I just saw a neat suggestion on the Carriage forum for an alternative to the 2 way radios that we use for parking assistance.
Someone suggested using cell phones set to speaker phone for hands free instant communication without having to worry about pressing the talk button, or steering with one hand. The driver can simply set the phone on the dash board.
Worth a try, I think.
Old Snipe said
12:55 PM Oct 12, 2010
Of course, there are those that have so much trouble backing up into a site, they might run out of minutes before they get parked.
Not me, certainly...
Best Regards!
bjoyce said
04:10 PM Oct 12, 2010
Only for those who have a family plan so the minutes are "free".
The Bear II said
04:13 PM Oct 12, 2010
We use our cellphones instead of the FRS walkie talkies. No interference like with the walkie talkies.
When the DW is following in the car we communicate via the cellphones.
When backing in to a site, we've found the cellphones work well, including the face to face video, she can show me what she is talking about. ("You almost ran into this post, stop when I say stop"....)
I also use her cellphone setup next to the TV and mine to listen to the sat meter signal when setting up the Dish antenna on the tripod. That way I can hear the signal change tones without having the TV turned up loud enough to hear out a window. Just have to remember there is a slight delay in the signal over the cellphone. Just realized the face to face would help with this as well. I'll have to try it next time, with the face to face, I would be able to see the meter on the creen as well as hear it.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Tuesday 12th of October 2010 04:14:29 PM
TxYellowRose said
04:45 PM Oct 12, 2010
Old Snipe wrote:
Of course, there are those that have so much trouble backing up into a site, they might run out of minutes before they get parked.
Not me, certainly...
Best Regards!
GUILTY
I have yet to figure out how I backed a 5er neatly and snugly between two others in the dealer's lot with them guiding me but struggle when DH is directing me.
Next time we need to back into a spot, I swear I'm gonna give him a couple of beers and a camp chair over there somewhere ------------------------> and just leave me to back Big Boy where he needs to be!
If I did that and backed my Tahoe with U-Haul trailer out of a ditch/driveway on a country road all by my wee lonesome, I can back this rig into a spot!
-- Edited by TxYellowRose on Tuesday 12th of October 2010 04:48:10 PM
53 Merc said
07:21 PM Oct 12, 2010
Sometimes, I wish I could sell tickets to watch people park RVs. You can hear some new words, gestures and signals. If the signals are not consistent it can be a fun experience. I have schooled my wife that if she can't see the mirrors, I stop and wait for her to move within sight. Move left or right, hold out the ENTIRE ARM to direct rear of trailer. When mostly straight, clap both hands in front. To stop, one clenched fist held overhead. To go forward, point one arm straight in front.
It is really simple, but it does take simple signals that are the same all the time. Make up ones you are comfortable with and stick to 'em.
BTW, shouting is not required.
TXRVr said
10:04 AM Oct 13, 2010
53 Merc wrote:
Sometimes, I wish I could sell tickets to watch people park RVs.
It is really simple, but it does take simple signals that are the same all the time. Make up ones you are comfortable with and stick to 'em.
BTW, shouting is not required.
Can I get in on the ticket sells thing? It's sometimes better than the circus.
Shouting is only required in one case. STOP!! Other than that, there needs to be only four things spoken, either on a radio or cell ..Rear left, rear right, straighten up, straight back. Forget the hand/arm signals and being in mirror view. That allows the assistant to be in whatever place is necessary to do the most effective directing while watching for obstacles.
But the most effective method for successfully backing is to get the rig, whatever kind it is, into the correct starting position. That is parallel and close to the edge of the road on the site side with the rear end of it about three feet past the edge of the site. Once that is done a couple turns of the steering wheel will have the back end immediately onto the site.
The Bear II said
02:25 PM Oct 13, 2010
It's amazing how your backing skills diminsh in relationship to the number of other RV'ers watching you back up. And they diminish even further if some of those RV'ers try to help you back into a spot.
We watched a guy in a 40ft MH try to back into a spot from the wrong direction...he made about 7 attempts before someone suggested he go around the park and come in from the opposite direction since that's the way the spaces are angled. He went around the park and pulled back to the spot with the MH in the same wrong direction...Here's your Sign !
Someone suggested using cell phones set to speaker phone for hands free instant communication without having to worry about pressing the talk button, or steering with one hand. The driver can simply set the phone on the dash board.
Worth a try, I think.
Not me, certainly...
Best Regards!
When the DW is following in the car we communicate via the cellphones.
When backing in to a site, we've found the cellphones work well, including the face to face video, she can show me what she is talking about. ("You almost ran into this post, stop when I say stop"....)
I also use her cellphone setup next to the TV and mine to listen to the sat meter signal when setting up the Dish antenna on the tripod. That way I can hear the signal change tones without having the TV turned up loud enough to hear out a window. Just have to remember there is a slight delay in the signal over the cellphone. Just realized the face to face would help with this as well. I'll have to try it next time, with the face to face, I would be able to see the meter on the creen as well as hear it.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Tuesday 12th of October 2010 04:14:29 PM
GUILTY
and just leave me to back Big Boy where he needs to be! 
I have yet to figure out how I backed a 5er neatly and snugly between two others in the dealer's lot with them guiding me but struggle when DH is directing me.
Next time we need to back into a spot, I swear I'm gonna give him a couple of beers and a camp chair over there somewhere ------------------------>
If I did that and backed my Tahoe with U-Haul trailer out of a ditch/driveway on a country road all by my wee lonesome, I can back this rig into a spot!
-- Edited by TxYellowRose on Tuesday 12th of October 2010 04:48:10 PM
Shouting is only required in one case. STOP!! Other than that, there needs to be only four things spoken, either on a radio or cell ..Rear left, rear right, straighten up, straight back. Forget the hand/arm signals and being in mirror view. That allows the assistant to be in whatever place is necessary to do the most effective directing while watching for obstacles.
But the most effective method for successfully backing is to get the rig, whatever kind it is, into the correct starting position. That is parallel and close to the edge of the road on the site side with the rear end of it about three feet past the edge of the site. Once that is done a couple turns of the steering wheel will have the back end immediately onto the site.