Did my good deed, I think.....

[Abnmarine]

Staying the night at a free city RV park in Oklahoma. I notice someone trying to back in their travel trailer and was really struggling with it. After about 20 minutes, I decided to offer some help knowing some don't want it. I introduced myself and he was happy to see me. I had him start over, explaining how to approach the site. Giving him step by step directions along the way. He still had trouble following them, probably was getting frustrated, and then asked if I would back the trailer in. I did but really wanted him to learn how.

He's a nice older gentleman and said he just purchased the trailer and doesn't know how to back up. I explained that we all were beginners at one point. No worries.

[Old-Biscuit]

Glad he was open to some help

It can be a touchy subject but I always offer help.

I usually approach and ask........."Any way I can help glad to lend a hand"
(Vs " You need to do this/that"--------"You doing it wrong...you're Blah, blah, blah"

We had just struggled to back our 5th wheel into a very tight, narrow site and had settled down for a cool adult beverage when a very long MH pulled up and were ogling the site next to us.
Having just preformed that exercise in contortion I offered the lady that was at back of coach an extra set of eyes due to the trees/boulders/narrow site etc.

Her reply was "SHE drives for a living and doesn't NEED any help!!!"
Head popped out drivers window and stated "WE do this all the time-we're FINE!"

OK fine....so I sat back down and kept my mouth shut.........as she backed into a tree, whacked a boulder, dropped front wheel into ditch and scraped side of rig on utility pole.

SHE and her spotter spent very little time outside their rig that afternoon/evening or next day. Following morning they left.


So sometimes you just can't help.....regardless of how you approach the subject

[twogypsies]

Great to hear what you did! Perhaps he'll remember some of the things you were trying to get him to do.

[Abnmarine]

I hear you and ensured that I was a polite as possible. After seeing him jackknifed and still sliding the trailer across the pavement, I decided he needed some help. I was very patient with him. Just surprised me that he asked me to do it. Had he reacted differently, I would have returned to my spot, poured a drink and enjoyed the entertainment.

[mrt_1111]

I was just asked today by lady who purchased a RV that has been sitting for over a year if she could go with us on our next trip so I could show her how her RV works. Makes me kind of nervous. What happen if something major is broke from lack of maintenance? She was never even drove the RV..

[jacwjames]

Mark,
Probably better that you go to help her the systems otherwise she may really make a bad mistake.

I suggest you take some time ahead of the trip and go look at the rig and possibly you and her can take it for a drive just to confirm the drivability. I also advise her to take it in for a service and inspection to be on the safe side.

If we're camping and I see someone having problems I will offer help.

Several years ago we were at a dog show. One of my wifes friends was there with her parents. The weren't camping but had a Class C type Canine Hauler that all the dogs were in. They had a site staked out from the day before but when they got to the dog show there were so many cars parked impeding easy access my wife's friend asked if I could go out and help her dad (Guy) get the rig parked. I went out and took a look at the situation. It was definitely a tight situation. I measured some of the widths we had to drive through and there were only inches to spare and then backing into the site it was the same situation "very tight". I got the rig parked and Guy was definitely impressed & I my nerves were racked but we got it done.

[t4halo]

It's usually pretty easy to tell who is a little nervous with their new rig. I offer to spot for them and talk with the spouse while the driver attempts to back in. 9 times out of 10 the spouse spotting for the driver will let you know if the driver needs some help. Pride does get in the way some times.

T4

[TR4]

Abnmarine, it's nice to see there are good people like you willing to help. When he gets home he'll probably use some of your tips and practice.

Bill

[Electra 225]

Originally Posted by t4halo

It's usually pretty easy to tell who is a little nervous with their new rig. I offer to spot for them and talk with the spouse while the driver attempts to back in. 9 times out of 10 the spouse spotting for the driver will let you know if the driver needs some help. Pride does get in the way some times.

T4

You hit the nail on the head for the human race. Pride is the downfall of us all individually at one time or another. It can be a challenge for some to keep it in check when embarrassment triggers it. Those folks mentioned in Old Biscuit's post above, you see where it got them.

