Site squatters

[sparkydave]

I'll say this is a first for me. Showed up at the campground Friday night where I had a reservation, had a map of the campground since I hadn't been there before, and... There's somebody's truck parked in the middle of our site. Double check the reservation e-mail, and yeah, that's our site all right. Fortunately, when I asked the folks next door if that was their truck, they were apologetic about it and quickly moved the truck out of our site. I'm just glad they were around, since they disappeared for most of Saturday.

You would think that if the campground had a sign out front saying they were full, one could infer that that empty site might not stay empty, so parking on a site you didn't reserve might not be a good idea.

[hotjag1]

LMHS wrote:
With the truck camper, we do not off load the camper and we do not tow. We often take the truck (and camper) with us when we leave to go anywhere. Bought a $10 collapsible emergency/traffic cone from Harbor Freight and pulled the plastic bit off the top. Stuffed the top section of a $1 solar stick light in the top so the whole thing has a soft glow at night. I leave it in our site when we pull out to go someplace so no one can seriously think the site is unoccupied. Some campgrounds are very dark, so we tend to leave out out for our whole stay. Makes it easier to find our site. Since it collapses, it stores easily.

Your idea is much easier than my procedure of leaving a couple of cheap lawn chairs and a tablecloth in the site.

[LMHS]

With the truck camper, we do not off load the camper and we do not tow. We often take the truck (and camper) with us when we leave to go anywhere. Bought a $10 collapsible emergency/traffic cone from Harbor Freight and pulled the plastic bit off the top. Stuffed the top section of a $1 solar stick light in the top so the whole thing has a soft glow at night. I leave it in our site when we pull out to go someplace so no one can seriously think the site is unoccupied. Some campgrounds are very dark, so we tend to leave out out for our whole stay. Makes it easier to find our site. Since it collapses, it stores easily.

[wnjj]

Boomerweps wrote:
Wow!
I see no reason under normal circumstances that there is a need to park your TV in another campsite. Just inconsiderate selfishness, too common today.

I can think of a simple one. If the site is kind of small and you have to park your vehicle crossways between the hitch and roadway it may be easier to just pull in the empty spot nearby if you're planning to leave again, provided you are there to move it if needed. What they could have done better under the circumstances is watch for the new arrivals and proactively move before they had to ask. Regardless, not a big deal.

We arrived to our reserved spot once to a complete setup with 2 tents and bunch of stuff all over the table. They didn't come back from the beach for 30 minutes or more. I explained that it was reserved and they happily packed up while I helped others in my party get parked in their spots. Kind of clueless on the squatters' part but no big deal.

[agesilaus]

Camp hosts are not the law but the FS ones have a Ranger on call that is and I assume BLM ones do as well.

[S_Davis]

jjrbus wrote:
After 1 experience am going to start carrying crime scene tape and chalk to make the outline of a body. Would stop most but not a lot of these entitled young people.

You forgot the ketchup packets.

[JaxDad]

agesilaus wrote:
We reserved a BLM FHU site a week ago today, paid and left the envelope flap on the post at the site. Went off to pickup up our TT and bring it back. Came directly back and found another TT already set up in our spot.

Had something similar happen to me, called the office and someone came out. The offender told their story with a silly smile on their face. Then I pulled out my phone and without a word showed the staff the picture of my card on the post and pointed to the time and date.

The offender was less than politely told they 5 minutes to be out of the park. Period.

[Grit_dog]

Boomerweps wrote:
Wow!
I see no reason under normal circumstances that there is a need to park your TV in another campsite. Just inconsiderate selfishness, too common today.
Bikers (or hippies or any group) going camping in the “wilderness” so they can make noise and have a good time, instead of doing that in town. Gee, don’t camp there or wear earplugs and carry a weapon, openly. If they arrive after you, see part two of previous sentence. Most people doing “bad things” try not to be observed, no witnesses.
IMO, camp hosts’ primary purpose is to observe and call the right people for a given event. Literally, keep an eye on things. Checking and posting site tags, minor site cleanup at state parks, all secondary.

Great points. Except I think you’re confusing the typical behavior of “hippies.” Lol.
Bottom line this happens and not even sure why the OP found the need to post as he wasn’t dealing with a “squatter” at all, just a nice person who’d parked his truck there. 2nd guys post was more appropriate to the thread title.

[Grit_dog]

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
Well Mr. rabbit hunter congratulations on your education and yes the keyword is sometimes and like a day and night until forced to remove said truck by arriving reserved campers if owners of said truck are at the campsite and not out hiking, fishing, etc. They usually have two or more vehicles.

Yes it happened to me more than once and had to wait hours for their return to move the truck. But of course you already know all this and never be a guilty party. By all means fly that flag sport and you can sign up for the next GF and thank you for being a generous taxpayer. WAJ. You will have my support all the way!!!!

Cheers from the big casino.

