We camp almost exclusively in Ontario Provincial Parks. We love the privacy of a larger campsite. We have never had any complaints above the condition of the campsite, and found the staff to be always helpful.
Sure, there are some sites which are not level. But even the most steep sites are useable for a particular type of unit, be it a tent.
Mother nature did not make the world flat (unless you are a member of the Flat Earth Society), and some un-levelness seems a small price to pay for access to our beatiful parks.
Peter
Jayco Jay Feather 21J
2007 Ford F150, 5.4L, Reese Dual Cam WDH, Prodigy Brake Control, Honda EU2000i
Hopefully this will give you an idea of what we encountered this summer... on campsites that were installed by Ontario Parks and are being rented out to the public.
I really fail to understand the reasoning...quote, "and some un-levelness seems a small price to pay for access to our beatiful parks."
Why on earth should "un-levelness" in our state run parks be equated to access to the said parks...when you pay top dollar for goods or services you expect to get what you pay for.
BIKERK9 wrote: ....Most campgrounds are old and level areas were originally set up for tents. A picnic table and locking food box (animals), fire ring, and a nearby water source was available. Then came the TT and the RV requiring personal electricity, water and longer parking spaces.
I'm with you. As others have stated, bring some boards. I keep a 'lumber pile' in the storage area of the PUP and if I have to put half a dozen boards under a wheel, fine. I'm only concerned about bathroom/shower facilities. Keep those reasonably clean, and we're happy (if so equipped).
Pup: 2007 Jayco 1206 w/slide-out + shower
surge brakes, 54w solar panel
TV: 2005 Nissan Xterra 4X4, manual trans
25 years tent camping, 4000+ miles of hiking, lots of biking
Well you will not want to come to Vancouver Is, all the trees in the Provincial parks will mess up your satellite reception. They do not however mess with our solar panel.
Tothill wrote: Well you will not want to come to Vancouver Is, all the trees in the Provincial parks will mess up your satellite reception. They do not however mess with our solar panel.
Will take that under advisement... so how are you enjoying your Regency - we had a 1987 model before our current Winnebago. 1987 was hit by a flying tire and was a write off...but that is another story.
We find that even with some tree cover we can in most parks get a campsite with adaquate reception. Just a matter of finding the break or hole in the trees...
I have just had a conversation with some Park staff who informed me that even one of their Park Superintendents with a new trailer arrived on a campsite, had problems with the levelling and was somewhat upset at all the extra that was required... Nothing like some actual experience by someone who can possibly create an improvement to get the ball rolling or at least appreciate the situation.
having tented at PP for years, and now tent trailering, level sites are important for both users.
high and dry is very important for tenters, i've had to find many alt. sites while tenting, because of potential rain issues
not so much with the tent trailer, but leveling is still an issue. a few inches is acceptable, but 8-10" come on.
PP's are now used for more than just tenting, which was i'm sure that the PP concept was intended for, but get with the times Ontario. it can't be a money issue, in 2008, there was 4.9 million camp nites booked x $25 ave. adds up to a nice total
Ontario Parks home page,OUR WORK,PARK STATS, interresting reading, loads of info
Personally - I like campgrounds that don't have "cookie cutter" campsites.
Take this discussion a little further and recognize there are issues with campsite size, clearance (height and width), turning radius, distance to pedestals, buffering, satellite access, solar panel use etc. If all sites and roads were modified to accommodate the biggest rigs then the character of many, perhaps most, campgrounds would significantly change - and not for the better. There are lots of campsites, each with their own attributes (or not) - in my view that diversity is a real plus.
Thanks,
Jay
2002 Bambi 19' - the "Toaster"
2003 Nissan Pathfinder - the "Buggy"
Lets not get carried away here and start debating exagerations that we ourselves brought up...he was only complaining about the fact when you pay top dollar you should expect to be able to pull your rig into a campsite that refects what you paid. Is being level something pagan, not to expect? If the Ontario parks want to be in the business of running parks and charging top dollar then they must give the customer what he's paid for.
Our PP are located in some pretty darn good locations, where private facilities could only dream of being...because the government has access to them. Because the view is a million dollar view should we expect to pay a whopping fee and park in the mud...no!
Some of the more "urban" pp's in southern Ontario seem to have adapted a bit more to the rv age. Northern Ontario, not so much.
We count our blessings in that NY and Pa. state parks and COE parks are only an hour or two away. Water, 30/50 amp electric, some even with full hookups and the mountains to boot. Now, even better, Alabama and Georgia state parks, they usually come with a nice little concrete pad that the picnic table sits on. All that for $18 - $23 for full hook-ups.
Don and Patty
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