We joined the campfire discussion a bit late this week, but it was easy to tell what folks were discussing: exterior RV lights.
“No one told me,” Janet complained. “It’s not listed in the campground rules or on signs around the camp either. How was I to know?”
Bob shook his head. “It’s common sense! When you go to bed you turn out the lights. ALL the lights. That includes outside RV lights. People are trying to sleep!”
Only the fire’s occasional snap and pop sounded in the uncomfortable silence that followed.
Unwritten rule?
I could empathize with Janet. For folks new to RVing, there’s an excitement and real joy at seeing your rig all lit up at night. Today’s RVs feature a host of different lighting, too. Cap lights, side panel lighting, awning lights, and even under-the-coach lighting. Not to mention porch lights, spotlights, lighted steps, and more. A fully lit RV might well act as a beacon for campers miles away! It’s quite a sight!
Common sense
I also knew where Bob was coming from because we’ve experienced “trying to sleep” as well. It seems counterintuitive to close your windows and shut out the wonderfully cool nighttime breezes. But if your neighboring RVer has their outside lights shining directly into your bedroom window, your choices are limited. We’ve tried to keep the window open and simply pull down the black-out shade. The breeze pushes the shade aside intermittently and the light glares in anyway. We’ve also tried sleep masks. They made sleep more difficult than the lights!
There oughta’ be a law
There needs to be a way for newbie RVers to learn the “Lights Out” rule. Perhaps campgrounds could help. Quiet times are generally listed on their campground rules list. Why not add “exterior RV lights” to the quiet time expectation? Something like: “Quiet time and exterior RV lights out at 11″?
But wait!
“I take the dogs out when it’s dark,” Jenn said. “I need light to see where I’m going.”
“Yeah,” Nathan agreed. “What if I’m still finishing up my work clothes in the campground’s laundry room? I need to see where I’m going, too.”
Bob argued, “Use a flashlight! A headlamp! Anything except those dang rig lights!” Clearly, Bob needed rest.
“I use my RV’s outside lights for safety,” Joyce quietly explained. “I travel alone. The outside lights help me feel safe.”
This discussion highlights the opposing “rights” of two groups of campers. Jenn and Nathan feel they have a right to safely move around outside in the dark and Joyce wants to feel safe. Bob thinks he has a right to a good night’s sleep.
What do you think? Is compromise possible? Let us know in the comments below.
Previous “Around the Campfire”
##RVT1089
Personally, I find the underbelly lights acceptable. Obviously, as I use them myself. But they don’t shine in anyone’s eyes or in their windows. Now, for those saying “I’m walking the dog”, or “coming back from the laundry”? That’s fine, leave a light on. Just remember to turn it off when you go in.
In our case, we’re out here in Quartzsite and I even have the under lights off! There are PLENTY of rigs that aren’t doing that, lights blazing away. For us, it’s part power-management, and part “I want to see the stars!”. I’m taking a flashlight to walk the dog, but if I really needed to, I wouldn’t feel bad turning a light on.
Under belly light OK as long as they are attached to the underside, directed straight down and not obnoxiously bright. The rope lights laying all over the ground are annoying.
We have one motion activated light shining on the steps. On for 30 seconds at a time unless the motion continues. Our awning lights are on the low setting and turned off when we retire for the night.
I also have a hard time sleeping when others leave their lights and string lights in the trees on all night. I finally got myself some cardboard and I put that in my windows at night, so I can sleep. Furthermore, I feel everyone is there to have a good time, and I was able to fix the problem without ruining others from enjoying themselves. My problem is, when they get so loud after 12AM, I can’t sleep. That bothers me more than the lights.
Ah yes the late nite noise maker. Whether in a hotel or campground what noisy neighbors don’t understand is I get up early. Sometimes mere hours after they go to bed. If you are quiet at night, I’m quiet in the morning, if not, oh well!
Do you leave the lights on at home all night, NO, then don’t do it in a CG. When you go in for the night turn off your lights it’s only a common courtesy. If you feel unsafe in a CG lock your door(s) or don’t camp. Walking at night, wear a headlamp, use a flashlight or just plane let your eyes adjust to the dark. You’re camping now, learn to be in the outdoors and enjoy the quiet and the dark skies.
As a matter of fact we do leave the lights on at home at night. Every night. We always have and our neighbors do it too. Think of it as a security measure. We also have blinds, curtains, and drapes. When we camp we have one small amber light on next to our door.
Yes we do. We have solar lights on at night at home. And to be honest, I have “learned to be in the outdoors”. Been camping probably as long as you, as most here have been. It’s a matter of preference. While camping the lights are out, at home they are on. No big deal.
I have clear led Christmas lights on my deck and patio on all night as well as a light pole on my home for security since I moved to the city. Camping at night I only leave my tongue jack light on to light my American flags attached to it. I dislike that the RV manufactures no longer put a single porch light by the RV door instead they put the long LED bright awning light. If it was on a dimmer maybe it would be ok.
We use awning lights that are not real bright for sitting out but always turn them off when we go in for the night right after last dog walk. I like the idea of adding lights out with quiet time hours. We cover our bedroom window so that no light gets in as it seems others like to leave lights on all night. Of course there is also the campground pole light right by our bedroom window that is there for your protection but too bright.
It’s rude and obnoxious to leave your exterior lights on all night. Some of the newer 5th wheels have docking lights that could double as landing lights at a major airport. If you need lights when moving around outside your rig at night or for a feeling of safety, go with motion detection lights.
I changed my bright white LED docking light to an amber one. We only turn them on when we take the dogs out. I never use the scare lights surrounding our 5th wheel. And we use flashlights when outside at nite. If I’m inside, I don’t think I need a light outside.
There seems to be a lot of concern for leaving the lights on when camping, but using a little common sense and respect goes a long way. Yes, if your neighbor camper has every outside string light he can find a place for, or hang, it’s quite annoying when it’s bedtime. But if we’re talking low voltage lights that do not light up the campground and enable that secure feeling, then go for it. It’s my camper and unless my not-so-bright lights are in your face, mine are staying on.
