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richinny · 11-12-2009, 02:14 AM

this came up on a search:
RV & Camper Backup Parking Sensor Kits

RV & Camper Backup Parking Sensor Kits

Gene · 11-12-2009, 04:48 AM

I let them guide me (or so they think), but do it pretty much like I always do, slowly, watching everything and getting out to look where I am when necessary. I do the same thing when Barb is guiding me since I am ultimately responsible when I'm behind the wheel (not a legal analysis). As it's the end of the day and I am tired, help is nice, but it's me doing the backing.

I once drove a Toyota Sequoia through a redwood tree in Cal. Lots of people watching and the hole in the tree was not straight. Later I saw some slight scratch marks on the roof rack and a right side door handle. Not sure how I did it. It was Barb's idea, but she didn't offer to drive. At least I was off the hook if I did worse.

Lynn guided me at his CG, and kept telling me to turn my wheel as if I had my hand on the top of the wheel and I had it on the bottom. I finally figured out what was happening. I have a lot more faith in him than I do with some of the people on the golf cart.

Now if someone wanted to drive my TV, no.

Gene

Skater · 11-12-2009, 05:47 PM

I know this thread is two years old, but I'm pretty sure no one would ever WANT to park my rig...

"Mind the cat. Please don't let him out of the camper. I know he's climbing on your lap and rubbing against your face, but please pay attention to driving. Yeah, he's pretty cute. Oh, you're allergic to cats? Too bad."

"Oh, yeah, the gear selector is a bit off."

"Yeah, sometimes the brake light doesn't come on even though I always set the parking brake when I get out."

"Okay, go ahead and push the dolly into the site by hand before you put the camper in. The dolly weighs 581 lbs. And don't even think about trying to back the dolly with the camper."

"Here, help me level the camper. Since your site is off-level in two directions, and the camper doesn't have jacks, it'll take us about 4 tries to get it level in both directions while we put blocks under each wheel. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass, but it wouldn't be a problem at all if your site was level."

I think, after dealing with me and my rig, they would cancel that policy. Not that I'd know, because I'd never be back. I don't mind that they will do it if asked (or even if they offer), but mandatory? No. And I can't believe their insurance thinks it's a good idea.

kevin242 · 11-12-2009, 08:20 PM

I suspect this "policy" is not there to insult the competent Airstream tow guru's, but rather to weed out the insane monster 5th wheel puller's who have no concept of what's behind them. I would rather let them park my AS safely than have some bumble butt RV'er dent my AS with their incompetent parking.

I totally believe Airstreamer's are typically the MOST competent RV'ers out there.

I work in a Canadian National Park and I have seen many others competing for the worst... I once overheard a woman directing her husband... "keep coming...keep coming...keep coming...." <CRUNCH> "STOP, STOP, you went too far!".

eubank · 11-12-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin242

... I work in a Canadian National Park and I have seen many others competing for the worst... I once overheard a woman directing her husband... "keep coming...keep coming...keep coming...." <CRUNCH> "STOP, STOP, you went too far!".

Yes, part of that crunch is rig, and the other part is the park's facilities. That's exactly why we instituted assisted parking. Put simply, it's assistance to the parker plus a good dose of enlightened self-interest.

Doing this, I've developed a feel for ease with which people can back various rigs into sites. On a scale from 1 (difficult) to 10 (a snap), it goes kind of like this:

Motorhomes and pickup campers: 10
Travel trailers: 8-9
Pop-ups: 7-8 (surprisingly tricky little snots)
Fifth-wheels: 2-3

Lynn

DavidsonOverlander · 11-13-2009, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

I let them guide me (or so they think), but do it pretty much like I always do, slowly, watching everything and getting out to look where I am when necessary.
Gene

The only time I've come close to damaging the trailer backing into a site was when I trusted a camp employee to guide me in. He was only watching one side and by the time he told me to stop, the awning arm on the other side was up against the roof of a picnic shelter. If the trailer had been a few inches farther over there would have been a dent, if I'd gone back a few more inches the arm would have been torn off or broken. That was the first and last time I've trusted anyone other than my wife to direct me, although I'm starting to rely on my kids a bit too.
I use the "back-up-a-bit-and-get-out-for-a-look" method if it's dark or there are a lot of close obstacles.
I wouldn't trust anyone else to back up my trailer with my truck. I grew up on a farm and learned to reverse a tractor with a baler and wagon - sometimes two wagons. However if the space was tight and they were using a tractor I would probably allow it while I watched. On the other hand, as many have noted, I'm not really interested in staying in a place where the sites are so close together that space is that much of an issue.

