Community Forums

Wdowell4029 · 02-03-2019, 05:54 PM

I have listened to the pro and con to the Drones. If you noticing the actual drone pilots understand the need for experience and skills just to operate the drone. What is really needed is for you to successfully park your RV and not learn several new skills unless you are just looking for fun!

My focus is a good and safe parking experience and "Promote Domestic Tranquility !" in my case my wife does not enjoy the challenge of guiding me into a spot, so I used to get out and look as suggested.. HOWEVER.. I installed a Brigade 360 camera system a couple years ago and now I have the aerial view much like that sky view of a drone and I do not have to pilot a separate vehicle! Parking even in complex spots are a breeze and I can see and use the system while on the road as well ! If you want to simply see better, consider a 360 system. There are several manufacturers out there I happened to choose Brigade as they offer industrial quality and experience, complete or partial installation and testing. The product quality has far exceeded my expectations. I am just a satisfied customer and my dear wife is just happy !

davis2 · 02-03-2019, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dons2346

What's the matter with plain old hand signals? Been using then for 19 years and they have never failed.

I always get the middle digit...

De F · 02-03-2019, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleEEE

I agree.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people buy big rigs and have no clue how to drive them. It's one thing to watch the entertainment in the campground, but those same folks are also driving down the interstates and two lane roads.

I knew I’d be mostly traveling solo, so one of the first things I did was to pull out a bunch of neon orange traffic cones (fortunately, as a dog trainer, I had these available - but you can buy them at Wal-Mart or most Home Depot type stores) and found a large empty parking lot.

When I could fairly accurately judge the length of my rig (pulling into gas stations or even pull-thru parking places), could corner without taking a cone along with me (both directions) and could back up, using my mirrors and rear- view camera into a camping space size 3-sided box of cones ... I felt a lot more confident hitting the road.

I still happily accept the help of an experienced spotter, but honestly usually use the tried and true back up, get out and LOOK, get back in and back-up, repeat, rather than trust another “helpful camper” to back me into a tight spot. I KNOW I can do it, given a little time, and some of those helpful campers are SO clueless!

De and the Dachshunds

davis2 · 02-03-2019, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleEEE

I agree.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people buy big rigs and have no clue how to drive them. It's one thing to watch the entertainment in the campground, but those same folks are also driving down the interstates and two lane roads.

You'd be surprised at how many tractor trailer drivers that cannot back their rigs into a dock or door... Scary.

davis2 · 02-03-2019, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gallant205

I want to thank all of you for weighing in, even the ones who didn't have positive responses. Nobody can fully communicate in writing, ever, but like the song says, if you try real hard sometimes you get what you need.

I was in fact, serious about the drone question. In my dim dark past, I drove an F-150 pop truck and had no problems with routes, because I learned real early never drive in where you can't drive right out. So yes my backup skills are minimal.

Our '09 Vista has the one original backup camera, I find it largely useless. When a car is 15 feet behind the coach, it appears like 50 in the camera. When you CAN see something in it backing up, you're about to hit it. No help there. Perhaps I could swap out for some new camera setup.

My wife always does the spotting, but we don't think the same way about which way the wheels are supposed to turn to fix what's not going right.

Winnebago reps just sighed when I brought up extra cameras for the 'this old' coach, as if the expense to add them would shock me, so I stopped right there on that.

All this happened long before I initiated this post, so I'm a little frustrated and reaching out. Like many others, I made a big mistake early on with the coach and I crunched something that was expensive to replace. I don't want to do that again.

I appreciated those of you who gave positive responses and new ideas, especially regarding that drone idea.

I'm still open to more ideas, and I thank you all.

I'd say practice with the wife more...

twogypsies · 02-03-2019, 06:26 PM

You shouldn't rely on cameras... or drones. Either keep getting out to see what obstacles are there or have more confidence in your wife. I agree, you and your wife need to get together on this. Does she drive? Perhaps she should so she can know what is needed. I know two couples whose wifves always do the backing in because the guys used to yell at them all the time. Now the wives only do as told by them and sometimes it doesn't turn out good.

But... they only have themselves (guys) to blame.

packnrat · 02-03-2019, 06:26 PM

with all the anti drone hype going on right now. i say no.
and the cost might be cheaper to just install a couple fixed cams.
or just get out and look.

Jake21 · 02-03-2019, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dons2346

What's the matter with plain old hand signals? Been using then for 19 years and they have never failed.

Agreed. I find it amusing when I see Arms flying all over the place, yelling and such when the helper is assisting the parker. When I worked on yachts. We parked the 95 footer with very slight hand movements. Just agree on a few hand signals and finger signals, but not the middle finger. Not good that one.

marks146 · 02-03-2019, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gallant205

I want to thank all of you for weighing in, even the ones who didn't have positive responses. Nobody can fully communicate in writing, ever, but like the song says, if you try real hard sometimes you get what you need.

....

After 3 years of membership, sitting on the side, you finally asked a question and these are the responses you get? This is why so many people refuse to, or are timid about joining in conversations, having to endure sarcasm and cheap criticism. What surprised me was a number of seasoned members that took shots at you too.

Would you have been treated the same way if we all sat at a conference table looking each other in the eye. I think not.

Welcome to the online community, my friend.

5dollarbill · 02-03-2019, 07:02 PM

Along with my mirrors, I wear a bluetooth headset paired to my cell phone. My wife is outside, coaching and commenting on her phone.Works for us

WhitSel · 02-03-2019, 07:10 PM

Was that your Cessna hovering over my property? (Don’t have a house) of course not; fixed wing A/C, with certain military exceptions, don’t hover. So, if a Cessna flies over low & slow I’ll assume an emergency and refer assistance. If one is circling low and slow, I’m calling the FAA and asking, “Why?” If it’s an unmanned multi-prop drone, then it’s a target.

walt_embree · 02-03-2019, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bipeflier

Sounds like a solution without a problem.

Nope- Not even a solution, for a whole bunch of legal, regulatory, operational, and practical reasons. If one can’t back into camp slots, don’t even get near us at the grocery store, gas station, or open road for that matter. Get training or sell your rig and take up watercolors.

alanjg · 02-04-2019, 05:23 AM

I love technology and would love to play with a drone but as a practical matter by the time you got it set up to fly and positioned it in the proper location to view the backup, you could probably have already backed into the space and be enjoying a cup of coffee.

Now if the drone could be sitting on top of the rig and just press a button and it launched and positioned automatically then that would make sense. Also would like the drone to drive the rig wile I'm making the coffee.

Dav L · 02-04-2019, 05:56 AM

I have more confidence in a good quality, well placed set of cameras that have night view than I do in the mirrors and definitely someone in the back giving hand signals.

The human element adds interpretation to the issue. All I have to do is see behind the RV to make the right driving decision. I don't need someone deciding for me on what's close vs. far vs. swing left vs. right etc. I just need to see the obstacle and then I will know what to do. Now, this is certainly subject to the two members of the team and how well they communicate so your results may vary.

Mirrors are great but have very significant blind spots. Certainly better than nothing.

Helicopters hovering above give an interesting perspective, but also certainly have a lot of baggage related to them that this thread has identified. Someday it might be a reality with advancements in auto hover, object avoidance (low hanging tree branches), noise minimization, docking systems etc.

I think a combination of short distance radar (to beep if something is getting close anywhere around the top / bottom / sides / rear and a good 360 view camera system is the ideal combination that is realistic now-a-days. The radar to cover any potential gaps of camera coverage - like the roof about to hit some low hanging branches that the camera position likely has a tough time seeing.