Whether we leave a light burning or not sometimes has to do with where we are camping. There’s been times when we didn’t exactly pick a great place to camp and felt a little uneasy. And I’m not sure about everyone else’s campers but ours comes with blinds/curtains….those are great for keeping out light.
I do not leave mine on all night. If I go out, I turn them on for a short time, like to get the dog out for three minutes or walk to the restroom, light helps to get back to the trailer, but I do use a flashlight also. I don’t care who leaves them on. Don’t people have shades to pull? I might not like lights if I was ten feet away from them, but I don’t go to such places. Leaving lights on probably lights the way for thieves.
We only keep the safety lights on if we are out at night, then turn them off as soon as we are inside.
If the neighbors have their lights on, we just roll down the black out curtains. Mountain out of a molehill, IMHO.
Same here. I don’t really like all the lights, especially when left on all night, but my eyelids work pretty well as blackout shades. I’m a light sleeper so noise is a far bigger concern than a neighbor’s light.
We have lights outside under our pop-up gazebo. They’re plugged into a timer so they come on at dusk and right now in January with 6:30 sunsets they stay on for 4 hours. As it gets dark later that will be adjusted to 2 hours. Our Yuma park is very dark and the lights help us navigate past the items on our patio.
I have “installed” removable tiny solar powered lights that are motion sensor triggered. No motion, no bright light. Simple solution.
The one on the rear is a bit bigger and brighter, but when you are not there, it still dims. No complaints over the few years they have been installed.
Out during day time.
I have found that those awning lights up against the wall can make the whole side of an RV become a beacon. If lights can be pointed directly downward, that helps.
Leaving all the bright strings of lights on when people go to bed is just inconsiderate. Not everyone is just trying to sleep and a blackout shade won’t work
If you’re outside enjoying the campfire, you might want to see the stars.
I don’t mind lights but there definitely is a time to turn them off.
I have learned a lot of the Airstream folks like to have their running lights on at night. Silly to me, but I use a couple of Solar garden lights, one at the hitch, the other at the stairs, one in the forest where no campers are. If there is a tent or awning, a Luci light gives just enough light so the Raccoon can see what he is stealing.
Who’d have thought that those people were just being kind and considerate? And all along I thought of them as just obnoxious bordello lights. But they were just search lighting.
Ours goes off when we go inside for the evening even if we don’t go to bed for another hour or two. Its the neighborly thing to do.
I’ll admit I usually do leave my awning lights on all night, but they are dimmable, and I dim them all the way down, unlike fellow campers that have rope lights lit up all over the ground and others that leave those annoying front cap lights on all night. Some campsites are so lit up that it surprises me airplanes haven’t tried to land there!
:-))))))))
Last sentence is best comment on this thread.
Question! I have read that when boondocking in the west desert areas that you need lights under your rig to keep pack rats, mice, and such from getting in. Led rope lights or similar to circle the jacks and tires keeps them away. Anybody have comments or answers about this?
Lights do not deter rats and mice. There’s videos proving this.
MousetrapMonday.com has disproven that lights keep rodents away. Very interesting website testing all kinds of rodent traps and deterrents. In his test the rodents climbed all over a pile of string lights.
The solution to keeping rodents out of your RV interior is to plug all possible entrances.
This debate is ongoing in our family. Me, I like it dark at night so I can see the stars, view the passing distant electrical storm. My wife, prefers the security, appreciates looking at “camp lights” in the wee hours of the morning when sleep evades her. If you are in many campgrounds even they get involved with lamp posts to light the way…. for who I am not sure as no one is out and about except the occasional dog walker and even they carry a flash light or head lamp to aid in locating doggy droppings. The debate continues at a 50-50 split here.
I have security lights and cameras at home, but rarely use the outside lights on the camper overnight. I have thought about motion sensor lights, but most are to large and obtrusive for the RV. Other’s lights don’t bother me, and people realistically need to realize that camping is camping and you need to take what comes with.
Simple Solution we use when camping..We use the exterior receptacle near the door to attach a timer to our “rope lights” to come on at the times we expect to be out after lights out(11pm usually) we have walked our dog just prior to this and as such have the rope light on the ground set to come on approximately 1 hour before sunrise as we rise early to fix our coffee and get our early morning walk in…The time can be set later, but we found a small LED light connected to the same circuit, but not on the timer, that is attached to our name plate we use at the front “roadside” side helps us see our location should we need to be out in the wee hours…AND since we both have our concealed carry permits, and we have small flashlights on a clip near the door, we don t have to worry about late night prowlers…and for all of you “single travelers”, we recommend finding a martial arts place near your home..they usually have week night or weekend free”seminars” dealing with self defense
I have lived in “the West” all my 77 years and have never left my outside lights on all night at my homes or any of my RVs. I have never had problems with any animals while camping although I have sometimes heard them (mainly cows on open BLM range while boondocking). We have had black bears, grizzly bears, coyotes, foxes, elk, deer, turkeys, eagles, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, and other birds and rodents in our campgrounds, but never any damage to the RV. At home and in the RV, we sleep in a blacked out bedroom with a fan for white noise (a rechargeable 5v fan when boondocking). But stray light can still get into the RV even with the shades down. So outside RV lights definitely disturb our sleep.
For night owls and those concerned about safety… lights out on the RV and a high intensity flash light at the fire. If need be, flick the RV lights on with the remote from the fire pit. No one should object if the lights go on for moment for safety sake.
This is what I do.
We really enjoy seeing the imagination that some people have when it comes to RV lighting. It reminds us of Christmas when everyone puts up all the exterior lights. However we also believe that leaving the lights on all night is just plain rude. Ten or 11 PM seems like a good time for exterior lights to be extinguished. We also have a dog which we take out at night before retiring. We use a flashlight and have a lighted collar on her.
