Thousand Trails prohibited my entry and worse

[luvrbus]

Hasn't 1000 Trails been bought and sold 2 or 3 times in the last 5 years expanding their park network ? I know they manage some federal parks that are included in the network.That really pisses me off. we have a place we go to in Idaho and park on the river and the last time we were there it was reserved for 1000 Trails members   

[Oonrahnjay]

... the last time we were there it was reserved for 1000 Trails members   

    I've never been involved with TT but *that* pisses me off, too.

[The Champion Challenger]

We had a 1000 Trails membership for several years.  There's a wide variety of personalities end up being hired as their managers.  You certainly don't go to 1000 Trails parks for consistency.  This is probably not winnable at the specific park but it is also not likely to be relevant at the next park.  I'd move on.

Unfortunately, because of what the Mean Manager wrote up, I'm prohibited from entering **any** Thousand Trails Parks, even though the original TT park loved having me there.

[The Champion Challenger]

I would love to hear both sides of this interaction. We only know one side of the story....and my gut tells me there's another side. Let me be completely frank...we all think our buses are beautiful...but the next guy might not agree. In any case, sorry to hear about the way you were treated. We've had our share of discrimination because we live in a coach, so it's nothing new to me...and I personally do think our bus is beautiful:
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I agree: there are always two sides. And yes, it isn't just about beauty - it's about safety. I am 100% onboard with ensuring we all drive and live in SAFE bus conversions and motorhomes, which is why I've been so careful about maintaining both the outside and inside of my bus conversion.

In this case, it is clearly discrimination and the inconsistent application of undefined "rules." If Thousand Trails - or any Park for that matter - is going to discriminate against ALL bus conversions, they need to say so, up front, in their membership guidelines. At present, they don't - and no one told me they did, when I called to sign up for my membership and discussed my bus conversion with the TT staff member at length.

If Thousand Trails - or any Park - is concerned about safety, then they need to have some sort of consistent method for applying that, and for helping their members to meet the appropriate safety goals. This is what I am trying to ascertain.

[The Champion Challenger]

Jeanine, I think with your academic credentials you deserve to be taken seriously by the management of Thousand Trails. They are part of Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc., based in Chicago. A well written letter to the appropriate manager should get some results.

Regarding making your conversion look more authentic, I would look at the many small RV's by various manufacturers that are very similar in size to shuttle buses. Where you can, copy what has been done by them to achieve an appearance that blends in. Your solar panel might have stirred the most concern with the excess wire on the outside so that you could put it in better positions when parked. I would put the wire in a concealed position when not in use. I would also (for your own safety) ensure that everything in the shuttle bus is secured so that it will not fly around if you stop quick or have an accident. Hopefully, you have a rear exit door, emergency windows, and roof hatches. With all of the hanging objects in the bus, things must swing around a lot.

Howdy! Excellent suggestions. Not sure how I will re-wire the solar panel, but will look into it.

You might be interested to know that very few items in my bus "shift around" - I have a complex system where everything is glued, magnetized, bungie-corded, screwed in, or otherwise stored whenever I move. Virtually everything that hangs is stored during transport, then pulled out when I park for any length in time.

And yes, I have a rear door and emergency windows - but no roof hatch (unless and until I install a sunroof, which would be a fun thing to have).

I will eventually be writing a letter to Thousand Trails...IF I decide to continue my membership with them. Given how nastily I was treated, I'm not yet sure I want to stay with TT.

[The Champion Challenger]

Hey Gary,

After seeing the post about TT and hearing about it before but not taking time to check it out, I am engaged in a conversation with a sales rep at TT. I explained that my "friend" experienced this reported incident and explained that it would only make sense for me to join up if my converted coach met the terms of "recreational vehicle" as defined in the term sheet.

(...)

Will keep you posted, do the same.
Don

Don, do please keep all of us posted. As I noted in an earlier post, the inconsistent application of their "rules" or definitions is an issue for any person with a bus conversion.

As an educator, scientist, and community advocate, I would like to be part of an effort to ensure that all of us  are successful with our bus conversions - successful in the sense that we are living in lovely, functional, healthy, and safe units, without being unjustly discriminated against.

Jeanine

[The Champion Challenger]

I have called Thousand Trails twice in the past two days to find out what their rules are regarding RVIA stickers but I still have not received a call back from them.  So I am concerned about their Customer Service as I was considering buying a membership myself but I like to ensure I get good customer service before signing up for anything. I will be second thinking this membership now. 

Gary - here is the exact text of the letter Thousand Trails sent to me. Note that they gave me no information or specific details about what was wrong, or what I need to do to change, alter, or fix things.

"I am writing in reference to the vehicle you currently use to camp in.

The current definition, in our member rules, for camping vehicle is the following: "Camping vehicle" and/or "recreational vehicle" means any vehicle that comfortably sleeps one or more persons overnight on an extended basis. We recognize motor homes, travel trailers, folding trailers, pickup campers and conversion vans as camping vehicles and/or recreational vehicles. Camping vehicles must be operable and in good conditions as determined in our discretion."