Your seemingly constant arrogant verbage insinuating that you’re taking advantage of the “system” financially, as so many low class people in this country do, is really sickening to us “generous taxpayers”….just sayin’.
PS, no one knows what your personal made up abbreviations mean, or if they do, they as normal folks likely choose not to use them….

[aftermath]

That person who temporarily parked in your spot was fine. They apologized and quickly moved it. No harm done.
Those persons who tore up your ticket and took you spot should have been removed from the campground and fined.
I like the "must occupy site the first night" requirement. If that doesn't happen, it should be open season.
Years ago when our two daughters were quite young I left with them to set up camp early at our favorite lake. My wife would follow. The rule then was you had to occupy your site and fill out and pay within an hour. I got set up, had the envelope in hand and was waiting for my wife so we could put the fee and the extra car fee in the same envelope. I was technically breaking the law. A ranger showed up, heard my story and fined me! My daughters were watching the interchange and it took all of my reserve to stay calm. She fined me $30 and then said that I didn't have to pay the camping fee ($10) for that first night. I wrote a letter to the State Ranger and got a very nice reply with a promise they would talk to the individual. I did not get my money back though.

[Boomerweps]

Wow!
I see no reason under normal circumstances that there is a need to park your TV in another campsite. Just inconsiderate selfishness, too common today.
Bikers (or hippies or any group) going camping in the “wilderness” so they can make noise and have a good time, instead of doing that in town. Gee, don’t camp there or wear earplugs and carry a weapon, openly. If they arrive after you, see part two of previous sentence. Most people doing “bad things” try not to be observed, no witnesses.
IMO, camp hosts’ primary purpose is to observe and call the right people for a given event. Literally, keep an eye on things. Checking and posting site tags, minor site cleanup at state parks, all secondary.

[NamMedevac_70]

Well Mr. rabbit hunter congratulations on your education and yes the keyword is sometimes and like a day and night until forced to remove said truck by arriving reserved campers if owners of said truck are at the campsite and not out hiking, fishing, etc. They usually have two or more vehicles.

Yes it happened to me more than once and had to wait hours for their return to move the truck. But of course you already know all this and never be a guilty party. By all means fly that flag sport and you can sign up for the next GF and thank you for being a generous taxpayer. WAJ. You will have my support all the way!!!!

Cheers from the big casino.

[nickthehunter]

So some guy parks his truck on another site for a few minutes and now he is a drunken, load music playing, late night partying, motorcycle puke. Wow, I never imagined what parking my truck on a vacant site for a couple of minutes while I got my site situated meant. Now my education is complete.

[NamMedevac_70]

time2roll wrote:

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
In recent years I have frequently observed large crowds camping together in several adjacent sites with loud partying/music late into the night. Camp hosts do nothing but usually leave for the weekend or holidays. You're on your own boys and girls. Reason I camp before and after July, August and no holidays or weekends. Cheers from the big Casino.

Camp hosts are not the law but rather just there to observe and be helpful during daylight hours. Don't expect them to intervene with a bunch of drunks late at night in possible possession of unknown weapons.

Instead call the ranger, local sheriff or police. They have the training, authority and a gun. Verify where to report the mayhem when you check in.

I know that KH and I have seen armed forest service rangers in east
Texas drive thru a FS campground giving high fives and friendly waves
to a crowd of drunken motorcycle pukes raising hell on several adjoining sites. Camp host were gone for the long weekend billy bob. That ranger should hand in his badge and gun and stop stealing from the taxpayers. Sort of like the do nothing Parkland puke.

Even when camp host are there KH they do not call for the useless rangers but go shopping. In 30 years of camping I have found many camp host to be total useless do nothing critters that don't want to be bothered with any info about site problems such as non working post, etc. on the site. You know all this of course bb. But they are great wonderful Americans who fly the flag. Your education is now complete. Congratulations.

[time2roll]

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
In recent years I have frequently observed large crowds camping together in several adjacent sites with loud partying/music late into the night. Camp hosts do nothing but usually leave for the weekend or holidays. You're on your own boys and girls. Reason I camp before and after July, August and no holidays or weekends. Cheers from the big Casino.

Camp hosts are not the law but rather just there to observe and be helpful during daylight hours. Don't expect them to intervene with a bunch of drunks late at night in possible possession of unknown weapons.

Instead call the ranger, local sheriff or police. They have the training, authority and a gun. Verify where to report the mayhem when you check in.

[NamMedevac_70]

No accident maybe?? They may have put the truck in your spot so no one else would set up next to them or have friends on the way in another RV. I have seen this frequently at public campgrounds as I do observe what goes on around me for my own safety in addition to fun camping and fishing.

Sometimes it is the older folks that squat/takeover on another's site. I am 76 and never have done this in 30 years of camping.

In recent years I have frequently observed large crowds camping together in several adjacent sites with loud partying/music late into the night. Camp hosts do nothing but usually leave for the weekend or holidays. Your on your own boys and girls. Reason I camp before and after July, August and no holidays or weekends. Cheers from the big Casino.