By Cheri Sicard
Mike and Jennifer Wendland, the team behind the RV Lifestyle YouTube channel, have a lot of experience at campgrounds. In the video below they talk about how you can often choose your perfect campsite, in the perfect park or location, only to have your trip ruined by bad RV neighbors. Ugggh.
We have certainly all been there: from rude, loud music at all hours, to trashy campsites, to bright lights left on all night. So Mike and Jennifer set out to figure out how to spot rude RV neighbors BEFORE you park next to them and set up camp.
Our hosts say it doesn’t happen often, but it does happen, and it happens more often these days since the surge of RV newbies who joined the ranks in recent years without being aware of proper RVing and camping etiquette, or bothering to learn it.
7 red flags of potentially bad RV neighbors
While Mike and Jennifer say you shouldn’t “judge a book by its cover,” a book cover nonetheless does hold valuable information about what’s inside. So do their RV bad neighbors signals. Therefore, if you experience one or more of these seven red flags, you might just want to look a little closer to avoid a bad RV neighbor experience.
#1 You hear them before you see them
We’re not talking about normal conversation or laughter, but rather about constant noise that disrupts the peace and tranquility of the campground. If you hear loud music, rowdy conversations, or arguments, think twice.
#2 Their campsite isn’t clean
If their campsite looks like a tornado just ran through it, chances are good your neighbors don’t value cleanliness or have respect for the campground. While you might be able to ignore the mess, you can’t ignore the wildlife and insects a dirty campsite attracts.
#3 Their campsite resembles a frat house
While there is nothing wrong with enjoying a few drinks while camping, when it’s the focus of the trip it often leads to excessive noise and disruptive behaviors that ruin the trip for everyone nearby.
#4 They excuse their kids’ bad behavior
When you arrive at your campsite, be sure to pay attention to how the parents of nearby kids react. Are they watching and paying attention to what the kids are doing and that they are safe? Or are they oblivious? If it’s the latter, it could escalate and become problematic.
#5 Lots of electronics outside
If your RV neighbor’s campsite resembles a tech store with lots of screens, gaming consoles, and electronic devices, consider that a serious red flag, because it indicates a lack of value and respect for the peaceful outdoor experience.
#6 Not staying in their lane:
Beware of neighbors whose hoses or other gear are encroaching on their RV neighbor’s site. Sure, you want to maximize campsite space, but not at the expense of your neighbor.
#7 No pride in their RV or vehicle
A well-cared-for rig indicates they respect their belongings, which increases the chances they will also respect your belongings. Be sure not to mistake old for uncared for in this category. Older and well-cared-for would suggest that the neighbors very much do take pride in their belongings.
Do you have other bad RV neighbor red flags? Be sure to share them in the comments below.
##RVT1192
I would add to #4. Folks that tie out their dogs (or put out “fencing”). You can anticipate excessive barking, often with the owner ignoring the noise, whether inside or sitting right beside it. Seen it a lot!
This is the first thing we look for is dogs and dog poop. Also a lot of equipment and food left on picnic table or large coolers jammed up against trailer. Enough wood gathered to heat a 2000 sq foot house for the winter. More than 1 car or truck These are all things you can tell before hand.
More than 1 vehicle doesn’t mean they are disruptive. Maybe a family doesn’t fit in the tow vehicle…..
All of these items are generalizations and do not apply to everyone in that specific category, however, you have to play the odds and thereby lower the risk of disappointment.
I rarely camp in campgrounds but when I do, I look for the number of kids bicycles and basketballs on the site. If I see any, I move on. I won’t tolerate screaming kids or pounding basketball noise. Yeah, call me Mr Grumpy. I like my peace and quiet.
Got your six 5×5 on that.
While some of these things are good to watch out for, seems like you’d have to be set up in your own site before you would actually discover them. How often do you pull into a campground and first ‘tour’ the place before you stop at the office to check in?
and further…You already have a reserved site you aren’t allowed to change. This article is probably best suited to first come, first served sites.
Thousand Trails is a good example of this, even though you have a reservation, you don’t have an actual site reserved, first come, first served for sites.
We steer clear of being next to sites that have sandrails, ATV, UTV and other off road vehicles like dirt bikes.
Not sure why RV manufacturers even put outside tv’s and stereo on RV’s. It is encouraging bad behavior. If your neighbor can hear it is too loud.
