Watching people hookup

[JKyle]

I have never backed in my new 22rb. (28 ft tip to tail) Over and over I made plans to take it to a nearby nearby industrial park, to practice on my days off (and a weekend when the lot is empty.) No kidding, every time I could possibly go, it was raining or there was some reason I couldn't.

I made reservation months ago, choosing days of the week I knew I could request off from work, never really looking at the specifics of the dates. I realized after making all my reservation for the season, my FIRST trip is arriving to our state campground ON Memorial Day.

On Monday, I am going to be THE inexperienced backer-upper on the loop. If I notice a lot of people, especially onlookers, I have no problem telling them to give a holler if I'm about to do something that'll be tough to 'undo.' Other than that, I'm going to tell them I NEED to learn to do this myself. YES. It might very well take me a while, but I will get it.

I learn best by DOING. I know my wheels SHOULD be a certain way when backing, etc, but getting the wheels there needs to felt in my brain. I need to start developing skills, even if it is on Memorial Day, with a giant audience. Experience is learned by trial and error. I know it is how I learn best.

[joe&judy]

the last time we went camping older fellow and his wife tried backing in a spot about four spaces over, after the 10th. time I asked the fellow if he needed assistance, man it was a 15 degree back, I went back to out side, the Lady came over ask if I would back it in, no but would tell him how, Ok, go to him and say get the unit in line with the truck, put your hand on the top center of the steering wheel move it left if you want to go left and right if you want to go right, don't put your other hand on the wheel, he was surprised how easy had to help him understand don't over turn, the best part when he said I was a retired cross country driver, I thought you right you all only drive straight, usually drop a trailer and hook to full one.

[JFlightRisk]

Backing our TT into out driveway at home was an interesting challenge for a while. It has to be backed in behind a pooch-out on the side of the house and end up about 18" away from the wall. The DW would stand well behind the TT to make sure I didn't hit anything with the blind side.

Then I came up with an idea. I needed a "target" for the right-side tires that I could actually see in the mirror. I put a just-wide-enough board where the right-side tires should end up perfectly spotted and nailed it into our (stone) driveway with long gutter nails. Sometimes I hit it first try, sometimes not. The passenger side convex mirror doesn't help much.

Even something like a wheel chock could be a target to aim the trailer tires to.

[Route 66 Traveler]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

Then I came up with an idea. I needed a "target" for the right-side tires that I could actually see in the mirror. I put a just-wide-enough board where the right-side tires should end up perfectly spotted and nailed it into our (stone) driveway with long gutter nails. Sometimes I hit it first try, sometimes not. The passenger side convex mirror doesn't help much.

Even something like a wheel chock could be a target to aim the trailer tires to.

Excellent advice. I drove semis for over 30 years, but that advice was taught to me in truck driving school in 1972 and I still use it today. When I arrive at a spot I stop and get out to survey the area: where are the hookups, what distance do I need for slide clearance, look for low branches, boulders at the edges, and anything else that needs to be avoided. Then I will set a yellow chock where I want the left, rear tire to stop. If it's dark I lay a flashlight on the ground shining on the chock, but not towards my mirrors. The worst thing while parking is some Yahoo standing in front making useless hand gestures and yelling at the same time. Most of those are "Helpful" campground owners that insist on helping me park.

People hooking up is one thing, but how about those leaving with their antennas still up, the step or jacks still down, etc. I chased one MH driving out dragging their TV coax behind. That's where a simple check list will save the day.

[STOKER]

we were running late and the campground had a guide. Take us to our spot. It was a tough place to get into just looking at it but no big deal. The guy asked me asked me if I wanted him to back in. I told him I had it in is a nice job next morning. The neighbors walked over. They were from Canada and asked me. Why did I back so close to the hook up walking back and looking at the back bumper right against it here’s a treated 4 x 4 with a water faucet and electrical outlet I couldn’t believe it Could’ve gotten that close. They started laughing, then went over and grabbed the post and pulled it out of the ground. Here they made a dummy one up with a metal rod in the bottom so they could stick it wherever they want just crank up the Campers coming in, we all laughed , but I will always remember that. I think I even took some pictures of it. You never know what goes on sometimes I just had to tell you that.

