dry camping, but in reality there are not that many places east of the Mississippi to dry camp for extended periods of time, at least not like in the west.
When going to campground for shorter stays it's just not been my experience that campgrounds are fussy - it's usually the long term stays where they get fussier.
This is what they are wanting now at some parks only found on a motorhome the travel trailers are not the same,lol you need to rotate it I forgot how,after around 2000 they are not removable
This is nothing new. This conversation has been going on for many years, and not just with bus conversions. Go read any of the many forums for people restoring vintage trailers and they have the same conversation. Once the stickers are removed for the restoration they cannot be easily replaced.
My bus has a sticker which vaguely resembles the RVIA one, but I've never been asked for any sticker at all. Of course, I've never stayed long term at a campground either.
Quote from: chessie4905 on March 07, 2021, 06:42:44 PM
As many rv parks are nearing full capacity for most of the season, they can pick and choose more.
RV park owners have a lot to deal with we were partners in a KOA in Payson AZ for a few years Ron and I finally shut it down and sold off the land lol since neither of us could deal with the public and local authorities that well
Quote from: richard5933 on March 08, 2021, 04:51:19 AM
This is nothing new. This conversation has been going on for many years, and not just with bus conversions. Go read any of the many forums for people restoring vintage trailers and they have the same conversation. Once the stickers are removed for the restoration they cannot be easily replaced.
Most RV parks with long term parking over 30 days require a back ground check, credit check and a insurance certificate the insurance card you carry don't get it and you pay for the back ground and credit checks
Hey, no worries about the RVIA plaque. Just get a fake off alibaba for 10 bucks and glue it on.
Quote from: windtrader on March 08, 2021, 08:39:24 AM
Hey, no worries about the RVIA plaque. Just get a fake off alibaba for 10 bucks and glue it on.
Or make your own. Not difficult to make something that looks similar and which will pass when looked at from a few feet away.
Correct, I have heard there is someone here who has some experience with 3d printing. A scan of one and copies start popping out. Spray with some copper patina paint and you're good to go. I'd buy made in USA, where does one order one? lol
Quote from: windtrader on March 08, 2021, 08:46:21 AM
Correct, I have heard there is someone here who has some experience with 3d printing....
;)
:^
Quote from: richardkillmon on March 06, 2021, 09:53:52 AM
Hello all,
Can someone explain what kind of certification I need for my bus that RVs have so they are allowed to stay at parks.
Thanks
Rick
As a builder of custom RVs. RVIA has a certification that our RV builds have to be put through and standards we must meet or exceed to get the coach certified. There is a fee we have to pay. Just taking a tag off an old RV is not a way to bypass this. If a campground was to think it was real, so be it. But, each Cirt. has a number that is unique to the unit it is applied to and can be looked up. We have to take our units out to Elkhart, Indiana to get the Cirt. done.
I hope this helps
I think many of us are building our "bus conversions" to a higher standard than the RVIA "mandates".
Solid copper wire in a vehicle that goes bumping down our high quality public roads is unimaginable to me, but that is what meets the RVIA standard. And so it goes.
I do understand the need for safety, and I see lots "van builds" that look way more dangerous than most bus conversions.
If a park refuses me, no harm no foul, as that is their right. What is not right is after taking a very truthful description of your bus conversion to refuse entry and keeping your payment!
I think the opinion about solid copper wire failing in a bus conversion is over stated. If the wire is properly secured, it won't be failure prone. Now I'm not talking about battery cables or heavy inverter wiring. There is a lot of copper tubing in our coaches, and it isn't failure prone either.
While I am not convinced RIVA standards are the do all end all when it comes to RV builds, neither can I accept the home built as being OK just because they are home built. Even a quick look often reveals glaring safety issues with many home built motorhomes. Add to that the the cheap streak among home builders (skoolies in particular) and there is a recipe for disaster.
I don't blame RV parks for being choosey--they need to be and I sure can't fault them for requiring a certain degree of, well, whatever. I am a skoolie and while I've been careful to follow "best practice" advice myself, I'm still not completely sure I've got it all right but I think I have. Would RIVA rip me a new one? I don't know
When I'm going to want to stay at an RV park I've never visited I always send an email to them regarding what I'm driving along with a few photos. So far I've not been turned down. Jack
Very true to that statement.
I can only tell you how many repairs we have made to "NEW" units. We do get people stop in with their home made van conversions. Our quality over theirs is night and day for sure. Many have no clue as to code for wiring and it is bad.