And of course that brings up one of my pet peeves. The “thunk” when people enter or exit their RV. That is most annoying. It is really simple to just hold the door latch open as you shut the door and release it after you have pulled or pushed the door closed.
If you are afraid to sleep in a locked RV with the outside lights off, stay home. If you want to walk around outside late at night, please have the consideration to buy a good flash light and turn off the RV lights.
I have those silly bright LEDs on the front cab of our Class C and hate them. Have only turned them on to show someone what they look like. I turn on our awning lights when I go out at night and turn them off when I go back inside. I have a 24 ft flagpole on the rear ladder, but they shine down and are not so bright. I also tell the neighbors around me that if the light bothers them let me know and I will take the flag down at night.
This topic drives me crazy. Every picture I’ve seen when people are bitching about a light left on was from a road or the drivers side of their vehicle. I don’t know if the neighbor on the non patio side has a light on or not because my RV is blocking it, and when I go inside I have the night sides down and lights on in the RV until I go to bed and then sometimes I have the TV on so I still don’t see their lights. If someone can show me a picture from their patio side of a porch light or awning light from the neighbors I will rethink my opinion. Granted rope light on the ground circling an RV can be annoying if you are sitting outside but once inside and shades are down it shouldn’t make a difference.
I’ve seen plenty of big, circular lights on the driver/road side of RVs. It seems to be mostly a 5th wheel thing. What is the purpose other than to annoy people trying to use their curbside sitting area in the next campsite.
All state parks could include this little ‘poem’ I wrote a few years back (feel free to use!):
IF YOUR LIGHTS SHINE ON YOUR NEIGHBOR’S SITE
THEY ARE TOO BRIGHT TO LEAVE ON ALL NIGHT
Quiet hours should include dark hours in all state parks as they are designed to enjoy nature. If you want lights on then go to private campgrounds designed for night time activity (like the music festivals we go to where many have decorative lighting). Our blinds are not heavy plus we want a decent breeze most nights in our little camper as the AC is just disturbingly loud.
Personally have had GREAT results with a string of solar lights on the awning (they are just the right amount of light for OUR campsite alone) in combination with solar motion detector lights by the camper stairs for ‘after hours’. Everyone should use a flashlight to walk the dogs to keep an eye out for wildlife / incoming cars /people – no need for bright camper lights for after hour jaunts with one.
I think, for the most part, the folks who “need” their outside lights to feel safe are the same ones who leave their sticks n bricks home porch light on all night. Frustrating as heck to those of us who can’t sleep if it’s too bright. Ear plugs for noise are painful. Sleep masks don’t fit & make it even harder to sleep, so those are not the answer. In some places overnight lights are prohibited as “light pollution”. Please, just be considerate. If you are working outside, just turn out the lights when you go inside. If you’re walking the dog, your RV lights are no good much past your own site, so use a flashlight. Please.
We agree with the general consensus to turn your rig lights off at night. We have been full timing for the past two years, and many times want to take pictures of the stars on a clear night. cannot do this when there are several rigs nearby with their lights on.
Sorry that this needs to be discussed but to us it is common courtesy to go dark at night.
Another example of the “me generation”. No respect for others, just what I want. Turn out the lights!
For safety I would suggest motion lights that would come on when someone moved around the side of your rig.
Lights on or off? I think there’s a reasonable time for lights out, just like quiet hours. Our urban lifestyle is so full of lights, camping should be a darker quieter place.
We were sitting outside one evening watching a lunar eclipse but our neighbor had turned on his lights on the nose of his 5ver then went inside & closed his door for the night. The next day we were talking & he asked if I thought his bright lights were “cool” as he described them. I attempted to explain that many like to enjoy a nice campfire or seeing the moon & the stars at night with minimal ambient light. I told him I didn’t understand one turning on the exterior lights then going inside for the night but I wasn’t able to get him to understand how this can be a problem for others.
in today’s world, you’re lucky he didn’t beat you up or shoot you for even mentioning it
It doesn’t matter to me if lights are on all night or off through the night. Lights on through the night means I can shut off my flashlight while I am walking at night.
I have a low-luminance string of lights near our entrance on a photo sensitive timer, dusk plus a few hours. They help identify my rig when returning to our RV after dark. I mount a solar charged motion detector next to the door. You have to be within 4-5 feet of the detector. It is bright enough for me to see where the key goes. We only turn on the bright exterior lighting when there is a good reason. My retractable dog lease has a built-in flashlight, and I wear a ballcap with built-in lights that I turn on when my hands are busy with a doggy bag.
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is campground lighting. That’s right, security and street lighting maintained by the campground. I’ve been in many places where it’s just ridiculous. You don’t need a flashlight because the place is lit up like the parking lot at the mini mart. Where is the outcry about these places?
Totally agree.
Campgrounds are likely just trying to lesson their trip-n-fall liability. Certainly no one wants to pay extra electric bills.
There’s no outcry because you know what you’re getting ahead of time. If you don’t want to camp in space lit up like a Walmart parking lot then just keep driving.
Honestly, I wish half of the people commenting here would limit themselves to such places and leave the night alone for the rest of us.
Its the “LOOK AT me!” syndrome. Self-centered people that are not too many rungs up the evolutionary ladder….blasting music, TVs hung on outstide of rig, “cute” lights everywhere. I avoid any park that allows this selfish behavior…like the “fancy” RV park at that casino near Jackson, Ca. Very nice, otherwise, but this ruins it for me. Like sitting outdoors at the local mall parking lot.
My wife and I have been using solar powered outside lights with motion sensors.The ones we use also can be dimmed down for pretty low light. And the good thing with the motion sensors they have about a 20 foot sensor range and shut off with-in 30 seconds after you are out a range. We have also found a 3′ solar powered fluorescent that is dimmable with a motion sensor to use under our pop-up canopy or awning. Look on line and you can find all types of solar lights flood,spot, rope, pendant and wall mount.
