Leaving camper unoccupied - help

2oldman wrote:

doxiemom11 wrote:
they didn't want people hauling the campers in mid-week, taking all the electric sites for the weekend, which then prevented legitimate campers who wanted to camp mid week from having a site with electricity.

as it should be. It's abusing the system.

These are all "dry" spots....no water, no electric & no sewer. Most spots are "first-come, first serve" & the way I look at it is if I don't get there first, somebody else will to do the same exact thing.

doxiemom11 wrote:
they didn't want people hauling the campers in mid-week, taking all the electric sites for the weekend, which then prevented legitimate campers who wanted to camp mid week from having a site with electricity.

as it should be. It's abusing the system.

The forest campground we have worked in also had the rule that the unit must be occupied during the first 24 hours and could not be left unattended for more than 24 hours after that. Reason was -- there were limited number of sites with electricity and they didn't want people hauling the campers in mid-week, taking all the electric sites for the weekend, which then prevented legitimate campers who wanted to camp mid week from having a site with electricity. It didn't matter that you paid - you were not there and the site was not occupied. Your trailer would be removed from the site.

NYCgrrl wrote:

darsben1 wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:

NYCgrrl wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Since your tow vehicle won't be there, everyone around is going to know pretty quickly you are not there. The knife edge you are going to be walking isn't likely to be thieves and other criminals, it will be all the people who are there legitimately and are angry you are working the system.

Why would this be considered working the system if the OP paid for the site? Trying to think of this from a hotel POV which I'm more familiar with. To me working the system is a state park w/ a limited time reservation allowed on site and when the reservation ends a friend/family member w/ a different last name and the exact same equipment takes over.

It's working the system because many National Forest, BLM and state campgrounds require that human campers actually occupy the site. An empty trailer or tent doesn't meet those requirements.

To take it a step further the Tonto National Forest and other Government Campgrounds have BIG SIGNS that state " The camper MUSt BE occpied the first night or it may be removed

Sometimes due to circumstances beyond my control(car not available for rent despite a 5 month old reservation:R; some of the kiddos I camp with haven't reached NYS yet)I can't get there first night and just call the campground and my already paid for spot is held.
Thanks for naming some of the campgrounds that have stricter rules.

Often if you call and let them know, they will be OK with it. They are usually understanding that "things happen" (car break down, etc.) and will work with you.

They just don't like people "holding" campsites for the weekend. Campgrounds that don't require the "must be present the first night" often will have folks reserving 14 days (including two weekends) and then only showing up for the weekends - that means no one else can use that "great spot" during the rest of the time period. It creates a lot of complaints (there have been threads about the problem).

People do that all the time around here. I don't hear of problems. If there are other campers at the location I would not be concerned. Unless you are a full timer most people don't probably have a huge amount of high value targets in their rigs in my opinion. If it was totally vacant then I would have a lot more concern.

theres a lot more rv,s broken into while in a secured lot than in the field, have fun.

To take it a step further the Tonto National Forest and other Government Campgrounds have BIG SIGNS that state " The camper MUSt BE occpied the first night or it may be removed

Honestly would love to see it removed. What makes you so privileged you can cheat? Play by the rules. It's the only fair thing to do.

Different parks, different rules, and certainly a big difference between public and privet parks. :@

I don't think privet parks care whether the site is occupied or not just as long as they get there money. Parks catering to "snowbirds" are entirely a different case.

And public parks, unfortunately, I have seen times where the occupancy rules were not enforced. :M

For those who are worried about theft and security. How do you know your camping neighbors are trustworthy?

double post

7lazy77 wrote:
I am going to drop my camper off next Tuesday to make sure I get a decent spot for the 4th of July weekend. I am a little worried about leaving it unoccupied for a couple of days/nights until I can get back up there on Thursday. Thought about getting some solar rope lights to string out to help light it up at night, but was worndering what other things people do on here to help make it look like somebody is at the campsite (both day & night)?

westernrvparkowner wrote:
It's working the system because many National Forest, BLM and state campgrounds require that human campers actually occupy the site. An empty trailer or tent doesn't meet those requirements.

Westernrvparkowner is absolutely correct:
If you are planning this at a Forest Service campground (ANY USFS Campground) it is illegal and you will be fined, unless you seek permission to do so prior to arriving. (And the reason you've given, to "make sure you get a decent spot for the 4th of July weekend", is NOT a valid reason)

36 Code of Federal Regulations 261.16(h) and (i) Developed Recreation Sites
§261.16 Developed recreation sites.
The following are prohibited:
(h) Without permission, failing to have at least one person occupy a camping area during the first night after camping equipment has been set up.
(i) Leaving camping equipment unattended for more than 24 hours without permission.

There are a few exceptions to this, in that some USFS campgrounds do lease some sites on an annual basis, and folks who occupy those sites are not required to be at the site for any specified time. But then again, if you had an annual lease on the site, no one else could take your site, even if you were not there.