Quote from: oltrunt on March 08, 2021, 07:27:49 PM
While I am not convinced RIVA standards are the do all end all when it comes to RV builds, neither can I accept the home built as being OK just because they are home built. Even a quick look often reveals glaring safety issues with many home built motorhomes. Add to that the the cheap streak among home builders (skoolies in particular) and there is a recipe for disaster.
I don't blame RV parks for being choosey--they need to be and I sure can't fault them for requiring a certain degree of, well, whatever. I am a skoolie and while I've been careful to follow "best practice" advice myself, I'm still not completely sure I've got it all right but I think I have. Would RIVA rip me a new one? I don't know
When I'm going to want to stay at an RV park I've never visited I always send an email to them regarding what I'm driving along with a few photos. So far I've not been turned down. Jack
Knowing you Jack. RVIA standards would be 2nd rate,I seen RV's from the 60's with solid wire that have never had a problem,the cheap made high dollar box and plug combo units give problems but not the wire
Jack has a very valid point. Maybe new RV have their share of quality control issues, they do get sorted out and the engineering from the factory these days is pretty professional grade, i would expect.
And like he points out most busnuts are doing stuff on shoestring budgets and no professional conversion experience.
Some might argue their homebuilt is better than commercial and that may be true ini a couple cases but here is the test. Take a dart and throw at a board full of the major RV companies. Hit one. Now do the same with a bunch of pictures of skoolie and bus conversions. Now take out a hundred dollar bill and bet your buddy which is likely the "better" overall build. lol
Maybe starting an owner/operator bus conversion on the professional/commercial chassis puts the start point so far ahead of the game that it offsets a lot of the shabby ones! Just saying. When I do work on relatives S&S, I'm bewildered at some of the construction techniques. I'm speaking from a retired professional carpentry standpoint here...
one problem with day's is most only have expertise in one or two areas. Fantastic cabinetry work, but piss poor wiring and soldering skills or great at wiring, but poor at plumbing. Or so forth. The ones that usually have the best conversions, know their weaknesses and enlist talent for those areas.
All the trailers, campers and motor homes I have owned have solid copper wire for the 120 volt AC side. Even my MC5C and the Country Coach, both professional conversions. Never a problem.
Quote from: richard5933 on March 07, 2021, 05:32:33 PM
Like I said, I've only been asked once. If they don't bring it up when making a reservation I don't offer any information.
I recently got turned away after filling out their paperwork and putting the year of my bus. Drove an hour and half to get there, needless to say I was pissed. They also wanted to see the bus registration...
That smacks of looking for ANY reason to turn you away for whatever reasons they wish.
They own the joint and you have the power to move on,, so it's a push.>>>Dan
Quote from: freds on March 09, 2021, 09:16:27 AM
I recently got turned away after filling out their paperwork and putting the year of my bus. Drove an hour and half to get there, needless to say I was pissed. They also wanted to see the bus registration...
Some campgrounds are denying entry to all RVs older than 10 years, so it's hard to say in this case whether it was because it's a bus conversion or not.
When on the phone trying to make a reservation, I have been told by some RV parks over the years that they have a ten year age limit, and that it is a requirement of their insurance.
Would be nice to inspect that part of their insurance policy.
Don't call or make a reservation, just pull up and ask them if they have a space for the night, week, or whatever....worked for me, i only got turned down once and that was at a state park in Montana and only because they were already full. Just went down the road to another rv park. Only place i ever called was Thousand Trails and that was because i was a member.
Quote from: chessie4905 on March 09, 2021, 11:32:22 AM
Would be nice to inspect that part of their insurance policy.
Really doesn't matter what excuse they choose to use. If it is a private, for-profit company, then they can make up any rules they want except the mandated government laws.
I'm too cheap to pay for the fancy places where rates are plain stupid but there are plenty of them as they get full of them fancy motorhomes. If I was paying big bucks for a nice RV resort full of fancy coaches, I'd make darn sure the riffraff were not staying there. Free country - go somewhere else, no biggie.
Quote from: Ed Hackenbruch on March 09, 2021, 12:49:29 PM
Don't call or make a reservation, just pull up and ask them if they have a space for the night, week, or whatever....worked for me, i only got turned down once and that was at a state park in Montana and only because they were already full. Just went down the road to another rv park. Only place i ever called was Thousand Trails and that was because i was a member.
