Thousand Trails prohibited my entry and worse

[The Champion Challenger]

Gary -

Sounds to me like a good story for BCM!

Gary -

I agree! I'd love to write this up as a story for the Bus Conversion Magazine, if you are interested (I have an extensive writing and publishing background). We can use our back-and-forths with Thousand Trails as a case study. I no longer have any emotional attachment to the outcome (which makes going forward fun, instead of frustrating), as I have plenty of other options.

Jeanine

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Gary -

I agree! I'd love to write this up as a story for the Bus Conversion Magazine, if you are interested (I have an extensive writing and publishing background). We can use our back-and-forths with Thousand Trails as a case study. I no longer have any emotional attachment to the outcome (which makes going forward fun, instead of frustrating), as I have plenty of other options.

Jeanine

This would be great Jeanine, but before putting any words to paper, please contact me for the article guidelines. I was considering asking you to write a story about your bus so perhaps you can send us a couple of articles.  You have my number.

[windtrader]

nice sticker Dave. It probably gets you over the first hurdle - it IS a camping vehicle. They can still send you running at their discretion. You'll be one more post on the complaint board. It seems very few here on BCM have direct experience with TT so it will be interesting to follow the story about getting them to pre-approve OTR coach conversions. They got a pile of pics and specs of mine. crickets so far. lol


"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 condition as determined
in our discretion.

[Jon]

If I have to prove I am worthy of staying at any RV park as far as I am concerned they can stick the entire park where the sun don't shine.

Since when does a coach's age, appearance, type or the age of the occupants matter? My only concern is some folks on here seem as discriminatory toward Champion Challenger because she doesn't have a "real" bus. Hey kettle, the pot is calling.

[Dave5Cs]

Don we have never been turned down (even in a Thousand Trail Preserve) and generally people come over and want to know all about it. One place on the Delta ask us to send them a picture of it when they ask the age of the coach and we did and they said no problem come ahead. So if your coach is a mess or smokes up a storm or has electrical cords hanging off the bumper, broken windows, leaking black tank or you are dumping grey tank on the ground where not approved, Then I believe they have the right to turn you down. After all it is their Business.

Have watched the video above and believe the Manager didn't know what she was looking at because so many don't know that people can actually build their own. I also know the area down there where she was and it is "Nose Up in the air type of place" and she is used to those kind of people coming in through what she considers her gate.

Ok I will say it because no body else will, Here the bottom line...
As far as helping anyone else out with your idea so that they won't block you out...
As far as Electrical Inspections and RVIA stickers and More Government control on yet more things we all don't want or to pay for, I believe you will be opening yourself up to a big can of worms that no one wants opened IMHO. Respectfully

[windtrader]

Here is a thought about park rules seemingly discriminating about some camping vehicles. It would not be surprising the commercial insurance policies covering these parks include clear definitions about the kinds of vehicles allowed to stay and the specific uses on the premises. In fact, such language would define the foundation of the liability aspects of the coverage.

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.

Even Dr. P speaks directly to the need for healthy and safe units. Unfortunately, as Dave states, it would be one huge cluster Fk (my words)for a certification program for DIY conversions. Not going to happen and if it did it would harm the movement more than support it.

As it is, we OTR conversions get a real free card through the loopholes in the current laws. I'd be the first to fight and snuff out any effort that brings this into the light of legislators or govt. regulators. Nothing personal, Dr. P.  I am certain all DIY bus converter busnuts don't want anything that jeopardizes the status quo.

An analogy is the fate of DIY car kit builders. There is a huge amount of regulation on building your own motor vehicle you plan to put on the road. Safety and environmental considerations are foremost and the rules in this space are suffocating.

[eagle19952]

No ones discriminating...but, most know what the bear did in the buckwheat.

[luvrbus]

Have you ever look at the wiring and plumbing on a RV with RVIA sticker lol home converters beat the mid entry RV's by a long shot,RVIA is self governing body by the RV manufactures has nothing to do with safety or quality workmanship

[windtrader]

Clifford - I know nothing so... But common sense guides me that a coach coming from a production shop that is RVIA certified likely meets some minimum standard that the insurance and DOT find acceptable. Compare that with the totally unregulated bus conversions done by us. There is assurance of any minimum standard. Not saying that we don't do as good, maybe a lot better than RVIA standard; it is just there is zero verification process for us. I have zero idea which are safer but there is no way to know. don

[eagle19952]

Have you ever look at the wiring and plumbing on a RV with RVIA sticker lol home converters beat the mid entry RV's by a long shot,RVIA is self governing body by the RV manufactures has nothing to do with safety or quality workmanship

yup RVIA and TT and FMCA and most other acronyms... money harvesters.. the how many annual subscribers can we get to keep us at the top living in tall cotton.

[richard5933]

I think that the applicable acronym here with regard to requiring stickers is CYA.

[Beluga Bus]

The RVIA sticker is there to give the end consumer some peace of mind that thier new RV will make it through the warranty period.

Matt

[windtrader]

Donald,

After Google the phrase "bear in the buckwheat", I agree with this whole topic. lol

[luvrbus]

Clifford - I know nothing so... But common sense guides me that a coach coming from a production shop that is RVIA certified likely meets some minimum standard that the insurance and DOT find acceptable. Compare that with the totally unregulated bus conversions done by us. There is assurance of any minimum standard. Not saying that we don't do as good, maybe a lot better than RVIA standard; it is just there is zero verification process for us. I have zero idea which are safer but there is no way to know. don

I saw Country Coaches not the buses but the RV's high dollar units being built with 4 friggn 1/2 inch bolts holding the house part to the frame when National owed Country Coach.Only reason Feather Lite has the sticker is because Mitchel was a member while he was building Vogues.I been looking at a 2009 BlueBird it has no RVIA sticker that I can find anyways 

[gumpy]

I saw Country Coaches not the buses but the RV's high dollar units being built with 4 friggn 1/2 inch bolts holding the house part to the frame when National owed Country Coach.Only reason Feather Lite has the sticker is because Mitchel was a member while he was building Vogues.I been looking at a 2009 BlueBird it has no RVIA sticker that I can find anyways 

That's 2 full inches! What's the problem there?