The Real Reason Skoolies Aren’t Allowed in RV Parks
Did you know that some RV parks restrict the types of vehicles they allow? So if you have a Skoolie, you may get locked out. If it seems unreasonable, in some cases, that may be. Let’s dive into the truth behind Skoolie discrimination in RV parks.
What Is a Skoolie?
A Skoolie is a school bus converted into a home on wheels. The interior can have a living space, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and more. Skoolies often have holding tanks, plumbing, and electrical hookups, just like RVs. They come in various sizes and floor plans and are customized by the owner or a professional.
Why Don’t Some RV Parks Allow Skoolies?
A Skoolie sounds similar to an RV, right? But not everyone sees it that way. Some RV parks don’t allow Skoolies to stay on their property. Here are some reasons why.
Safety Concerns
Some RV park owners are concerned that Skoolies aren’t safe. Since non-professionals or do-it-yourselfers may have built the Skoolie, RV park owners get nervous that the bus’s construction might not be up to code. They worry about an increased risk of a fire or electrical issues when a Skoolie hooks into their amenities.
There are RV parks that will require a certification stating that your Skoolie had an inspection. If you converted your bus on your own, you might want to have a professional inspection done if you run into issues with RV parks.
Concerns over Image
RV park owners want to present a positive image in the community and to customers. However, they fear looking like a mobile home park if there’s a bunch of Skoolies around. Mobile home parks often bear negative connotations. Right or wrong, RVers, in general, don’t like camping next to mobile homes. They want to stay next to other RVers who are enjoying a similar lifestyle.
Skoolies carry a stereotype among some RV park owners as looking trashy. Some Skoolie owners haven’t done much to spruce up the outside of the bus, which feeds into this label. And a “trashy” looking RV or Skoolie can coincide with mobile home parks in people’s minds.
The 10-Year Rule
A growing number of RV parks have a 10-year rule. You can only stay at the RV park if your camping unit is 10-years-old or newer. This eliminates a lot of Skoolies and RVs manufactured in the 80s, 90s, or early 2000s.
Typically, RV parks will state on their website if they have this rule. However, some parks do make exceptions if you send a photo and they like what they see. So if your Skoolie is a 1998 bus but the exterior looks clean and new, they may let you stay.
RV parks implement this rule due to concerns over their image. Having rusting or dated rigs in their park can make them seem “trashy,” they fear. Safety concerns also increase with older units that may have poor maintenance.
Skoolies Have a Poor Reputation
Some RVers believe all Skoolie owners are hippies. This has led to RV parks thinking Skoolies have a poor reputation. This is an unfortunate case of discrimination in assuming hippies are irresponsible or unkempt. People from all different lifestyles and backgrounds drive Skoolies and RVs. So all of us in the camping and full-time travel world need to promote inclusion.
Are Skoolies Safe?
With any conversion project, safety is a concern. Skoolies are safe when the person who initially builds out the bus implements safety features.
Having a professional build your Skoolie can help ease the pressure on figuring out safety practices. But if you’re ready to do a DIY conversion, seek out resources from the professionals. Skoolie Homes, for example, has a DIY Skoolie Masterclass. They provide consults as well to help you determine the best route for completing your build.
Should RV Parks Have the Right to Turn Away RVers Based on Their Vehicles?
RV parks can turn RVers away based on their vehicle, but should they? It’s a controversial question. If you put yourself in the RV park owner’s shoes, what do you think?
It seems discriminatory to turn away a customer based on their vehicle. If safety is a genuine concern, that’s one thing. But if parks turn away Skoolies purely because of reputation, that seems harsh.
If you’re a Skoolie owner who wants to stay in RV parks, consider how you can educate the RV community and park owners. Change is possible if we work together. What are your favorite things about Skoolies?
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