Recreational Park Trailers

1
Recreational Park Trailers

• Americas
• Affordable - Seasonal - Vacation
• Camping Units

2
Park Trailers Are

• Camping Units that provide up to 400 square feet
  of living space when erected on site.
• Used primarily for destination camping.
• Manufactured and shipped to licensed RV dealers
  for sale to the public or are sold to RV Parks to
  be used as rental units.
• Used primarily in recreational vehicle parks and
  campgrounds.

3
Park Trailers Are

• Built to a recognized national safety standard
• ANSI - A119.5 Recreational Park Trailer Standard.
• Developed under the auspices of the American
  National Standards Institute using the
  canvass-consensus method. Last published in
  1998.
• Compliance is required by law in many states and
  is enforced in seven states.

4
Park Trailers Are

• Built for frequent travel use on the highway if
  they are less than 8.5 feet in width.
• Units over 8.5 feet are designed and intended for
  long term placement at a set location but can
  still be moved from time to time if it is
  required.

5
Park Trailers Are Not

• Required to be constructed to the Federal
  Manufactured Housing Standard. They are excluded
  by regulation as these units are not designed nor
  intended to be a year-round residence. While it
  is possible to build units less than 400 sq ft in
  compliance with the federal standard, The unit
  would still not be practical for use as a primary
  dwelling given the units limited size.

6
Park Trailers Are Not

• Designed nor intended to provide the owner with a
  year-round dwelling. While it may be possible to
  occupy the unit, it does not have the storage
  capacity or adequate living space. Units are not
  required to contain the heating, cooling,
  ventilating or insulation capacities necessary to
  maintain comfort in severe climatic conditions
  unless they were ordered from the manufacturer
  with these features included.

7
RPTIA

• Trade Association
• for
• Recreational Park Trailers
• Recreational Park Trailer
• Industry Association, Inc.

8
What Is The RPTIA?

• National membership trade association.
• Voting members are Recreational Park Trailer
  manufacturers, suppliers, service firms, and
  allied associations who represent dealers, RV
  parks, and campgrounds.
• Non-voting (informational members) are comprised
  of Recreational Park Trailer dealers and RV parks
  and campgrounds.

9
How Is RPTIA Structured?

• 501- (c) 6 non-profit designation by the IRS.
• Elected Board of Directors Officers
• All Recreational Park Trailer manufacturers serve
  as Board Members.
• 3 service and supplier Board Members.
• 2 dealer/park Board Members.
• Funded by dues and service charges paid by the
  membership.

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RPTIAs -- Manufacturer Membership Requirements

• Manufacturers
• must qualify
• to hold a membership in RPTIA

11
Requirements For Manufacturers

• File a public pledge with RPTIA that they will
  produce Recreational Park Trailers that are in
  conformance with the A119.5 Standard.
• Allow quarterly unannounced inspections of
  Recreational Park Trailers being built or
  awaiting shipment to verify their public pledge.
• Must obtain and display the RPTIA Standards
  Compliance Pledge/Seal on all units produced.

12
Park Trailers In Use

• An estimated 200,000 Recreational Park Trailers
  have been purchased since the mid 1970s and are
  now being used primarily in RV parks and
  campgrounds located in all fifty states.
• A number of Recreational Park Trailers are
  exported from the US to Canada, Mexico, and Japan.

13
Annual Sales

• Sales of new Recreational Park Trailers have been
  recorded at 6,500 - 8,000 units each year for the
  past ten years, exhibiting a steady growth.

14
Who Sells Park Trailers?

• Recreational Park Trailers are titled vehicles,
  sold almost exclusively by state licensed RV
  dealerships.
• Some states also allow Manufactured Housing
  dealers to sell these units at their dealerships.

15
How Is Ownership Documented?

• Recreational Park Trailers are titled vehicles
  just like automobiles. Titles are usually issued
  by the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state
  where the owner resides.
• If the Recreational Park Trailer will be sited in
  another state for a long term (over 6 months ),
  it should then be titled in the state where the
  vehicle is being sited.

16
What About Financing?

• Recreational Park Trailers are financed just like
  an automobile. Loans are secured by attaching a
  lien to the states Certificate of Title.
  Financial institutions provide terms of up to 15
  years. Dealers can also offer attractive
  financing terms.

17
What About Taxes?

• Most states charge a titling/registration fee and
  sales tax of 2-7 when the Recreational Park
  Trailer is purchased.
• Some states mandate an annual registration and
  plate charge while others make registration
  optional and permit local government to assess an
  optional personal property tax which also must be
  applied equally to similarly unregistered boats,
  traditional RVs, automobiles, and snowmobiles
  located in that jurisdiction.

18
Where Are Park Trailers Sited?

• Most Recreational Park Trailers (93) especially
  the units over 8.5 in width, are sited into an
  RV park or campground on a leased lot and are
  used by the owner as a seasonal cottage for
  weekend or vacation use. A few are placed on
  private property, typically in recreational
  areas, and are used in much the same way.

19
How Does An Owner Acquire A Site?

• Recreational Park Trailer sites are offered in
  most, but not all, RV parks and campgrounds.
  Sites are usually rented or leased but some
  locations are structured to offer sites for use
  or sale in either fee simple, condominium,
  cooperative or membership structures. Most
  dealerships are knowledgeable about this subject
  and can point out what is offered in the local
  area.

20
What Do Park Trailers Look Like?

• Recreational Park Trailers usually take one of
  two different designs
• The first design looks like the traditional RV
  travel trailer as it is less than 8.5 in width,
  designed to move over the highway, and has tip-or
  slide-outs when erected on site.
• The other design is usually 12 wide and looks
  like a cottage with a peaked roof, shingles or
  bay windows.

21
How Many Can Sleep In A Park Trailer?

• Most units provide a master bedroom with
  additional space for an infrequent guest couple
  who would sleep on a sofa bed in the living room
  / kitchen area. Some units are equipped with a
  second or even a third bedroom usually with bunk
  beds to accommodate a younger /larger family.

22
What Is A Loft?

• Some Recreational Park Trailers have a limited
  upstairs area or second floor referred to as a
  Loft
• Loft areas are limited to a floor to ceiling
  height of no more than 5 feet and could provide
  storage or might be used as a sleeping or play
  area for children and/or grandchildren

23
Are Park TrailersMoveable On Highways?

• All Recreational Park Trailers are vehicles,
  built with a chassis, axles and wheels in a
  factory and delivered to dealerships over the
  highway. They are assigned a vehicle
  identification number (VIN) by the manufacturer
  and are issued a manufacturers statement of
  origin which is used by the selling dealer to
  obtain the owners title of ownership.

24
Who Can MovePark Trailers?

• Recreational Park Trailers under 8 6 or less in
  width can be moved by their owners usually
  without a special permit ... provided they have
  been registered for the road and have a vehicle
  that can safely tow the load.
• Recreational Park Trailers over 8 6 in width
  must be moved using a special movement permit
  issued by the state and usually require the
  services of a commercial mover.

25
How Are Park Trailers Valued?

• Park Trailers are initially priced by the
  manufacturers and dealers who offer these
  products in a competitive marketplace.
• Used units are valued in Value Guides which are
  the publications that value used cars and trucks.
  The NADA Recreational Vehicle Appraisal Guide is
  one example.

26
Where Can I Get More Information?

• The national association which represents
  Recreational Park Trailers - RPTIA will respond
  to informational requests. Contact
• RPTIA
• 30 Greenville Street - 2nd Floor
• Newnan, Georgia 30263-2602
• Phone [phone] Fax [phone]
• Web Site www.rptia.com
• E-Mail rptia_at_mail2.newnanutilities.org