We try to keep in mind about the people around us. So we try to not have our campsite all lit-up like Disney World. And we enjoy sitting around with the glow from just our campfire at night when ever we can.
Both my wife and I really dislike bright bragging outdoor lights. If someone leaves a yellow lens porch light on, or even some of the low-wattage rope lights some will string around the perimeter of their rig on the ground to keep the critters away are ok. For us, part of the joy of camping is to get away from bright urban lighting. Nothing will ruin a clear starry starry night more than a 38-foot 5th wheel lit up like the Vegas strip.
Lit up like the Vegas strip is a very apt way to describe it!
No lights could be as consistently irritating to every other camper in a general area than the bright LEDs on the nose of a late model 5th wheel trailer. They provide no useful lighting for the campsite they are parked at EVER as the light location always faces the access road and not the site or sitting area of the campsite its parked at. Not an ‘over 50’ favorite I’m sure.
I do understand the useful purpose is likely for young couples that let their kids play in the street after dark however, which may be a subject for a future article.
This is why I would rather boondock than stay in a Campground. Getting away from all the others who feel that lights are necessary at night is very relaxing. Just don’t want someone to cozy up to me in the wide open space and then turn on their lights. The darker the better. Then you can see God’s beautiful night sky.
Personally, I don’t mind if someone has the lights on because they’re using them or if it’s one of those small, not-terribly-bright porch lights some rigs have by the door. If someone turns the lights on to take out the dog or grab something outside that’s just part of living around other people. But I do agree that once you’re inside and it’s late, the outside lights should go off. If you need to step out again it’s not hard to turn it on for a minute, but leaving them off as much as possible just seems the polite thing to do. Though I’d say it also depends some on how bright the lights are. A dim rope light or porch light is a lot different than having a rig lit up like a Christmas tree with the bright awning lights or spot lights.
Polite, neighborly, considerate. Whatever happened to those concepts.
We were camping at Furnace Creek in Death Valley on a moonless night. It was a perfect night for astrophotography. We were all set up when a camper across the way turned all his exterior lights on. I walked over and nicely asked him if he could shut them off for an hour or two while we took photos. He humpffed & said he needed them on to take the dog out. I asked again if he could leave them off and then turn them on when he came out with the dog. He said that was too much trouble. So, we packed up the camera gear and drove a couple of miles away. It sure would have been nicer to take photos from the comfort of our campsite but I guess his needs were more important than ours.
We only have a small solar light string in a bottle, painted on the inside to keep it more subtle.This is tucked under the edge of our trailer, next to the steps, so they are illuminated if we’re out after dark, rather than leaving the porch light on.I do have a second light bottle, and a couple of garden stake bottles, to use if there are hazards that need to be lit, but only then.
We have camped in places where it is common to leave rope lights or such on underneath RVs, because pack rats are a huge issue. As long as they’re under the rigs and not too bright or badly aimed, it seems a reasonable solution to avoid chewed wiring, etc.
We keep our shades down anyway but my concern is the more people that keep their lights on the more electricity that is used and guess who is going to end up paying for that!
We put out our string lights. My wife enjoys them. So we will continue to do so. We do however unplug them once we hit the rack. We get more compliments when they are out vs complaints. In fact nobody has ever complained about our lights. I guess it’s easier to be a keyboard warrior vs having a simple conversation. Unreal what a ruckus this article has generated🙄. Most rv’s have black out shades or again simply be a friendly neighbor and ask the person next to you if they would mind unplugging them when they go to bed. It’s sad nobody can have a simple conversation anymore. Instead just complain on a forum and think that will resolve the problem. Laughable!
Agree completely!
The cranky old man comes thru in the comments just have a conversation instead of stewing in your RV
A- not everyone in a campground has an RV.
B- discussing a common issue on a forum doesn’t mean people aren’t also having those conversations in person… obviously.
I’d prefer to be in total darkness at night for sleeping, but, I certainly understand security. And, that’s why people have some lights on, but, they can be accent lights on a path or something…. They do not have to be “flood lights”……..SO, I think it depends on what kind of lights. If they seem too bright to you…. they are probably going to bother other people……be respectful to others…..
I sleep in a hammock without the slightest worry. The irrational fears of other people make no sense to me
We have been full-timing in a fifth wheel for over five years. We are retired therefor not having a routine for bedtime and wake up. We have stayed in campgrounds that publish outside rig lights out the same hours as the quiet hours and other campgrounds with no rules about lights. We turn on all outside lights at dusk for various reasons and turn off various outdoor lights or all of them around 10P each night depending on our locations and circumstances. For instance, we are in a location where coyotes and wild pigs are a big issue at night and the coyotes like to hide under rvs waiting for small dogs to be walked which the coyotes snatch from the unsuspecting owners leash and all. Therefor we leave our underbelly lights on all night and the scare light on the passenger side. The other lights go off. We tend to leave more lights on if we are not sure about the safety level of the campground or surround neighborhood. I think it’s about common sense, civility, and safety.
If the lights are not bright white, I can’t see the harm. Furthermore, I feel safety is a priority and I have a dog, so stepping out at night I wish to see. I leave my outdoor lights on at home for that purpose of safety and do the same when camping. Lights in my opinion, deter crime. Flashlights & headlamps are great but you only see where they shine. Sorry! I will probably not change that habit.
My van got broken into sitting in my driveway. Across the street was a streetlight lighting the whole driveway for them. I had 3 lights on the front of my house that were on. Lights don’t deter crime.
Research shows that exterior lighting does not deter crime. It ruins the night vision of the homeowner while creating shadows in which the intruder can hide undetected. Also, what crime are you worried about at a campground? We’ve camped for almost 40 years and never had a single issue. We don’t leave a bunch of expensive gear sitting outside when we leave the campground, but I have never felt unsafe in a dark campground at night. If the campground is especially dark I will turn on a small light to navigate the stairs and leave it on to guide me back, but I turn it off as soon as I go back inside. Seriously, what are you afraid will happen if you don’t light up your camp site? Whatever it is, I am certain that it really isn’t an issue. Other than petty theft, I’ve never even heard of crime occurring in campgrounds. Maybe you could consider a placebo that doesn’t affect other people like a nightlight inside instead of floodlights outside.
