| Author | Message | ||
| Matt (Hgtech)
Rating: N/A |
I had a couple of questions regarding etiquette in relation to the amount of noise our DD's make. We stay at truck stops a lot and haven't spent more than a couple of nights at campgrounds. Is there an "understood" time that is too late for us butnuts to arrive at a campground? I.E. to keep from waking everyone up? Also, what about checkout times - how early is too early? Truck stops have made more since to us so far. 1st - we don't have a finished kitchen on board and they usually have food on site. 2nd - I figured it's cheaper for us to run our genset all night than to pay for a 50Amp slot + additional fees for extra people (we typically have at least 4). 3rd - Our genset is not "quiet" so running it anywhere near a campsite is probably a good way to get shot (at least here in Tennessee). I'd just like to hear what you guys do or don't do. Thanks!! Matt 1979 Silver Eagle Model 05 | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Rating: N/A |
I was with a Scout group this past weekend and we stayed at a State Park (no bus with the Scouts, it was tent camping all the way...) I don't know that the DD is any worse that some of the diesel pickups that came pulling into the campground late at night. There were several Cummins and a couple of powerstrokes that would put my DD to shame from both exhaust and radiated mechanical engine noise. I think if you come in late, get it parked as quick as you can with as little yelling as possible (I wanted to buy one trailer guy a FRS radio for is copilot/wife so that they could communicate quietly about backing the trailer in!) If it is late, level it and hook it up in the morning, unless you can do that without alot of hatch slamming. Running the generator in a park will get you shot here too. :-) My two cents, spend 'em as you like! Craig - MC7 Oregon | ||
| R.J.(Bob) Evans (Bobofthenorth)
Rating: N/A |
We've pulled into campgrounds pretty late sometimes. Once or twice we have stayed at places that held the late arrivals outside the gate until morning but most places it won't matter. Your DD isn't going to make any more noise than a Cummins in a Dodge so don't worry about it - the Dodge owner won't be worrying. Use common sense - don't slam things around, get the engine shut down quickly, idle up to the gate so everything is cooled down for a quick shutoff. If we're that late at night we would likely stay in a truckstop to save a night's fee at the campground and just arrive early in the AM. (early for us in that situation would be after 10 AM) | ||
| WEC4104 Rating: N/A |
I know the 6-71 in my 4104 is quite a bit louder than the typical Cummins or Powerstrokes I have heard. She is completely stock from an engine and muffer standpoint but she definitely knows how to sing. It makes me very sensitive about pulling into campgrounds after hours. I know a couple of times when I pulled into my campsite mid-afternoon and I was greeted by some guy who walked halfway across the campground to tell me how great the ol' 2 stroke sounded and then started chatting up a storm. It is like a conversation magnet. But that's okay in the afternoon. There is just no way I can sneak into a campsite at 11:00 pm. I have kids that go to sleep early too, and I wouldn't want someone with a rig like mine roaring in late at night. There have been times when I stay in WalMart parking lots because I want to drive until midnight or later. I would prefer a campground, even at the extra cost, but do not want to wake everyone in the place. With my luck, I just know the campground will have no pull-throughs left, and I will need to back into a site squeezing between four large oak trees. I can back it in there okay, but jockeying back and forth with the outside docking lights on will create quite an event. As a rule, I try to arrive before 9:30 pm, with 10:00 pretty much the absolute latest. I immediately shutdown the engine and generator, and hook up the minimum items as quietly as possible. Next I apologize to any nearby campers that are outside. That goes a long way toward helping relationships. Leaving early is rarely much of an issue for us. Personally, I'd shoot for 8:00 am or later. But based on where you are and the time of year, 7:30 or even 7:00 am may be okay. I think before 7:00 you will be disturbing some folks. | ||
| truthhunter@shaw.ca Rating: N/A |
Turn up the getto blaster and drop it in the neighbors stall, they never hear your 671 | ||
| Brent Coursey
Rating: N/A |
We are campground owners and we have quiet hours. Our quiet hours are from 10PM to 8AM...11PM on Friday and Saturday night. I think the loudest vehicle we have had was a construction guy who had a Dodge Cummins with some big exhaust on it...I think it would wake the dead. Brent | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Why would anyone want to pay the price of a campground camp$ite, if they're only going to use it to sleep a few hours? | ||
| Matt (Hgtech)
Rating: N/A |
Well John MC9 - since you asked . . . I'm a tour manager and there are a couple of reasons someone like myself would pay the money to stay at a campground for a few hours: 1. A quiet good nights sleep - When you've been on tour for a month and have slept at a truckstop almost every night listening to 1000 diesel engines running - a quiet nights sleep is priceless. 2. Showers - ever priced showers for 6 people at a truck stop? Even with the discount from buying fuel, you're still looking at close to $50. 3. Toilet Dump / Water refill - you can only go so long until the tanks are full / empty. 4. Fuel Savings - If we're running near full load running the genset costs around $25.00 a night in diesel. There's a slew of other reasons - but I think this probably gets the idea across. Matt 1979 Silver Eagle Model 05 | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Get in at 11pm and checkout's at 10 or 11am? Do ya' even have time to shower? Unless you don't intend to get 8 hours sleep, maybe it'd work for you? When we stay at any campground, we check in between 3 and 6pm. That gives time to hook up, relax, wash... eat... take a walk... If we're going to drive until dark, we stay at any freebee. (well, we like the freebees anyway) Checking into a campground when you're too tired to stand up, getting 5 or 6 hours sleep and rushing around the next morning to get everything done before checkout, is no way to travel. It'll take it's toll on anyone. | ||
