Community Forums

MSHappyCampers · 11-21-2011, 08:54 AM

I may be asking a really stupid question here, but why can't all RV campgrounds be designed so that all back-in sites will have full view from the driver's side when backing in? I know this would mean that the site you would be backing into would be on the opposite side of the road and you would momentarily back across the other lane of traffic, but what the heck, you block the entire road anyway the way they are now! I've always had trouble backing my 5er, but I think it's mostly because I lose view of the site I'm trying to get into. This has been a mystery to me since we started RV'ing in 2001. Is there some reason why this is not done? Go ahead and make me feel stupid, it won't be the first time!

jzick · 11-21-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jminyard

I may be asking a really stupid question here, but why can't all RV campgrounds be designed so that all back-in sites will have full view from the driver's side when backing in? I know this would mean that the site you would be backing into would be on the opposite side of the road and you would momentarily back across the other lane of traffic, but what the heck, you block the entire road anyway the way they are now! I've always had trouble backing my 5er, but I think it's mostly because I lose view of the site I'm trying to get into. This has been a mystery to me since we started RV'ing in 2001. Is there some reason why this is not done? Go ahead and make me feel stupid, it won't be the first time!

Many of the places we stay have fairly narrow access roads with one way traffic and sites on both sides of the road. I guess you could make the roads wider or double the number so all sites were on the driver's side. If that was done, though, you take space away from revenue producing parking sites and replace it with revenue costing asphalt/gravel. I wonder sometimes about parks with perpendicular sites instead of slanted to allow back in access. To make it even tougher, many put big boulders next to the exit/entrance to the perpendicular site I guess to keep you from cutting the corner.

Wizard · 11-21-2011, 12:04 PM

A lot of the people that setup campgrounds don't camp. Also they try to utalize all the available space and sometimes that means sites set up in all directions. You ned a site on the other side of the drive

Always-RVing · 11-21-2011, 12:22 PM

Cuz, RV park owners are not going to spend millions on a rework of their park.

I do know of a brand new, spanking new RV park, CO state owned.

This park has the latest in accomodations for Motorhome (small and big), TT's 5th Wheel and tents.

They really went all out to make this one of the nicest parks around.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park | Colorado Springs Metro | South Central Colorado

Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Colorado Springs, CO | RVParking.com

Campground Details - CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK, CO - ReserveAmerica - [CO]

MSHappyCampers · 11-21-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wizard

A lot of the people that setup campgrounds don't camp. Also they try to utalize all the available space and sometimes that means sites set up in all directions. You ned a site on the other side of the drive

I agree. I didn't mean to just have sites on one side. Just have a two-way wide road so people going in could back into sites on the left side, while others could go to the end to a turn-around, come back and again back in to sites on the left. There would be no wasted space.

falcor · 11-21-2011, 01:39 PM

Can't help with cg design but here is a trick I've learned with a little over 30 yrs doing this. Buy some of those little Orange or red cones and place them out as guides whether you are backing in from drivers side or blind side. These are highly visable and can be used as guides to line up on or limits to stay away from. Hope this helps, good luck.

ps. We bought ours at Harbor Freight. Comes in a pack of 3 at about 2 bucks. We have 2 sets.

Roam America · 11-21-2011, 01:41 PM

When I get a back in site I will go around the block however I need to in order to be in the proper direction so that I am backing in from the driver side. I take the directions given to me by the office worker with a grain of salt. Most have never driven an RV.

wa8yxm · 11-21-2011, 04:33 PM

I do agree with "The folks who design them don't use them" theory,, However that said I rarley have a problem backing into sites.

Some campgrounds.. For example the one I'm in now the sites are close to 90 degrees to the road, this makes it easier actually than the angle sites.. and of the 24 sites in the park about 20 of them are pull through, a good 70-80 feet long too, VERY nice. easy to get in and out of .

Ray,IN · 11-21-2011, 08:07 PM

I found that our 40' 5er is easier to back into a parking space from the "blind side" rather than the drivers side. This way I can plainly see the patio/picnic table area and the rear of the 5er. Our previous 30' 5er was the opposite.
I agree about access road width. All to often the road is not wide enough to stay on while backing into a space in older CG's. I remember one state park where I had to pull into the back-in space opposite my space just to shoehorn our 5er in. The fun began while leaving - that space opposite us was occupied.

Chuck 1935 · 11-22-2011, 12:15 AM

The sites that get me are the back in sites that are on the water, WHAT. If you have a Motorhome you have no view. I now just pull in head first and have enough cable to still reach the pedestal. No one has ever told me not to do it.

Arch Hoagland · 11-22-2011, 12:35 AM

Joe...it's time to buy a class "A". All those backing problems go away with a class A.

You can see everything on both sides all the time and the rear camera lets you see directly behind you.

Wizard · 11-22-2011, 07:20 AM

Arch, I slightly disagree, Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone has 10" post in the grouind that is only 3 ft tall. While backing, no mirror can go that low. Those buggers will take a marker light off in a heartbeat

MSHappyCampers · 11-22-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

Joe...it's time to buy a class "A". All those backing problems go away with a class A.

You can see everything on both sides all the time and the rear camera lets you see directly behind you.

Yea, you're right. We are thinking about going to a class A, but just bought a new Ford F250 diesel last year and would take a beating getting rid of it now. We'll see....

IC2 · 11-22-2011, 01:44 PM

I think what needs to be done is some backing practice. I've been pulling a fair size trailer, starting with a 32' 5th wheel in 1975 or 6 with a few bumper pulls in between. I seldom use anything more then my DW and the mirrors and can even get into most of New York State's campgrounds that were designed in 1930 for a Model A pulling a utility trailer full of camping equipment.

Those orange cones are a great idea. Then along with an empty parking lot and an hour or so, you will be an expert. My training was just the painted car parking lines.

And the worst place for me to back in - my own 200' driveway. Narrow frontage road along with a narrow drive complete with a poorly-placed-for-trailer kink, a tree on one side and fancy flowering bush on the other(been close to them!!).