Your neighbors at home don’t like your lights either.
Your irrational fears are a poor excuse…
Turn them off at 11:00 pm. What did we do in our early days when camping? We had flash lights for dog walking, taking the trash to dumpster etc. Yes the lights look cool but your inside, you don’t see them, your asleep. Just turn them off.
One low wattage light at the door for safety. Flashlight past that point. For those who don’t feel safe inside their rig, leave a nightlight on inside or try campgrounds that have safety lighting and security on duty.
We have used string lights on the ground around the outline of our 5th wheel. They are said to detract rodents and other animals from taking up residence somewhere in the trailer. Thus far we have not had a problem. We know several others who do not use such lighting that have had major rodent damage. We also have had no complaints about our lights.
You get no complaints because your neighbors are more courteous than you…
We learned on a camping trip out west: lighting under the engine compartment keeps the pack rats away when camping in the desert. Nothing worse than having your rig disabled by chewed up wiring.
We turn off all lights at night including our LED porch light, which is super bright. When we walked our dog a small flashlight was used. Let your eyes adjust, and enjoy the moon light.
This guy needs to take a chill pill. If he doesn’t like all the lights around him maybe he needs to go somewhere else and camp I mean seriously underlining from the RVs cannot be destructing him that much and on top of everything most RV parks have lighting around so close your blinds and leave the people alone there’s a lot of people that travel single like myself do have a dog and my new travato with the under lights means I won’t slip and fall when I go out.
Meanwhile, everyone else manages to get by with a flashlight. But you’re obviously special so…
That is where society has gone to. Controlling others choices. Even when those choices don’t have any real effect on complainers.
But thy do.
Nope. People like you are the problem with society today.
Pull your darn shades if it bothers you!!!
What if I want to enjoy the night air?
I agree!
Would you tell people to wear ear plugs at night so they don’t hear your dog barking?
Why?? Why does everyone around you need to accommodate you?? You’re clearly not willing to do the same.
My hammock tarp doesn’t have darn shades. If you need to be inside at night, how about you just stay home.
Also, maybe read the article next time.
That’s like blasting terrible music and telling your neighbor to just wear ear plugs. You’re asking others to accommodate your rudeness.
A non-ending discussion / argument that will never come to consensus. I am just commenting to see if I become number 200,000. lol Motel 6 will “keep a light on for ya”.
Nope. You’re number 200,026, Kelly. Too slow. We hit the 200,000 mark at 11:01 a.m. Pacific time. Stick around…maybe you can be number 300,000! 😆 Have a great day! 😀 –Diane the “heavy hitter” at RVtravel.com
Shoot – that darn time zone thing got me again. It took my comment to long to get across the continent. I guess I will just have to keep reading and commenting. I’ll set my timer for about 3 years from now.
I’ll let you know when it’s getting close to the 300,000 mark, Kelly, and I’ll remind you about the time zone thingy. 😆 BTW, you’re up to 1,230 approved comments. 😯 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thanks, I will have a good night. It is dark here, so a heads up, dark is on its way to you. It must be that time zone thing again.
Yep, it’s almost dark here. Thanks for the warning, Kelly. Beautiful and sunny today, but gonna be in the 20s tonight (Arctic blast is on its way). Take care. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I’ve noticed that many recent model 5th wheel front caps are lit up with bright LEDs that serve little purpose beyond bringing attentionto the rig. Many owners seem compelled to leave them on all night. Obnoxious! If I wanted to camp in what seems like Vegas or Times Square, that’s where I’d go. Totally destroys the ambiance of the places we like to go.
Agreed! These bright lights, usually blue, are annoying to everyone except the rig’s owners, who are inside and don’t see them. They are a crime against humanity.
Agreed
I feel that is what is fair is if one is outside at night – either walking the dog or enjoying your fancy lit up rig – I just have to tolerate it. However, once the person/people go inside for the night, the lights should be turned off, giving me the opportunity to enjoy my “dark” time. If one has safety concerns, put a motion detector sensor on the lights so they are off if there is nothing in the area. If one has to go back out, then it is okay to turn the lights back on while outside, back off when back inside.
For the sake of argument regarding safety…why light up the area around your rig for the bad guy??? He can see what he is doing better,or help him notice something to steal. If he is serious those lights won’t keep him away.
Regarding RV rig lights, I have to say that in most cases I am definitely for turning them off at night….I want to be able to go outside and see the night sky or just enjoy the darkness. I am also frustrated by the extremely bright motion sensor lights that many people are putting up that seem to be able to light up half a football field. These are equally as irritating.
That being said, I do leave my awning lights on at night but I switch them to red and run them at just 5% power so it is enough light to see my way around my rig at night but doesn’t interfere with night vision and my neighbors don’t even realize they are on. It would be nice if this were an option on all rigs.
The compromise is, turn the lights off when not in use and/or when you go to bed. A lot of us camp to watch the stars, so these rules should especially apply to remote camping. But even in campgrounds I found those bright LED lights around rigs really obnoxious. But it’s not important enough to me to make a big deal of it.
Wow. I never really realized this is a somewhat polarizing issue. We are newbies and have been leaving some outside lights on at night but now I’m going to rethink the issue.
Yes, there is a compromise everyone can and should adhere to when it comes to outside lights. Whatever quiet time is where you are staying is when the lights must be turned off. I have mine on a digital timer.
That’s not compromise, that’s do it your way and your way only.
I think it also depends on how many lights you are using and how bright they are. I have a small ball of hanging lights on a timer set for midnight. I also leave my porch light on, but it is weak little thing you can hardly see a few feet away. On the other hand coming home tonight one rig had two very bright spots lighting up the whole rear of their rig. No one out side, no visible activity. That was annoying.