Yeah, my wife found a projector on clearance for $15 and grabbed it, thinking we’d use it camping, but I told her that when we’re camping the neighbors don’t want to see or hear our movies outdoors.
That’s why they make Bluetooth headphones.
If everything looks ok, but they are not at the site and their dogs are barking. That would be # 1 for me.
Same here. On several occasions campers tie up Fido and leave for the day and Fido BARKS ALL DAY and when they return Fido stops and they are oblivious .
Not just tied up outside, but leave them inside for hours while they are away.
We had one one situation where the dog was crying inside the trailer. We had no idea if he was sick or hurt or probably just lonely.
If you can’t take your dog with you when you leave, don’t take them at all.
Yes! I had planned a quiet in-camp day, neighbors left their blind dog in a bathroom to cry all day, then argued with me that it never cries when they are around. Duh. Horrible situation for me and the dog both.
This can be considered animal cruelty. An animal control control officer can break into the RV.
Same as leaving a animal in a hot car. They can break a window.
Ask them if they would leave a young child like this and wait for the “it’s different” answer. When we leave our house for an extended period, our neighbor has a key. When we return, our dog is usually at her house.
Dogs barking all night long is even worse. Constantly barking mutts are annoying, but when they disrupt my sleep during what are supposed to be “quiet hours” at the campground, that’s a whole other level of discourtesy on their behalf.
People that run their generators all day long are really annoying.
Problem is they turn them on at 4 or 5, after you’ve set up for the night, and run them through supper, sunsets, and til all their television shows are over. When boondocking, best to get as far as possible from the largest rigs unless they have gigantic solar arrays.
Thank you, Cheri! Good suggestions if get to pick ones campsite. We have not been in many of those. Have a great week and safe travels!
And do you think the management will say anything to problem tenants or give me a different equal site. I will be told to move on to another CG if I don’t like it and not refunded my deposit. So always pay with a credit card and file a dispute.
“People” with barking dogs should allow the dogs inside to sleep on the bed and couch while the people are tied up outside to a tree….the door swings both ways.
Our venue are dog trials. Agility, conformation, brush hunt, racing, lure course and others. We have RULES. During normal event hours 8 am to 5 pm a certain amount of noise- human and dog is expected. BUT not excessive or out of line is tolerated. After hours 5pm to 7am you are expected to act with respect to others- including the areas around where the trial is being held. We can have up to 300 dogs at a large trial. And NOT picking up after your dog can get you kicked off the trial site.
All of this means it is the average dog pet person that is the problem. Not us true dog people.
DOG owners are #1 problem. I keep my windows covered while making breakfast; inevitably a pet in doing it’s business near or IN my campsite! And, of course the barking! Trending is folks looking for campgrounds WITH NO dogs!
And you said it correctly dog OWNERS! Totally the number one problem with camping today is being attacked by these undisciplined “Furr Babies” or GranFurr Babies” as you go for a morning or evening walk, plus all day long. The owners are oblivious, they think their barking dog is appreciated. YES to no dogs allowed campgrounds!
So true about unruly kids. At our last campground, one of the young teens nearby set off a firework. We called the campground manager, who showed up a few minutes later to have a talk with the parents. When he’d left, the dad came over and reamed us out for reporting him. Said, “You should have come and talked to me first.” My mouth dropped open in shock. He was lucky they didn’t get booted out, since fireworks are forbidden at the campground. I’d rather have a barking dog than wild kids.
On one trip, I was next to a younger couple with kids.
Seemed ok, but as night time hit, a campfire, and other folks coming around, got loud.. I have earplugs so I slept ok. The next day, I saw the man with a big ass dog. I was surprised, as never saw this dog previously! He told me he keeps that dog inside all day and night because he was kind of vicious. WOW, what a gang.
He asked me if I was sore that they were too loud, but I answered “ yup, but only because you did not invite us over”
Well the next night we were invited, and had a great time, but when 10 pm came around, Rosie and I were going to sleep.
Well, guess what, they lowered the music, and held the noise down!
I’ve never seen their YouTube channel, but everything written in the article could’ve have been written by a teenager. RVTravel would be better off not lowering their standards to such a poor writing sounding like amateur’s.
Beer cans strewn around a neighbor’s campsite can also be an indicator.
If all you do is camp at a private RV resort you get what you deserve.