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by Route 66 Traveler

Excellent advice. I drove semis for over 30 years, but that advice was taught to me in truck driving school in 1972 and I still use it today. When I arrive at a spot I stop and get out to survey the area: where are the hookups, what distance do I need for slide clearance, look for low branches, boulders at the edges, and anything else that needs to be avoided. Then I will set a yellow chock where I want the left, rear tire to stop. If it's dark I lay a flashlight on the ground shining on the chock, but not towards my mirrors. The worst thing while parking is some Yahoo standing in front making useless hand gestures and yelling at the same time. Most of those are "Helpful" campground owners that insist on helping me park.

People hooking up is one thing, but how about those leaving with their antennas still up, the step or jacks still down, etc. I chased one MH driving out dragging their TV coax behind. That's where a simple check list will save the day.

Originally Posted by STOKER

we were running late and the campground had a guide. Take us to our spot. It was a tough place to get into just looking at it but no big deal. The guy asked me asked me if I wanted him to back in. I told him I had it in is a nice job next morning. The neighbors walked over. They were from Canada and asked me. Why did I back so close to the hook up walking back and looking at the back bumper right against it here’s a treated 4 x 4 with a water faucet and electrical outlet I couldn’t believe it Could’ve gotten that close. They started laughing, then went over and grabbed the post and pulled it out of the ground. Here they made a dummy one up with a metal rod in the bottom so they could stick it wherever they want just crank up the Campers coming in, we all laughed , but I will always remember that. I think I even took some pictures of it. You never know what goes on sometimes I just had to tell you that.

That's a great gag and a fun story!

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by Route 66 Traveler

Excellent advice. I drove semis for over 30 years, but that advice was taught to me in truck driving school in 1972 and I still use it today. When I arrive at a spot I stop and get out to survey the area: where are the hookups, what distance do I need for slide clearance, look for low branches, boulders at the edges, and anything else that needs to be avoided. Then I will set a yellow chock where I want the left, rear tire to stop. If it's dark I lay a flashlight on the ground shining on the chock, but not towards my mirrors. The worst thing while parking is some Yahoo standing in front making useless hand gestures and yelling at the same time. Most of those are "Helpful" campground owners that insist on helping me park.

People hooking up is one thing, but how about those leaving with their antennas still up, the step or jacks still down, etc. I chased one MH driving out dragging their TV coax behind. That's where a simple check list will save the day.

I have 2 'real' construction, bright green colored cones and bought a little pack of these (photo.) I plan to use them as my turn target and cues, as well as placing at the back of the site (perimeter) to show me where to stop. I know that someone yelling commands from the sidelines is not helpful from, at all.

I managed to get the camper parked in my side driveway, close to the house, when I brought it home. That experience reminded me of when I learned to drive stick shift (40 years ago)...getting the feel for the clutch - learning the feel of how it works, opposite the gas.

I noticed when I was trying to back in, once I got the feel of the maneuver, I started to really understand how the camper was going to react. It's how I finally got it parked at home. I just needed to take my time and tell my husband to shut up from the sidelines, as his yelling commands was not helping me, at all. I told him to yell if I look like I was gonna hit something. Other than that? Zip it. (Same guy who after watching me up on the camper roof for an afternoon, installing the RV SoftStart, unsuccessfully, that I should have just called our electrician.) I am tenacious and was not going to give up until I had it working. Turns out I DID install in correctly. It was the directions/install diagram that was wrong. After all these years sometimes he still doesn't know not to doubt my intentions when I set out to do something. When I got down off that roof for the last time and started up that A/C and the compressor kicked IMMEDIATELY, he knew he was never gonna live down his doubting my ability. He just likes things to be 'done' with as little fuss as possible. In his eyes, calling someone is just his way of offering 'help.'

But I digress...

