Unwritten Truths #1: Really difficult sites to get into (long)

[AustinBoston]

This is first in a series about camping with a pop-up that you won't read in any guide.

So you've been driving for a bit too long.  The kids are getting their third wind (and are taking it out on each other).  The sun has set.  And you have finally arrived at that campground that came so highly recommended on the Arvee Club.

Of course, there are two campers ahead of you at the check-in desk, and the only desk person is so friendly that it is impossible for her to be in a hurry.  By the time you get out of there and try to follow the map to site 232B it is pitch black outside.

Of course, you drive by site 232B because you didn't realize there was a site there.  By the time you loop around, it's even darker, and only 20 minutes to quiet hours.

Then you realize what you're up against.  How under all the starry sky are you supposed to get the pop-up into THAT?  Skycrane helocopter?  To make matters worse, the audience rule is in full force (the bigger the audience, the harder it is to back a trailer), because everyone else is done setting up and eating dinner, and they all have their cold beverages around the campfire waiting for you to arrive so they can watch you try to back in.

I believe there are different types of difficult sites, but most are a combination of several things.

The first item of difficulty is the obstacle.  Obstacles can be trees, rocks, stumps, utility posts, picnic tables, ligh poles, pets, and other campers, to name a few.  Obstructions come in different classes.  

Class A obstacles can be moved, at least theoretically, out of the way.  These include things like picnic tables or downed logs.  Just pick them up and carry, slide, or roll them away from the only place that the camper will fit.  Of course, that means moving them away from the only place that they will sit flat and stable, but hey, this is camping.

Class B obstacles can't be moved, but can easily be seen.  Trees and phone poles come in this category.  They generally do not make the site difficult to get into, but they do increase the difficulty of an already difficult site.  They are often a glimpse into the sick mind that thought this postage stamp would make a good campsite.

Class C obstacles can't be moved, and can't be seen.  Tree stumps, rocks, and utility poles are examples.  They are a bigger problem than the Class A and B obstacles because they can't be seen, and will suddenly increase the apparent difficulty as soon as you hear the crunch of contact.

Class D obstacles are the ones that move themselves.  Small children and unleashed pets fall into this category.  Let's just say these are clearly the most important obstacles to avoid.  The crunch of contact is not acceptable with class D obstacles.

Class E obstacles are the ones that weren't there before you hear that crunch of contact.  Most of them are class C obstacles...after the tell-tale crunch.  Even worse than the crunch of course is the spouse noise that follows.  I like to call these the ghost obstacles because they seem to appear out of nowhere.

Class F obstacles are the overhead ones.  Tree limbs and phone lines are the most common, but sometimes there is an old shoe or bicycle hanging from that limb or wire.  They make themselves clear only after the pop-up is parked and you try to pop it up only to find it makes contact with something you don't want it to touch about 4 inches before being all the way up.

The next item of difficulty is the angle of approach.  This is how tight an angle the camper needs to make when backing into the site.

The simplest angle of approach is straight in.  Once in a while, if you are supremely lucky, you will experience this in the form of the perfect pull-through site, where you can go straight in and straight out without backing.  In your dreams, buddy, in your wildest dreams.

Second is the moderate angle.  This is usually accompanied by a narrow campground road and a narrow campsite.  You don't have to get the camper around too sharply in order to back in, but you have to know how to back accurately.

The third is the right angle.  Whoever decided that a 90 degree angle was to be called a "right angle" never had to back a camper, because I can tell you, there is nothing "right" about it.

Finally, there is the jacknife angle.  This is where you just KNOW that one-way sign on the campground road has to be pointing the wrong way.  No sane person could possibly expect anyone to get any trailer around that corner without making contact between the trailer and the van.  Your best hope is to try to back the trailer by hand.  Of course, the trailer will get stuck in the sand if you do.

Then there is the elevation issue.  The books will never tell you that, when faced with a difficult backing situation, you will have to do it while going up hill.  This is always worse than it may at first appear.  That little bump as you ease around the corner will accomplish one thing...that the only thing you, the driver will see, either over your shoulder or out the back window, is the roof of the pop-up.  It will fill the rear window, it will fill the side mirrors, and it will block the sounds of your spouse's frantic screaming.  Don't despair, though, because it won't stop you from hearing or feeling the crunch of contact.

There is an exception to the uphill issue, called the dropoff issue.  If, in the event of a level site, you find you are almost all the way in, and you just need to back up a few more feet to get the pickup out of the road, DON'T GO ANOTHER INCH.  If you need to back up another foot, then another three inches will have your trailer plunging off the dropoff, and you will find out how good the tow vehicle brakes are when the camper is dangling by the hitch.

Finally, there is the lighting issue.  These things always happen after dark.  Usually after VERY dark.  There won't be a light anywhere, and the only light you will see will be the van's backup lights fully illuminating the front of the trailer.  If campers in nearby sites offer their bazzillion watt floodlights, don't accept!  They are not interested in helping you.  They will turn them on, and point them at your eyes, blinding you.  They want to see the sheer terror as you try to back and look of utter defeat when you hear that inevitable crunch of contact.  No, their lights will not help you see anything.

