Real Estate Acquisitions and Dispositions Real Estate Acquisitions, 2016 Other Acquisitions Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2015 shares	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) sites	Sep. 30, 2015 shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) properties sites	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) properties sites	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) sites	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 sites	Mar. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Transaction costs				$ 31,914	$ 17,803	$ 18,259
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites				117,376
Number of Real Estate Properties | properties				341
Lake Josephine RV Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites				178
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability				$ 3,400
Adirondack Gateway Campground RV Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites		347
Business Combination, Bargain Purchase, Gain Recognized, Amount		$ 500		500
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability				2,250
Jellystone Park Camp Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites		148
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability				7,516
Petoskey RV Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites							78
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability				3,500
Rock Crusher [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property											391
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability					6,072
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability					$ 0
Frontier Town [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites					584
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability					$ 62,196
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability					$ 0
Number of Potential Sites in Community | sites					200
Fort Whaley [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites					210
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability					$ 5,704
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability					$ 0
Number of Potential Sites in Community | sites					90
La Hacienda [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites					241
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability					$ 27,275
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability					$ 0
Lakeside Crossing [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites					419
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability					$ 32,518
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability					$ 0
Number of Potential Sites in Community | sites					300
Berger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites					3,130
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability					$ 95,344
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability					$ 0
Number of Potential Sites in Community | sites					380
Number of Real Estate Properties | properties					6
Meadowlands [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability					$ 2,550
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability					$ 2,377
Sunset Beach Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability				28,283
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability				10,000			$ 9,800	$ 9,800
Pecan Park [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | sites									183
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability				7,000
Hill Country Cottage and RV Resort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property										356
Kimberly Estates [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property										387
Cash, proceeds from dispositions held in escrow, or contingent liability				$ 7,750
Common OP Units [Member] | Berger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares | shares	371,808		371,808
Series C preferred OP units [Member] | Berger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares | shares	340,206		340,206