Should You Buy a Park Model?
Fifth wheels, travel trailers, and other RVs are perfect for people who love to take their home on the road. However, if you find a trailer park that you love and want to set up a more permanent living space, a park model RV might be the best choice for you!
These are better suited for long-term use, and come in a variety of designs and styles. There are a few factors to juggle when you’re considering a park model though, so let’s explore the pros and cons.
What is a park model RV?
Everyone is familiar with the standard motorhome and trailer RVs, but park models are a bit more unusual. Essentially, a park model RV is a temporary home that’s created specifically for a trailer park setting. They’re designed for longer periods of sustained use, but most of them are still best for just a few months at a time.
Park models resemble mobile homes or tiny houses. They can’t have more than 400 square feet in their floor plan. But they are spacious, cozy, and easy to fit on a standard trailer park lot. The designers don’t have to worry about car safety equipment or built-in wheel wells. They can use this space to the fullest. Many of these pre-made homes work well for seasonal uses. Think hunting lodges, camping cabins, or just small vacation houses.
Park models don’t have built-in engines like motorhomes. They can’t handle off-road terrain as well as travel trailers and fifth wheels. Park model RVs need to be towed behind a sturdy tow vehicle. They have a set of wheels and a trailer bed attached to the base. They might be a bit bulky on the road, but it’s perfectly legal to tow a park model from place to place. If you spotted a pre-made home on the highway that was labeled with a “wide-load” tag, there’s a good chance it was a park model!
The RV Industry Association (RVIA) creates guidelines and regulations for park models. These park model guidelines vary from state to state. Visit this page here for more information about park models in your area. The information updates annually. Make sure you’re looking at the most current information!
Benefits of a park model RV
Park model RVs are the perfect choice for travelers who like to pick a beautiful RV park and set up a long-term vacation spot for the summer. I know I have a few campgrounds that I could enjoy for months!
It can get tiring to live out of a van or travel trailer for such a long time, so a nice home away from home can help. Park model RVs have all the style of tiny homes, and they can usually fit all the same amenities (if not more) compared to a luxury RV.
Park models also have more floor space and they have to make fewer compromises about how to use it. They can afford to have luxuries like full-size bathrooms, lofts, extra bedrooms, and large kitchens. Some of them also have slide-outs and extendable sections that can increase the square footage.
Although these RVs are designed for short-term seasonal use, they can be winterized and used during cold months as well. You can buy pre-made park models that are designed for winter, or retrofit an existing RV to suit your needs. It’s also easy to add exterior porches, awnings, storage sheds, and garage spaces. You can add and subtract features to make a unique and comfortable mobile home.
At the end of the day, a park model RV is much more like a home than a vehicle. They have attractive exteriors and cozy interiors. They can offer a greater amount of space as well as larger appliances. So if you plan on staying in one spot for a few months, you might want to choose a park model as your living space.
Drawbacks of a park model RV
Of course, it’s not all good news for park model owners. These are certainly great options for month-long visits to RV parks, but they also have their own set of drawbacks.
First of all, although they offer more space than traditional RVs, they still have a limited floor plan. 400 square feet might seem like a lot, but it can quickly get cramped if you’re hosting lots of friends and family. Storage space can also get filled up and you might still end up living in a cramped home after a while.
Park model RVs are also closely regulated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). They must comply with the A119.5 Park Model Recreational Vehicle Standard. So even if you feel like making your own park model from a shed or other base, there are a lot of standards you have to meet.
Storing a park model also might be difficult. They’re large and bulky and need a good amount of space in a yard or garage. You might even need to pay extra to store it in a facility. Some insurance mortgage plans don’t cover park model RVs either, so make sure you have the protection you need before you buy one.
Park models are also not suitable for year-round use. You can use them for a few months at a time, but they aren’t a permanent housing solution. The materials are designed to be lightweight and easy to transport, but they won’t hold up under serious wear and tear. You’ll need to properly store and maintain your park model when it’s not being used so it can last a long time.
Floor plan examples
Like all RV types, park models have their own pros and cons. Many people enjoy them because they are comfortable and easy to spend a camping season in. If you’re interested in getting a park model of your own, check out the videos below! They showcase some of the amenities and designs you can expect to see.
Continue reading: 5 Important Things To Consider While RV Shopping
Not sure I agree with your assessment on park model RVs. For the most part, they seem to be delivered and stay in place. I don’t think many individuals move them from place to place at whim.
Also, most of them I’ve seen have stick built materials and full size appliances you’d see in a home, not the cheesy RV quality we are used to.
There are some unusual cool ways to enlarge a park model to resemble a small home. Check out SKY VALLEY RESORT and CALIENTE RESORT in CA. They have done a great job being innovative with overall design. Many of their park model/ homes are occupied full time, and for good reason.
I am interested. How much is it?
We have a 500 sq ft park model, raised from 400 several years ago and ours is a HUD home that is built under stricter regulations. In Florida they ae required to be tied down due to hurricanes.
Many RVers do not understand the difference between park models and destination trailers. Park models, as stated, are built to residential standards, have composite siding and shingle or metal roofs, must be towed by a commercial hauler as they are 11-13′ wide, have NO slides and NO holding tanks (ie., must be connected permanent to all utilities), and can be year-round residences. We have rented park models in Arizona for snowbirding and many of the residents of the RV resort live in them permanently. A major manufacturer is Cavco Homes, which makes NO RVs, only modular and park model homes.
Destination trailers are RVs with a max. width of 8.5′, are built to RVIA standards with generally poor RV insulation, may have multiple slides and residential appliances, and may be ordered with or without holding tanks. Many have aluminum siding, although more are now fiberglass, with typical RV roofing materials. Due to their 102″ max. width and ~14-16,000# GVWR, destination trailers may be towed by a 3/4-ton or 1-ton truck. But due to their lack of streamlining, they are generally not moved often, perhaps seasonally (ie., a couple of times a year). You are NOT going to take a destination trailer on a two-week family vacation to Yellowstone! Two popular destination trailer brands are Keystone and Cedar Creek, both of which are very familiar to RVers and also make travel trailers and fifth wheels.
I love the idea of a park model RV! They’re so easy to move around and park. They’re also great for traveling because you can easily take them on short trips without having to worry about having a lot of space. However
I would also take exception to some parts of this article. In Florida they can be up to 499 sq ft. They can be used year round in the southern states. You don’t store them, you rent the RV site as you would an RV. I would not call these Park Model RV’s as they are not RV’s. They are well constructed, delivered to your site, set up, and skirted. We have a 200+ sq ft attached, Florida room. Ours was build it 2007 and we’ve lived here full time for seven years. Love this style of living.