There are so many things I don't understand

I never turn down a second set of eyeballs helping me back!
I can back myself, because I don't have a choice, but some spotting help is very much appreciated.

I guess it doesn't take make to amuse some people at others peoples misgivings. We all weren't born "experts" at backing up trailers. :R

Nor do we always understand somebody else's reasoning.

My wife is my spotter or I am hers when she is driving. No offense, but I don't necessarily trust a total strangers judgment.

An offer is good.... you find out all about the new surroundings and make new friends. At least the places I go are like that.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Last time I offered a 'extra set of eyes' cause site was 'tight' I got chewed out by lady driver......she had been a bus driver for 20+ years.

As a "lady driver," I have to say that I am offered help quite a lot - mostly backing up a trailer. I can do that just fine, thank you. So many times, it seems as if men are assuming incompetence and most women are quick to say, "I could never do that," feeding in to the assumption of incompetence. I am fortunate in that my Dad was a long haul truck driver and I grew up watching him confidently and competently back up a 53' trailer with what seemed like 3" leeway on each side. The first time I tried to back my new boat in to my shed, I got in a bind and called Dad for help. He was at my house in minutes and taught me everything I need to know about backing up a trailer. I have been fine since then.

What I do need help with and do not hesitate to ask for it is the stuff that requires brute strength. I use physics to my advantage but sometimes that still isn't enough.

I don't know what helpful men can say without sounding corny - "Hey, you look like you know what you're doing but I figure everyone needs help sometime - if you need help while I am around, just holler" . I don't know...heck, I watched a guy with a 3500HD Duramax Dually spend what seemed like an hour trying to back a boat trailer down a ramp I hit the first time...I was hesitant to offer assistance and felt guilty after. I wasn't sure what to say...

rjf7g wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Last time I offered a 'extra set of eyes' cause site was 'tight' I got chewed out by lady driver......she had been a bus driver for 20+ years.

As a "lady driver," I have to say that I am offered help quite a lot - mostly backing up a trailer. I can do that just fine, thank you. So many times, it seems as if men are assuming incompetence and most women are quick to say, "I could never do that," feeding in to the assumption of incompetence. I am fortunate in that my Dad was a long haul truck driver and I grew up watching him confidently and competently back up a 53' trailer with what seemed like 3" leeway on each side. The first time I tried to back my new boat in to my shed, I got in a bind and called Dad for help. He was at my house in minutes and taught me everything I need to know about backing up a trailer. I have been fine since then.

What I do need help with and do not hesitate to ask for it is the stuff that requires brute strength. I use physics to my advantage but sometimes that still isn't enough.

I don't know what helpful men can say without sounding corny - "Hey, you look like you know what you're doing but I figure everyone needs help sometime - if you need help while I am around, just holler" . I don't know...heck, I watched a guy with a 3500HD Duramax Dually spend what seemed like an hour trying to back a boat trailer down a ramp I hit the first time...I was hesitant to offer assistance and felt guilty after. I wasn't sure what to say...

The CG sites were back-ins from an off angle short road with trees/boulders one had to negotiate to get in.
THAT is why I offered extra set of eyes, not because 'she was a lady' (which turns out she wasn't with the language that came out drivers window.)
Had NOTHING to do with 'being a lady' as in 'incompetent'
It was a lousy sight that required more then one set of eyeballs watching front swing, tail swing and low obstacles.

If I see a situation that could use an extra set of eyeballs or if driver is having tough time I will offer help.
BUT I will also walk away at first sign of attitude and then
'ENJOY the Free Entertainment'.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Last time I offered a 'extra set of eyes' cause site was 'tight' I got chewed out by lady driver......she had been a bus driver for 20+ years.

SO I pulled up lawn chair on my site for better viewing angle and WATCHED her smash front bumper on a boulder, whack MH tail on a tree and then dent compartment door an another boulder.

I still offer but doesn't take much to turn me into a spectator.

Well, "Old Hard-Tack" - you should have asked the lady bus driver if the bus she drove would bend in the middle (articulated?).

IMO - I would have made a second offer after she hit the 1st boulder.
Second refusal, you're on your own.

For my 30 year FS career, a driver was *required* to have a "back up" person on the tailboard.....no matter how talented you were.

BTW - those "lady drivers":
Went on a traffic accident once. Good looking gal had a fall off her M/C. Broke her wrist.

A week or so later she stopped by the station to thank the guys.
Several M/C riders there, and on chatting they found - not only was she polite & smart - she *worked* at a local Harley shop.

Figured she must be the clerk or counter person, and one asked what she did there.

No desk job - she worked in the *shop* because she wanted to learn M/C mechanics, but as the "newbie" she was the person to take the shop "wrecker" to pick up disabled bikes on the road or at owner's homes.

One of the guys jokingly asked if she could/would back his pickup w/boat on a trailer - into a spot for him behind the sta.
(NOT a pull-thru, LOL)

She said sure!
"I've got a Class A CDL with all the endorsements!"..:W

.

Double post.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Last time I offered a 'extra set of eyes' cause site was 'tight' I got chewed out by lady driver......she had been a bus driver for 20+ years.

SO I pulled up lawn chair on my site for better viewing angle and WATCHED her smash front bumper on a boulder, whack MH tail on a tree and then dent compartment door an another boulder.

I still offer but doesn't take much to turn me into a spectator.

Hate to see what the bus she drove looked liked. I consider myself a decent backer been backing trailers for 40 years. I'm grateful for a spotter if it's a tight area to cover my blind side, Saved me from damaging my rv in Colorado on a boulder.

I guess people sometimes let pride come before common sense.

I'm with the camp that makes an offer of help once, then let the people know I am available if they might want me.

I will speak up if it looks like major damage might occur that the driver doesn't know about.

I have found that those who rudely refuse help usually don't know what they are doing -- experienced drivers usually will, at a minimum, politely decline.

When we had a boat we often camped with a great view of the boat ramp. Sunday afternoons and evenings were always full of entertainment.