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Old 02-13-2019, 10:13 AM   #1
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“Help” Backing In.

I don’t mean to come off like an ungrateful jerk but I would like to ask a favor of RV/Campground Owners/Employees. I appreciate being escorted to my space on arrival but could you please ask if I need assistance backing in before jumping out of your golf cart waving and barking directions? Over the years (After many sharp exchanges and subsequent silent treatments) my wife and I have become a pretty good team when it comes to maneuvering our TT. Twice this year I have had RV park employees become almost hostile because I couldn’t understand/hear what the hell they were saying or decipher their hand signals. Please ask if I need help and then respond accordingly. That way we can avoid any sharp exchanges and/or hard feelings. Anyone else have similar experiences? Thanks for indulging my rant.
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Old 02-13-2019, 10:26 AM   #2
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I'm with ya!


I'm by no means an "expert" at backing a trailer, but I DO know my rig's quirks and limitations (as well as my own...). The couple of times I had "help", I couldn't understand what the guy was trying to tell me, and what I did understand really seemed counter to my regular methods. The "help" in both cases made the process take longer than what I could've done without it! And was a source of not a little irritation.
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Old 02-13-2019, 10:31 AM   #3
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A better thing for them to do would be to ask if help is needed.

Last year I was led to my campsite by the golf cart to a pull-through site and the guy insisted on helping me position my 5'ver in just the right spot.

I tried to tell him "I got this!", but he wouldn't listen and where he kept telling me to stop was not where I wanted to park.

I finally just let him believe that was where I was going to leave the camper so he would leave...then I positioned the 5'ver right how I wanted it.
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Old 02-13-2019, 10:37 AM   #4
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The flip side is the often DO know exactly how to maneuver in to problem sites. The last 'unwanted' help I got put me in between the rock just fine.
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Old 02-13-2019, 10:43 AM   #5
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I suspect most campground employees are "waving and barking" (if that is how YOU interpret it) because they've seen their share of "I know how to maneuver my R/V" people wreck things. Over the years I've seen husband/wife teams back over pedestals, back onto and bust sewer connections, knock off site lighting, run off the site pad, you name it.

I would guess the park owners are simply trying to protect their investment and at the same time provide some direction to those that need it.

If you are confidant you need no help, simply get out of the vehicle explaining to whomever, you and your DW have a system and let them know they are more than happy to watch over their investment but please let the two of you do your thing.

If the issue is more of someone watching over your shoulder... get over that because everyone 10 campers up and everyone 10 campers down on both sides of the road are watching, whether you see them or not.
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Old 02-13-2019, 11:00 AM   #6
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Reminds me of the backing scene in the movie. "The Long, Long Trailer" with Desi and Lucy...circa 1954.
And if it looks like you are having trouble backing, rest assured it will be posted on You Tube by an onlooker.
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Old 02-13-2019, 11:07 AM   #7
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Why do you assume it's up to them to ask if you need, or don't need help, backing? You do have a voice.

I welcome advice on backing into difficult spots. They have more knowledge about this campground than I do!

That being said, I will talk to them about suggestions and then let them know that Liz and I will get it from there. Sometimes they get the hint, sometimes they hang around to watch. Either way, I only listen to Liz while backing. Easy.

If you go in with a negative, confrontational attitude, it will never go well.
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Old 02-13-2019, 11:18 AM   #8
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We had a campground owner in VA. try that with us. The sites had a wooden deck to park next to / step out onto from the camper. We arrived late in the day, nearly sunset, and he directed me next to the deck. Problem was the height of the deck in relationship to our folding step. The deck was to low to not use the steps yet to high to be able to use the steps where he had directed us to park. I got out and told him I wasn't happy with the position of the camper and that I /we would handle the repositioning of our rig. Now it is usually nice to have a solid surface to walk on before going into the camper to keep dirt from getting into the camper, BUT it rained most of the time we were there and the deck wood became slick from the blowing rain and I ended up pulling my hamstring the next morning while trying to finish setting up our site. And this was at the beginning of our 8 week trip, sure put a damper on getting around for the first couple of weeks. Since that episode, we haven't had any "outside" help directing us into our sites and we never hit anything backing into our various campsites either.
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Old 02-13-2019, 11:31 AM   #9
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I usually only get this kind of help when staying at a KOA. I have appreciated their help sometimes, others not so much. but if i feel that they are putting me in a place i dont want to be, i will ask where they are trying to put me, and tell them where i want to be. nicely explain where your hookups are, they may not know/have seen them. above all, they are people too. most will work with you if you two talk about it for 30 seconds. i like two sets of eyes helping me at times, but i will always take my wifes commands over the owners if they are flailing their arms.
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Old 02-13-2019, 11:42 AM   #10
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The worst experience I had was a Rally at Goshen backing into Draft Horse. Guy was telling mr to keep coming but I knew about the tree and 13 ft 3 inch height. I stopped, got out, said we have it from here while pointing at the tree.

This was not a Frog Rally
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Old 02-13-2019, 11:46 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker View Post
I suspect most campground employees are "waving and barking" (if that is how YOU interpret it) because they've seen their share of "I know how to maneuver my R/V" people wreck things. Over the years I've seen husband/wife teams back over pedestals, back onto and bust sewer connections, knock off site lighting, run off the site pad, you name it.

I would guess the park owners are simply trying to protect their investment and at the same time provide some direction to those that need it.

If you are confidant you need no help, simply get out of the vehicle explaining to whomever, you and your DW have a system and let them know they are more than happy to watch over their investment but please let the two of you do your thing.