Austin

P.S. - Look for more of these in the coming weeks.

[Nick]

Very funny, but so true, so very true.

[tlhdoc]

The third is the right angle.  Whoever decided that a 90 degree angle was to be called a "right angle" never had to back a camper, because I can tell you, there is nothing "right" about it.

One of my favorite campsites has a 90 degree angle to get into it, and when you make the angle and think "wow I made it, the rest will be easy", the tree that grows out over the road (long back in) to the site is waiting to get your PU or Truck mirror.

[labontefan]

You were watching me trying to back into that site in Williamsburg a couple of weeks ago, weren't you?  :p   :rolleyes:

[B-flat]

There's an immovable object called a tree which won't allow the awning to be fully set up.  Therefore the camper must be repositioned by moving it over 5 more feet, and the camper must be backed into the site a second time.  Meanwhile the folks on the adjacent sites and across the road have all lined up in their camping chairs with cold ones in hand to watch the show.

[Papaso]

You must be talking about site #27 at Bahia Honda SP down in the Florida Keys. It's the narrowest, longest, tree covered, fenced in, uncomfortable, site I"ve had the honor of camping on. But once we shoehorned our way in we were camping and that's what it's all about . I just made sure I entered all this info in our Camping Journal (available at the PUT store) along with the nicest site #
for future visits.
By the way very funny and entertaining in true Austin fashion.:J

[angelsmom10]

Austin is back with his incredible stories.
 
We did have an audience the first time we camped with a group at a GLPUC-OH and yes the group just stood there and watched instead of helping and giving directions like.....:W -- they just sat there with beers in had and laughed.
 
Now it's our turn to watch everyone :J

[gsm x2]

This picture doesn't do this justice.  What you can't see is the retaining wall that is to the left of the TV.  We are so close that one of the stabilizers is lowered onto the retaining wall and when we dropped down the step, it was two inches from the Class A.



What you also can't see is that I tried to pull through this space from all four directions, but couldn't, so was forced to back in.  Good guidence and a fair amount of luck got me in the space.  The Class A owner wasn't around at the time, but it seemed like everyone else in the campground was watching.  You should have seen the Class A owner scan every inch of his precious motorhome to see where I might have scratched it.

gsm x2

[tlhdoc]

The site I posted about is #18 at RB Winter SP, in PA.  The park is in the woods and you have to make a 90 degree turn into the site and then back about 130 feet down into the site, BUT once you are in the site, it is nice sized and there is a small stream bubbling right by it.  The stream blocks out the noisy neighbors.  You are only a short walk to the modern bath house and you are camping below and behind the other sites.  Across the stream is part of a forest for the kids to play in.  You just have to make the turn and get past the tree that bends out to get you. :p

[Kelly]

This picture doesn't do this justice. What you can't see is the retaining wall that is to the left of the TV. We are so close that one of the stabilizers is lowered onto the retaining wall and when we dropped down the step, it was two inches from the Class A.
 

TOS ~
That's a campground???  Thought it was the parking lot at Target!
Nice parking job!
 
The first time I backed into a spot at a campground I faced the other dreaded dropoff .... Park Ranger says "oh, that drops a little bit and then levels right off ~ you'll be fine."  Yea right!!!  It just kept droppin' and droppin' ... never did get the PU level front to back.  Good thing ds didn't roll out the back bunk!!
 
Great post, Austin!

[aw738]

This picture doesn't do this justice. What you can't see is the retaining wall that is to the left of the TV. We are so close that one of the stabilizers is lowered onto the retaining wall and when we dropped down the step, it was two inches from the Class A.
 
 
 
What you also can't see is that I tried to pull through this space from all four directions, but couldn't, so was forced to back in. Good guidence and a fair amount of luck got me in the space. The Class A owner wasn't around at the time, but it seemed like everyone else in the campground was watching. You should have seen the Class A owner scan every inch of his precious motorhome to see where I might have scratched it.
 
gsm x2

Too bad you didn't get the site on your left side. The TT seems to have plenty of room.

[gsm x2]

Kelly said--TOS ~
That's a campground??? Thought it was the parking lot at Target!  
Nice parking job!

Kelly--that was a campground in Sedona.  It was THE LAST CAMPING SPOT in town.  When we drove in, there were 70% permanents; people living in tents, VW Bugs, and a travel trailer that had its slide up held up by bar stools.  Plus a Guru meditating on the grassy area.  We decided, "Heck, we're in Sedona because its an art community and G is interested in the Vortexes; this must be a vortex of art people."

I don't think the Class A guy ever got into the aura if you know what I mean.

Scott

[jawilson]

This picture doesn't do this justice.  What you can't see is the retaining wall that is to the left of the TV.  We are so close that one of the stabilizers is lowered onto the retaining wall and when we dropped down the step, it was two inches from the Class A.

Holy crap! Tell me that's not what camping is like in your neck of the woods. I've seen more clearance between vehicles in the parking lot of the mall...

[tlhdoc]

I would give up camping if it was all like that.

[brainpause]

I would give up camping if it was all like that.

Us too.

And Austin is BAAAAACK, posting Austin posts the way we all remember and love!

Larry