A Particular Problem For Airstreamers

The first time we ran into this "issue" was in Portland, Oregon. Matt and I were planning to stay at a lovely little RV park for two months, which was just dandy with the manager. She asked what type of rig we had --  an Airstream. She asked how long -- 29 feet. She asked how old -- 1989. "Oh, we have a rule that you can only stay that long with if your RV is 10 years old or younger." What?! I simply didn't understand the concept. Why should the age of my rig matter? "Well," she said, "It's because we want to keep up a certain standard of appearance in the park." I was sort of indignant -- it's the first time I felt discriminated against as a full-timer. I mean, I could understand the concern -- but Airstreams are different.
       (click here to buy this photo)

We had specifically bought an Airstream because of  the attractiveness factor (we've always found those boxy fifth-wheels and motorhomes to be just ass-ugly by comparison). Airstreams last forever -- there are people out there still driving models from the 1930's, and they are in excellent condition. Airstreams hold up better than any flimsy fiberglass RV on the market, you can refurbish them back to new condition even decades later, and they continue to appreciate for years to come. Airstreams are hip -- hell, even Brad Pitt and Matthew McConaughey own little silver trailers. And as full-timers, we take great pride in our rig -- this is our home and we keep it up. People always compliment us on the appearance of our site, with our pretty blue and white awnings and patio rug. Why wouldn't someone want us in their RV park? We're an asset, dammit!

A Week, But Not A Month?

I was told by the manager that, while she couldn't rent us a spot for 2 months, we could stay for a couple of weeks, if we wanted. What?! "Wait a minute. You're saying that our rig is good enough for a few weeks, but not good enough for two months?" Apparently the rules aren't as strict for "overnighters" as they are for "long-timers."

In fact, when we are planning a short-term stay, park owners rarely ask the age of our RV -- they only seem to care how old our Airstream is if we intend to plant it in one spot for more than a month. I fail to understand the reasoning behind this. If my rig is too junky looking for a month, why should it be acceptable for even a week? Why allow me in the park at all? Someone, please help me understand!

Permanent Residents Versus Travelers

The other thing that is so frustrating about this policy is that most parks have a contingent of permanent residents living year-round in their RVs -- and not a one of these vehicles is less than 10 years old. In fact, many people have been parked in the same spot for decades, and it shows. Some try to pretty up their spaces with trellises and flower beds and windchimes -- but the motorhomes and trailers and fifth-wheels underneath are looking fairly grubby!

Let's face it, no matter how well you take care of a traditional RV, it's going to start to look raggedy after a few years -- they are prone to mildew the decals fade or peel, and the whole thing becomes dated very quickly. Our Airstream, on the other hand, has a classic design that is always stylish (even more so now that they are having a resurgence).

Why is the age of our trailer an issue, with so many crappy looking rigs parked there 12 months out of the year? You can thank the concept of "grandfathering" for this predicament. Some parks would love to kick out the old falling-down RVs in favor of new, slick, weekend-warrior-motorhomes. But they can't. Those folks have been there since BEFORE these rules were instituted, and are immune to regulations about age or appearance. Nice!

So What Do You Do About It?

I finally reached the end of my tether with the folks in Portland. I said, "Look, if you're concerned about our rig, let me send you a photo of it. I can also have the management from some other parks where we've stayed fax you a recommendation, letting you know that we're good tenants."

Apparently, I had either won her over or worn her down -- because she finally agreed. I emailed her this photo of our beautiful little silver and blue home, she called me back the next day saying, "Come on, we have a spot for you," and we very much enjoyed our time at their park. So that's one option for dealing with the your-rig-is-too-old dilemma.

The other way to handle this situation is to avoid it right from the start. When I complained to some compadres at Airforums.com about being discriminated against, they told me to lie about our age. They suggested that these RV parks can't tell the difference between a 1979 Airstream and a 2002 Airstream, so just tell them that your rig is younger than it is, and you avoid ever getting into a fight about it. While I hate being dishonest, I must admit that this piece of advice has saved us tremendous stress and frustration. Do you see what I've been reduced to?