Just a funny observation - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just a funny observation

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

So, since we have nothing better to do than walk the dogs and observe the other campers, we have made a funny observation....

Campers pull in. (5-er, TT, MH....)

Wife jumps out. Instantly.

Some are actually helpful and give good direction, some stand where husband cannot even see them and wave their arms, some just kind of stand there looking confused..........but they all jump out.

We giggle. ;)

I have been instructed to not get out. Ever. He can back it in without me. (I am one of those that stands where he cannot see me and wave my arms. Oops.) Therefore, I shall now be in the minority.

lol

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Watching RVers park their rigs is some of the best free entertainment that you can have. During our years as full-timers, we sometimes think we've seen it all, and then something new happens.

We found that the best place and time to watch the action is at a public park on Thursdays or Fridays when all of the "week-end warriors" come in.

Sometimes you just have to laugh out loud, and other times some of them really get themselves in trouble.

Enjoy, biggrin

Jim

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just stay in the truck. biggrin

One lady "helped" back the husband into a site, right up against a tree. Told him he was good. He gets out and stands there for a minute and says "well, I guess we don't HAVE to open the slide!"

She looked over and said "we are newbies and don't have a clue!" I actually was helpful and got them to an angle where they could actually open their slide.

Nothing more entertaining than a campground on a Friday evening!

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

There are people behind us in a rental class C. They have no toad, so they go adventuring in it.

That site is gravel but the very back has a railroad tie that is the end of the site.

Every time they come back, he backs over the railroad tie then has to burn rubber to get back over it. Every time! She tells him to stop, but alas, he does not.

Now we just wait for it. And giggle.

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

scrappy wrote:
There are people behind us in a rental class C. They have no toad, so they go adventuring in it.
That site is gravel but the very back has a railroad tie that is the end of the site.
Every time they come back, he backs over the railroad tie then has to burn rubber to get back over it. Every time! She tells him to stop, but alas, he does not.
Now we just wait for it. And giggle.

Just so they don't back into you one time!

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not saying it couldnt happen, but they'd have to go through a cabin, a fence, and down a set of stairs to get to us!

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

My DW would jump out and about half way through the backing process would strike up a conversation with a passerby...I would have to stop and wait until she refocused on the job at hand.

For fun I would have her stand in one spot and tell her not to move until I told her to move. The "spot" was where I intended the back of the 5th wheel to intend up. It was fun to watch her eyes get bigger as the 5th wheel got closer and closer.

It is fun to watch others... recently an older fella tried to back him MH into a spot from the wrong direction, he didn't have enough space to make the cut to get into the spot. His wife tried to help but there just wasn't enough room. He tried about 6 times until one of the rv'ers suggested he go around and come in from the other direction. He was able to get backed in on the first try from the correct direction.

Another time I heard a wife scream "STOP !!!!" and looked over in time to see the back of a MH take out the water spigot. Big fountain of water...

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We hear a lot of people in TT's that dont take off their stabilizer bars before doing jackknife type backing maneuvers into spots. Lots of grinding and creaking and crunching going on!

We recently had some super newbies next to us. They were there for three days when he decided it was time to hook up the sewer hose....then drain the tanks and pack up and leave.........but anyhoo....we watched him unhook his sewer line and drop his fresh water hose down in it for a quick rinse. We had to make a friendly suggestion on that one.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

I love it when they hit the water risers....especially when I have to then fix it. :) NOT.

We have seen lots of "trying" moments with people backing. If they are receptive to learning I try to coach them...mostly women. Men think they already know it all. Even though it is obvious they haven't a clue. Single women are the best. They want to learn, and are pretty easy to teach to back in. Women have better hand/eye coordination and are more receptive to learning (as a generalization). That is also the reason they are far easier to teach to shoot well. Novice women almost always outshoot men. In fact, I can not remember a single man that outshot his wife if neither was experienced. And I have taught a lot....same applies to backing in my experience. :)

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Last week we had a mom, a boxer, and two little boys pull in. The oldest boy, who looked about 10, jumped out, gave direction, and mom whipped it right in there. first try. We were impressed!

I cant back my Beetle into a parking spot.....and had numerous (unsuccessful) backing lessons with the horse trailer...........I am not a backer-upper.....Ill just sit quietly in the front seat of the truck.......

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just had a memory of the first time I had to back our 24ft TT into a tight spot. We were on our first trip with a camping group. The group consisted of mostly late 60s to early 80s RV'ers, we were young (new blood for the pack). I had trouble the first couple of tries on our own...then the men started showing up.

It was like that scene out of the movie "The Long Long Trailer" with Lucy & Desi. Everyone was tellling me what to do, conflicting instructions.

Finally I had to ask everyone to leave me alone and let me work it out so I would learn what to do when they weren't there to instruct me.

And as luck would have it, the trailer backed in perfect on the next try.

