What Exactly Are Park Model RV’s?
We get questions about different terms all the time. What is a tiny home? What is a mobile home? Why is a manufactured home different from a modular home? What is a park model RV?
The Definition of a Park Model RV:
A park model RV is a regulated temporary living space designed for an RV park setting.
The park model home can be viewed as an RV that closely resembles a trailer home. Although park model RV’s accommodate a variety of lifestyles, they are primarily suited for short term, recreational use.
Features of a Park Model RV include:
- 399 or fewer square feet of living space (Fla. is 499 square feet)
- Towable on public byways
- No mortgage available
- Requires registration, tags and insurance like a vehicle
- Ideal for RV park or blended RV/mobile home park
- Retail from $20,000 to $140,000
Cavco Industries, a home manufacturer that builds Park Models, says they are “designed to provide temporary accommodation for recreation, camping or seasonal use”. PMRVs (also sometimes referred to as recreational park trailers) are built on a single chassis, mounted on wheels and have a gross trailer area not exceeding 400 square feet in the set-up mode. They are certified by their manufacturers as complying with the ANSI A119.5 standard for recreational park trailers.
So, how is a park model RV different from a mobile or a manufactured home?
For one thing, a manufactured home is installed under a federal building code administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These standards regulate the construction of the homes with regulations on things like fire resistance, energy efficiency, and the home’s quality. In addition, manufactured homes are built in factories on solid steel frames. Prior to 1976, manufactured homes were called mobile homes. However, they are “mobile” before being put in place. Once sited, they typically stay in place. Though some homes do get moved later.
Regardless, many manufactured homes look comparable to homes built on site. The exteriors on many homes have traditional vinyl siding, gables, porches and decks.
A park model RV is different. While still adorable from the outside, the small size gives them away. Since they cannot exceed 400 square feet (except in Florida), their size make them a perfect addition to RV Parks. They fit right on the same lots!
As mentioned, a park model RV is for temporary accommodation. People use them for camping, hunting or fishing lodges, short-term vacation lodging and so on. Love the outdoors? An RV park is a great place to vacation! So, the park model RV is a perfect alternative for people to enjoy the amenities of an RV park, without actually having to own a recreational vehicle (or sleep in a tent!).
How to Buy a New Park Model RV
Like manufactured homes, you have a few different options for buying a park model, such as an authorized retailer. The cost varies, depending on the exterior and interior features. While the Park Model RV is popular in campgrounds and RV parks, they are purchased for weekend properties and seasonal vacation homes as well.