That being said, the camping vehicle you currently use to camp does not meet Thousand Trails standards and therefore you will not be allowed to camp in this vehicle for any future reservations at any Thousand Trails preserve.

Please consider this letter as notification that your membership has been temporarily suspended until you have a camping vehicle that meets Thousand Trails standards. During this time you can still use your membership for day use, tent camping or rental usage, but your current camping vehicle will not be allowed in any Thousand Trails Preserve.

Should this continue, your membership may be suspended further or terminated and you will not be allowed access to any Thousand Trails preserve as a member and/or guest.

In closing, I appreciate your understanding and compliance regarding this suspension and sincerely hope that you understand the severity of these incidents.

Sincerely,
Leslie Blackwell
Member Services Manager

[windtrader]

@Clifford - it sure has had a hot potato history. These folks are like shady used car sales ppl. Like I said, I'd only buy in once I knew I'd get my first two week stay locked in. That alone would be worth the annual fee, any other use would be "free". Otherwise I'll keep these folks about as far as that dead stinking skunk down the road. lol

MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership ("Thousand
Trails" or "we," "us," or "our") is a wholly owned indirect
subsidiary of Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc. ("ELS").
Thousand Trails, the successor to a company that was founded
in 1969, operates a membership program that enables buyers
of a Thousand Trails Camping Pass to camp at over 80
campgrounds (called "preserves") in 22 states and British
Columbia. ELS is publicly traded and owns and operates over
380 properties in 30 states. Thousand Trails' and ELS' address
is Two N. Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606.

In 1991, Thousand Trails and another membership campground company, NACO (National American Corporation) both came under the umbrella of the newly formed USTrails, Inc. (which took the name Thousand Trails, Inc., in 1996).[2] Concurrent with this consolidation, USTrails filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 1991.[3]

In 1999, Thousand Trails, Inc., purchased the holding company that owned Leisure Time Resorts of America, Inc., a network of ten membership campgrounds in Washington and Oregon.[4] Since that time, ownership has changed repeatedly: the private equity firm of Kohlberg & Co. purchased Thousand Trails for $113 million in 2003,[5] Privileged Access Gp. Corp. of Frisco, Texas bought it in 2006,[6] and Equity Lifestyle Properties bought it in 2008.[7]

Encore Royalty Club, L.L.C. ("Encore") is a Delaware limited
liability company doing business as The Trails Collection.
Encore's address is 2325 Highway 90, Gautier, MS 39553.
Encore operates a reciprocal use program (the "Program") that
allows participating TCP holders to use campsites and other
facilities at the RV resorts affiliated with the Program. A list
of the RV resorts currently affiliated with the Program is set
forth on our website at www.thetrailscollection.com (the
"Affiliated Resorts").

[eagle19952]

TT (imo), is a vehicle to speculate in real estate holdings anticipating future equity returns at your expense, providing service isn't even a thought.

[windtrader]

Donald,

you are right! Check out their stock price ELS, very very nice investment.

[Jon]

Unfortunately it seems there is discrimination in a great deal of RV parks. I have no specific experience with TT, but over the last 28 years of coach ownership I have heard a lot of negative comments and my gut reaction is it is like the "timeshare" of the RV industry. It may be a great place and opportunity but the negative remarks seem to suggest otherwise.

Having said that we know there are RV parks that use the occupant's age or the age of the coach to restrict entry. Some RV parks do not want young people and use an age like 55 as the cutoff point for occupants. If you travel with grandchildren you have to go somewhere else. We have discussed often the RV parks that will not allow coaches over 10 years of age for example. My response to those is if they ask my coach's age I know they have a restriction about to be revealed so I respond by asking the age of the RV park. If it is over 10 years of age, I just let them know I have a personal policy of only staying at new RV parks and I go away. I'd rather spend the night at a Cracker Barrel than support a discriminatory policy.

[luvrbus]

Will allow the poster to use a tent but not his bus  what BS 

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

I just called TT again today and they transferred me to their home office in Chicago and I explained they are getting some negative comments about their company on our Forum and then that person transferred me to another company where I left another message.  I still have not had a chance to talk to anyone at this company that keeps telling me someone in authority will return my call but never does.  I told them this is the last attempt to reach someone regarding this matter and to call me back with a clarification of their rules. But at this time I am not holding my breath and do not plan on joining this organization if they have such poor customer service.  I left three message so far over the past three days and not one person has called me back. 

[Dave5Cs]

While we are at it, there is another one we run into every so often when checking in. They ask us if we are members and we say of what. They say we are a "Coast to Coast Resort" We keep a few spots open for non members and they always let us stay with no extra charge. Sounds like same kind of thing but nicer.
And I went and looked in my Bus and sure enough we have a certified sticker from the state of California RV division.

[RJ]

I just called TT again today and they transferred me to their home office in Chicago and I explained they are getting some negative comments about their company on our Forum and then that person transferred me to another company where I left another message. 

Gary -

Sounds to me like a good story for BCM!