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Right up there with RV's backing antics is the same drill at a boat launch, the stuff that people do cannot be made up. Very funny but so pathetic.
A second one in boating is watching weekend warriors trying to anchor, as the kids say,"omg"!

CCC

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

In my role here at Retama Village I often end up helping visitors get parked in our Discover Retama spots. Some folks have a system and then others are relative newbies. The funniest thing I see is when the wife puts a hand up to stop the trailer or keep it from hitting something. I have to admit I often do the same thing so I can't laugh too loud. It's like passenger seat breaking.... we all know it won't help and we just can't help ourselves. lol

I have had a chance to give a few wives pointers on how to give directions when helping park the RV. Most are pretty quick learners and willing to listen, I think partly because I can empathize with their role in the process.

Sure can't beat cheap entertainment in the trailerhood though!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Back many, many moons ago, Jo and I and our kids were going to go to a lake for the weekend with my mother and an older gentleman friend. As things happened, Kenny and I had to be late going to the lake as we had cattle to take care of before driving to the lake. So, Jo and my mother went on to set up camp.

When we arrived, we found them in a campsite into which they would have had to have backed down a steep slope and into the site. The site was only about 40 or 50 feet from a cliff overlooking the lake. They had used Kenny's truck and the camper and when we arrived, Kenny was somewhat concerned. When we got out at the site, he asked how everything went when they backed into the site. They said everything went fine. "Why?"

Kenny explained that the trailer didn't have any brakes that were working.

Sometimes, there is someone up there looking out for fools and old folks.

Terry

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

At a State Park, (I think it was in Mississippi), a family backed their travel trailer into a lakefront site. Man proceeded to disconnect the trailer from the pickup. He evidently didn't realize that the site was slanted towards the lake and as soon as he raised the front of the trailer enough to clear the hitch ball, the trailer started rolling towards the lake. People screaming and hollering while trying to hold and stop the trailer, without any success.

Trailer would have gone into the lake but hit a tree that stopped it. Only damage was a bent bumper on trailer and a damaged ego.

After pulling it back up the hill and back into the site, they blocked the wheels before unhooking it again.

Jim

LibertyLinda · RV-Dreams Family Member

LOL to all of this! We use walkie-talkies for the Class A with the back up camera ~ but now we will be getting the 5th wheel without the camera and only the walkies - I hope you all aren't around! I'll know if you are when we hear the laughter!

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've only driven our MH a few times, so we're still quite new. Before it moves, BOTH of us discuss what it needs to do to get from where it is to where it needs to be. Jo Ann is outside with one radio, and I'm at the wheel with the other. If I can't see and hear her I don't move. Today we weighed the coach at a commercial scale. The first attempt at driving on the ramp was not successful and she quickly told me to stop, back up, and go around. I gladly did. That second attempt got me on the scales very easily. All the while Jo Ann was outside, on the radio, telling me what I couldn't see. With the high heat today she wasn't walking all that quickly, but she still moved faster than I did in the coach. That was intentional.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

The shorter the trailer the harder it is to back. Even a 40' fifth wheel is more difficult to back than a 53' refer van. The wheels are located halfway down the trailer making it act like a 25' trailer. Some of us do it without the benefit of a rear window in our truck, right Jack? Two paramount rules, practice and GOAL(Get Out And Look). My third rule is, no one spots for me that doesn't have a financial interest in my equipment. I will goal every 5 feet if I have to just to maintain a mental picture of where I am versus where I am going. That is a lot less embarrassing than repairs.

-- Edited by MarkS on Friday 28th of June 2013 09:35:17 AM

dewwood · RV-Dreams Family Member

Reading this thread reminded me of one of our first camping trips years ago. We went to a State Park about 3 hours away with a borrowed camper, we pulled in and got things set up without too much difficulty. A short time later a pop up pulled in a couple of sites over from us, Dad gets the slides out and everything set up. Pretty soon the kids take off for the play ground and Mom & Dad disappear inside the camper. Apparently Dad did not have quite everything exactly the way it should be because a short time later the slide out bed on one end toppled to the ground along with Mom & Dad who were apparently taking a nap because they did not have any clothes on. The whole outfit was packed up and gone in a very short time.

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

dewwood wrote:
Reading this thread reminded me of one of our first camping trips years ago. We went to a State Park about 3 hours away with a borrowed camper, we pulled in and got things set up without too much difficulty. A short time later a pop up pulled in a couple of sites over from us, Dad gets the slides out and everything set up. Pretty soon the kids take off for the play ground and Mom & Dad disappear inside the camper. Apparently Dad did not have quite everything exactly the way it should be because a short time later the slide out bed on one end toppled to the ground along with Mom & Dad who were apparently taking a nap because they did not have any clothes on. The whole outfit was packed up and gone in a very short time.

Bwahahahahahahahaha.....................that made me *snort*!!

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Reading Scrappy's story really made me laugh and know we won't feel so embarrassed with our parking anymore! No matter what we do it won't be that funny!

