I don't know if this is happening in other parts of the Country or not, but in California the rental RV market seems to be huge. We camped on the coast this weekend and at least a third of the RV's in the park were rental units. The only good thing about that is it does make for good entertainment to watch them try and back into campsites and figure out how to get everything hooked up. I've noticed most of the renters appear to be European tourists. I can usually recognize German but I also hear a lot of what sounds like eastern European languages too.I usually try and avoid going to help because I get worried about what happens if they back into something while I'm trying to help guide them. One time I offered to help and the guy wanted me to back it into the spot for him. I did not do that, but I did help him get in to the space. This weekend I saw a family pull in towing a brand new Airstream with a Yukon Denali. Both vehicles had decals on them indicating they were rentals from Airstreams2go. This guy had a heck of a time getting the trailer backed In because for some reason he was trying to get it perfectly aligned with the concrete space. I started to go help him and then I saw he had it in the space and as I walked away I saw he pulled it back out again to start all over. I guess he thought it had to be perfectly straight and when it wasn't he figured he had to pull all the way out to try again. So I thought it was best to let him figure that would out on his own. He eventually got it into the space. I have a feeling this RV rentals places just walk renters around the RV and "tell" them how to do everything versus actually showing them or better yet having a place where the renter can set everything up while getting some guidance.

Other than perhaps holding a branch back or something of that nature, I don't help unless I'm solicited.

msmith1199 wrote:/snip/I have a feeling this RV rentals places just walk renters around the RV and "tell" them how to do everything versus actually showing them or better yet having a place where the renter can set everything up while getting some guidance.Yep! Pretty much...you should see what they do in Yellowstone!!!...:B....Dennis

I'm part of the "you learn by doing club". I'll offer assistance if I see a real struggle or a dangerous situation, or I can see they are looking for help. I helped a few weeks ago with "diverced Dad's vacation with the kids". There were 4 hyper kids all running around the campsite as Dad was trying to back in.

The only rentals I have seen are Class C motorhomes. How hard can they be to back in to a space? My dad had several motorhomes (Class A and C's) over the years and I usually drove when I was visiting and we went camping. Very simple to back in to a spot. Are they renting trailers as well? I can see that being a problem to a beginner. I am always willing to help someone, but unless I am asked or I can see someone or something is in danger, I usually just watch.

I had a similar situation this past weekend where a guy was trying to back in a 30' tt into a 30' site. His wifeewas unsuccessfully trying to give him hand signals. After about 6 attempts, I walked over to his truck Window and asked if I helped I could probably add 2 years to his marriage. He welcomed my help with a smile and I helped him back in first try. It's always good to ask without just jumping in.

How long do you watch before you go help? | Good Sam Community

aviator
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
I was at a campground in NY state. A pickup and 5th wheel pulls up on the other side of the road from me. He attempts to back into the site. On each attempt he was either going to hit trees, a vehicle or back into the adjacent site. After about 8 or 9 tries, he parks along the road. A short time later one of the campground employees drives up in a golf cart and backs it in the site. I chatted with the employee sometime later that day. I asked if the individual had recently purchased the truck and 5th wheel. He stated, he had that setup for about four years. He said the office usually calls for an employee to meet him at the site and back it in for him as he has hit something several times in the past. At first I was thinking of assisting. After observing how bad he was at it, I decided I better not. I did feel sorry for him, but did have a couple laughs to myself.
cKarlGo
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
wildwest450 wrote:
I'd at least finish my beer first. I actually try to stay out of other peoples business, it does no harm to let someone back into a spot 30 times.

I agree. Unless they are in some sort of peril, leave them be.

The one time I made a huge mistake in unhooking was because a "helpful" neighbor came over and was "assisting." This distracted me from my very standardized process (I am an engineer and a creature of habit) and I ended up bending one of the pieces of my sway control, which I had failed to unhook completely.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
We were campground hosting when new camper had pulled in a few sites down from us, on our awing side. Temp tag and all.

The driver got out and said in a loud voice: "New camper here. Let the show begin!"

