New Campers...we want to be good neighbors.

[norty1]

Don't drive off without checking that your power cord is disconnected, your water hose is rolled up and your tv antenna is down!

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by norty1

Don't drive off without checking that your power cord is disconnected, your water hose is rolled up and your tv antenna is down!

And your slideout is in!

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by rkresge

And your slideout is in!

And your steps are up!

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

— Thinking your dog is “special” and doesn’t need to be on a leash. Until it charges mine.
— Letting me worry more about your kids than you as they are flying through the campground roads on their bikes with no helmets and paying no attention to the 1-ton pickup about to squash them.

These 2 things are what I notice the most, especially the kids. Kids are great but you can always tell who disciplines their children and who doesn't. Plus if anyone fishes in a campground lake, you always see those blue plastic worm containers littered everywhere. Probably more the adults than the kids.

[travelingjw]

Some great suggestion above. I'll add one that we believe is most important. You bought an RV to enjoy yourself, so enjoy yourself. It will show when you interact with others. As said above, things are going to happen, it is part of the journey. Plan your trip with time, so you are not rushing, creating stress. Arrive at campgrounds early so you have time to set up. Just plan your trip, follow your checklists, reread the above suggestions and have fun!

[Ohiofinlander]

My biggest pet peeve is a grumpy neighbor. One who constantly yells at his wife, kids, the dog.....I actually begin to feel sorry for him, as he can't enjoy life and it's blessings. One time, I was very close to approaching a guy for the constant badgering that he was putting his kids through. Just enjoy and be considerate.

[North of 49°]

^^^ What they said. Here's an example of some of the things I've had to deal with 20 years of RVing (I'm not singling out anyone, just some of my experiences.)

-- Don't burn anything except firewood in the fire pit. It's a fire pit, not a garbage pit. I've lost track of how many times I've had to clean it out before using it.

-- Likewise, the bushes around your campsite are not for garbage disposal either. It takes just as much effort to put your empty beer bottles and disposable propane cylinders in a garbage bag and take it with you, as it does to chuck them into the trees.

-- And the same with the bones from your previous meal. My dog thinks they're a tasty treat, but they are not.

-- Keep your dog leashed at all times, like we do, in accordance with the campground rules. Our dog has never run out onto the road to attack another dog, so why do people think it's okay if theirs does?

-- Don't start up your diesel <whatever> at six or even eight in the morning and let it idle all day.

-- If you tie anything to the trees, like a clothesline or tarpaulin, make sure you remove all of the ropes, etc when you leave.

-- Someone else's campsite is their private home for the weekend, not a shortcut to the beach or washrooms, or your cousin's buddy's sister's campsite. Please respect that.

-- Helpful tip: Learn where the nearest hospital is, no matter where you're camping. It may save someone's life. DW is allergic to peanuts and inadvertently came into contact with some at an ice cream shop. When she started reacting, we knew exactly where to go.

-- Take only photos, leave only footprints.

[Siamese]

Plenty of good advice, here.

My personal biggest peeve is noise. It's pretty much how we remember and rate campgrounds we've visited.

Loud talkers. Yelling at their kids all day. Just plain loud.

We were next to the Slammer family once. Every time they went away or came back, they needed to SLAM their truck doors and trailer door more than you'd ever think possible.

Then, the guy who's getting ready to tow their rig home, and has to run his diesel truck for half an hour before they leave.

Loud drunks. Always bad news.

On a 70 degree day, there are those who run their noisy, rooftop AC nonstop.

Guy who brings his noisy pressure washer and cleans his roof or his cement patio for a couple hours.

Hammer drills have already been mentioned. I remember a guy who was using one to lower his stabilizers. I lost count of how many times he ran them up and down seeking some sort of perfection. A cordless non-hammer drill will get the job done quietly.

Leaf blowers? Really?

We got assigned to a spot one time, that was next to a motorhome that was emitting a noisy, electrical eeeeeeeeeeeeeee sound, and the owner was nowhere to be found. We managed to get assigned to another spot.

.....aside from noise:
Dogs are often a butt pain. Barking. Threatening. I walk my cat on a leash, so loose dogs can be a problem.

