Watching people hookup

[markb5900]

Sitting out watching a couple pull in.
He got out, hooked up the electric and water first, unusual, but to each his own.
See him get out with what had to be a 6 foot pry bar, runs the jack down to just touching the block he put under it.
Takes the pry bar and forces his bars off with a thud!
Then raises the trailer and uses the pry bar to force the truck forward and the truck drops off the coupler.
He gets out what appears to be a 1/2” impact gun, walks around with a four foot level and proceeds to use the impact gun on the door side stabilizers and raise the unit about 2”.
But wait, it’s not over yet.
I notice the slide moving out and the top and inner seal moving with it.
The wife comes around the corner so I mention it to her, she smiles, says thanks and goes inside.
Hubby comes out with the pry bar in hand, I tell him I have a step stool if that would help. Smiling he tells me it started that a couple days ago and he just uses the pry bar to push it back in.
I’m really trying to not be insulting but mention if it rains it’s going into his unit because of the seal hanging there.
He’s polite says thanks they will be good.

When do YOU jump out of your chair and offer unsolicited advice about setting up or a problem you see?

 

[Etsee]

Arriving at our destination mid afternoon is always our goal. Then after we are set up and situated, grab a cool one and watch the fun begin. Typically, we are quite entertained watching some hilarious antics and gyrations as others arrive and attempt to set up.

Learned a long time ago.....don't say a word....and don't offer help or advice.

 

[markb5900]

lol
Me to actually, unless I think they don’t see something, I’ll let them know, like backing into a tree.
Hearing that impact driver on those stabilizer legs was the same as nails on a chalkboard.

 

[CAG-JAY]

Arriving at our destination mid afternoon is always our goal. Then after we are set up and situated, grab a cool one and watch the fun begin. Typically, we are quite entertained watching some hilarious antics and gyrations as others arrive and attempt to set up.

Learned a long time ago.....don't say a word....and don't offer help or advice.

Just think about others who are sipping a cool one and watching you setup

 

[markb5900]

I should get paid for some the shows I have put on hooking up.

 

[SloPoke-TC]

Sitting out watching a couple pull in.
He got out, hooked up the electric and water first, unusual, but to each his own.

Not unusual for us... After that long drive, first thing the DW wants is in the RV and needed AC to cool it down and Water to go to the bathroom....

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

I should get paid for some the shows I have put on hooking up.

I'm definitely going to be one of the 'stars,' next week.

 

[harryjr]

"Then after we are set up and situated, grab a cool one and watch the fun begin. Typically, we are quite entertained"

We were all the new guy at one time. And we all still have our "DUH" moments. So don't break your arm patting yourself on the back. You may need both arms to fix tomorrow's screw up.

I find that the ease of backing into a site is the inverse of how many people are watching. No one there? Bang. First shot.
A dozen watching? After 8 tries, it's time to head for that great looking place 25 miles back.

 

[CAG-JAY]

All of this is why I am now in a cabin on 1.5 acres with a fireplace, all of the things we had at home, for the entire summer. No set up, no problems with water tanks, black tanks, electric system, neighbors 10 feet away or barking dogs. The elk bark some but I can deal with that.

Yes we pay a bit more but that is ok because we earned it.

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

Almost as much fun as being at a launch ramp on a busy weekend watching people trying to back up their boats into the water. Lots of yelling and screaming. Worst I ever saw was a guy by himself...took off the tie downs to the boat and started backing down the ramp way too fast. Two small kids ran behind the trailer, the guy jammed on the brakes and a 20 foot fiberglas boat slide about 15 feet down the cement ramp into the water. It was a terrible sound. After he parked his truck he got into the boat and sailed off like nothing had happened.

I must admit I have put on a show or two....if someones watching I just shrug my shoulders and say it's my first time....

 

[Etsee]

"Then after we are set up and situated, grab a cool one and watch the fun begin. Typically, we are quite entertained"

We were all the new guy at one time. And we all still have our "DUH" moments. So don't break your arm patting yourself on the back. You may need both arms to fix tomorrow's screw up.

I find that the ease of backing into a site is the inverse of how many people are watching. No one there? Bang. First shot.
A dozen watching? After 8 tries, it's time to head for that great looking place 25 miles back.

I am far from patting myself on the back.

Yet, even when I WAS the new guy....I had some common sense. Which seems to be lacking in too many that we see out there today.
(Can You say......I'm going to hook up the sewer hose first, and then the fresh water hose?) No need for gloves, sanitizer, hand washing.

I have been doing this for over 30 years. Little has changed. Most of what applied then, still applies today.

