Have you heard about this unwritten RV rule? It doesn’t come up very often. However, you should know and follow this unwritten rule: (Almost) never knock on an RV door.
Folks new to RVing may not realize that knocking on another person’s RV door is almost always considered taboo. Let’s take a closer look at this unwritten rule and the reasoning behind it.
Knock it off!
Many RVers see an unexpected knock as a privacy issue. They do not appreciate or want surprise visits, especially from people they don’t know.
This concern is amplified in an RV (as opposed to a stix-n-brix house). Just think about it for a minute. An RV is a very compact space. You’ve got your kitchen, eating, living, and sometimes bedroom all sharing the same tiny square footage. When your RV entry door is opened, other campers can see most of your interior space—in some RV floorplans the bathroom is even visible!
No one wants their entire life “exposed” to passers-by. Privacy and anonymity are highly prized by many RVers. After all, many of us go camping for the serenity and peacefulness it offers. Privacy is a big part of that serenity. It’s not that RVers are unfriendly folks. Not at all! We just like the opportunity to choose when we are sociable.
Knock yourself out
The unwritten rule “Never knock on an RVer’s door” does come with a few exclusions. Here they are:
Emergency situations supersede this rule. If you notice water flowing from the bottom of an RVer’s rig, for example, you should make the owners aware of it. Same goes for other potential emergency situations that may cause physical harm, danger to pets/children, or harm to the RV itself. (You’d want someone to notify you in emergency cases like this, right?)
If you’re camping with others you know well, and they’re expecting you, it’s OK to knock on their RV door. However, if shades are drawn and the solid door is closed, it may be best to call ahead rather than knock.
Knock like this
If you must knock on an RVer’s entry door, most RVers I’ve talked with agree that you should do it like this: Knock on the door and then step back off the steps to the ground and far enough away so you cannot see into their rig. Doing this preserves the RVer’s privacy. (And you won’t fall back off the steps when the door opens.)
A better way
Perhaps a better way to meet an RV neighbor is to catch them outside. RVers I’ve spoken with say they would rather be approached while sitting in a lawn chair, coming and going, or otherwise out in the open. Daylight hours are the better time for a conversation than an unexpected door knock.
RV life is still one of the friendliest kinds of travel out there. A wave, a smile, or a quick chat when both of you are already outside keeps a campground neighborly. Knocking on an RVer’s door? Not so much.
Did you know about this unwritten RV rule? Would you mind if someone knocked on your door unexpectedly? Would you ever knock on your neighbor’s door, or would you wait until you saw them outside to talk?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
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