Help parking

[DickOK]

We were at a campground for a week that has 3 gentleman that help you park in your site mainly because the roads are narrow. They are very knowledgeable. The problem is the drivers concentrate so much on the helpers they do NOT pay attention to the whole area. In one day I saw a motorhome backing in strike a car and a 5th wheel shatter their truck rear window. WATCH

[toedtoes]

I do think there is a difference between escorting you to your site and asking if want/need assistance parking and just starting to tell you what to do and how to do it.

I don't have a problem with the former. It allows me to refuse or clarify signals, where I want/need to park within the space, etc. Advice, suggestions,etc. to simplify or make a better choice are welcome at that point in a conversation.

The latter denies me all that and instead says that someone else knows MY rig better than I do and that their generic solution is the best for every rig.

[Mickeyfan0805]

It's funny - I thought I was the only one. I get really annoyed when I get escorted to a site and they try to help me park. My wife and I do fine, and I don't want to listen to some "campground expert's" opinion on where/how I should park my rig. Let us figure it out and stay out of our way.

As for the OP - 3 of them?!? That would be far more input than I want in any parking situation.

[westernrvparkow]

Seems everyone on these forums are expert drivers. Somewhere, however lurks all the bad drivers that cause us $1000s of dollars of damage every year. I apologize to everyone who takes offense to the fact that we escort everyone to their site and ask them if they would like assistance in getting into that site. In a perfect world we wouldn't have to be concerned with people's ability to park, just like we shouldn't have to tell people to pick up after their pets and remind them of all the other things that common sense should cover. Just be aware that when you pay the site rental, a portion of that money is courtesy of those drivers who aren't as efficient as everyone on these forums.

[ken56]

I tell them to tell me if I am going to hit something, otherwise don't tell me when to turn. That is what the wife does. It seems everybody has their own hand signals and I can't interpret them from one to the other. I have 37 feet of TT and I do a fair job of backing in if I don't say so myself.


I think the good backing in people are a minority though. A lot of new RVers and less practiced people camping so I can understand a CG owner wanting to keep people from damaging anyone's property.

[2edgesword]

Ultimately the responsibility for safely getting into your site rest with the driver and his co-pilot.

[imgoin4it]

My wife does an excellent job of backing me in. I too have been to parks where someone wants to guide me in. I ask them if they use FMCA signals. If they don’t, I take time to instruct them. Also tell tell them the first time I see an arm going in a circle I stop and my wife takes over. Never really had a problem and I’ve taught lots of people about the FMCA signals. If someone doesn’t know them I highly recommend they check them out. Very easy and very simple to understand and to follow.

[CA_Traveler]

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[CA_Traveler]

Although some are very good I just ignore them. They usually get the message when they see DW with the radio.

DW is responsible for the rear including trees, curbs, etc. I'm responsible for the front - but I sometimes get advice about that :B. If I cannot see her in the mirror my foot is on the brake, period.

And no spotters will absolutely not take any responsibility for any problems. Don't know about their insurance but it might be considered a cockpit problem.

[Dave_H_M]

I turn down the help politely. It is my business. Wife and I have been doing it for decades and know the drill.

Like the Vegas park, we did have a guide take us to the sight one dark and rainy night in a big adz park. That was real helpful.

[LadyRVer]

When my husband was alive, he guided, I backed. In one campground in No. GA
the owner (lady) was very adamant that she alone will back me in. I tried to explain that my husband will get very upset, but she again told me.. SHE will back me in. So basically, it was either the "my way" or "the highway." She did an excellent job, but the attitude did affect my stay. Haven't been back there. Now that I am alone, I ask for pull-thru's and if none, will ask for help.

My last trip out, some man walked behind the truck on my blind side and I did not see him.. he started raising the power jack in front and I did not know it. I got out to see how much farther back to go and there he was. Fine, but I had not raised any of the stabilizers and he was raising the front which was putting weight on the rear stab power jacks Not appreciated. I do hook up by myself with no problems. Help is welcome, but first ask?

[fj12ryder]

Mostly I'd rather park on my own, but we did stay at a park that due to it's size the owner directed you. And it was either his way or the hiway, your choice. But darn he was good. A small park, lot o'trees, back-in site, narrow parking, and he got it in one shot. He said he has singlehandedly saved many marriages. 🙂

[Mr_Mark1]

The Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort in Las Vegas has stopped offering help (several years ago). I'm assuming that there were liability issues. They will take you to your site then off they go. I would rather the 'helpers' stay away and let me and my co-pilot take care of it because we have it down pat. 🙂

Even if I'm by myself (travel alone occasionally) and there is not a person to help, I will pull out my red cones and put them in strategic places to help me guide. That has worked really well for me.

Safe travels,
MM.

[lots2seeinmyrv]

We have had "helpers" too. Good to have more eyes in tough parking situations but, if DH cannot see me...he does not move no matter what they say.

[gbopp]

F-TROUP wrote:
3 people and there are accidents on their watch, "KNOWLEDGEABLE" is not the word I'd use.

x2, I wonder if they accept responsibility for their actions?

[Scottiemom]

dons2346 wrote:
I've had those "helpers" from the campground try and help me park. I tell them that if they cause me to hit anything with my coach, that the campground will be held responsible so please let my wife do the guiding. It usually works.

So many of those spotters stand in one spot and never look around the entire space to see what the other 39 feet are doing. I can park DH on a dime and miss everything but it's because I take time to stop periodically and assess every point on the coach. One time a spotter almost caused DH to rip off a mirror on a tree. That's when I told him to get out of the way and I would do it. They even had us coming in the wrong way for a site that had a tree in the way. Backing in the other way would have eliminated that threat, but they purposely brought him in that way. I was livid.

If I'm back there (and I will be), he pays attention to me.

Dale