Claiming a first come campsite

[wintersun]

Curious as to what people do when they go to a first come first serve campground without formal registration. BLM for example states: "Camping equipment and/or a recreational vehicle is set up at the site to clearly indicate the site is taken."

I don't want to leave valuable gear at a campsite to show it is "taken" and we don't want to have stay parked in the space. Interested in what people have done successfully in this situation.

[noe-place]

Isn't that what those orange traffic cones are for?:B

[doxiemom11]

Many people travel in vans, class b's or class c motorhomes that do not have a toad. If they have paid for a site, as hosts we instruct them to leave chairs or something on the site to show it has been taken. If someone came into the campground and "moved" that persons personal possessions off the site and moved in, we would make them move. If you have a concern about whether a site is taken or not, please go talk to the host. In most campgrounds, even first come first serve, self pay - you will usually get a stub to put on the site post also to show it is taken.

[The_Texan]

NCWriter wrote:

57 Panhead wrote:


I will say that it ticks me off to arrive at a site and see a lawn chair or cooler sitting there with nothing else. They are taking a site and not using it for a day or so and to me that just aint right. If you want to be the "first come" then set up and use the sight!

Steve

Really?....maybe they've already been enjoying their paid-for site in a smaller RV ( for days, for all you know), and just drove their RV over to the nearest grocery store, or to visit other areas in the park to hike...or see some local sights, planning to return later for dinner and a good night's sleep???

There is certainly no requirement I've ever heard of that after campers have selected and paid for their sites that they must occupy it continuously 24/7 during the reservation!

To answer the original poster, most of us leave chairs, and some use an orange traffic cone to indicate that we've paid for a site for that night.

Sorry, but the USFS told us when we were CG host that there would be NO chairs, coolers small tents used to claim a site and if we saw it, we were to call the on duty ranger and they would remove the "equipment" and the site was available. Weekends like this one are prime for this behavior. People go up on Mon or Tues, claim a site then return on Friday.....USFS says NO WAY Jose, it must be occupied to claim it.

[Eurocamper]

wintersun wrote:
I don't want to leave valuable gear at a campsite to show it is "taken" and we don't want to have stay parked in the space. Interested in what people have done successfully in this situation.

Buy or make a campsite occupied sign and put it up in a conspicuous spot. A tablecloth would be an inexpensive place holder too.

[Eurocamper]

57 Panhead wrote:
I will say that it ticks me off to arrive at a site and see a lawn chair or cooler sitting there with nothing else. They are taking a site and not using it for a day or so and to me that just aint right. If you want to be the "first come" then set up and use the sight!

Steve

Really? Are they supposed to stay in their site 24 hours a day? Maybe they're out exploring in their truck camper or motorhome. I used to camp in a Volkswagen camper and frequently left just a chair or a cooler in my site when I had to go somewhere - and sometimes I would be gone all day.

Sidenote: I made the mistake of leaving some Lynx Levelers in my site once when I drove off in my VW for a few hours. I figured it would save me a few minutes leveling the van when I got back. Sure enough, somebody came by and took them.

[Eycom]

PapPappy wrote:
I can see where it might be a hassle for folks with a MH or TC, that may want to drive off site to see something. Guess that is one of the bonuses of having a TT or 5er....you can leave it there....as nobody will second guess that!

Just as an aside... it takes about 10 minutes to offload a TC and lower it to the ground. Then, the truck's pickup is incredible.:W

[PapPappy]

I guess a "Be back soon!" sign would work, in addition to a few chairs.

I can see where it might be a hassle for folks with a MH or TC, that may want to drive off site to see something. Guess that is one of the bonuses of having a TT or 5er....you can leave it there....as nobody will second guess that!

I like the idea of the ex-wife.....but then again, you may not want to go back to claim your site either!!:B

[DutchmenSport]

Carry a small pup tent with you all the time and set the tent up if you have to leave. This will mark the spot as taken. Would not hurt to leave a couple folding chairs out too. We've not ever had to do this with a TT, but if in a MH, and you want to leave your site for whatever reason, the small, inexpensive pup tent would mark your spot as taken.

[Dolph]

I always left my ex-wife sitting in a chair at the site as a marker that we were going to occupy the site, in the next few days.

[NCWriter]

57 Panhead wrote:


I will say that it ticks me off to arrive at a site and see a lawn chair or cooler sitting there with nothing else. They are taking a site and not using it for a day or so and to me that just aint right. If you want to be the "first come" then set up and use the sight!

Steve

Really?....maybe they've already been enjoying their paid-for site in a smaller RV ( for days, for all you know), and just drove their RV over to the nearest grocery store, or to visit other areas in the park to hike...or see some local sights, planning to return later for dinner and a good night's sleep???

There is certainly no requirement I've ever heard of that after campers have selected and paid for their sites that they must occupy it continuously 24/7 during the reservation!

To answer the original poster, most of us leave chairs, and some use an orange traffic cone to indicate that we've paid for a site for that night.

[mich800]

57 Panhead wrote:
My understanding is that on a federal first come first served campground such as NPS or BLM is that unless you are ready to occupy you are not supposed to leave any thing to "claim" the sight. I don't know what to suggest other than that. We arrive and setup and done, if we don't get a "choice" site then so be it.

I will say that it ticks me off to arrive at a site and see a lawn chair or cooler sitting there with nothing else. They are taking a site and not using it for a day or so and to me that just aint right. If you want to be the "first come" then set up and use the sight!

Steve

Not sure why one would do it any other way. Set up, go pay the tube, have fun you are done.

[ScottG]

57 Panhead wrote:
My understanding is that on a federal first come first served campground such as NPS or BLM is that unless you are ready to occupy you are not supposed to leave any thing to "claim" the sight. I don't know what to suggest other than that. We arrive and setup and done, if we don't get a "choice" site then so be it.

I will say that it ticks me off to arrive at a site and see a lawn chair or cooler sitting there with nothing else. They are taking a site and not using it for a day or so and to me that just aint right. If you want to be the "first come" then set up and use the sight!

Steve

I've seen this a couple of times and I've always been tempted to move the chairs to the dump station :B

[57_Panhead]

My understanding is that on a federal first come first served campground such as NPS or BLM is that unless you are ready to occupy you are not supposed to leave any thing to "claim" the sight. I don't know what to suggest other than that. We arrive and setup and done, if we don't get a "choice" site then so be it.

I will say that it ticks me off to arrive at a site and see a lawn chair or cooler sitting there with nothing else. They are taking a site and not using it for a day or so and to me that just aint right. If you want to be the "first come" then set up and use the sight!

Steve

[Terryallan]

A couple of chairs placed around the fire ring, is a good way, Or putting up a dining fly, or eazyup. Maybe a grill sitting there. You got to mark it somehow, and chairs, grills, and canopies are the easiest way.