A rant about common courtesy to your neighboring campers

[runner_one]

I lurk here more than I post, but sitting here this morning I just need to vent. Sorry, but I am grumpy this morning and you will see why.

If you drive a big diesel pusher class A, or have a tow vehicle that idles louder than a bulldozer please don't get up at the crack of dawn and leave your engine idling for an hour and a half while you break camp.

There are some of use who came to the campground for peace and quiet and want to sleep later than the chickens. Others are on vacation and need the rest. But before the sun is even over the mountain tops your big diesel cranks up and wakes the whole campground.

Now that is ok, if you want to get an early start, we do understand that vehicles make noise.

But don't leave it setting idling for half the morning, that is not necessary and just serves to annoy your neighbors. Crank it up and drive away and leave the rest of us in peace.

[CavemanCharlie]

JaxDad wrote:
Since somewhere back there I was asked to quote the Cummins info on NOT idling, either for warm-up or to cool down.

Here it is;

"Engine Warm-up

Idling the engine for warm-up is not necessary. Operate
with a light throttle and limited RPM until coolant temperature
reaches approximately 150ºF.


Engine Cooldown

Prior to shutdown, an engine should be idled 3-5 minutes
after extended full throttle or high power operation. However,
under normal driving conditions, such as exiting a highway,
engine operation is generally lighter in nature and thereby,
the 3-5 minute cooldown is not necessary."

Which comes from this Cummins Publication.


As was stated previously, at idle (700 rpm, not 'fast idle' of 1200 rpm plus exhaust choke) diesels make no useful heat, so driving off gently makes far more heat, and far faster, which is why that is what the manufacturers recommend drivers do.

For those with air suspension, and who use it to let the motorhome 'stoop' when parking, unlike OTR trucks, it's a simple plumbing job to reconfigure the dump valve and add an extra tank or two so that it's ONLY the air bags themselves that empty, NOT the entire system.

I did this on my Freightliner, now I have 120 psi when I start up and charging the air bags only drops the system pressure to about 50 to 60 psi, I'm back up to 120 psi in just a few minutes.

It also means I have a lot of air at 120 psi if I need to add air to a tire before I even start up.

Good idea. But, If you have a older unit there are probably enough leaks in the system so that if you set in one place for a few days the tanks will be empty. Or, at least that how it is on our Farm Trucks. The law allows you to leak a little just not so much as to compromise the safety of the air brakes.

[ccchuck]

10 AM seems a little late in the morning for departures, I have asked to be placed in the "early away" area in a campground if they had such, some do, but folks moving on are going to be making noise, kids yelling to each other, etc., not long after breakfast.

We are old retired folks, but been rving since the 70s, most folks try to be nice - some don't - and I'M not sure there is a cure, at least a legal one, for the latter.

[CharlesinGA]

d3500ram wrote:
that's gonna be tough when I sit round the campfire at night...:B 😛

I haven't laughed that hard in a long time......... how appropriate.

Charles

[drsteve]

toedtoes wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

...
1. Keep your noise level (and smell level) down between 9 pm and 10 am so as not to disturb sleeping neighbors;

2. Realize that there WILL be noises (and smells) made between 9 pm and 10 am that cannot be helped and don't get all bent out of shape over it.

...

that's gonna be tough when I sit round the campfire at night...
:B 😛

I was using "smells" in regards to exhaust fumes, stinky gross foods, etc. Campfires are appropriate as long as there isn't a ban. 🙂

Didn't follow the link, did you? 🙂

[toedtoes]

d3500ram wrote:

...
1. Keep your noise level (and smell level) down between 9 pm and 10 am so as not to disturb sleeping neighbors;

2. Realize that there WILL be noises (and smells) made between 9 pm and 10 am that cannot be helped and don't get all bent out of shape over it.

...

that's gonna be tough when I sit round the campfire at night...
:B 😛

I was using "smells" in regards to exhaust fumes, stinky gross foods, etc. Campfires are appropriate as long as there isn't a ban. 🙂

[TomG2]

Apparently many of you have not read Dale Carnegie's books. He notes that even the most antisocial among us thinks he is always in the right. No matter if others are bothered or not. He used John Dillinger as an example. I am not comparing loud and inconsiderate people to gangsters, but ranting against them just makes them smile.

Can't change people, but I can go where they ain't.

[d3500ram]

...
1. Keep your noise level (and smell level) down between 9 pm and 10 am so as not to disturb sleeping neighbors;

2. Realize that there WILL be noises (and smells) made between 9 pm and 10 am that cannot be helped and don't get all bent out of shape over it.

...

that's gonna be tough when I sit round the campfire at night...
:B 😛

[toedtoes]

No, the answer isn't for one or the other not to camp in certain places.

The answer is for both to show common courtesy to the other:

1. Keep your noise level (and smell level) down between 9 pm and 10 am so as not to disturb sleeping neighbors;

2. Realize that there WILL be noises (and smells) made between 9 pm and 10 am that cannot be helped and don't get all bent out of shape over it.

Not that difficult if both people make an effort. And has nothing to do with rig envy, etc.

[mike-s]

rockhillmanor wrote:

And perhaps YOU need to NOT stay at CG's where you KNOW the campground sites are always VERY close together.

You want silence where you camp? Park out in the woods NOT a CG.

Each and every RV'er has the right to own and drive whatever type of MH they choose to.

You diesel nazi's need to get a life. :R

Al Czervik, is that you?

If you have a noisy rig, you need to find campgrounds where the sites are isolated. You want to make noise when you camp? Stay at Walmart, not a CG. Each and every RV'er is responsible for their choices - if the noise the rig you chose makes can't be contained within your site, be responsible and go somewhere else. Diesel has nothing to do with it.