3streams · 11-13-2009, 05:26 AM

The only time I have allowed someone else to park my rig is when I arrive to an Airstream rally after a long drive and have trailered all by myself (without hubby)- then I gladly hand the job off to any one of the well experienced streamers already there. Of course if it's a pull through or I have the double axle I don't seem to have a problem- but that little single axle is hard to back up without it want to turn on you and quick!

Silverhobby · 11-13-2009, 08:38 AM

I encountered this when I had a "new-to-me" 2 year old trailer and I was at the first ever camp-out with it. The camp wanted me to unhook my Suburban and they would put the trailer on site with a tractor. My first thought was a strong NO. Their reason for parking it for me was to keep from tearing up their grass by making sharp turns. Well, their driver jacked my 34 footer so tight I thought the tires were going to leave the wheel, the grass, was damaged more that I would have ever done, and it was left sitting un-level. I had to hitch up AGAIN and level the trailer. Believe me, when I got hitched up I was VERY tempted to leave. MY thoughts today are I would leave the camp.

Alwhisman · 11-13-2009, 04:42 PM

....not gonna happen here! Where is the CG?

Al

firedog · 11-13-2009, 05:07 PM

Ok ,but they have to let me camp free. lol

HowieE · 11-13-2009, 06:07 PM

Allow someone to park my trailer. Not a chance.

The closest I have ever come was letting an employee at the alignment shop watch me back onto the shop and on the rack.

Note his attention to detail.

Skater · 11-13-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eubank

Doing this, I've developed a feel for ease with which people can back various rigs into sites. On a scale from 1 (difficult) to 10 (a snap), it goes kind of like this:

Motorhomes and pickup campers: 10
Travel trailers: 8-9
Pop-ups: 7-8 (surprisingly tricky little snots)
Fifth-wheels: 2-3

This is cracking me up. Thanks!

WILDRTEXAS · 11-20-2009, 05:15 PM

nope..

Catman6 · 11-20-2009, 07:01 PM

Considering I drive T/T's for a living, I'd have big issues letting someone else park it for me. I'd let them watch, erm, guide me, but as stated before, I always get out and look where I am if I can't clearly see. Letting someone else park my stuff would take some real convincing, and I'd really have to WANT to be there for some reason.

Journalist · 11-20-2009, 08:02 PM

I don't care how fancy the campground, how much insurance they have or how experienced the staff, they aren't touching my rig. If I can't do it myself, I'm not staying there.

edc4080 · 11-20-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Journalist

I don't care how fancy the campground, how much insurance they have or how experienced the staff, they aren't touching my rig. If I can't do it myself, I'm not staying there.

My sentiment exactly... I worked 17 years in the freight industry, most of which as a yard hostler. During my tenure, I backed up trailers, of all lengths, at least 30,000 times. With that said, I wonder who is more qualified to park my rig.

Mikethefixit · 11-21-2009, 09:24 AM

edc
I did the same thing(yard jockey) for 7 yrs before I retired ,45 yrs total. If I cant back it. ILL SELL IT. Cause when I cant do it anymore Im to old to be towing anyway.

overlander63 · 11-21-2009, 09:39 AM

You know, for some reason The post relating to my actual experience that caused this thread to be started never made it into this thread. oops.
Here is a link to the post, for anybody that didn't catch it when it happened:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/427379-post155.html

Cantrell · 11-21-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Journalist

I don't care how fancy the campground, how much insurance they have or how experienced the staff, they aren't touching my rig. If I can't do it myself, I'm not staying there.

Ditto that.You expect me to drive a 1,000 miles dodging potholes, horribly careless drivers, and overloaded semis and then give an hourly campground employee the opportunity of easing my unit into a pine tree in the last 50 feet of the trip? Not gonna happen.