Bus Buying Guide - Do's & Don'ts when buying a bus.

[benherman1]

I just did a bit of research on that certification. Looks like someone came up with a good way to extract money from the RV industry... 

A private organization should not be issuing citations to another private organization over a sticker. From what I have seen of stick built RVs I'd say its a sham for sure.

[luvrbus]

KOA dropped the 10 year rule and enacted the RVIA goose egg

[Van]

KOA dropped the 10 year rule and enacted the RVIA goose egg

 "Badges? We don't need no stinkin badges"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OcM23Hbs5U
 I got one! LOL!

[richard5933]

I've been to lots of KOA campgrounds ranging from super luxury resort style and the low-end parking lot with pedestals style. Never been asked for an RVIA sticker. Never had the words mentioned to us. Never been questioned about the age of our coach.

One thing I've noticed though in KOA campgrounds is that each one is privately owned. They each have their own rules, and they each set their own policies.

Perhaps there are some in more popular areas (like AZ) that use the RVIA stickers to week out some of the problem campers, but certainly not anything that's being done across the board at all KOAs.

[Lin]

It definitely seems like a good idea to have one of these stickers on hand.  I suppose duplicating one would not be that hard these days.  The only thing is it needs a registration number.  If you know the required number of digits and format, it seems it could work.  I sort of doubt that they actually check the registration number.

Even if I never use it, it would give me pleasure to know that I have in some small way undermined the system.

[Lin]

Van, posting the video link has probably ruined your chances of running for President.

[luvrbus]

I've been to lots of KOA campgrounds ranging from super luxury resort style and the low-end parking lot with pedestals style. Never been asked for an RVIA sticker. Never had the words mentioned to us. Never been questioned about the age of our coach.

One thing I've noticed though in KOA campgrounds is that each one is privately owned. They each have their own rules, and they each set their own policies.

Perhaps there are some in more popular areas (like AZ) that use the RVIA stickers to week out some of the problem campers, but certainly not anything that's being done across the board at all KOAs.

Ok I was asked for it this summer in CA,Utah,CO,NV and Idaho a friend of mine owns a KOA on Lake Conroe in Texas and I asked him,he says that is corporate's rule not the owners he likes it.says it came about when KOA and RVIA designed and built a few campgrounds together.I do doubt a owner of a small KOA with vacant spaces are going to turn you away for no RVIA sticker but you never know, one can always call KOA in Billing MT and find out I guess     

[richard5933]

Ok I was asked for it this summer in CA,Utah,CO,NV and Idaho a friend of mine owns a KOA on Lake Conroe in Texas and I asked him,he says that is corporate's rule not the owners he likes it.says it came about when KOA and RVIA designed and built a few campgrounds together.I do doubt a owner of a small KOA with vacant spaces are going to turn you away for no RVIA sticker but you never know, one can always call KOA in Billing MT and find out I guess     

Again, I'm not saying it doesn't happen, just that I've never had it happen to me. From 5 feet away no one would know that my sticker isn't legit, so I'm not terribly worried.

Wonder what happens when someone does a rehab on an older camper or if the original one peels off. Seems like a lot of attention to a really meaningless certification.

Of course, if you have some real ones somewhere and one happened to show up...

[Van]

Van, posting the video link has probably ruined your chances of running for President.

 True story Lin

[chessie4905]

Nice loophole if someone shows up driving a pos., besides vehicle age.

[Van]

Nice loophole if someone shows up driving a pos., besides vehicle age.

 Exactly! They mostly look for coaches that show Pride in Ownership. No Mobile CrackLab looking units

[ktmossman]

Exactly! They mostly look for coaches that show Pride in Ownership. No Mobile CrackLab looking units

Damn... There goes the design plan.  Back to the drawing board....

[Dave5Cs]

Going across the country a few years ago we were never asked for our RVIA number or to show the tag and we have one. Also were asked how long the Bus was and we would tell them expecting them to say to big or whatever but nothing on that either. When we told them 1979 for the year no one flinched. Thousand trails in Tenn. was the toughest. They told us we had to pay 5.00 extra because we were not members OMG. And funny thing was that was the worst place we stayed the whole trip. Weeds everywhere and lots of gravel most of the electric had problems hanging boxes and exposed wiring as well as they told us the 50 Amp spots and we drove the whole place and there were no 50 amp spots, LOL .

[dtcerrato]

@Dave5Cs
Dave are you familiar with "Travel Village" in Castaic California? Just N of Magic Mountain & S of the Grape Vine - I-5?
We full timed there twice for a couple years each time while doing Union Carpentry in East LA & Santa Monica. We started out as "bums" who barely made it into the park & in time ended up in their best sites. That place has been my main reference for parks that look down on our antique busses. It was really a great place to stay - right on the Santa Clarita riverbed and a movie set where MASH, Twilight Zone were filmed & the movie Uncommon Valor. It was our home a couple times & a great place out of the city. We used to go to Mount Pinos on weekends with the kids to get out of the smog, LOL at over 8000' ASL. Rant over - thanks for the memory...

[Dave5Cs]

We know where it is Dan but never stayed there. Have only stayed San Demas RV resort and Hot springs Coast to Coast RV resort in that area.