I used LED rope lights around the perimiter of my Diesel pusher to keep rodents away for eight years of fulltiming. Works better than traps and hazardous poisons. Never had a rodent in all those years. You can also place the rope light on the underside of your RV to keep the complainers happy. There is a reason why some people use lights.
I’ve been living full time in an RV for greater than 10 years. I only turn on my single outside light when I know I’m in a dark area and will have difficulty seeing my key when I return home after dark.
During that time I have only had an issue with Rodent’s once. I parked next to a “Grain Bin” on farmland in Iowa and didn’t get moved before the cold weather started to set in. I did notice a family of mice in the bin when I moved into the spot in the spring and maybe they thought since I didn’t bother them in the bin, I wouldn’t mind if they hitched a ride. Sadly I had to prove them wrong and I’ve had no additional issues the remainder of this winter. I did move several hundreds of miles South, but it’s still cold where I am. The biggest deterrent to having Rodents is not to live where they live and not have ample food for them near by. Lights deter very few things and sometimes just makes it easier to see what you have. Locks keep honest people honest. If someone really wants your stuff a light, alarm or lock will not protect it. Just my opinion from my experience. Yours may vary.
Rod
Get a sleep mask!
Bob needs to get a life.
I’d say everyone else needs to stay at home…
The campgrounds I’m used to everyone has Xmas lights set up, everyone has path lights, some would turn them off at night, some would not, either way never bothered me.
I’ve note some outdoor RV lighting that isn’t able to be turned off at night is advertisements or RV logos and is just as bright or even brighter than the lighting that can be turned on by the RVer.
Sounds like a job for duct tape…
Some campers go way too far with the lights on, but most I see are mindful of their neighbors. I do like the addition of “lights out at quiet time” idea. I’m OK with a small light on if you need to walk the dog in the middle of the night, and then turn it off.
I agree.
Like many things related use light in moderation. Does one generally need a billion candle power lantern or a pile of leds shining everywhere ever?. Is that show boat cap light really necessary? It’s not just about sleep, it’s about being able to enjoy a campfire and the night sky. It amazes me how some people just don’t pay attention to their surroundings and how their actions affect others negatively. Most would probably say that playing loud music or running a generator is disrespectful behavior; excessive and bright lighting is the same. Look around and be aware please. Don’t be “that guy/gal”. A little really does go a long way.
To leave on or turn off exterior lights discussions join the hot topics of campfires, China bomb tires, dogs, noisy children being children, driving speed, driving distances, crowded campgrounds, outdoor televisions, pick up pulling power mines better than yours and the hey you can’t pull that discussions. All which just means one’s opinion is just that your opinion. Welcome to the road life of Rving.
I purchased two small solar powered motion lights that i placed on each side of my Nucamp.
Small enough to not to be a light problem, but bright enough not to trip over anything outside.
Safety first
Lights are your choice on it off is your choice, as long as they are soft security type lights out is cool. Colored LED’s are fantastic
Most cities and communities have light pollution codes and laws. Generally they state that the light on your property cannot be shining on your neighbors property. The same should hold true here. If you need a light to venture beyond your space at night then use some common sense and take a flashlight or head lamp. If security is your issue then use motion detector lighting that lights up the area around your rig. At night use only directional lighting that does not shine beyond your space. Really nobody is impressed with your bright blue led “look at my rig” carnival light show. Do you light up the interior of your rig at night with blinding blue led lights? Show some respect and common sense. Most of the time most of us like to sit outside and enjoy the night sky. So if you want people to notice your rig at night they will, and say “what a douche bag” you are. We live in a free country so long as your rights don’t impinge on others.
This reminds me why I rarely stay in campgrounds and prefer to boondock. Nature is not a place for your damn lights!
I go camping to enjoy the quiet & dark ( so I can see the stars). RV lights ruin the ambience of CAMPING. If you’re sitting by a fire you don’t need them on. The only time I need an outside light is to take my dog out to pee. The little light by the cargo bay and under my stairs are just enough to see by then when done I turn them off. Heck even at home I don’t turn my deck lights on unless I have people over even then I may not because we’ll be sitting around the fire pit.
Lights out.
Can they not turn on one light when they walk the dog, and use a flashlight?
As an old tent camper, there are few campground things worse than lights and noise at night.
Why would you want to go camping and bring all of civilization with you?
Awning anchors and other things like grills, tables, etc. are dangerous trip hazards in the dark (especially if there’s no moon out). Small solar lights near these obstacles help others (who don’t understand the other unwritten rule that you shouldn’t take a short cut through someone elses campsite) to see these hazards. I’d prefer people not walk through my campsite, but I’m not going to let small things bother me.
You’ll be a much happier campier if you don’t let the small things bother you. You can’t control the behavior of others, so it’s best to not let it bother you.
I’ve had others campers come into my area at night and go into my ice chest and duffle to take what they can get. I need some light as I don’t have a night scope.
Fair warning, Butch. 😆 Have a good day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
If you need lights on because you’re afraid of the boogy man, you probably shouldn’t be camping in the first place.
For security reasons, I’m forced to leave my exterior lights on at the RV park in the city where we’re wintering. Five bicycles stolen in 3 separate overnight incidents over a period of seven weeks (they tried and failed to get my well-secured bikes, too). And, I doubt I hear about every theft and attempt. Otherwise, I prefer my lights and the neighbors lights be off so I can stargaze.
It amazes me when people park their rigs and then sit inside all day watching TV! There isn’t a problem with this but many times the same people leave their lights on all night, seriously interfering with trying to look at the magnificent night sky! They must be clueless as to how wonderful the skies look outside of urban lights! I agree that Park rules should ban unnecessary exterior lights after 10pm. People should realize that they aren’t the only ones in the Park!