| Matt (Hgtech)
Rating: N/A |
John MC9, Just ask any musician or crew member who has toured for more than a week and they'll gladly tell you it takes its toll. Out of a month I bet I get three normal eight hour sleep nights - It goes with the job especially for crew. When shows are often 12+ hours apart every day - you make things work. You shower at 3am and eat while on the run. I personally love it. How many guys that are 22y.o. (oops just gave out my age on the internet) do you know who have extensively traveled through all but 6 continental states and part of Canada? Matt 1979 Silver Eagle Model 05 | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
In the 60s when I drove charters, I did ski trips back-to-back... 3am for a 4am pickup, returning the drunks by 11pm, skis unloaded and back home by 1am, with enough time to shave, shower, smooch the wife, and go out again. 4 or 5 in a row, two or three days off (if I was lucky).. Yeah... I was your age.....once... If you saw what I look like now, you'll get some frikkin sleep. | ||
| Matt (Hgtech)
Rating: N/A |
Yeah... I'll be your age.....someday... If you saw what I look like now, you'd wish you were young again... Sorry John - couldn't resist - lol Matt 1979 Silver Eagle Model 05 | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
OUCH. (*&#%$# kids~~~) | ||
| truthhunter@shaw.ca Rating: N/A |
Ah; "livin for a working", no life like it-fortunately . That was the road slave motto , best I wish to remember. But at least your figuring out how to a home with you were ever you go. | ||
| Matt (Hgtech)
Rating: N/A |
John - you just brought up an interesting observation. I'm an still an *&#%$# kid (at least according to you) and you were driving charters 20 years before I was born. Observation: I guess that means the busnut "bug" can get you at any time in life. truthhunter, "livin for a working" (or any job for that matter) is great as long as you enjoy what you're doing. I'd rather sleep in my bus bed that 90% of the hotels promoters book rooms at - it's like you said - taking my home with me. Matt 1979 Silver Eagle Model 05 | ||
| Pat Bartlett (Muddog16)
Rating: N/A |
John, how rare that youngin put a hurtin on ya!......that was funny!  Pat | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
THAT was funny! One thing in a campground, if it has dusty dirt roads watch your engine speed, some Detroit fan/exhaust discharges can kick up a mean tornado that will bring out the frowns. | ||
| Jarlaxle Rating: N/A |
Some people don't need much sleep...to my unending frustration, I married one. She's up at 4am every day, usually jogging or roller-blading by 4:30 (which once got her reported as a prowler at a campground), and usually goes to sleep around 10-11pm. I've seen her go 3-4 days without sleep, and I wouldn't have known if she hadn't told me. While I need 6-7 hours of sleep to be coherent the next day, I wouldn't have any trouble parking at 11pm & being showered & ready to go by 10am. Heck, I've done something similar (off at 8:30, in the next day at 5:30am) for work many times. In at 11, parked & hooked up by 11:30, sleeping by 12:30, woken up by either my Maine Coon Cat walking on me or my wife showering around ~7:30-8:00. I can easily feed the cat, shower, trim my beard, dress, & unhook in 2 hours. | ||
| Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A |
I stayed in a campground last year in the unfinished bus. I had one guy raising hell about the genset. Sure, it's not exactly quiet, but you could barely hear it over his $*&^ kids screaming and yelling all night. I sleep better with the sweet sound of diesel engines idling in the background than screaming kids. Camp Walmart or truckstops for me...any day. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A |
Ross, I have never been in a campground that allowed gensets running after a certain time. Generally around 10PM. That is why I spent a lot on nights at Flying J's. Love the sound of diesels. Richard | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A |
A little castor oil shot into the fuel or hot exhaust to make a little montezuma smoke works too.. Years ago racing gokarts and trail bikes used castor oil in the 2 strokes. You did not want to be the guy downwind for very long... | ||
| Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A |
This guy was complaining at 5PM. They didn't have a 50A hookup so I had to run the genset to nuke some dinner. Neighbors suck, at home and in a campground. I'm also perfectly contend nestled in amonst the big rigs at a truck stop...Or at Walmart...Or a rest area...Anywhere but a bug infested campground which will probably not be equiped to handle a 40 foot rig anyway. | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
Years ago racing gokarts and trail bikes used castor oil in the 2 strokes. You did not want to be the guy downwind for very long... The aroma of a "real" race oil was grand!! Early Laconia!! I would rather be down wind from Castrol R than within earshot from a Harley any day!! FAST FRED | ||
| H3-40 Rating: N/A |
Yea Castor has it's own unique smell but if you really want to get their attention, try mixing in Proplene Oxide. Expensive, but nasty! Ace |