For the next few years with the rapid expansion of the RV world, finding campsites like this is going to be more and more difficult.
The one time I was asked about the age of my bus a few photos via email took care of the issue.
But mostly, their house their rules.
We sure don't want no dam riff-raff around here...
Jim
thank you all for the help again
If fuel prices go through the roof again, won't be a problem. It'll kill the rv industry again. Look at history. People on Facebook already complaining about fuel price spikes.
Quote from: chessie4905 on March 10, 2021, 12:35:35 PM
If fuel prices go through the roof again, won't be a problem. It'll kill the rv industry again. Look at history. People on Facebook already complaining about fuel price spikes.
True, but I think that people got used to the recently artificial low prices and are now shocked that they're returning more towards normal. Still nowhere near the near $4/gal nationwide average for unleaded a few years ago.
who cares the cost of diesel when you just put your hand out and money falls from the sky.
It is what it is. Wanna dance, got to pay the band... If we ever run out of $$$ to put in the tank then our bus will really be a tiny home period - just hope we'd have enough $$ for diesel to park it in AK! Lol
Where did guys buy fuel for 4 bucks a gal a few years ago I haven't paid 4 bucks for fuel since 2007 lol it did cost 5 bucks to get home it was quite the deal, we left home paying $1.50 in 3 months it was over 5 bucks a gal.Higher fuel prices will take a toll selling it always does when you start paying 500 to a $1000.00 for a tank of fuel takes all the fun out of it
$4.58 a gallon in Florida the end of 2013 and start of 2014.
Quote from: Ed Hackenbruch on March 12, 2021, 05:01:55 AM
$4.58 a gallon in Florida the end of 2013 and start of 2014.
Little birdie told me you are buying a another bus Ed that is why fuel is going up 8)
Timing is everything isn't it? ;D
Guess thats why Cliff never comes east. Lots of neat places to see. Lots of real trees, not any scrub brush and sand.🤣
Lot's of sand in FL & most of it's wet! We live in an upland scrub oak & sand pine forest, brush not so much. Never forget the automated diesel storage tank & pump we saw at an AK road's end @ $7/gal. :o
Quote from: dtcerrato on March 12, 2021, 07:13:49 AM
Lot's of sand in FL & most of it's wet! We live in an upland scrub oak & sand pine forest, brush not so much. Never forget the automated diesel storage tank & pump we saw at an AK road's end @ $7/gal. :o
Well if you need it you need it... ;D that's a high price tho ::)
Quote from: Tedsoldbus on March 07, 2021, 05:09:56 PM
You just have to word it carefully when you talk to RV parks. I have a 1980 shorty Prevost. Got it in November. So when they ask what I have and how old it is, since it is a Custom Coach conversion and I have only had it six months (which makes it "new" to me) I just say "Country Coach Bus and it is new.". But some good advice above is given above. We usually stop early in the day, so if they ask us more than one question we don't like, we hang up, keep driving, and Rita pretty quickly finds one that will take our money. We generally get approved everywhere we have tried so far. It is however a rapidly changing scenario. Last three trips the bigger challenge once in the gate of an RV park has been trying to drive around the now immensely popular 40 foot 5th wheels with a truck sticking out in the RV park road in front, and bicycles on the back of the trailer sticking out on that lane. Just have to take it slow. Record sales of big 5th wheels last two years running means we better get used to it...
Safe travels.
Hi;
When I check into a RV park I ask the first question, "Do you have room for a 40'foot coach?" Usually , the answer is "yes". and they
usually don't even look out the window to have a 'look see" I have had no problem so far. (west coast). Don't give any more info than
necessary.
Merle ;)
Quote from: Tedsoldbus on March 07, 2021, 05:09:56 PM...Last three trips the bigger challenge once in the gate of an RV park has been trying to drive around the now immensely popular 40 foot 5th wheels with a truck sticking out in the RV park road in front, and bicycles on the back of the trailer sticking out on that lane. Just have to take it slow. Record sales of big 5th wheels last two years running means we better get used to it...
Safe travels.
I concur that this has become a bigger and bigger problem. Nearly every time we're trying to pull into/out of a campsite recently there is a super-duty pickup sticking out one end of another campsite blocking our route.
I just got into a park that had a ten year limit buy by saying let me take pictures right now and email them to you? I also had to mention that I was driving a Prevost a couple of times LOL!