Best "shut em down" moment?

If I am setting up or breaking down and someone starts to talk to me I politely tell them I cant talk right now because I have my routine and it will F me all up. It has only happened a few times but everyone seems to know what I mean and they then leave me alone to let me do my stuff.

We chose a motorhome with no slides intentionally for several reasons including having more cargo capacity and less chance of mechanical problems. (to each his own). At one campsite a neighbor came over and proceeded to lecture me on the advantages of having slides and that there was little chance of problems with them and that I wasted my money on an RV that had none. I let him know politely that I got exactly what I wanted, it was best for my use, and I didn't buy it as an investment.

Two days later when he went to pack up and leave one of his slides failed (gear broke or jammed) and he had to wait a day and a half for someone to show up and get the slide in (still not fixed). I politely waved goodbye when he finally pulled out but I was thinking Karma...

and to the OP, my wifes Harley is bigger than mine. Some are surprised when they find out she rides her own.

This is about a "know it all" We have a 5500 dodge diesel truck. It is a 2008 and we bought it new.... Maybe there were not many on the road at that time? We drove into a campground and some man came over and was admiring our truck, ask me if it was a 3500 truck. I said no it is a 5500. He said no it can not be a 5500, because those are not made. I said yes it is and he said I did not know what I am talking about. He ask me if someone told me it is a 5500 truck and since I am a woman I didn't know the difference. I just walked away. Not wanting to have a conversation with someone like him. My husband was busy hooking up and setting up so he was not aware of this conversation.

NanciL wrote:
Way back 20 years ago when we first started pulling a travel trailer and I was a newbie,(not using radios) my wife was the one that used to direct me in, and I did nothing but yell at her. Then one time we pulled into a back in spot in the middle of a pitch black night, and I told her I would go the exact way she directed me, (we now had radios). I listened and did exactly as she said, and I never said a word back.
When she finally said "your good" and I got out, I could hardly believe that she had me in perfect.

I have never yelled or complained since that day.

Jack L

Let me start off my saying that I am very good at backing a trailer into spots without much trouble and my DW is horrible at backing trailers. We have a 31' Class C and either are pulling a 10' utility trailer or an 18' enclosed trailer. This past week's trip to the beach pulling the large enclosed trailer, the DW and I came up with a good system that involves no yelling. I realized in order for that to work, I had to swallow my pride, shut up and trust her.

We arrive at the campsite.
1. We determine where to put the trailer while camping.
2. I back up the trailer while she makes sure I don't hit anything. I actually enjoy this the most because it looks difficult but for some reason, I find it very easy.
3. We discuss where we want the RV on the camp spot (meaning the DW tells me where she wants the RV parked and I say ok).
4. I back up the RV (without saying a word) into the spot following my DW's hand signals.

We followed these steps at our second campsite this past week and we had no issues or fights at all getting into the site.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why I can back up an 18' enclosed trailer using a 31' Class C RV without hardly any help and the trailer be exactly where I want it, but I can't back up the Class C by itself into a spot and not be too close to something or extremely crooked.

Dutch_12078 wrote:
And then got out of the truck and gave him the finger. My wife was in tears from laughing... :B

Love the ending! I can totally see my wife doing that!

DiskDoctr wrote:
If I see a camper having troubles, I might give a wave and say, "If you need a hand, just give a holler" or something like that to let them know I'm willing to help, but only if they want it.

Usually for just watching a blind side or a low branch or something.

Regardless of if they wanted help or not, end with a thumbs up and "good job" or something while we are relaxing at our own site.

The difference between being neighborly and being nosey is sometimes a fine line ;)

I love this, DiskDoctr. It's very close to how I operate- I'll make a general help offer, but won't hover or impose. (Though, I will shout if damage is inevitable.)

NanciL wrote:
Way back 20 years ago when we first started pulling a travel trailer and I was a newbie,(not using radios) my wife was the one that used to direct me in, and I did nothing but yell at her. Then one time we pulled into a back in spot in the middle of a pitch black night, and I told her I would go the exact way she directed me, (we now had radios). I listened and did exactly as she said, and I never said a word back.
When she finally said "your good" and I got out, I could hardly believe that she had me in perfect.

I have never yelled or complained since that day.

Jack L

We work very much the same way. My wife "parks" the trailer via directions and I just make the trailer do what she says. For the most part, we get into spots lickety split.

We swapped positions one day- we confirmed I'm unable to park a trailer without her. AND she finally gutted up the courage to ask, "So... do I need to listen to you? Or can I just do this?" I told her to have at it and I'd shout if she was going to hit something. She slide into the spot on the first try and only needed minor positioning on the site.

Started back into a site couple of days ago. Wife was directing. Guy came running over and started directing me. I don't know why because I completely ignored him.

Usually, my wife and I do just fine backing our 5th wheel into a site. Her basic job is to make sure I don’t back into something. But on this day, at this particular huge campground (600 plus sites) in south Texas, I was told to follow the camp host to my assigned site and he would assist me backing in. I followed him around in his golf cart down and around some narrow streets until he stopped. He pointed to a site behind me and went back and stood where the driver’s side rear corner of my trailer would end up. I could see him clearly in my mirror, so watching his hand motions waving me back I was slowly backing in perfectly, and then, thank goodness, a helpful person from 50 yards down the street yelled “STOP”! The front right corner of my truck was about two inches away from running into the side of a brand new shiny red Ford truck. Lucky for us, one of those well-meaning persons saved us from a lot of grief.

i WOULD HAVE SAID 4 WHEEL MOBILITY SCOOTER.

suprz wrote:
Ever get to a campground and a person comes up to you and starts to talk to you and then begins to say something like " oh you arent doing that right, that will mever work etc..." And then you politely do it right in front of them, it does work that way, and they just stop talking and kind of walk away? Now dont get me wrong, if i am doing something the wrong way, i appreciate the help... But sometimes.....

On our last trip. I was connecting the water line, power line etc.. When a guy across the road came over and asked what kind of "scooter" we had on the carrier on the back of the RV...( we always put a cover on the bike when traveling). Anyways... Finally i just took the cover off and said " its my wifes bike, it is a Suzuki Boulevard S40 650CC". It was priceless to see his expression when he saw a nice bike with saddlebags, and lots of chrome. he then proceeded to dig a bit deeper and said " your wife rides??"

Lol.... Pricelss!!! What are your experiences?

The DW & I had a good one last week. Pulled into an all backin SP. Been there before but never this site. Not the easiest site but we did not know that when we booked it.

Get to the site. DW hops out. No radio. A hand signal only exercise this will be. Another vehicle pulls up behind & waits. It is a very much single lane inside road.

Well, for once everything goes like clockwork & we get the thing in first time with only a forward & back once for minor straightening purposes. Well, the guy of the waiting vehicle was impressed. He hops out & compliments our teamwork for backing skills.

Thankyou very much.

What really put the icing on the cake was that this was the first backing job with ANY trailer since last November. Sometimes everything goes just right.

My wife & I can park the motorhome pretty quick.
We both look the site over together, decide where we think the right rear corner should go. Then she stands at the rear and gives me hand signals. She knows, if she can't see me in the mirrors, then I can't see her. If I loose sight of her, I STOP.