I lurk here more than I post, but sitting here this morning I just need to vent. Sorry, but I am grumpy this morning and you will see why.If you drive a big diesel pusher class A, or have a tow vehicle that idles louder than a bulldozer please don't get up at the crack of dawn and leave your engine idling for an hour and a half while you break camp.There are some of use who came to the campground for peace and quiet and want to sleep later than the chickens. Others are on vacation and need the rest. But before the sun is even over the mountain tops your big diesel cranks up and wakes the whole campground.Now that is ok, if you want to get an early start, we do understand that vehicles make noise. But don't leave it setting idling for half the morning, that is not necessary and just serves to annoy your neighbors. Crank it up and drive away and leave the rest of us in peace.

I am fortunate to not have encountered that. Yes, it would bug me. I idle for maybe 10 minutes while finishing up, but nothing like you describe.

I think most of the guilty think they are properly warming up their engines.A few want everyone to know they have a diesel.Some are obnoxious and do it to bother others.The rest are the 'all about me' types.Feel better now? :B

I don't have a class A or a diesel, but I know my engine is loud. So, I don't start my engine until I've done everything but put away the leveling blocks. At that point, I start the engine, move the RV off the blocks, put the blocks away under the driver seat, and drive away.I have sleep issues and oftentimes don't fall into a good sleep until after 5 am no matter what time I go to bed, so early morning engines (generators included) can really ruin my day. Fortunately where I camp I rarely run into issues.

runner_one wrote:I lurk here more than I post, but sitting here this morning I just need to vent. Sorry, but I am grumpy this morning and you will see why.If you drive a big diesel pusher class A, or have a tow vehicle that idles louder than a bulldozer please don't get up at the crack of dawn and leave your engine idling for an hour and a half while you break camp.There are some of use who came to the campground for peace and quiet and want to sleep later than the chickens. Others are on vacation and need the rest. But before the sun is even over the mountain tops your big diesel cranks up and wakes the whole campground.Now that is ok, if you want to get an early start, we do understand that vehicles make noise. But don't leave it setting idling for half the morning, that is not necessary and just serves to annoy your neighbors. Crank it up and drive away and leave the rest of us in peace.Missed the golden opportunity to have a conversation with that individual....you were all ready UP.Posting here is in most cases preaching to the choir :B

A rant about common courtesy to your neighboring campers

jplante4
Explorer II
Oct 01, 2017
Boon Docker wrote:
Nothing to hate about diesel, it's about the idiots that think they need to idle them excessively all the time for no reason.

From this thread, I think we agree. However the definition of "excessive" seems to be elusive. I ran into a guy in Delaware last year with an old Greyhound conversion. It originally had a Detroit diesel 2 stroke. He said he felt bad for the people next to him when he started up in the morning. Those old smokers needed to warm up or they blow oil smoke for an hour. The video I posted demonstrated that. After a couple of starts, it ran smoother.
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Oct 01, 2017
jplante4 wrote:
Good thing you diesel haters weren't around in the 2-stroke Detroit Diesel days...

Skip to 5 minutes in to skip the lecture

2 stroke

Nothing to hate about diesel, it's about the idiots that think they need to idle them excessively all the time for no reason.
jplante4
Explorer II
Oct 01, 2017
Good thing you diesel haters weren't around in the 2-stroke Detroit Diesel days...

Skip to 5 minutes in to skip the lecture

2 stroke
Jarlaxle
Explorer II
Oct 01, 2017
For a single vehicle: 2psi in 1 minute with the parking brakes released, 3psi in one minute with the parking brakes released and service brakes applied.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Oct 01, 2017
JaxDad wrote:
Since somewhere back there I was asked to quote the Cummins info on NOT idling, either for warm-up or to cool down.

Here it is;

"Engine Warm-up

Idling the engine for warm-up is not necessary. Operate
with a light throttle and limited RPM until coolant temperature
reaches approximately 150ºF.

Engine Cooldown

Prior to shutdown, an engine should be idled 3-5 minutes
after extended full throttle or high power operation. However,
under normal driving conditions, such as exiting a highway,
engine operation is generally lighter in nature and thereby,
the 3-5 minute cooldown is not necessary."

Which comes from this Cummins Publication.

As was stated previously, at idle (700 rpm, not 'fast idle' of 1200 rpm plus exhaust choke) diesels make no useful heat, so driving off gently makes far more heat, and far faster, which is why that is what the manufacturers recommend drivers do.

For those with air suspension, and who use it to let the motorhome 'stoop' when parking, unlike OTR trucks, it's a simple plumbing job to reconfigure the dump valve and add an extra tank or two so that it's ONLY the air bags themselves that empty, NOT the entire system.

I did this on my Freightliner, now I have 120 psi when I start up and charging the air bags only drops the system pressure to about 50 to 60 psi, I'm back up to 120 psi in just a few minutes.

It also means I have a lot of air at 120 psi if I need to add air to a tire before I even start up.

Good idea. But, If you have a older unit there are probably enough leaks in the system so that if you set in one place for a few days the tanks will be empty. Or, at least that how it is on our Farm Trucks. The law allows you to leak a little just not so much as to compromise the safety of the air brakes.
ccchuck
Explorer
Oct 01, 2017
10 AM seems a little late in the morning for departures, I have asked to be placed in the "early away" area in a campground if they had such, some do, but folks moving on are going to be making noise, kids yelling to each other, etc., not long after breakfast.

We are old retired folks, but been rving since the 70s, most folks try to be nice - some don't - and I'M not sure there is a cure, at least a legal one, for the latter.
CharlesinGA
Explorer
Oct 01, 2017
d3500ram wrote:
that's gonna be tough when I sit round the campfire at night...:B :p

I haven't laughed that hard in a long time......... how appropriate.

Charles
drsteve
Explorer
Sep 30, 2017
toedtoes wrote:
d3500ram wrote:
...
1. Keep your noise level (and smell level) down between 9 pm and 10 am so as not to disturb sleeping neighbors;

2. Realize that there WILL be noises (and smells) made between 9 pm and 10 am that cannot be helped and don't get all bent out of shape over it.

...

that's gonna be tough when I sit round the campfire at night...
:B :p

I was using "smells" in regards to exhaust fumes, stinky gross foods, etc. Campfires are appropriate as long as there isn't a ban. :)

Didn't follow the link, did you? :)
toedtoes
Explorer III
Sep 29, 2017
d3500ram wrote:
...
1. Keep your noise level (and smell level) down between 9 pm and 10 am so as not to disturb sleeping neighbors;

2. Realize that there WILL be noises (and smells) made between 9 pm and 10 am that cannot be helped and don't get all bent out of shape over it.

...

that's gonna be tough when I sit round the campfire at night...
:B :p

I was using "smells" in regards to exhaust fumes, stinky gross foods, etc. Campfires are appropriate as long as there isn't a ban. :)
TomG2
Explorer
Sep 29, 2017
Apparently many of you have not read Dale Carnegie's books. He notes that even the most antisocial among us thinks he is always in the right. No matter if others are bothered or not. He used John Dillinger as an example. I am not comparing loud and inconsiderate people to gangsters, but ranting against them just makes them smile.

Can't change people, but I can go where they ain't.