I was sitting outside at the campsite yesterday when a 5W pulled up to a site. The individual dropped a couple boards for leveling one side of his rig and then spent 20 minutes backing up and pulling forward trying to get the tires onto them. After getting into and out of his truck half dozen times to check position, he finally accomplished the task. I resisted the urge, but I so much wanted to go over and suggest that he put the boards (or one longer board) in front of the tires and drive forward onto them. Isn't that the easy way?
A few months ago I was at a COE campground and watched another RVer make 12 attempts before he got into a very wide, 45 degree site. Then there is always someone who drives off with the TV antenna still up (I did it once).
Perhaps these type events would make a humorous video for UTube.
Kerri said
11:02 AM Aug 13, 2011
Oh... that will SO be me one of these days!!
adeline and ed said
11:17 AM Aug 13, 2011
some help in these cases might be in order . they might be new at rving or just have trouble backing a 5th. new friends can be made by providing a little aide...
Racerguy said
04:00 PM Aug 13, 2011
adeline and ed wrote:
some help in these cases might be in order . they might be new at rving or just have trouble backing a 5th. new friends can be made by providing a little aide...
In most cases it's best not to intrude unless asked.Many people resent unasked for help.
Mallo said
04:38 PM Aug 13, 2011
We normally ask "Do you mind a hand?" If they say they got it I move on if they say sure I help.
We are also the people who will say "no don't help we got this." When some well meaning soul tries to tell me how to back in. The Brideandjoy is already telling me what to do I can't do what more then one person wants at a time.
Mallo
Bill Adams said
05:54 PM Aug 13, 2011
Then there is always someone who drives off with the TV antenna still up (I did it once).
Only one? In our 17 years of RVing we have not only left the antenna up more than that be we have torn 3 of them off!
Terry and Jo said
07:10 PM Aug 13, 2011
Well, for one, I used to have a couple of boards that were NEVER wide enough, so I had to make sure I was centered and that the tire was supported as much as possible.
Two things for TXRVr:
1. YOU PEEKED!!!!
2. YouTube will be best done with music. BUT, with what selections.
Any ideas on the music?
Oh, and since I got the hydraulic leveling system on our Mobile Suites (called Level-Up), I only put some blocks under the cylinder feet and then hit the buttons. Leveling systems like Level-Up and Big Foot are great.
Also, no one should ever be overly concerned with making mistakes. We learn that way, and if we are generous enough to share our momentary lunacy, others will learn as well.
Terry
bjoyce said
09:59 PM Aug 13, 2011
A few weeks back I watched a couple take 1-1/2 hours to get their RV into the site next to me. They were long time renters moving to a new site. I guess they didn't have a lot of practice or it had been a while since they parked. They backed around into the front of the site perfect, then the fun began as they went back and forth for a long time trying to get the last 10 feet right. Both of them took turns at the wheel. They forgot the rule with a 5th wheel to start your turn a few feet early and they both got really hot under the collar. Once situated they found out they were not level, so more back and forth to get on the boards. Then out everything came including slides. When the put the awning out they realized they were crooked in the campsite. They actually moved the 5er with the slides out and got straight. A little later they were joking with others that they looked like a couple newbies and were laughing.
NorCal Dan said
11:41 PM Aug 13, 2011
When we are hosting I always offer help up front, usually during check-in or while leading them to their site. I've found that people new to RV'ing are reluctant to ask for help, so by offering help in advance they are more inclined to take me up on my offer, even days later. Usually it's for help getting their TV working with the park cable.
Why would anyone would resent an offer of help?
catlinye_maker said
07:01 AM Aug 14, 2011
NorCal Dan wrote:Why would anyone would resent an offer of help?
Sometimes, the offer comes across as condescending. Sometimes it is (more than once I've gotten the distinct impression that the offerer didn't think women could/should drive/setup RV's.) Sometimes when we're inexperienced we see generous helpfulness as condescension because we're defensive about our abilities (I have to watch this tendency in myself.)
When we saw a couple who were having a bit of trouble getting their brand new motorhome into a site and asked if they wanted a hand or if they had it, the thing they mentioned repeatedly in thanking us was our not assuming that our help was both needed and wanted.
Because as Mallo says above, we're often getting into trouble just fine without anyone's help. We've had people offer to help who don't see me in the site on the walkie-talkie and assume he's backing in solo. We've had people insist on helping (more than one campground owner) who botched the job badly: "no, in fact, I can't park here; the slide will hit the services post."
Plus there's the aspect of RVing that says that we as owner/operators are responsible for our rig. We walk every site before we try to get into it. If it's a tight campground, we walk the loop before taking the rig down it. Sometimes would-be helpers get impatient with that. Again, the condescension: "I know what you need, you don't have to look!" But we do; you may know the campground but you don't know our rig. If we don't know what we are getting into and what we want to do, we may damage or destroy our home. I'm just not willing to risk that.
