Pop Ups in Pull thru sites.

[Larry in VT]

Hello,
Just wondering what people thought about using pull thru camping sites for pop up campers. Do many people use pull thru sites, and is it generally accepted as ok? We went camping over the long weekend and when I requested a pull thru site, the person at the campground said that pop ups don't usually go in pull thru sites. When I explaned that we would be arriving after dark, they said it would be alright. The other campers did not seem to care! We are new to camping with a pop up and did not want to ruffle any feathers!!

Thanks Very much!
Larry

2004 Jayco Qwest 10X
2004 Honda CRV
3 Happy campers in Central Vermont.

[fritz_monroe]

I've only seen a pop up in a pull thru 1 time and that was off season.  My understanding is that some campgrounds reserve those for the biguns.  I don't agree with this policy, but understand why they do it.

I say if you want a pull thru site and they reserve it for you, then take it.  Your money is as good as the other guy's money.  And you have as much right to that pull through site as anyone else.

[vjm1639]

Hmmm..I see Popups in the pull through sites all the time... everyone pays the same no matter what they're driving.

[Brantime]

Hello,
Just wondering what people thought about using pull thru camping sites for pop up campers. Do many people use pull thru sites, and is it generally accepted as ok? We went camping over the long weekend and when I requested a pull thru site, the person at the campground said that pop ups don't usually go in pull thru sites. When I explaned that we would be arriving after dark, they said it would be alright. The other campers did not seem to care! We are new to camping with a pop up and did not want to ruffle any feathers!!

Thanks Very much!
Larry

2004 Jayco Qwest 10X
2004 Honda CRV
3 Happy campers in Central Vermont.

Hello!

I have camped in the many different systems of campgrounds, (Private & Public) and have noticed an alarming trend over the past few years that did not happen as much in the past!

A division of classes and full fledged Snobbery, lol!

It was that all campers and campgrounds were created as equals and all the world was great! Camp where you wanted and enjoy yourself!

Then some campgrounds said that "No trailers older than 10 years of age." NO matter how well it was preserved or renovated!

Then it was that travel trailerites that thought that Popup campers shouldn't camp close to them and that they were not equals, shame! Popups should not use the pull through sites...after all they were just glorified tents on wheels and could just park anywhere!

Last week I saw a show that listed all the upper class campgrounds that only allowed the $1,000,000.00 rigs and the beggining prices of the lots were $240,000.00 each, and people were paying that price, and even in some places buying 3-4 lots to seperate the other campers from them!

My feeling is like VMJ's...your money purchases the same rights as anyone!

Be it tenting, popup, travel trailer or big rig, "Can't we all just get along?"

Camp and enjoy!

[Kelly]

We're going to a regional park at the end of the month and when I made reservations they offered a pull-thru site.  Whoopee!!  No backing up.  

Last month when we were at the same park I scoped out the site they gave me.  Yuck.  It's backwards.  The picnic table and fire ring are opposite the door and the door opens out to the road!  I went to the office to switch sites ... nope.  They're booked that weekend.  Since the PU is small and my van is short I'll be able to make the turn and back in.   That's the plan anyway.  Keep your fingers crossed!   :p

... and I agree with the others.  If it's a good site I'll take the pull-thru ~ my money spends just the same as anybody else's.  Aw heck ~ turns out even if the site is bad I'll still take the pull-thru!  LOL[/FONT]

[AustinBoston]

We're going to a regional park at the end of the month and when I made reservations they offered a pull-thru site.  Whoopee!!  No backing up.[/FONT]

Aha!  I hope Kelly doesn't mind me picking on her, but that "No backing up" statement is at the heart of the problem.

Sometimes, it's no fun to back into a narrow site.  But that's what makes it fun for the spectators.  Go ahead, those of us who got to the campground first want to see you sweat.

BTW, Mr. Murphy says you can only back in on the first try when the campground is empty.

Austin (get there early and avoid the embarrasment)

[BigJohn]

Personally, I like the back in sites, because generally speaking they are much wider than pull thru's. Besides, after a little practice you can become very adept to backing a trailer.