When I am out in the world I want to see all the stars-planets, and shooters..Just this last 2 summers I ended up with many new rigs close by with enough lights to block out the sun at night.
Please turn them off when you go in for the night, and get a flashlight…
If you think bright lights keep you safe, think again and go back to a KOA in a city. Without lights a crook will trip over something and make a bunch of noise, and run?
Thanks..
Not only will he make a lot of noise tripping on stuff, snooping around a camper with a flashlight is much more suspicious and noticeable than someone walking around in a lighted area.
I can understand having someone shining a bright light at your RV just like at your home would be a problem, but reasonable outside lighting is just fine. For example, awing lights are well restricted and shine on the ground by the RV. This “lights out” mentality is ridiculous. We live in 2023 and crime is rampant, not to exclude RV parks. Should we also have them cut all the street lights and how about turning off your car lights when driving. Perhaps “newbies” are making it safer for all of us. If you old timers want total darkness go boondocking.
If crime is rampant and there are street lights, you are camping in the wrong places!
Only go to the best and most expensive rv parks with large spaces. Newer rigs have many lighting features that can control where the light shines. For me its right on the ground under the awning. Its not going to bother anyone unless they want to be bothered.
I generally leave them off, especially after quiet hours. At night, I might turn on my awning lights when I take out the trash. But I would never leave them on, just like how I wouldn’t leave my radio blasting.
The brow lights on fifth wheels are really bright. Remember they don’t shine on your site as much as they shine directly on the site across the road from you and the one behind that. I love sitting outside fire side, with my back to the fire looking at and for star formations and shooting stars. When I’m out walking my dogs at night on my site, I will turn on the ground lighting effect. They came white from the factory, I changed them to red. So they don’t wreck your night vision. And manufactures all should put dimmers on all exterior lights. Please be considerate of others!
I happen to enjoy the darkness of nights and still have the eyes able to see enough to enjoy night environment. I agree that while working and finishing up tasks I need good lighting. It is rare that I need to do such tasks after quiet hours start. If security or visual aide is needed, I attempt to use the least amount of illumination required. I like the idea of using the quiet hours frame for guidance.
There is a difference between decorative lighting and functional lighting. Decorative lighting should be turned off during quiet hours. No one is going to mind if you turn on your porch light to take your dogs out, then use a headlamp or flashlight to walk away from your camper, but lighting up your whole campsite and those around yours while you are inside and can’t even see it yourself is unnecessary, rude, and wasteful. As for making people feel safe, I’d rethink that as to how necessary and effective it really is.
100% Agree!
I have dogs and I walk them in the evening. I also enjoy darkness when I sleep. I use a headlamp when I walk. I turn off all my outdoor lights when I am ready for bed. I believe we need to get back to helping our neighbors as well as ourselves. I don’t need my outside lights when I am sleeping.
Our neighbor has string lights under their trailer so they could see gators or photons when they take the dogs out.
But I wouldn’t want them next door at a star party
Bob can put something in his window to block out the lights. No more problem and everyone is happy.
Or people can turn off lights they don’t even see after they go to sleep, and Bob doesn’t have to buy stuff to counteract bad campers.
Bob can pack up and move away from the neighbor he doesn’t like and it doesn’t cost him a thing. He bought an RV. 🙂
You’re the one who needs to move, to a private piece of land where no one has to put up with your selfish attitude
If you have something to do outside and need lighting use them, when done turn them off.
I turn off my bright lights at ten but I leave the blue ground lights on til my last smoke. But if I’m in the woods where it won’t bother anyone I might leave the ground lights on so no one trips or runs into the steps.
I suffer from combat related ptsd I leave my outside lights on for my mental well-being.
Fair enough, but studies show we get better sleep in real darkness, which is important for so many aspects of physical and mental health, so it’s possible you’re working against yourself.
I also definitely leave mine on outside. I travel alone. My shades work perfectly. I don’t even know they’re on outside. My cameras work better and my security is increased.
They’ve been making shades for decades. Unless I’m in a zero light town or anything like that I entirely believe it’s a personal choice for your personal tastes.
Nice thing about living in an RV. You don’t like your neighbors choices of ways to live? It moves.
Not working against my self no light outside poeple can see movement inside, outside light counter acts that
You are also assuming I sleep at night I do not, I sleep in the daytime hours
Turn them off! A porch light to help find the key would be acceptable.
If you have security cameras on your RV, like the Furrion system on my Jayco, you have to have the running lights on the rig for the cameras to work.
Quiet hours should also be considered dark hours. If you miss the light and the noise, stay in the city. There are Walmarts that would love you to spend the weekends in their parking lots.
The awning lights or scare lights are fine in my opinion but all those led blue, red, white, cap lights are annoying and not necessary all night!
Ok for show off but turn them off before 10pm
Reading these comments it’s clear who cares about their fellow campers and who doesn’t. You want to keep the bright lights on all night? STAY HOME. Or at least be mindful that others are there for the peace, solitude and an escape from the city life. Lights are fine but not when they illuminate the surrounding counties…
My camper has those new super bright LEDs, in both the door light n the one above the propane tanks. I turn both on when taking the dogs out at night, then off the minute they’re done. If there’s other campers close by (hopefully not, since I mostly boondock), I’ll use a flashlight instead, mostly checking for wild critters, scorpions, etc. I recently installed a solar motion detector to the back of the camper, but I have the ability to turn it completely off, which I again do if someones close. I don’t mind if someone leaves a small light on all night. They may feel safer, may be new campers, or plain don’t know. If you’re lit up like fort Knox, n plan on staying awhile, I might go talk to them (nicely) to see what their reasoning is. If it bugs me enough, I can always move (although I haven’t had to do that yet.) Everybody camps differently.
I’ve Travelled in some type of RV for 55 years. I find the best solution to the stupid light chatter is _ Simply close your eyes. Any RV I’ve ever owned, and we have had lots, all had blinds or some form of drapery. Every city I’ve lived in, and most high end RV parks have some form of street lights. What do folks do there? I always find this chatter very funny.