TXRVr said
09:37 AM Aug 14, 2011
Bill Adams wrote:
Only one? In our 17 years of RVing we have not only left the antenna up more than that be we have torn 3 of them off!
Bill, you need to get a rubber TV antenna.
I think it is just human nature for some to be defensive about needing help which is why I rarely offer it anymore. If a newbie or experienced RVer needs it, they should realize that, and ask someone who has the skill to assist. Pride can be expensive.
Over the years as a work camper, I've seen almost everything and could write a book, but the one that tops the cake happened recently. I was driving out of a military base campground with two exit lanes. One lane was blocked with a drop down, metal security pole. Well marked, I might add. The driver of the class C next to me obviously wasn't paying attention and drove into it smack in the middle of his windshield. OUCH!! We've all made dumb mistakes while RVing, but it's best to try and make them cheap ones.
NorCal Dan said
12:35 PM Aug 14, 2011
catlinye_maker wrote:
NorCal Dan wrote:Why would anyone would resent an offer of help?
Sometimes, the offer comes across as condescending. Sometimes it is (more than once I've gotten the distinct impression that the offerer didn't think women could/should drive/setup RV's.) Sometimes when we're inexperienced we see generous helpfulness as condescension because we're defensive about our abilities (I have to watch this tendency in myself.)
Thanks. Gives me a little perspective and something to think about...
Mike and Gloria said
09:53 AM Aug 19, 2011
We just spent a night at a campground in a pull-through site. We were tired, had been traveling for days, and didn't plan to unhitch as we were taking off again early the next morning. Found a campground that said, yes, they had 1 pull-through left. Yay! NOT! We were told what direction to go to get into it by the manager. Imagine our surprise to find a huge electric meter box right at the center end of the site so you couldn't pull straight in. The camper next to us had an ATV and a motorcycle nearly at the end of his site (he wasn't home) so we had to maneuver around everything. OY! At the other end was a substantial tree - again in the center. We were too tired and it was too far to drive to the next campground so we sort of 'wiggled' in and sat there crooked all night. Won't be going back there though.
The Bear II said
12:32 PM Aug 19, 2011
I watched a guy (newbie) try to back his 5th wheel into a parallel RV spot. He made 5 attempts. For some reason he kept getting the 5th wheel perpendicular to the space.
One of the other RV'ers finally had enough and guided him into the space.
I was having a tough time backing into a curving, downhill and tight spot, with the curve to the blind side so I couldn't see where I needed to be. About the third attempt it seemed like every member of the camping club we were with was standing outside my driver window giving me conflicting instructions. I finally had to ask them all to be quiet, I chose one of the more experienced RVers and had him direct me into the spot.
Colorado_Kid said
08:41 PM Aug 19, 2011
TXRVr wrote:
I was sitting outside at the campsite yesterday when a 5W pulled up to a site. The individual dropped a couple boards for leveling one side of his rig and then spent 20 minutes backing up and pulling forward trying to get the tires onto them. After getting into and out of his truck half dozen times to check position, he finally accomplished the task. I resisted the urge, but I so much wanted to go over and suggest that he put the boards (or one longer board) in front of the tires and drive forward onto them. Isn't that the easy way?
A few months ago I was at a COE campground and watched another RVer make 12 attempts before he got into a very wide, 45 degree site. Then there is always someone who drives off with the TV antenna still up (I did it once).
Perhaps these type events would make a humorous video for UTube.
They can be thankful they weren't this guy:
Waggin Tails said
07:48 PM Aug 20, 2011
My real time movie experience - We were leaving Goliad State Park. Everything was put away and we were hitched. All that was left was to pull forward off a 2x6 used for leveling. I looked at the tires on the passenger side of the trailer to verify that the chocks had been removed. Then I gave my wife the OK to pull forwad. Next we both heard a loud snap. She immediately stopped. I walked around the trailer and saw yellow plastic shards scattered around the drivers side of the trailer. That is when I realized I failed to remove the plastic chocks. For some crazy reason, I placed them on the drivers side rather the passenger side. Lesson learned = A fiver will flatten plastic chocks before rolling over the top of them. Next time, check both sets of wheels to make sure everything is clear.
RE: Colorada Kid's video, here is the rest of the story.
3fortheroad said
09:14 PM Aug 20, 2011
Last weekend a truck pulling a long TT pulled up next to our site a woman jumped out of the drivers seat and walked the site. I thought to myself this is going to be a show. A show it was and a short one, she put it in on the first try and even was backing to the blind side.
I was sitting outside at the campsite yesterday when a 5W pulled up to a site. The individual dropped a couple boards for leveling one side of his rig and then spent 20 minutes backing up and pulling forward trying to get the tires onto them. After getting into and out of his truck half dozen times to check position, he finally accomplished the task. I resisted the urge, but I so much wanted to go over and suggest that he put the boards (or one longer board) in front of the tires and drive forward onto them. Isn't that the easy way?