As far as etiquette, I don't know if it is or isn't "proper" to occupy a pull thru with a pup or a hybrid for that matter, unless it would be for a one-nighter, and not disconnecting from TV. I know some that do this, which makes pull thru's the choice.

The final determinant, of course, would be the campground management....JMHO

[Billy Bob]

Back up, pull thru, it doesn't matter as long as I don't have to jump over something.

If I can save a couple of bucks getting a back in site then that is the site I will choose.

For those who fear the "back up"  all you need is a little more practive. But here's a tip. Buy a longer trailer next time. The longer the trailer the easier it is to back up.  

And as far as the rig next to me. I don't care if it's a cardboard box. As long as they behave themselfs we'll get along just fine.

[ForestCreature]

The picnic table and fire ring are opposite the door and the door opens out to the road!  I went to the office to switch sites ... nope.  They're booked that weekend.  Since the PU is small and my van is short I'll be able to make the turn and back in.   That's the plan anyway.  Keep your fingers crossed!   :p
 

Ummm... Kelly..... Can't you pull forward into the site from the other side ? Wouldn't that put the door where you want it?

[zagles]

I find that watching people back in is very funny.  I am sure they find it funny when I am backing in.  I try to be all cool about it, like I knew it was gonna happen, that is the key.

[tlhdoc]

Ummm... Kelly..... Can't you pull forward into the site from the other side ? Wouldn't that put the door where you want it?

Yea what Marcy said.  Just pull through from the other direction.  
 
As far as where a PU is allowed to camp, that is up to the campground management, but if they wouldn't let me camp in the site I wanted, they wouldn't get my $$$.  It all spends the same.

[howlinowl]

For those who fear the "back up"  all you need is a little more practive. But here's a tip. Buy a longer trailer next time. The longer the trailer the easier it is to back up.  

Amen to that!!  I just camped with my Taos last weekend, and had no problems backing it into the site or in the driveway at home.  I have a 4x8 utility trailer that is shorter and narrower than the Taos.  With the hardshell topper (with no side windows in it) that is on my Ranger, I can't see it behind me, so once I see that it is going one way or the other, too late to correct it.  The Taos is a bit longer, but more importantly, wider so when it starts to go one way or the other, I can correct it before it gets too out of hand.

Allan

[Kelly]

Ummm... Kelly..... Can't you pull forward into the site from the other side ? Wouldn't that put the door where you want it?

Possibly.  The problem is the site is at the end of a row on the inside part of a loop and it's a pretty tight turn.  I think it will be easier to back in than to try and make the turn.   Did I really just say that?!  LOL

AB ~ I don't mind being picked on.  Each trip I get a little better at that backing up thing ... must be practice, eh?      Someday I hope to back in as well as you did in Forestville last year ... in the dark!  I too follow the "get there early" philosophy.  Very rarely will you see me arrive at a campground on a Friday evening!  

[Larry in VT]

Thanks everyone for your input!
I guess if we can't get the site we like, it is time to try another campground!

Thanks again,
Larry

[GeneF]

If you are getting a pull thru site with a popup, then I would say there is a 98% chance that you will be next to a big rig.  I think this would be more true in a private cg.

In our travels, we have requested pull thru sites at cg's but what you end up with is not a camping experience.  The pull thrus generally had full hookups.

The Kiwi is almost 28 feet long when open but when you are squished between two 40 foot Class A's you feel small and crowded.  Not a comfortable camping experience.

Kelly, if you remember at the cg Terry and I met you at in MN, we were the only hybrid in the area.  Rest were Class A's or big trailers.  This was basically an open field but a nice cg.

The area for tents and popups was more like camping with trees and winding dirt roads.

So, IMO, if you want to camp, take the tent or popup sites, if you want to be squished and not feel like you are camping, then take the pull thru.

Yes, I have run across one cg that discriminated against popups.  You could only stay for a week or two and then you had to leave but you could come back after you were gone a week.  They were into discouraging popups and tenters.