People walking through our site. They don't comprehend that we've rented that patch of ground, and it's OUR'S.

That's about it. We don't use fire pits, so if it's messy, I'll never know.

[Rodek]

Folks, your suggestions, stories and experiences are an incredible wealth of knowledge. I'm continuing to learn from you and appreciate everyone's posts!

[madmaxmutt]

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

And your steps are up!

And, your wife is in the truck

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by madmaxmutt

And, your wife is in the truck

Voice of experience?

[norty1]

I Had a friend who left his wife at a rest stop! Drove a few minutes before finding an exit to go back. I never wanted to be a fly on the wall for that conversation!

[JDug66]

Originally Posted by THE MEEKER

PLEASE! Do not burn plastic, styrofoam or cardboard boxes in your firepit.

Thank You!

One thing that surprises me usually every trip are the number people that burn paper, cardboard, styrofoam and plastic in their fire rings. My wife and I have dubbed these people the "day smolderers". What we have observed, usually early in the morning, certain campers feel the need to throw all the site trash from the night before on the remaining hot coals of their fire ring. So basically it's wet pile of paper plates, cups, plastic utensils, cardboard, newspaper, 12 pack boxes all smoldering in a heap of really smelly smoke. I once watched a site opposite ours take a high stack of wet empty pizza boxes and drop the stack onto his fire ring coals from the previous night. It didn't burn, only smoldered, all morning. ICK

[krbjmpr]

Absolute Good Neighbor action?


Fix the darn suspension squeak that aounds off everytime someone moves in your unit.

I can deal with most everything else... Except that darn squeak.

[sasiki]

Originally Posted by Rodek

Folks, your suggestions, stories and experiences are an incredible wealth of knowledge. I'm continuing to learn from you and appreciate everyone's posts!

Hi from the Alabama Gulf Coast!

As others have indicated, common sense is key. Decent people are going to be decent where ever they are whether that's at home, the grocery store, or the campground. We have loud kids.. I mean kids who like to have a good time, so we frequent a Jellystone Park here in Baldwin County. There are always several other kids there. We are usually surprised at how well behaved ours are compared to some of the others lol.

[marciaandre]

My pet peeve occurs in campgrounds with small spaces and full hookups. Don't leave your sewer line connected, particularly when it is just a couple of feet from my picnic table. Sure, dump when you need to, but continuous flow is a bad idea anyway.

[alwalk63]

Originally Posted by Rodek

My wife and I just purchased our new Jayco 25RB. We will be starting our camping trips this spring. We want to be good campers, neighbors and stewards on the road.



What are your do's and don'ts?



Pet peeves?



Campground etiquette?



We listen to experience!

Start off with a couple of short local trips to work out the kinks. There will be some, it's also probably not to late for a trip this year so if you find anything on the shakedown it can be dealt with sooner than later. Especially since your warranty clock may have started ticking.

We did our first shakedown trip in April here in Alberta. Got six inches of snow the day before we left. First time ever backing the trailer was into a campsite with 6 inches of snow and slush with my poor wife trying to guide me in. How she avoided killing me and burying the body in the bush is beyond me. I can only assume she didn't want to drive back pulling the trailer lol

Thank god for walkie talkies

[Jack N Janet]

Just treat people how you would want to be treated. Respect where you are at and the people around you.

[robert9999]

Originally Posted by Rodek

My wife and I just purchased our new Jayco 25RB. We will be starting our camping trips this spring. We want to be good campers, neighbors and stewards on the road.

What are your do's and don'ts?

Pet peeves?

Campground etiquette?

We listen to experience!

What bothers you will be your guide. Common sense things work. Everyone wants no noise, no barking & pooping animals or bright lights. Avoid pulling in & hooking up late at night. If you do wait until morning to hook up. Oh one other thing, campfires are fun but you don't want your camper getting smoked up from your neighbor, that's a bad & unhealthy thing especially for asthmatic's & COPD'ers.

[Coachdriver]

Do not be afraid to ask for help, do not be afraid to accept help. Learn from the mistakes of others, you will not live long enough to make them all yourself.
Enjoy, have fun and have a sense of humor 😎