He did well, not perfect, but after a few adjustments, had in the site.

Met him the next day. What an interesting fellow he was.

Now that is the way to handle it!
NMace
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
bobkatmsu wrote:
NMace wrote:
Laughing at the inexperienced shows a poor memory (we were new once) and a lack of manners. I don't think you owe me any help, but I take umbrage at being your entertainment. Shows a real lack of class.
Lighten up NMace. Life is to short to be wrapped so tight. People have been laughing at me and my antics for ever and I enjoy the conversations that usually follow. We humans are hilarious. There is nothing malicious intended. Everyone is having fun. I assume you have a hard time laughing at yourself. Try it, it's fun. I should know, I've had alot of practice at it.

I laugh at mysef a lot with reason, I laugh with other people, not at them, and never at their misfortune.

It is sad you and others do not have enough manners to know the difference.
eabc5454
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
When we got our first rig (a TT, a little over three years ago), I had a heck of a time backing in to a spot that had trees, a boulder in EXACTLY the wrong spot and a road that was narrow with a sharp bend to get the rig into the site. I tried several times, and finally a very nice man asked if he could help. I gratefully gave him the wheel, and he backed it in while talking me through his technique. I thought "Awesome. Let the camping begin." But no, he helped more than that. He pulled it back out and said "Now you do it." He guided me in using the technique he had just demonstrated. It did more for my confidence than anything else has along this wonderful road.

I'm always willing to help and try to be humble enough to get help when I need it.

Happy camping!
427435
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
We spent a couple of nights at Disney's Fort Wilderness. The roads to the campsites are one-way, winding, and not the widest. Coming back from the light display at Epcot (about 10:30 PM), we encountered a person trying to back a big trailer into his site. We couldn't get to our site until he was in his site. I turned our toad off and watched for a few minutes. His situation was compounded by the camper across from him that had left his tow vehicle just off the pavement.

It soon became obvious that he had no idea what he was doing and that we might never get to our MH that night!!! I ended up standing in front of his tow truck and telling him what to do.
bobkatmsu
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
NMace wrote:
Laughing at the inexperienced shows a poor memory (we were new once) and a lack of manners. I don't think you owe me any help, but I take umbrage at being your entertainment. Shows a real lack of class.
Lighten up NMace. Life is to short to be wrapped so tight. People have been laughing at me and my antics for ever and I enjoy the conversations that usually follow. We humans are hilarious. There is nothing malicious intended. Everyone is having fun. I assume you have a hard time laughing at yourself. Try it, it's fun. I should know, I've had alot of practice at it.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Aug 13, 2013
deandec wrote:
Took the new boat to the lake launch site.

Pushed, jerked and tilted the trailer, but the boat would not float off.

Guy, walked up and said "New Boat?"

"Yes" I said.

He replied, "It will float quicker if you take the tie down straps off."

I like to get help............................

I heard a story that I think was probably true, about a lady who took her new boat out on the lake, but couldn't get it to go very fast. She flagged down a Sheriff's Patrol boat in the area to ask for help and they looked in the water and quickly discovered her problem. The trailer was still attached to the boat. She had simply backed the boat in the water and disconnected the ball from the hitch and was ready to go. The person who told me the story was one of the Deputies who was on that boat so that's why I think it's a true story.
deandec
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
Took the new boat to the lake launch site.

Pushed, jerked and tilted the trailer, but the boat would not float off.

Guy, walked up and said "New Boat?"

"Yes" I said.

He replied, "It will float quicker if you take the tie down straps off."

I like to get help............................
msmith1199
Explorer II
Aug 13, 2013
soren wrote:
mena661 wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
I checked the website at airstream2go.com and they don't list the price, but I can't imagine it's real cheap.
I read that's it's 5 nights minimum and prices start under $4000.
Well, now that we know that it's LESS than $800 a night. I'm in.:R

Think I'll go buy a couple of Airstreams and a couple of Denali's and start renting them out! I like RVing, but I don't think I'd pay this kind of money to rent a trailer and truck.