Never trust them..

[gearhead]

We've been babysitting grand babies 2-3 times weeks since the virus shutdown day cares. Day care opened last Monday. We were on the road Wednesday. Found a race to go see. Sprint cars at the historic Knoxville Raceway, Knoxville, Iowa. Stopped at Winstar Casino in Thackerville Oklahoma, very nice. Next night at Eisenhower State Park, Emporia Kansas, pretty good. Pulled into the RV park near the racetrack. Owner meets me in the driveway. "Where do you want?" Man I don't know, I need 50 amps and lots of room. Never been here before. Traffic is stacking up behind me, he is getting a bit anxious. How about right here as he points to a nearby open spot with Rv's on both sides. He says "I'll flag you in". He flags me back and I'm all jack knifed, can't see anything. Back, back, CARUNCH. Betty screams STOP from the front seat. Really? I get out and look. There's a 5th wheel right there next to my awning arm. No apparent body damage. A black mark on the other 5th wheel. Owner says I'm sorry, it's my fault. Ok. I get parked and look closer. My awning arm got pushed pretty good. It's tight on one side and open on the other. I think I can ease a wooden wedge in the tight side and open it up a little. It's too tight to even open the awning now.
Lesson learned. Don't trust someone else. Get out and look yourself, no matter how big a hurry.
Ex-NASCAR star Kyle Larson won Friday night and Saturday night.

[flybouy]

I have a camera on the back of the trailer. It helps tremendously BUT I still get out and look first. I've seen fire rings moved, bikes laying in the grass, You name it. I let the "helpful" campground golf cart drivers "think" they are helping. I pay no attention to them unless they are telling me to stop and when I'm parked I always thank them for their "help".

[gearhead]

I think the Landmark is pre-wired for a camera. I might get one someday. It wouldn't have helped in this situation though. The front of mine hit the front of his.
But, I did get plenty help when I hooked up to leave. Cars moved, bicycles moved, etc. Everybody get out of the way, it's a crazy Texan that pulled that thing 1,000 miles to watch cars drive in circles. LOL
The sad part is there were plenty of open spaces just a little farther back in the park.

[flybouy]

Some campgrounds just don't get it. I've seen 30'+ units in a back in site with 2' of tongue protruding in the road and across from that a 8' Coleman pop up in a pull thru site that was 60' long. It takes all kinds I guess.

[Sarge2]

Good thing it didn't do more damage to either on of the rigs... I'm looking into the rear camera system myself... pretty pricey but saving damage down the road is a good thing...

[sourdough]

Ouch! I've had folks try to guide me in and as I watch them I'm thinking …..???? Watching DW is like watching some sort of sporadic gyrations, but I've pretty much learned how to interpret those "gyrations" AND get out and look. Those park folks guiding you in, while trying to be helpful are not generally very good at it. I can see myself doing exactly what you did given the backup and all. I'm logging that so I don't let myself get in a hurry if I'm in that situation. Thanks.

[notanlines]

The old-timer tech that installed my first fifth wheel hitch told me the best advice ever: "You can never get out and look too many times, and never, but NEVER give a rat's patoot about the people waiting to get by while you back up."

[gearhead]

Yep, when Betty tries to help she looks like she's doing the boogaloo.
I'm used to flagging cranes where an inch the wrong way can cost a million dollars, cause a fire, or get someone hurt. Sometimes a high pucker factor.
The owner of the RV park is a retired electrician for the county RV park.
I should have slowed down and slowed him down. Lesson learned.

[ADQ K9]

Can't remember where it was but one of my former employers had a policy that if you were not certified to operate the equipment you could not guide / marshal it into position. We are not parking around multi million dollar commerical aircraft but I still treat it as such. Just reconed a campground today to see if we could fit. It helps if you have that ability. but one far away google earth might help.

[Bill-2020]

Can't remember where it was but one of my former employers had a policy that if you were not certified to operate the equipment you could not guide / marshal it into position. We are not parking around multi million dollar commerical aircraft but I still treat it as such. Just reconed a campground today to see if we could fit. It helps if you have that ability. but one far away google earth might help.

Google Earth - yep, done that a few times. Any time I reserve a site online or over the phone, I enter/tell them I'm 32 feet (really only 25) and that I have slides (of which I have none). This typically gives me more room to make sure I'm not squeezed into a spot that's too short and too tight. Some will say that's wrong of me, I say it's safer of me. :D

[dutchmensport]

A couple years ago, had a fellow camper rush over when I was attempting to back in my brand new 5er. This was ... like ... the 2nd or 3rd time EVER backintg a 5er. When I insisted on following directions from my wife, who has always been my guide and we have our hand signals down pat, he got so pi$$ed at me, he stormed away and deliberately made it an attempt that he was deliberately avoiding me the rest of the time they were there. He was there for the week-end, we were there for the week. I thought to myself --- what a jerk!

[gearhead]

This was a campground that had utilities ran down the back of the parking spots. There was no discernible parking spot, just a grass field. Next time I'll give him the $30 cash per night and park where I want. Not much choice in the area. A county park with 30 amp and no sewer or this one.

[notanlines]

Dutch, that individual is referred to as “that guy.” Almost every RV park has a minimum of two or more “that guys” in them. They are to be avoided. They immediately come over and try to guide you into your spot, and then try to help you set up. Never mind talking incessantly.