I've always said there is no shame in telling someone what you don't know. Nothing wrong with asking questions and being receptive to help. I've worked construction. When I met a new supervisor or foreman I always said to them......I'll tell and show you what I know, and I'll also tell you what I don't know. They respected that, and helped me gain knowledge until one day I was training guys. It was way better than some I saw BS-ing their way through until they made a big boo boo and endured the humiliation of that. Or got fired.
Seems to me accepting direction is easier, and you learn. Hey, if you're out of your league so be it....we all are at the beginning. No one I know of is born knowing everything (literally).

Best regards,
W.D.

[Abnmarine]

I just started a 5 week trip from Colorado to North Carolina and up the coast. My DW won't join me until Knoxville, TN and besides missing her, I miss having a spotter. I'm pretty good at backing up but now go slower and take a few walk arounds to ensure I'm clear of any trees.

[ResidentEvil]

Wife and I stopped at a KOA for an overnight stop on our way home from our Memorial Day camping trip. Was starting to round things up to get on the road in the morning when the guy next to me starts trying to hook his really nice 5ver up to his really nice Chevy dually.

It grabs my attention when I hear a relatively loud bang coming from his direction. I watch through my window and can immediately see that he has the nose of his 5ver up too high and it isn't going to seat right in the hitch.

So I watch him raise it up about another inch, then slowly back into the hitch without it seating. Then pull forward and back into it harder, still no connection. Then he hits the gas while still in contact thinking if he just pushed against it harder it may work.

I finally go outside as he is getting out of his truck to look things over. At this point he has pushed the trailer back far enough that his front landing gears are about halfway off his blocks. One good push and he is going to shove the trailer off the blocks and be in a world of hurt.

So I ask him if he needs a hand and he mentions that he has trouble every now and then getting hooked up. I suggest that he drop the nose of the trailer down quite a bit and explain how it needs to be low enough that the hitch almost lifts the trailer a little bit when hooking up.

After he lowered it to the right level, it connected no problem.

I always feel awkward offering help, cause I'm a fairly young RV'er (40yo) and almost assume that people will assume I dont know apples from oranges. Luckily this guy was nice and happy to have a little help.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Abnmarine

Staying the night at a free city RV park in Oklahoma. I notice someone trying to back in their travel trailer and was really struggling with it. After about 20 minutes, I decided to offer some help knowing some don't want it. I introduced myself and he was happy to see me. I had him start over, explaining how to approach the site. Giving him step by step directions along the way. He still had trouble following them, probably was getting frustrated, and then asked if I would back the trailer in. I did but really wanted him to learn how.

He's a nice older gentleman and said he just purchased the trailer and doesn't know how to back up. I explained that we all were beginners at one point. No worries.

You did good!

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by ResidentEvil

Wife and I stopped at a KOA for an overnight stop on our way home from our Memorial Day camping trip. Was starting to round things up to get on the road in the morning when the guy next to me starts trying to hook his really nice 5ver up to his really nice Chevy dually.

It grabs my attention when I hear a relatively loud bang coming from his direction. I watch through my window and can immediately see that he has the nose of his 5ver up too high and it isn't going to seat right in the hitch.

So I watch him raise it up about another inch, then slowly back into the hitch without it seating. Then pull forward and back into it harder, still no connection. Then he hits the gas while still in contact thinking if he just pushed against it harder it may work.

I finally go outside as he is getting out of his truck to look things over. At this point he has pushed the trailer back far enough that his front landing gears are about halfway off his blocks. One good push and he is going to shove the trailer off the blocks and be in a world of hurt.

So I ask him if he needs a hand and he mentions that he has trouble every now and then getting hooked up. I suggest that he drop the nose of the trailer down quite a bit and explain how it needs to be low enough that the hitch almost lifts the trailer a little bit when hooking up.

After he lowered it to the right level, it connected no problem.

I always feel awkward offering help, cause I'm a fairly young RV'er (40yo) and almost assume that people will assume I dont know apples from oranges. Luckily this guy was nice and happy to have a little help.

Yup, you never know how they're gonna take it!

[Ray,IN]

DW says it's a man thing, like a man stopping to ask for directions.
You did good!