Looking to save some money on your camping trips this summer? Make sure to tow your second vehicle in, instead of driving it.

Jan Silverton of 100 Mile House, B.C. believes the BC Parks rule that charges for additional vehicles in campgrounds unfairly discriminates against people with vehicles that cannot be towed.

The rule states that a second, non-RV vehicle is allowed on campsites for half the campsite fee, to a maximum of 12 dollars per night — but the fee doesn't apply to vehicles that are towed.

Silverton and her partner discovered the rule when they headed to Kokanee Creek near Nelson for a weekend of camping in their motorhome.

They had previously purchased a hitch for the motorhome, in the hopes of towing a small vehicle. When they were told their motorhome was too small to legally tow a car, they decided to drive them in to the park separately.

But when they arrived to their campsite for check-in, they were told they would need to pay an additional 12 dollars a day for the second vehicle — all because they were driving it in, rather than towing it.

"We said, if we took it all out, attached the rental to the motorhome with a rope and dragged it in, would you consider that a towed vehicle? And [the park ranger] said yes."

"What we don't understand is the discrimination towards people driving a vehicle in when it cannot be towed. It just doesn't make sense to us."

Ministry responds

In a statement, the Ministry of the Environment said the policy is designed to balance the needs of BC Parks customers and park operators.

"The current policy of allowing a towed vehicle behind a recreational vehicle to be considered a single unit allows for consistent application of the policy across all types of vehicle and trailer types," they wrote.

"Allowing a standalone, self-powered car to be considered part of the single unit could open the policy to abuse."

But Silverton said the policy is unfair, and creates an incentive for large groups to use the parks without additional charge.

"If you connect a huge motorhome and car combo together, you could bring in a ton of people and vehicles and pay less than two people in two unattached cars," she said.

"We love to camp, but when you're sitting in a campground and right next to you somebody pulls in with a vehicle attached to their motorhome, or their trailer with a truck, and they don't have to pay anything, why do I?"

With files from Radio West