Dale, of all the comments here yours is the best. And to top it off a veteran of more than half a century. You survived it all.
Except some people go out in nature to, you know, enjoy nature.
Why don’t you stay in a hotel if you need things lit to feel safe?
For all the newer campers out there: RV lights at night are obnoxious, especially the bright blue ones. If you’re afraid of the dark, you shouldn’t camp. A flashlight is sufficient for nighttime activities. It’s about everyone’s comfort, not just your own.
💯
I never mind camping next to a rig that leaves the light on by the primary door at night. A lot of newer rigs, though, are being decked out with bright blue lights along the whole length of the rig, plus very bright awning lights. I camped next to one of these for a week and it lit up the interior of my RV all night, even with my shades closed. I’d love to see a lights-out policy at campgrounds, with allowances for dog-walking, trips to the loo, etc. Or maybe the better solution is to have a “quiet zone” in RV parks, where people who want to experience the peace of nature, keep their windows open, etc., can do so, with longer quiet hours, lights out hours, no campfires blowing smoke into your rig, etc. Then have a separate area for people who enjoy decking out their campsites and socializing outdoors, with fewer restrictions. There’s a place for both types of camping experiences – just not side-by-side.
we were camping at the reef rv park in Puerto Penasco in November. guy had bright white rope lighting all around his rig and he wasn’t even there the whole week. Quite obnoxious when star gazing on the beach. turn em off.
Leave OFF the Lights!
When you live in a highly lit city there’s what is known as Light Pollution. This makes seeing the stars impossible. One of the joys of RVing is getting the opportunity to see a dark night sky. However, there’s always the two or three RVs who leave their bright LED lights on. It’s really annoying
YES!
We’re 4 years full-time. Rule: never do anything, sight or sound, that disturbs natures ambience. Lights, dogs, improper campfires, even down to silencing your truck lock-honk. Big culture difference between “permanents” and “weekenders”. The universe does not revolve around you.
Bravo!
Mark my wife and I as rock solid in the lights out at 9 pm crowd. Flashlights have been a part of camping for nearly a 100 years.
Night sky’s are part of the wonders camping.
Issues with enforced lights out policies:
1) Safety in lighting.
I recently read about this issue when a local neighborhood watch forum noted that car and truck burglaries were occurring equally between well lit driveways and dark driveways. A study was brought up that interviewed inmates who were incarcerated for theft, assault and burglaries. The conclusion was half wanted a darkish setting while the other half wanted a well lit setting. This is interesting because this comes from the horses mouth.
To the individual who fears for their safety I would recommend 1) wear a ultra bright LED headlamp. It will temporarily blind an aggressor, and 2) become proficient in self defense. Many places offer training through parks department, or law enforcement, carry a walking stick or sturdy cane.
I agree. Thank You
We tend to stay in a very dark campground setting and find coyotes snooping around. We turn off our lights so we can see the stars. I have found some solar flame lights that give just enough light to not trip but do not disturb anyone including myself. People ask about them all the time because they really like that they aren’t annoying. Think of the others around you. Super bright LED lights seem like a show off thing to me. It’s rude to blind your neighbors when you can find something that works for everyone
Thanks for the great tip, Bidgie. I’ve never heard of solar flame lights before so I looked them up on Amazon. Those are really neat! https://amzn.to/3X2e6l8 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Talking about RV lights on or off! It to me is a question of common sense. We stay in resort-style parks that have streetlights and building lighting everywhere. It is well-lit and has nice landscapes. I leave my awning light on for convenience and safety. If my neighbor feels my lights are annoying and the rest of the lighting is not, pull your shades down or ask me to turn them off and I will. Be a good neighbor period!
We had our coachman camper for 6 years and have NEVER used the outside lights. It takes away from natural light and turns camping into a sort of LA cruising vibe…not for us!
Lights out please. And use a flashlight if you need to go out. Some rigs that I have seen look like a carnival has come to town.
Agree
A lot of posters here seem to think that headlamps and flashlights are the way to go. Frankly I am more disturbed by super bright LED headlamps that indiscriminately flash around campsites at all hours of the night as they peer into your campsites and walk through the empty spot next to yours. Some of them are so bright they blind you when you meet them on the one way street when you are driving your vehicle in at night. Of course they are walking the opposite direction on the one way street. These are the same people complaining about stationary lights on RVs that don’t bother anyone. And when you are sitting around the campfire, smoking the rest of us out and peering at the stars, don’t forget to flash your LED flashlight at the sky. ET might come for a visit.
Please turn all your lights off after 10:00. A dark campground is very important to me. Another pet peeve that I have is in established campgrounds that have lights all over the place. Come on, we’re camping to get away from all the intrusions of modern life.
My husband and I definitely vote for the “lights out” side of the discussion. We have an older Leisure Travel Sprinter van RV which means that most folks next to us are HUGE, compared to us. That means their awning or ground or outlining their rig or door lights FLOOD our entire rig. All. Night. Long. There is no nighttime. It’s like camping in a parking lot. No stars. No moon. We’re trying to be very intentional about where we go so as to avoid Class A’s now, although the light fad seems to be spreading to all sizes of RV’s. Please turn them off? We need our sleep too. And just a comment to a comment I read. A woman wrote that she felt safer traveling by herself if she had a light on. Might I recommend that she check into the myriad of motion activated lights available now? She might find one that really does act as a safety device. Thanks for having this discussion!
I understand both sides; the need for darkness and safety. I like to leave my hitch light on and park my truck right in front to reduce any glare. This allows a minimum amount of light that doesn’t disturb others, while allowing me to feel my family is ‘safe’. Total darkness allows people to steal my things with impunity. I had things stolen before and a tiny ‘glow’ of light might make them think twice. I have often asked other campers if my light was bothering them and I’ve never had anyone be anything but gracious. There is room for compromise and courtesy. Happy Camping! 😎