So I took a few girlfriends camping with me this weekend without the assistance of DH. On my own, got the camper hooked up, backed into the site without incident, had a great weekend, everything worked well and was feeling pretty good.And then at the dump station, the line behind me increased to 2 others waiting. The guy second in line behind somehow had the impression I was having a problem dumping the tanks. I had everything hooked up correctly, pulled the valves in the right order and was just waiting for the tank to empty. He comes up to me and said "are you doing okay? I mean, it looks like you might need some help, can I hook your hoses up for you?" I looked at him and said "nope, got it pretty much covered - do this all the time with the hubby, think I can handle it". He walked off looking dejected.In hindsight, I think he was pretty antsy and really didn't want to wait. To be considerate, when the tank was empty, I unhooked the sewer hose, pulled the camper forward so the next person could pull up, then went back to rinse out the hose.I hope I surprised a couple of guys in that as a woman, I could do this on my own.

photonanax3 wrote:I hope I surprised a couple of guys in that as a woman, I could do this on my own.Good job. We men sometimes can't resist a damsel in distress, whether she actually is or not.

Rat OWN, Sistah....high five! Question:How did hubby take the news that you can do it by yourself? :B

Confidence is a lot of RVing and should watch for complacency. I saw a woman, (late 50s') this year that bought her first ever RV. she has pulled small utility type trailers so was no stranger to the process of backing up. What I was taken by was that she found the last spot in the campground and not the best to get into. I saw to campers crush their box trying to get in. I always advised to put the rear of the camper to the high side of the entrance. I saw her, not knowing who it was from the water fill station on the other side of the lake. It was dark among other things. She put it in there with no fan fare or problems to speak of. I have to say I was impressed. She is a book keeper for an auto dealership and has her own truck and her husband is not allowed to drive it She doesn't trust him I guess. I told her the advice I give for those sites and she thanked me and said she must have gotten lucky because she knew nothing about it. Any way glad you found you can do it yourself. Must give you more of an independent feeling Congrats.

Francesca - Hubby had no doubt I could do it, I've watched and helped many times prior to this. In the four years we've had the camper, this is just my second taking the camper on my own.Tom_Diane - this was my first time backing in, one of the friends with helped guide me in. It did feel good that it only took about 5 minutes to back in, that was my biggest worry.

Feeling Confident | Good Sam Community

Bob___Ann
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
Way to go!! Good job! Glad that you and your girlfriends are enjoying it. That is what camping is all about.
photonanax3
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
I count myself lucky that my DH has the patience and perseverance to show me how everything works and has no problem with me taking the camper on my own. He strongly felt that should anything happen to him, that I would have the skills to operate everything on my own.
bakerkids
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
Congrats! Although I don't have tanks to dump anymore, I used to do it often. I would camp with my mom and my 3 kiddos. People were often surprised that we traveled without a man. Hubby worked more hours in the summer at that time, and went very little with us. I feel that if women are going to travel, then they should know how to do it all.

I travel some long distances in my T@B. Having returned from an 11-day trip this spring, and over 1500 miles, an older lady in our church chastised my hubby, saying, "And you let her do that?" Too funny. He knows better than to tell me I can't.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
photonanax3 wrote:
I hope I surprised a couple of guys in that as a woman, I could do this on my own.

It's called chivalry and respect. We've come upon a number of women whose husbands were at work, had not yet arrived, had to leave earlier, tending the farm animals, etc.

I know I would appreciate someone offering a hand to my family if I couldn't be there to help or be the extra hand and I offer the same.

It isn't disrespect for you or your abilities, it is simply an offer of a helping hand, especially for "unpleasant" things.

I've found that truly confident women are not offended by these kinds of offers, any more than a fellow would be if he was offered a hand.

It sounds like you, too, were not offended, simply pleased at your successful trip ;)
Bubtoofat
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
HOLY COW! When it rains it pours. With your positive attitude I can see you getting through this mess no problem. Best of luck to you and hope you have a speedy recovery.
Mike
McZippie
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
I think everyone has speculated incorrectly about the Guy's motives with his offer of helping dump the girls sewer tanks...
Seems like a perfect place an opportunity to chat up some single girls.

"Do you believe in love at first sight or do I need to dump your tank again?"
robsouth
Explorer II
Aug 13, 2013
When I was a lot younger I used to enjoy taking a "few girlfriends camping".
noe-place
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
2oldman wrote:
photonanax3 wrote:
I hope I surprised a couple of guys in that as a woman, I could do this on my own.
Good job. We men sometimes can't resist a damsel in distress, whether she actually is or not.

Some of us are so arrogant we can't imagine a woman dumping her own tanks either.
Vulcaneer
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
Oh No! Moderator....You MUST delete this thread. If other women read this, they'll discover that they really don't need us men any more. Then what? C'mon Moderator. You are a man.

Do not let this continue. Here we got a woman that can think for herself. Is self reliant. Very capable. And now is CONFIDENT. If she can do it, other women might think they can do it too. We cannot have this.

Lets face it. Backing up a trailer, dumping the tanks, hitching/unhitching. These are MACHO things. If women can do this, what on earth would they need men for? Next thing you know women will be driving big trucks, and arguing their truck is better than mine. They're better drivers. And you just cannot win an argument from a woman. This will be chaos, I tell you.

To the OP. While I admire your resolve and ability, your husband is to be admonished for liberating you. This whole thing is going to change the world. And while you may be a pioneer, he is to be ashamed for what he did to all us other men out here. He will live to regret his actions. This all started with the invention of power steering.
tenbear
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
Vulcaneer wrote:
Oh No! Moderator....You MUST delete this thread. If other women read this, they'll discover that they really don't need us men any more. Then what? C'mon Moderator. You are a man.

Do not let this continue. Here we got a woman that can think for herself. Is self reliant. Very capable. And now is CONFIDENT. If she can do it, other women might think they can do it too. We cannot have this.

Lets face it. Backing up a trailer, dumping the tanks, hitching/unhitching. These are MACHO things. If women can do this, what on earth would they need men for? Next thing you know women will be driving big trucks, and arguing their truck is better than mine. They're better drivers. And you just cannot win an argument from a woman. This will be chaos, I tell you.

To the OP. While I admire your resolve and ability, your husband is to be admonished for liberating you. This whole thing is going to change the world. And while you may be a pioneer, he is to be ashamed for what he did to all us other men out here. He will live to regret his actions. This all started with the invention of power steering.

Great!! Best laugh I've had in a while. :B

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