Sherry

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

The only thing better than friday afternoon at the campground is sunday afternoon at the boat ramp. The fact that some of these people procreate is scary! bleh
My wife and I have a pretty good system, when we get to our site we both get out and walk the site and decide where we need to end up. Then we use our phones, mine on speaker sitting on the console, her's just like she's chatting to her best friend. No arm waving but she will walk side to side checking clearance if there are trees or other obstacles. When other people try to help I either ignore them or shut down the truck and get out and meet our new neighbors. Usually after several minutes someone will ask if thats where I'm leaving the rig, We reply "Nope, just taking a break to meet the neighbors!" I did have to ask a gentleman to move so I didn't clip him with the front bumper. I still don't know what he was waving about, but I waved back. biggrin

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

We attended a Bluegrass Festival in rural, really rural Louisiana near Jackson, La. this week.The festival is laid back, pulled in and no one at the entrance, THE WIFE went looking for directions and the owner said to go on in and find a spot that we like. Ok, so we drove around and located a nice shady one with full hookups. I got out and reconnoitered it and as I was backing in I noticed 3 gentlemen just across from me TURN THEIR CHAIRS AROUND TO WATCH THE SHOW. No kidding. Fortunately got in and setup with no difficulty. Afterwards I went over and asked for MY SCORE! They assured me that I did fine. No one really needs that kind of motivation.
Later the owner said that in a day or so his wife would setup a table where we could pay for the CG and the Festival that all was on the “Honor System”. He went on to say that he really does not want to keep anyone out who cannot afford the price!

CCC

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

charles wrote:
We attended a Bluegrass Festival in rural, really rural Louisiana near Jackson, La. this week.The festival is laid back, pulled in and no one at the entrance, THE WIFE went looking for directions and the owner said to go on in and find a spot that we like. Ok, so we drove around and located a nice shady one with full hookups. I got out and reconnoitered it and as I was backing in I noticed 3 gentlemen just across from me TURN THEIR CHAIRS AROUND TO WATCH THE SHOW. No kidding. Fortunately got in and setup with no difficulty. Afterwards I went over and asked for MY SCORE! They assured me that I did fine. No one really needs that kind of motivation.
Later the owner said that in a day or so his wife would setup a table where we could pay for the CG and the Festival that all was on the “Honor System”. He went on to say that he really does not want to keep anyone out who cannot afford the price!

CCC

:cheer: yay for not putting on a show!! We just changed sites, down hill from #10 to #4. Shane pulled out of #10 and backed down to #4, whipped it right on in there. I gave no direction, as directed.

Honor system. Nice! We came across an honor system produce stand along the road. Don't see those in Missouri!!

lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Question for those who have seen all the comical routines. Why do people insist on trying to blind side back their rigs into a site when all they have to do is drop someone off at the site and then drive around the block so to speak and then are able to back in on the sight side and see for themselves what and where they are going with the trailers????? Are they just in too much of a hurry to provide a comity act for the rest of us????

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lindy,

I really think that it is a case of not knowing any better------coupled with the refusal to learn as in take advice from someone knowledgable.
We are migrants from boating, cruised for many years and the VAST MAJORITY of boaters, now I am talking cruising boats in the 36ft range up to 50ft, have no idea on even the proper and safe manner to tie their boats to a dock. They just dont. I have presented dozens of seminars on the subject and people will take issue and even argue with me about it. I point out that I did not invent what I was talking about, to no avail. Go figure.

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Agreed on the boat thing. We took our boat from St Louis as far up the Mississippi as the navigable channel allowed. Went through every lock and dam twice. Saw some pretty silly things and were amazed more people don't die on the Mississippi. Then we went from St Louis to Chicago on the Illinois and were surprised more people aren't killed by flying carp! Yikes!

But yeah, people cannot tie boats. And the things they do in the locks...............*shakes head*

drillking · RV-Dreams Community Member

Just wanted to agree with Jack, women are always easier to teach to shoot.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

charles wrote:
We attended a Bluegrass Festival in rural, really rural Louisiana near Jackson, La. this week.The festival is laid back, pulled in and no one at the entrance, THE WIFE went looking for directions and the owner said to go on in and find a spot that we like. Ok, so we drove around and located a nice shady one with full hookups. I got out and reconnoitered it and as I was backing in I noticed 3 gentlemen just across from me TURN THEIR CHAIRS AROUND TO WATCH THE SHOW. No kidding. Fortunately got in and setup with no difficulty. Afterwards I went over and asked for MY SCORE! They assured me that I did fine. No one really needs that kind of motivation.
Later the owner said that in a day or so his wife would setup a table where we could pay for the CG and the Festival that all was on the “Honor System”. He went on to say that he really does not want to keep anyone out who cannot afford the price!

CCC

wink wink Some people really have a heart!!! Kudos' to this owner.