Some of what is observed is plain disgusting and gross, or comical. Depends how you look at it...or what your stomach will tolerate.

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

Almost as much fun as being at a launch ramp on a busy weekend watching people trying to back up their boats into the water. Lots of yelling and screaming. Worst I ever saw was a guy by himself...took of the tie downs off the boat and started backing down the ramp way too fast. Two small kids ran behind the trailer, the guy jammed on the brakes and a 20 foot fiberglas boat slide about 15 feet down the cement ramp into the water. It was a terrible sound. After he parked his truck he got into the boat and sailed off like nothing had happened.

I must admit I have put on a show or two....if someones watching I just shrug my shoulders and say it's my first time....

I really did just bust out laughing when I got to reading "a 20 foot fiberglas boat slid about 15 feet down the cement ramp into the water. It was a terrible sound."

 

[JFlightRisk]

If there's a next-door neighbor backing into their site, I will keep an eye out for anything they may sideswipe or back onto. If they're a little farther away and looking like they're starting to do something dangerous, I will leash up the pups and head in that direction. That way it just looks like I'm walking the dogs and not keeping an eye on them.

We have indeed all been newbies, and I admit I don't look like a pro sometimes either, but I can't watch someone do something dumb that would ruin their stay. I do get amused at the poor guy or gal that has two people outside giving opposite directions from both sides.

Now, if the couple are screaming and yelling at each other trying to park their rig.....they are completely on their own. We just watch from a distance.

 

[txloser]

It is fun watching. I’ve put on a show a couple times too. I always hit the power box first… because it’s burned me in the past where I got all unhooked and leveled only to find the power was no bueno. While I don’t hook up water first I do verify location and that it works. Pulled into a campground in Nebraska to find the water connection was 100’ away for multiple sites. Had to load back up and head to a KOA(mid trip overnight). Too tired to deal with that bs. lol.

I like watching to see how other people do it. Some are new and have no idea what they’re doing. Some have been at it a long time and I may get some good ideas. I learn from the good and bad. Like to think I’m mid stream somewhere.

 

[Ann-Marie]

We lived 14 years full time on a boat before being landlubberated. Watching RVers dock and undock is nothing compared to launching and un-launching a boat and trailer. Guaranteed entertainment.

Before going full time on our 71 footer we had a 25 foot sail boat on a trailer. To minimize entertainment we had an in-sequence to-do list to follow.

 

[dvspl]

Well, I've certainly put on my share of shows! I typically watch others to see if I can learn something. I never offer advice unless somebody asks. That's rare, but it has happened from a few newbies.

 

[Taftcoach]

Not unusual for us... After that long drive, first thing the DW wants is in the RV and needed AC to cool it down and Water to go to the bathroom....

X2

 

[Taftcoach]

I watched a guy turn a brand new boat into an old boat the first time he tried getting it back on the trailer. It was on a river with some current. He kept trying more power banging the bow into the trailer harder and harder. His two boys were very stressed watching from the dock and hearing the #!##! from their dad.

If he wasn't blocking us from getting out and home I wouldn't have tried to help. When he was circling around for the eighth time I told his kids this was the hardest ramp in Illinois to use and I thought their dad was brave for giving it a try.

Dad calmed down on that pass but once again pounded into the trailer. Eventually I got him to try from the downstream angle and slowly motor onto the bunks until we could winch him the rest of the way. The entire time I was telling his kids how difficult this ramp really is.

 

[us71na]

We normally camp at the smaller state parks. I love watching the people with the 28+ foot trailers being pulled by the full bed club cab pickups with bumper hitches trying to back into the small sites off the narrow camp roads. The turning radius of the truck doesn't allow easy one shot parking.

We watched on guy at Sinimahoning State park that tried more than two dozen times to park his trailer between two trees near the front of the site without taking off his front bumper on the trees across the road. He finally traded sites with some people he apparently knew. Oh by the way he had at least 4 people trying to give him directions.

I hate the people with the impact drivers that they use to lower their stabilizers. Even more I despise the early risers that want to get on the road early to beat the traffic using the same impact driver to raise their stabilizers at 6:00 a.m.

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

I hate the people with the impact drivers that they use to lower their stabilizers. Even more I despise the early risers that want to get on the road early to beat the traffic using the same impact driver to raise their stabilizers at 6:00 a.m.

I just use my quiet power drill....My biggest Pet Peeve is when a Class A Diesel Pusher fires up at 5 in the morning and idles for 45 minutes. Then they pull out of their campsite and spend another 20 minutes hooking up their Toad.