[Bill-2020]

Dutch, that individual is referred to as “that guy.” Almost every RV park has a minimum of two or more “that guys” in them. They are to be avoided. They immediately come over and try to guide you into your spot, and then try to help you set up. Never mind talking incessantly.

I already talk to myself too much, constantly telling myself not to forget this or that... :lol: Last thing I need is "that guy" to walk over.

[flybouy]

I call "that guy" "The mayor of ABC Campground". When I refer to "him" I call him "His Honor". They typically have opinions on everyone in the cg and think they run the place. I used to get the cheapest, stinklingiest cigar in my humidor to fend of "His Honor". Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Or just ask him to connect the sewer for you if he wan'ts to help and tell to him to "be careful, the last place we were at the dump station had "stull all over the ground and no water available to clean up the hose."

[tomd]

Anybody can make error in directing, but you as driver are really the responsible person. I had similar experience, so we bought a camera for backing up PLUS my wife watches while we're connected by cell phone, PLUS I get out and look. I still nicked an awning (little scratch because I didn't look up on side) in a tight turn.

[Laredo Tugger]

Quote from flybouy: "I call "that guy" "The mayor of ABC Campground". When I refer to "him" I call him "His Honor". They typically have opinions on everyone in the cg and think they run the place. I used to get the cheapest, stinklingiest cigar in my humidor to fend of "His Honor". Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Or just ask him to connect the sewer for you if he wan'ts to help and tell to him to "be careful, the last place we were at the dump station had "stull all over the ground and no water available to clean up the hose."

I love your "tactics" there flybouy. I'm considering getting an empty bottle of Jack Daniels,filling it with sweet tea and guzzling about half of it as I get out of my truck to check the site before backing. If the "mayor" THINKS I have a problem then it is mission accomplished. ;)
RMc

[flybouy]

Quote from flybouy: "I call "that guy" "The mayor of ABC Campground". When I refer to "him" I call him "His Honor". They typically have opinions on everyone in the cg and think they run the place. I used to get the cheapest, stinklingiest cigar in my humidor to fend of "His Honor". Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Or just ask him to connect the sewer for you if he wan'ts to help and tell to him to "be careful, the last place we were at the dump station had "stull all over the ground and no water available to clean up the hose."

I love your "tactics" there flybouy. I'm considering getting an empty bottle of Jack Daniels,filling it with sweet tea and guzzling about half of it as I get out of my truck to check the site before backing. If the "mayor" THINKS I have a problem then it is mission accomplished. ;)
RMc
I might use you're tactic first then fall back to kine if it doesn't work!:lol::lol:

[gearhead]

Got home the day before yesterday. After unpacking, yesterdays priority was to look at the awning. It wouldn't open after the run in at the campground. I didn't want to open it in a small town campground and not be able to get it back in.
So, I gathered up some tools...a packing hook, a bent pick, and a seal puller. The outer arm was tight against the inner arm on one side and open on the other. The seal remover tool was perfect. I stole a thin flexible cutting "board" from Betty's kitchen to protect the wall of the camper while prying with the seal tool. Basically bending the edge of the arm out. After a bit of prying, I tried to open the awning, it worked. Then I got on a step ladder with a Vise-Grip and a small strip of wood and pried some more. Opened and closed it a couple more times and all seems OK.
Now, back to the RV shop Monday to get the replacement Carefree slide toppers installed and get one of the A/C's checked out.

[Bill-2020]

I love it when a “self-repair” works out well like that. Awesome! Hope your A/C is ok. Still waiting my warranty A/C swap-out to happen. Covid delays...

[gearhead]

^^yeah with shop labor rate at $135 an hour I had to try.

[Walnuts]

Only one person I trust when driving...Me! If I'm not sure, I get out and look (GOAL).

By only trusting myself, I can't blame anyone for when things may go wrong. If people are in a line waiting to get past, they just have to develop their patience skills. ;)

My rig is worth 5 minutes of their time as my time is worth the wait time for someone else in return. This camping lark is all about being relaxed and taking time to enjoy.

[InkedMarie]

Similar.....took our TT out in April for the first time ever. Found a campground open...talked to owner who supposedly took our reservation. We get there and no reservation. Older lady at the desk asked my husband how he is at backing in. He says “I’m brand new”. We find our site, which is on a curve, trees all over. It took Steve lots of tries to get it in including moving the picnic table.

It was such a short spot that the truck was in the road to set up and hook back up.

[Garfman]

Keep Your Daydream is a YouTube channel which just posted a video How to Back up Without Yelling.
It is a must see for anyone with a spousal unit who intends to back up.
As a truck driver my one piece of advice: GOAL. Get Out And Look
Your spousal unit can act as another set of eyes.
Campground owners and employees typically have no idea how to maneuver.
You need to get a lay of the land before you position your rig to start your back in.

[kb0zke]

We use two-way radios AND getting out to look. If the site looks at all challenging, we both get out and I tell Jo Ann what I want to happen. She runs from one side to the other, keeping up a running commentary, and I generally get landed pretty quickly. Yes, we do have a backup camera. The times I get in trouble are those times when I don't wait for her.