[rockhillmanor]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

runner_one wrote:
I lurk here more than I post, but sitting here this morning I just need to vent. Sorry, but I am grumpy this morning and you will see why.

If you drive a big diesel pusher class A, or have a tow vehicle that idles louder than a bulldozer please don't get up at the crack of dawn and leave your engine idling for an hour and a half while you break camp.

There are some of use who came to the campground for peace and quiet and want to sleep later than the chickens. Others are on vacation and need the rest.

But before the sun is even over the mountain tops your big diesel cranks up and wakes the whole campground.

Now that is ok, if you want to get an early start, we do understand that vehicles make noise.

But don't leave it setting idling for half the morning, that is not necessary and just serves to annoy your neighbors. Crank it up and drive away and leave the rest of us in peace.

Yeow - that's telling 'em..:M ABSOLUTELY - *ALL* the offenders (one and all) will mend their ways after reading your rant!!!:C..:C..:C~

X2
And perhaps YOU need to NOT stay at CG's where you KNOW the campground sites are always VERY close together.

You want silence where you camp? Park out in the woods NOT a CG.

Each and every RV'er has the right to own and drive whatever type of MH they choose to.

You diesel nazi's need to get a life. :R

[Crabbypatty]

I have encountered the same rudeness as well as leaving the port spotlight on all night, while they sleep soundly behind their blackoutshades.....The best though is the generator. Typically up front driver side so its not pointed in their site, puffing away choking us out next door...I spoke with one gent who aid he never thought about that and told him that they sell the long pipe for $100 to put it over the roof. I think the problem is that people dont think......

[Blazing_Zippers]

We try to be quiet in the mornings when we need to get out early---however, I usually drop some piece of steel that resonates for blocks. So, if the neighbors weren't awake, after my clumsiness, they are. Sorry!!

[ol_Bombero-JC]

runner_one wrote:
I lurk here more than I post, but sitting here this morning I just need to vent. Sorry, but I am grumpy this morning and you will see why.

If you drive a big diesel pusher class A, or have a tow vehicle that idles louder than a bulldozer please don't get up at the crack of dawn and leave your engine idling for an hour and a half while you break camp.

There are some of use who came to the campground for peace and quiet and want to sleep later than the chickens. Others are on vacation and need the rest. But before the sun is even over the mountain tops your big diesel cranks up and wakes the whole campground.

Now that is ok, if you want to get an early start, we do understand that vehicles make noise.

But don't leave it setting idling for half the morning, that is not necessary and just serves to annoy your neighbors. Crank it up and drive away and leave the rest of us in peace.

Yeow - that's telling 'em..:M

ABSOLUTELY - *ALL* the offenders (one and all) will mend their ways after reading your rant!!!

:C..:C..:C

~

[Gdetrailer]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

mowermech wrote:
I wonder how many of the complainers have actually timed the "excessive idling".
Personally, I have found that many times what I thought was half an hour of noise was actually only 5 or 10 minutes.
Time sure moves slowly when one allows oneself to become overly annoyed!

This is the best answer in this entire thread.

Not necessarily the "best answer"..

I HAVE "enjoyed" on several occasions either excessive (bordering on abusive and obnoxious) "idling" from diesel vehicle owners in a campground..

The first time was right around 5 AM right across the road from my camping spot.. They "idled" their MH clear up to the 11 AM checkout time :M

This year while camping I got to enjoy one super proud "Cummins" owner who thought that it would be great to "share" their highly modified oversized exhaust system with dual 12" stacks with muffler delete with the entire block of the campground.. They would start it up 10-20 minutes before leaving the campsite and allow it to idle 10-20 minutes when arriving at their campsite :M

Over the years I have been subjected to excessive idling, super loud exhausts and even the ones with the over the top thumping stereos that can be heard a 1/2 mile away for hrs on end..

Yes, there are a few detractors but I still enjoy my camping trips anyway in spite of those who don't care about others..

I try to keep my campsite quiet and not make any more excessive noise than needed..

[Mr_Mark1]

It is recommended with our Volvo engine to be put in on 'high idle' at any time that it is parked and running. Our coach has 12V and 24V systems, we have four starting batteries.

At start-up, I crank the engine and let it idle for a minute just to get the oil circulated then I hit the 'rabbit switch' (our high idle switch has a drawing of a rabbit on it).

Our coach builds pressure rather quickly. We have to have the engine running to operate the slides and to fill the airbag suspension. Since we have four slides, it takes about 30-40 seconds per slide to retract or deploy.

Our slides have air-seals that need to deflate before the slide can move. That takes about 10 seconds to deflate, 10-15 seconds for the slide to move and 10 seconds for the slide seal to re-inflate. Multiply that by 4 slides, so that procedure could take 4-5 minutes as I run around the coach hitting buttons.

Arriving at the RV park, during set-up idling and slide opening, the turbo charger and engine have cooled down to about 180 degrees. The high idle procedure turns the radiator fan on high speed which cools down the engine faster. If I'm near leaves on the ground, the radiator will pull up any 'light' debris into the fan grill. The fan is STRONG!

When we pull in, I run out to check the electric/water connections and start connecting. That is also additional time for cool down. Now, I'm ready to open the slides. I like to be plugged-in when putting such a large electrical load moving the slides. Our slide mechanisms are amazingly robust and heavy and probably run on the 24 volt side of the coach. Then, I can put out the slides then level the coach on the air-bags. So, all and all, maybe 15 minutes, 20 min. max?

You will not get any fumes from our diesel as the DPF (diesel particulate filter) takes care of that and our engine exhausts out the roof.

We like to leave around 11:00 am from the RV park and we like to get set-up sometime around 4-6 pm where ever we are going. So, I don't think we really disturb many people. A diesel is what it is, they are loud.


Safe travels,
MM.