During my back up attempts, I had to get out of my truck a few times to check my surroundings, but I got it. It was only afterward that I realized how useful a couple of orange markers could have been.

Sometimes when you're looking at grass in your mirrors or camera, you can't quite figure out where your camper is positioned/oriented ON that patch of grass. A few markers showing perimeter will be very helpful.

[CAG]

Why I gave up the RV and don't care about who is backing what into what. A acre and a half of open space with the only noise being elk and ravens.



Not dissing but one of the reasons I leave the city is to get away from being 30 feet from my neighbor. You don't get that relief in a RV park.
Photo from the front porch.

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by CAG

Why I gave up the RV and don't care about who is backing what into what. A acre and a half of open space with the only noise being elk and ravens.



Not dissing but one of the reasons I leave the city is to get away from being 30 feet from my neighbor. You don't get that relief in a RV park.
Photo from the front porch.

Beautiful! But I like camping at the beach. A home at the beach is never going to be in my cards. So the next best thing for me is dragging my Jayco ‘cottage’ to the shoreline.

[Bookemdanno]

Originally Posted by CAG

Why I gave up the RV and don't care about who is backing what into what. A acre and a half of open space with the only noise being elk and ravens.



Not dissing but one of the reasons I leave the city is to get away from being 30 feet from my neighbor. You don't get that relief in a RV park.
Photo from the front porch.

Originally Posted by JKyle

Beautiful! But I like camping at the beach. A home at the beach is never going to be in my cards. So the next best thing for me is dragging my Jayco ‘cottage’ to the shoreline.

I'm gonna quote you both because we sold our 5er and I wanted a cabin in the woods as a vacation spot(CAG...I'm very jealous!), but as we men all know the DW's almost always win! We now own a townhouse directly on the beach in Santa Rosa, FL. We rent it mostly, but like with the 5er, we travel there 4/5 times a year and the rent pretty much pays for the townhouse. Don't know if it will be our "retirement" house or not or if we will upgrade? I will officially be retired on 8/31/24 and I'm very much looking forward to it! I haven't been posting much...as I didn't really know what more I could contribute with not having a Jayco or RV at all. BUT...I LOVE reading all the posts!

[CAG]

Originally Posted by JKyle

Beautiful! But I like camping at the beach. A home at the beach is never going to be in my cards. So the next best thing for me is dragging my Jayco ‘cottage’ to the shoreline.

Thanks, The Aspen have filled out since I took that photo and while we are not into Monsoon yet a couple of small showers greened up the grass more. The fishing is a bit of hit or miss because of wind (does not help fly fishing) and the turkey hunting in NM was not worth the effort this year.



Phoenix has become LA, and it is wonderful to get away to the mountains. There are some places in the state that have not been found by the Californians but those are also becoming few and far between.
I loved the RV life but it became a chore with age and this has been so much more for us.

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by Bookemdanno

I'm gonna quote you both because we sold our 5er and I wanted a cabin in the woods as a vacation spot(CAG...I'm very jealous!), but as we men all know the DW's almost always win! We now own a townhouse directly on the beach in Santa Rosa, FL. We rent it mostly, but like with the 5er, we travel there 4/5 times a year and the rent pretty much pays for the townhouse. Don't know if it will be our "retirement" house or not or if we will upgrade? I will officially be retired on 8/31/24 and I'm very much looking forward to it! I haven't been posting much...as I didn't really know what more I could contribute with not having a Jayco or RV at all. BUT...I LOVE reading all the posts!

Dan, Happy Retirement! As far as the vacation home, or the 5ver or the camper. It all boils down to what we enjoy about where we will eventually 'land.' We talk about the enjoyment of 'people watching' at the crowded campground or the opposite; of watching virtually no one from our own back deck, in your isolated 'paradise.'

It's all about the journey, the ride....the 'getting there is half the fun.' Some of it or all of it, it's what we do to relax, enjoy and get what we want out of our live's journey.

Everyone: enjoy the space you're in, when you're in it, because it will all eventually go by too fast, for every one of us.

