Community Forums

Dutch Star Don · 06-02-2019, 02:45 PM

"FIRE UP".....yours is one story, but there are others of people being led through trees that damaged the roof and the park took no responsibility. My statement wasn't really made to spark a debate over liability. It was made to show that I prefer to do my own backing into a site.

We left Quartzsite after the RV Show this year and headed to Camp Verde. It was a nice park that was highly rated. It was also our second two week trip with a brand new motor home. They had an old guy in a cart come to the office and I was told to follow him. The park had some very large trees. I politely told him that the coach was very tall and was there a route to the campsite without any low hanging branches. He took me in a roundabout way to miss the trees. Once at the campsite, I exited and told him I would rather park the coach without assistance. He showed me the utilities, I thanked him and he left. This is how I like to do it.

Again....it takes some time to gain the experience needed to park a large rig. To all those newbies....have help until you get proficient and can do it by yourself. You'll eventually gain confidence and proficiency.

Dutch Star Don · 06-02-2019, 02:54 PM

I have a favorite story.....We had our Diplomat for about a year and arrived at Watchman Campground in Zion National Park. The spot was on a curve. I pulled the coach up and took a minute to walk the site. While doing so, the camper next to me (tent trailer) asked if he could help me back in. I politely thanked him and said I was good. At this point, I'd owned an RV for the past 28 years.

I fired up the coach, put it in the site in one quick shot, dumped the air and auto leveled. I went outside and connected the shore power. After I put the slides out I came outside to get the chairs out of the bay. All this took under ten minutes. The same neighbor walked over and laughingly said.....you're an a**hole. I asked him what I did....he said it took him two hours to park his tent trailer and set everything up. I looked at him and said.....did you hear that.....my satellite just locked on and my DirecTV is running. He got a pretty good laugh out of it......so did I.

A Traveler · 06-02-2019, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I have never relied on someone else to help me back in in my 50+ years of owning my own RV. So no drama, no yelling just one back in needed.

AMEN!!

I have mirrors that can see down both sides. I have a camera that sees directly behind me. I use the truckers G.O.A.L. method to survey the site. What’s the G.O.A.L. method? Get Out And Look! Then get back in the coach and back in the site...ONCE. Done. I don’t want or need someone in the ground to “guide” me.

The only time I have ever hit anything backing up was once when a friend offered to help me back out of a spot and I didn’t want to be rude and not accept his help. I made the mistake of watching HIM instead of my mirrors and knocked down an electric meter.

Never again.

Nasdaqsam · 06-02-2019, 06:14 PM

No help. I survey the area, make a plan sometimes if real tight I will place a couple sticks on the ground where I want my tires to end up. I sometimes do not like the final position and will readjust. I find a helper rarely helps. But I also hauled over sized loads for some number of years.

One caveat, years ago we went to Martha's Vineyard on the ferry. The guy pushed my mirrors in and said watch me and only me. No way I could have put it where he did.

mike brez · 06-03-2019, 06:56 AM

I use the bump and go method. I back until I hear or feel a thud then pull up and back some more.

Bigd9 · 06-03-2019, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike brez

I use the bump and go method. I back until I hear or feel a thud then pull up and back some more.

Ouch! That hurts!

Tha_Rooster · 06-03-2019, 09:44 AM

Watching RV’S park is just as entertaining as boat launchers.

1bigmess · 06-03-2019, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster

Watching RV’S park is just as entertaining as boat launchers.

The only thing that would make RV parking more fun to watch would be more water.

awol50 · 06-03-2019, 01:13 PM

Back in till you hit something. Then pull forward a foot or so and call it a day.

cyclist922 · 06-03-2019, 01:24 PM

We are still relatively new at this, but in 3 years I’ve learned 4 lessons:

1. Trust my wife. She has a much better view of things, plus she’s smarter than me.

2. If I can’t see her in the mirror, stop and wait until I can.

3. Stop when in doubt and take your time.

4. Trust my wife.

Actually 1 & 4 are more life lessons than RV’ing lessons. But still applicable.

—Rod

FIRE UP · 06-03-2019, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike brez

I use the bump and go method. I back until I hear or feel a thud then pull up and back some more.

Hey Mike,

I think you need some more tail lights partner. Not sure anyone can see you in the dark back there.

Scott

Bigd9 · 06-03-2019, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclist922

We are still relatively new at this, but in 3 years I’ve learned 4 lessons:

1. Trust my wife. She has a much better view of things, plus she’s smarter than me.

2. If I can’t see her in the mirror, stop and wait until I can.

3. Stop when in doubt and take your time.

4. Trust my wife.

Actually 1 & 4 are more life lessons than RV’ing lessons. But still applicable.

—Rod

Rod, I'm reminded of # 1 all the time and its doesn't need to be backing up scenario we are talking about either. Name the subject and the #1 comment applies.

TLGPE · 06-03-2019, 05:12 PM

I definitely agree with Rod; I can drive it OK, but I do best when wife directs me. We have bluetooth on the dash radio so she calls me and tells me where to go. I don't want her to tell me how to drive, just where she wants me to go.

She'll tell me such as "turn your wheel so that your back end goes to the left and come back". I have had learn to do whatever she tells me unless I just cannot visualize it; then I get out and look. Most of the time it's really easy and smooth.

No screaming and no swearing. Park the rig and get a cup of coffee.

Easy peasy.

Tom

DegoRed · 06-03-2019, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waiter21

I pull up to the site, do a walk around to check for obstacles, vertical clearances, how far I can back up, how much room I need for pedestal.

DW stays at the back of the spot to identify how far back I need to go. and she knows to stay in view of mirrors. If I can't see her, I stop. We usually nail it first time.

Well we typically wont stay at a place unless it has a pull through, especially since were @ 70ft +/-, however when we are forced to stay some where with back in sites, we use exact same method.