If the issue is more of someone watching over your shoulder... get over that because everyone 10 campers up and everyone 10 campers down on both sides of the road are watching, whether you see them or not.
95% of the time I am in the forest and a chipmunk or a bird is watching, those Blue Jays dive bomb you too!!
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Old 02-13-2019, 11:50 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker View Post
I suspect most campground employees are "waving and barking" (if that is how YOU interpret it) because they've seen their share of "I know how to maneuver my R/V" people wreck things. Over the years I've seen husband/wife teams back over pedestals, back onto and bust sewer connections, knock off site lighting, run off the site pad, you name it.

I would guess the park owners are simply trying to protect their investment and at the same time provide some direction to those that need it.

If you are confidant you need no help, simply get out of the vehicle explaining to whomever, you and your DW have a system and let them know they are more than happy to watch over their investment but please let the two of you do your thing.
I can absolutely understand it's a 2-way street. We've been thankful for the help and we've been annoyed by the help.

There's a place in Key West that requires you to take their help but the problem is, they don't go over the hand signals ahead of time. But, one can easily do thousands of dollars of damage in their luxurious landscaping.

However, I've tried your suggestion of just talking to the guide and that I understood they need to protect their investment and still had a bad experience. I don't know if the guy was just having a bad day or what, but he got pissy with me and then stood there sucking sour grapes while we parked. I had a couple of more interactions with him over our long weekend and he definitely held a grudge. (shrug)
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Old 02-13-2019, 11:50 AM   #13
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The worst experience I had was a Rally at Goshen backing into Draft Horse. Guy was telling mr to keep coming but I knew about the tree and 13 ft 3 inch height. I stopped, got out, said we have it from here while pointing at the tree.

This was not a Frog Rally
Was it the HOC National Rally?
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Old 02-13-2019, 11:53 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by NMWildcat View Post
Why do you assume it's up to them to ask if you need, or don't need help, backing? You do have a voice.

I welcome advice on backing into difficult spots. They have more knowledge about this campground than I do!

That being said, I will talk to them about suggestions and then let them know that Liz and I will get it from there. Sometimes they get the hint, sometimes they hang around to watch. Either way, I only listen to Liz while backing. Easy.

If you go in with a negative, confrontational attitude, it will never go well.
I'm with ya.

I have found that the following helps as this is our process:
1. Stop the truck and turn on the 2 way radios.
2. My wife and I both get out and leave the kids buckled in the truck.
3. Before even attempting to back in, we walk the site and decide where the trailer needs to be or where the slide needs to land. At this time, any employees with suggestions can chime in; however, my wife and I communicate our plan to each other.
4. I specifically tell my wife to stay on the driver side with her radio on and in constant contact.

Doing this has been helpful for us. It allows the park people to give their input and also send a clear message to them that my wife and I are working in unison to maneuver and park the trailer.

So far, it has worked without issue.
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Old 02-13-2019, 12:05 PM   #15
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I've only been directed by park personnel backing once. Very good directions, best I ever had. Very level lot.
Same park, same day, different person assisting parking my SIL. A real clusterfred. Unable to level the trailer side to side. SIL got annoyed enough he used his stabilizers to level the toyhauler out. Door would stick from bowing. He did put some wood under the wheels. He took out his frustration on his TT vice stepping back and fixing things right. Lots of anger, I suppose.
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Old 02-13-2019, 12:16 PM   #16
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Reminds me of the backing scene in the movie. "The Long, Long Trailer" with Desi and Lucy...circa 1954.
And if it looks like you are having trouble backing, rest assured it will be posted on You Tube by an onlooker.


Hahahaha love that movie!!!!!!
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Old 02-13-2019, 12:39 PM   #17
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Was it the HOC National Rally?
Yes.
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Old 02-13-2019, 12:44 PM   #18
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I usually handle it all myself, with about 50 years experience, but here are a couple of coaching ideas.

If I have 4 feet to go, my DW (where I can see her in a mirror) holds her hands 4 feet apart, as I get closer, her hands get closer together until I'm pretty close, then get out and check myself. If I need to be left or right, same thing with hand signals.

I also have her use her cell to call mine, which is on the speaker and we just talk about what she sees.
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Old 02-13-2019, 12:46 PM   #19
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I've always wondered what exactly they are using as their barometer for where to locate your trailer. Every trailer is different. Front doors, rear door, slides toward the front, slides toward the back, the awning, etc. When we position it ourselves without help, we know the limitations and requirements for space and adjust accordingly. Everytime someone else positions us, there is something "off". Either they put us somewhere that doesnt allow the slide to open. Or its 3 miles from the pedestal. Or the door ends up right above a bunch of roots. I am certainly not perfect and an extra set of eyes (particularly with intimate knowledge of all the sites) can be quite useful. Other times, its just a real annoyance. We have all read and participated in the threads on backing into a spot and the friction it can cause. And all of us have developed similar, though unique procedures for ourselves. It just seems crazy to me for someone I have never met to try to direct me.

We were at a campground last season, though I cant remember which one it was, and there was a guy on his first trip. He had just purchased his first camper, and he and the family arrived, and he asked, at check in, for one of the campground employees to help him get positioned since it was his first time. The employee thought he was some sort of expert I suppose, but the directions he was giving were just "difficult". Things like "turn your wheel, turn your wheel". What does that mean? There are 2 directions to turn the wheel. Eventually one of the campers in an adjacent site walked up to the drivers window, had a short conversation with the driver, and in one shot the driver went "around the block" so that he was coming from the other direction and backed it right into the site. He didnt have experience backing, but he knew the concepts, he just needed a voice that spoke "his language".
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Old 02-13-2019, 12:56 PM   #20
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We look, we listen then make our own decisions. Most times the employee is helpful. But in the end, you are the one responsible for your rig. If you break something in the campground by "doing it your way" then be a gent or lady an dpay for the repairs if required, same as you would on your rig. You break it, you pay for it.
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