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by CAG

Thanks, The Aspen have filled out since I took that photo...
I loved the RV life but it became a chore with age and this has been so much more for us.

I'm losing a dear friend to retirement today, as a matter of fact. She will be returning to her home (she was here for a long time due to her husband's work) but she is from Colorado. LOOK at the view from her back deck. It is AMAZING!

I'm going to miss her dearly, but look forward to one day visiting her and checking out THAT view in person.

[joe&judy]

route 66, I went to Work for the Western Company of North American, (oil field pumping, cementing, frack. two weeks of intensive driving school stayed with them 43 years, you know the do's and don'ts, that is now a thing of the past now days, drive straight and reckless.

[Bookemdanno]

Originally Posted by JKyle

Dan, Happy Retirement! As far as the vacation home, or the 5ver or the camper. It all boils down to what we enjoy about where we will eventually 'land.' We talk about the enjoyment of 'people watching' at the crowded campground or the opposite; of watching virtually no one from our own back deck, in your isolated 'paradise.'

It's all about the journey, the ride....the 'getting there is half the fun.' Some of it or all of it, it's what we do to relax, enjoy and get what we want out of our live's journey.

Everyone: enjoy the space you're in, when you're in it, because it will all eventually go by too fast, for every one of us.

Thank you! And BTW, this is still my favorite site to stop by and read up on!

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by Bookemdanno

I'm gonna quote you both because we sold our 5er and I wanted a cabin in the woods as a vacation spot(CAG...I'm very jealous!), but as we men all know the DW's almost always win! We now own a townhouse directly on the beach in Santa Rosa, FL. We rent it mostly, but like with the 5er, we travel there 4/5 times a year and the rent pretty much pays for the townhouse. Don't know if it will be our "retirement" house or not or if we will upgrade? I will officially be retired on 8/31/24 and I'm very much looking forward to it! I haven't been posting much...as I didn't really know what more I could contribute with not having a Jayco or RV at all. BUT...I LOVE reading all the posts!

Dan, congrats on the retirement! And on the new vacation digs. Thanks for your JOF wisdom over the years and definitely stick around!

[CAG]

Originally Posted by CAG

Thanks, The Aspen have filled out since I took that photo and while we are not into Monsoon yet a couple of small showers greened up the grass more. The fishing is a bit of hit or miss because of wind (does not help fly fishing) and the turkey hunting in NM was not worth the effort this year.



Phoenix has become LA, and it is wonderful to get away to the mountains. There are some places in the state that have not been found by the Californians but those are also becoming few and far between.
I loved the RV life but it became a chore with age and this has been so much more for us.

And yes while there is a term that seems to offend some concerning the process that is taking place, we are being overrun with Californians who have a totally different view of how to RV, and how to camp with your camping, neighbors. Most states in the western US are not happy about it.

[Markb5900]

Originally Posted by CAG

And yes while there is a term that seems to offend some concerning the process that is taking place, we are being overrun with Californians who have a totally different view of how to RV, and how to camp with your camping, neighbors. Most states in the western US are not happy about it.

From my time in SoCal many years ago, if the campgrounds don’t have Evian on tap, they will be calling the manager. LOL

[Bugzilla46310]

You’re missing half the fun. Watching people pack up can be just as entertaining at times!

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by Bugzilla46310

You’re missing half the fun. Watching people pack up can be just as entertaining at times!

Last Labor Day, I visited at the campground, my friend who borrows my pop-up camper. I had arrived after finishing up the purchase process for my new Jayco, as of that morning. It was probably one of the most gorgeous Labor Day's on record...PERFECT weather. We sat at the site, having a beer, 'people watching.'

I remember watching truck after truck emerge into the campground loop, passing by, pulling their campers; large, small, grand or basic and feeling insanely jealous that I was not part of what I now refer to as, 'The Camper Parade.'

I am excited, this Monday I will be part of the camper parade.

I'll be the entertainment for sure and it's going to be my pleasure.