We all want to be happy campers, right? Well, here are ten tips to make sure your fellow campers are happy to be camping near you. A little consideration and simple campground manners will make everyone happier.
12 ways to make fellow campers happy
- If you notice that your RV neighbors are hosting an outdoor picnic and games, please wait to dump your tanks until the festivities end.
- Take your cell phone off speaker when outside your RV, unless you want everyone in the campground to know about your dad’s bowel issues.
- Pick up your dog’s poop! Every. Time.
- Watch your little children. It’s very hard for motorhomes and large trucks to see (and stop) when a child darts out into the campground roadway.
- Monitor your big children. Make sure they know and follow the campground’s rules. Set the example by following the rules yourself!
- In the evening, douse all bright outdoor lights (like RV porch lights and super-bright awning lights) so that others can enjoy star gazing.
- If you use the campground’s laundry room, always clean the lint out of the dryer vent. Also, set a timer or stay and wait for your loads to finish. Others might be waiting to wash and dry their clothes, too.
- Park your truck or towable vehicle well within your campsite boundaries or the campground parking lot. Do not park on your neighbor’s site, even if they aren’t using all of their assigned space.
- When you go inside your RV for the night, make sure your campfire is completely out. That means no smoldering embers with smoke drifting into your neighbor’s open windows.
- If you see something in the campground that requires attention, don’t complain about it to all of the other campers. Tell the management or camp host instead.
- Make arrangements for your dog(s) if you plan to be away from your RV. Your neighbors may want to listen to nature’s sounds instead of your barking dog.
- Wait to greet your RV neighbor until they are safely parked, unhitched, and all set up (electric, sewer, water).
How do you ensure that your campground neighbors are happy? Or is this even a concern?
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“I am not a new ‘newbie,’ but my perspective on RV etiquette is shifting. In 1999, I purchased a 26’ Winnebago Brave with the express purpose of traveling back and forth from California, where I had a home, and Kansas, where I was attending veterinary school. I never used the Winnie for recreational travel but enjoyed using it when I needed to. …” Continue reading about Dr. Karel’s recent observations about what has changed (or not) about RVing and RVers. Here’s her two cents’ worth.
##RVDT1919
#6! So many of the newer campers have bright LED lights on awnings and on the front of their rig. They really are annoying, especially when the owners of the illuminated rig are tucked into bed but the lights are still blazing. Almost as annoying are motion lights that come on as you take a star gazing stroll after dark. I’m talking to you, Edisto Beach campers.
Also, add don’t distract someone when hooking up. Unfortunately, I once violated this and wished farewell to an RVer we met at the park. He and I chatted the entire time he was hooking up his new toad. About 10 minutes after he left we were driving our toad into town when I saw a lot of smoke, then an RV. “That looks like Bob’s RV,” I said.
It was and the smoke was pouring out from his now ruined engine. He forgot to take the toad out of gear.
YES
Articles like this and the comments may go a long way to educating the new folks to Rv’ing. Like anything else – there is a learning curve and time needed – so discussion and opinions by us “Elders” can certainly enlighten. Now we just need to get everyone to read the articles! (Like the old saying – “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him/her drink.” )
Don’t leave your garbage in the firepit when you check out of the park, ESPECIALLY if it’s not burn-able. The worst one we have encountered was one full of beer cans, unfinished food, plastic, and dog poop. Almost every campground exit takes you right past the garbage bins.
#13 Be sure to honk the horn every time you lock your vehicle, get all of your stuff out and then lock your vehicle, you don’t need to lock it to walk 15 feet over to your RV every unloading trip.
#11 x1,000!!!
It is too bad that we have to remind people of the things that are just common courtesy.
I wish people would abide by rule 2. in the grocery store.
My pet peeve are the people that leave the headlight auto off delay on. Then every time they need something from their vehicle the headlights come on and shine brightly on your s’more fest. And you’re “blinded by the light”.
Yes, this and the horn beep on lock can both be disabled on almost every vehicle.
Why? I won’t disable it and then reenable it when I leave the campground! It is like daytime driving lights and/or auto on lights. People turn them off then can’t figure out why they are being flashed at as they drive around at dusk with no lights on endangering others. Daytime running lights should be mandatory like in Canada.