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Campground Discrimination


(David L. writes...)





I have noticed on more than one occasion the listing of jobs in this news bulletin to be discriminative in nature. I hope this is not a trend among the full time RV community. I don't feel it is proper or good for the community to put another down for not owning the newest and most expensive rig available.

It truly isn't about keeping up with the Jone; it's about the great outdoors and the meeting of new people in new places.

We take something that is supposed to family oriented and turn it into a game of who can and who can't. Look at Nascar, not even the average person today can afford to buy tickets. I certainly hope this is not a direction that full time RVing is taking. Thanks for listening.

Coleen, the working while RVing editor replies:

Hi David,

I fully understand what you are saying, about how you would like it to be about the great outdoors, new places, and new people. The reality of it is, it isn't like that.

There is discrimination in the RVing community, just as there is everywhere else. The type of rig. The brand of rig. The age of the rig. Or, the age of the RVer! Then, there are those based on whether or not a person wears clothes. All sorts of discrimination, yes.

Back when Bob and I started full-timing, we were both only in our early 30s. Talk about discrimination! Yowzers! We were looked at as very suspect. Many older RVers treated us like we had no right to be



full-timers (and enjoying it!) because we had not put in enough years suffering at jobs we hated.

On a cheerier note, there are lots of campgrounds and RV parks. You get choose to stay and play -- and work -- someplace where they want you.

I don't mean to be glib. It's just that campground discrimination isn't anything new. It isn't a trend; it is how it has always been.

Birds of a feather flock together. That saying goes back a long ways. It's true. One of the most popular RV clubs, the Escapees, has "Birds of a Feather" (BOF) groups because they realize many people like RVing with those who share a common interest.

The common interest some RVers have with one another is their particular style or brand of RV. Some RV parks cater to that group. If you are excluded because you don't have what they have, you may feel discriminated against. However, I suspect they feel they are just a bunch of like minded RVers wanting to be together.

At most RV parks you'll find a wide mix of RVs. It's pretty common to find an older pickup camper or travel trailer parked next to a high-end motorcoach. There are plenty of RV parks and RVers who welcome those of us with older and/or less expensive units. So, while there is (and has always been) discrimination among RVers, it need not stop you from enjoying the RVing lifestyle.

Enjoy your RV travels -- whatever your RV may be.

Go to the Workers On Wheels Work for RVers and Campers blog.

Comments for Campground Discrimination

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Keep Your Pants On


Dave,

Discrimination certainly does exist in RVing, as well as in life. Some discrimination is unconstitutional while others are not. An example of legal discrimination is when an individual doesn't like another individual because of the cloths they wear, (or not wear), drinking habits, smoking, or the vehicles they drive, etc. I'm sure you also discriminate against people or things as a matter of your own personnel preference.

I have personally observed illegal discrimination on at least two occasions, one sexual and another time religious.

On one occasion I saw an employer insisting on hiring the male half of the couple while the female was more qualified for the position. The only reason the employer overlooked the female was because in the past, only a male held the position, DUH.

On more than one occasion I have seen groups who profess to be serving the Lord only hire Christians, thereby eliminating any non-christen who wants to help mankind by serving the Lord.

Both these examples are illegal in the U.S.A., as well as other countries, but they happen!

The examples you cite may not be considered illegal, but merely personnel preferences.

As for enjoying the great outdoors or meeting new people, you don't need to be RV'ers for that. There are many different groups and organizations that do those things without RV's

If, however, you want to be connected with RV'ers who like what you do, you can join RV clubs. An example would be Escapees. They have groups within their club called Birds Of a Feather, (BOF) who like RVing as well as NASCAR, bird watching, veterans, on and on, even clothing optional campgrounds, as was previously implied.

On the other hand, if you feel discriminated against, or left out, start your own club of, let's say, "Only Rigs Ten Years Old or More." Then you can exclude from membership any one who has a newer or nicer rig than yours.

As for NASCAR becoming too costly, just watch it on TV. If you don't like the race you're watching, you can change channels and watch a football game for free.

In the meantime, enjoy what ya got, and watch what groups you join and keep your pants on.

(Oops, that could be considered discrimination by me... sorry!)
Discrimination


The US Forest Service in Ocala, FL will not consider applications for volunteers without seeing the volunteer's camping unit. Th US Park Service is now requiring all volunteers to have a valid state drivers license. These are all prohibited acts, but no one seems to care or do anything about it. I am a disabled person and full time RVer. Talk about discrimination!
My Rig is Smaller


Oh how I agree concerning the discrimination. We have seen it along the way in our 45 yrs. of RVing and I usually just ignore it.

We have purchased new rigs straight off the lot and nice used ones.

A couple yrs. back we decided to downsize and chose a 24 ft. class C (which we love). While at the Tampa R.V. show, a member of our camping group laughed at us for not having slide outs.

Well, guess whose unit is paid for and guess who is having trouble paying for his or selling it.
Folks, it is all about being content in what you have or what you are doing, and to heck with them. lol
That's Right


You are so right. My wife and I are in are 40's and we have been almost killed with some of the looks we get from other RVers. But, if you love the life, you will not let that so very small percentage of RVers stop you.

I work at Creekside RV Park, and my wife works at Dollywood, here in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Happy RVing
A Place for Everyone


My future fulltiming home is an old, but well maintained, 1982 Class C, and I too have been discouraged by the ads specifying you must own a new rig for the honor of cleaning bathrooms.

As far sa like minded people, I've become a member of iRV2.net and they have a group for vintage RV owners as well as many for the newer rigs. I've gotten many great answers to many repair and remodeling questions, along with a few critical comments by those who own the bigger newer rigs.

If anyone has had a problem with me parked next to them at the parks, they've kept it to themselves. One owner of a beautiful new 5er said she was envious of the ease of parking my old girl.
Happy Tenting!


Well, I am planning to retire and be a workamper in a couple of years and I have been reading every thing I could to prepare myself for the free-spirit life on the road.

I do see that some of the ads I saw of RV parks stated that they want specific model or newer model of RVs and I think it is sad that people do that just because.... But heck, who needs them? This country is too big and there are many other beautiful places to explore other than getting stressed out with that kind of folks who discriminate.

I am an avid tent camper (partly because that's all I could afford), an outdoor enthusiast with an adventure soul to match. I have been tent camping since early 1980's, from sandy beach in Hawaii to the timberline of Colorado mountains and it's marvelous! Sure, it was not as comfortable as home, but I bet no model of RVers could climb up to the top of 14,000 foot mountains! I camped at the most beautiful bird sanctuary and the like that no RVs are allowed or no access road and that's wonderful.

I try to avoid those moving mansions when I camp at state parks because they block my view, but sometimes, I had no choice but getting sandwiched between them. In September of this year when I camped out at 1000 Islands, NY, I was the only tenter among the dozen or so of RVers. The wind gust 15-25 miles and raining. They all must thought I was crazy! But amazingly, I was okay.

The point I am trying to say is, it doesn't matter what form of camping out you are doing or what model of RV you have, as long as you are happy and enjoying the outdoors, among nature, and meeting some interesting folks who couldn't care less what kind of sleeping arrangement you are having. That's all that counts for me.

I will have an RV of some sort when I am ready to become a full time traveler and I will not be stressed out by those folks who choose only their own kind. Life is too short.

By the way, this brings another question, can a tenter be a camp host? Or, must you have an RV?

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