A few months ago I was at a COE campground and watched another RVer make 12 attempts before he got into a very wide, 45 degree site. Then there is always someone who drives off with the TV antenna still up (I did it once).
Perhaps these type events would make a humorous video for UTube.
Oh... that will SO be me one of these days!!
some help in these cases might be in order . they might be new at rving or just have trouble backing a 5th. new friends can be made by providing a little aide...
In most cases it's best not to intrude unless asked.Many people resent unasked for help.
We are also the people who will say "no don't help we got this." When some well meaning soul tries to tell me how to back in. The Brideandjoy is already telling me what to do I can't do what more then one person wants at a time.
Mallo
Only one? In our 17 years of RVing we have not only left the antenna up more than that be we have torn 3 of them off!
Well, for one, I used to have a couple of boards that were NEVER wide enough, so I had to make sure I was centered and that the tire was supported as much as possible.
Two things for TXRVr:
1. YOU PEEKED!!!!
2. YouTube will be best done with music. BUT, with what selections.
Any ideas on the music?
Oh, and since I got the hydraulic leveling system on our Mobile Suites (called Level-Up), I only put some blocks under the cylinder feet and then hit the buttons. Leveling systems like Level-Up and Big Foot are great.
Also, no one should ever be overly concerned with making mistakes. We learn that way, and if we are generous enough to share our momentary lunacy, others will learn as well.
Terry
Why would anyone would resent an offer of help?
Sometimes, the offer comes across as condescending. Sometimes it is (more than once I've gotten the distinct impression that the offerer didn't think women could/should drive/setup RV's.) Sometimes when we're inexperienced we see generous helpfulness as condescension because we're defensive about our abilities (I have to watch this tendency in myself.)
When we saw a couple who were having a bit of trouble getting their brand new motorhome into a site and asked if they wanted a hand or if they had it, the thing they mentioned repeatedly in thanking us was our not assuming that our help was both needed and wanted.
Because as Mallo says above, we're often getting into trouble just fine without anyone's help. We've had people offer to help who don't see me in the site on the walkie-talkie and assume he's backing in solo. We've had people insist on helping (more than one campground owner) who botched the job badly: "no, in fact, I can't park here; the slide will hit the services post."
Plus there's the aspect of RVing that says that we as owner/operators are responsible for our rig. We walk every site before we try to get into it. If it's a tight campground, we walk the loop before taking the rig down it. Sometimes would-be helpers get impatient with that. Again, the condescension: "I know what you need, you don't have to look!" But we do; you may know the campground but you don't know our rig. If we don't know what we are getting into and what we want to do, we may damage or destroy our home. I'm just not willing to risk that.
Bill, you need to get a rubber TV antenna.
I think it is just human nature for some to be defensive about needing help which is why I rarely offer it anymore. If a newbie or experienced RVer needs it, they should realize that, and ask someone who has the skill to assist. Pride can be expensive.
Over the years as a work camper, I've seen almost everything and could write a book, but the one that tops the cake happened recently. I was driving out of a military base campground with two exit lanes. One lane was blocked with a drop down, metal security pole. Well marked, I might add. The driver of the class C next to me obviously wasn't paying attention and drove into it smack in the middle of his windshield. OUCH!! We've all made dumb mistakes while RVing, but it's best to try and make them cheap ones.
Thanks. Gives me a little perspective and something to think about...
One of the other RV'ers finally had enough and guided him into the space.
I was having a tough time backing into a curving, downhill and tight spot, with the curve to the blind side so I couldn't see where I needed to be. About the third attempt it seemed like every member of the camping club we were with was standing outside my driver window giving me conflicting instructions. I finally had to ask them all to be quiet, I chose one of the more experienced RVers and had him direct me into the spot.
My real time movie experience - We were leaving Goliad State Park. Everything was put away and we were hitched. All that was left was to pull forward off a 2x6 used for leveling. I looked at the tires on the passenger side of the trailer to verify that the chocks had been removed. Then I gave my wife the OK to pull forwad. Next we both heard a loud snap. She immediately stopped. I walked around the trailer and saw yellow plastic shards scattered around the drivers side of the trailer. That is when I realized I failed to remove the plastic chocks. For some crazy reason, I placed them on the drivers side rather the passenger side. Lesson learned = A fiver will flatten plastic chocks before rolling over the top of them. Next time, check both sets of wheels to make sure everything is clear.
RE: Colorada Kid's video, here is the rest of the story.
Last weekend a truck pulling a long TT pulled up next to our site a woman jumped out of the drivers seat and walked the site. I thought to myself this is going to be a show. A show it was and a short one, she put it in on the first try and even was backing to the blind side.