Gents,
We all know what the deal is here. We'll all deal with it in our own separate ways. If the park(s)service is supposed to do maintenance like trimming in sites etc, and they don't have the time or the money because of manpower or time constraints, oh well. I'm not going to make an issue out of it now or while we're camping. It just happened and I thought I'd just see if anyone else has had a concern. I had no idea it would generate the responses it did.
As for the gent who's had good space in Yosemite, I did speculate that the issue was because I had my trailer with us this time and because I don't disconnect it, (where the heck would I put it anyway, while there?)that was the issue. Again, while I'm only "34 foot long" it will fit in multiple spaces even when the campground authorities, be it NP, SP or private, say "You won't fit".
As for the suggestion that I put the bike on the back of the motor home, it was considered years ago. My coach is a gas model, 34' long with a 13' overhang past the point of the rear wheels touching the ground. The 100 gallon water tank is back there and so is the 75 gallon fuel tank. That already puts the rear just at maximum weight for the rear and even teeters the weight off the front end to the point I get a lousy ride because of it. Believe me, I've checked out those lifts several times and if I could have done it, I'm not sure this post would have ever been posted.
Thanks again for all your thoughts and comments. Obviously, there's lots of ideas on how to handle this situation, and we'll all deal with it in our way when and if it happens. Good luck and be safe out there and happy RVing.
Scott
Scott and Karla San Diego Fire Department RETIRED 1999 Bounder 34V w/slide, V-10 W/BANKS toad-'04 Yellow Jeep Rubicon 2002 Stream Silver Metalic GL 1800 Goldwing KI60ND
At the Grand Canyon RV park we were having a little trouble with tree branches, and the tree trunk being right where our door was. I walked back down to the check-in office and the nice ranger there just told me to walk around and find any site that would be acceptable to me. When I found one, he just changed my paperwork, and all was fine. The next day, someone was at the original site and was trimming the branches, but obviously would not be moving the tree. Basically, all I had to do was ask, and they did everything they could to accommodate me. Granted this was in January of this year, and the RV park in the NP was not crowded at all. Had there been a lot of other rigs there, I'm sure the response would have been the same but our choices would have been limited to what sites were vacant. I think the park crews will be more than happy to trim any branches that are causing problems but don't expect them to drop what they are doing and run over to take care of your particular situation that second. They did trim the branches at our original site but it was over 24 hours later, when it fit into their schedule, which is as it should be. Considering the amount of snow on the ground, I think they did a great job providing me with access to any sites.
If you take the "NO Cutting" thought to it's extreme, there will eventually be "NO Parking" at all because the trees will take over completely.
The parks need to be reasonably maintained for access.
We have seen very responsive staff in many state and federal parks. In one instance they took their cart and went ahead of us to assure there was trouble-free access.
I believe if you tow a large trailer you should expect to be required to drop it off at the entrance in some parks.
That's what we do with our toads.
ROwen
2005 Country Coach Inspire DaVinci 40'
2008 Honda CRV Dinghy
When I switched from a 21 foot long trailer to 31 feet long I knew I would be more limited on my spaces. No way would I go somewhere and be upset that I couldn't change thier park to accomodate me. I would be mighty pissed off if someone trimmed a tree at my home so that they could park their RV on the street.
Jeff
2009 Rockwood Signature Ultra Light 8317SS
2004 Dodge Ram 1500 QC LB Hemi
DW Kelly and DD
A not so funny story about how strict the National Parks are. I cant remember if it was Yellowstone or Yosemite, but my sister and her family were camping and my nephew was playing with his cars and trucks in the dirt, lining little rocks up to make roads. The camp two spots down from them a little boy was collecting, stacking and lining rocks up on the picnic table. From what my sister said these rocks were 2 to 3 inch is size, not huge rocks.
A Ranger stopped at the camp next door and asked the little boy were all the rocks came from. He pointed to around the camp area and said that he collected some from when they went walking on the trails. The ranger then proceeded to get rather tough on the parents, as it is illegal to move or remove any rocks or plant life from where they came from. The Ranger stated it was a $200+ fine for any removal of National park property. The Ranger then sited them a $200 ticket and demanded that they show them were all the rocks came from, as they now have to be put back in the original location of the park. The father thought the ticket and the demands were crazy and extreme and he became angry. The next thing you knew there were two more Ranger trucks showing up and they were serious. When all was said and done they supposedly took the rocks that were taken from the trail and were returning them. The rocks found around the camp were then picked up a placed back around the camp. The father got to keep his $200 ticket.
During this time my Brother in Law was helping pick up his sons cars and trucks and scattering his little rock roads around so the Rangers would not see this and attempt to fine them too. So because of this, I could see how the National Park Rangers would get very mad if you attempted to cut a tree branch, so your RV could fit in a spot. I'm sure their concern would be a fresh cut could invite some type of tree fugues or disease. And the fact is if you let one person start clearing their own spot then where does it stop.
symbasden wrote: When I switched from a 21 foot long trailer to 31 feet long I knew I would be more limited on my spaces. No way would I go somewhere and be upset that I couldn't change their park to accommodate me. I would be mighty pissed off if someone trimmed a tree at my home so that they could park their RV on the street.
I think you have a misperception. It is NOT their park. It is MY park, It is YOUR park. WE own it. My taxes pay for it, its mine. That is why I have the right to request it to be trimmed. It does not belong to any special interest group. Its mine, its ours.
As a side note, Not only can your neighbor trim your trees if they overhang his lot, but they can also send you the bill for the labor. Not that this has anything to do with the OP. You may not like it, but that's the way it is.
Dave
FMCA F298817
'83 Revcon Prince 31' FWD
502 w/Howell/Edelbrock MPFI, Thorley's & Magnaflows,
Koni FSD, Class A built for gear heads ?????? Revconeers Forum
There is nothing compassionate about taking someone elses money and giving to the poor.
symbasden wrote: When I switched from a 21 foot long trailer to 31 feet long I knew I would be more limited on my spaces. No way would I go somewhere and be upset that I couldn't change their park to accommodate me. I would be mighty pissed off if someone trimmed a tree at my home so that they could park their RV on the street.
I think you have a misperception. It is NOT their park. It is MY park, It is YOUR park. WE own it. My taxes pay for it, its mine. That is why I have the right to request it to be trimmed. It does not belong to any special interest group. Its mine, its ours.
As a side note, Not only can your neighbor trim your trees if they overhang his lot, but they can also send you the bill for the labor. Not that this has anything to do with the OP. You may not like it, but that's the way it is.
WE also pay others to manage the NP's, the same as WE pay others to set the speed limit on the roads we all drive on, even tho we own them also.
If we don't like the way our resources are being managed, we can vote differently in the elections but we cannot change the rules to suit our own needs. That's why the majority voted in managers to provide fines for the few that think the rules don't apply to them.
We ran into a problem with overhanging trees on the road leading into our favorite Escanaba State Forest. We called the office, with a smile in my voice, and they trimmed the trees along the whole 5 miles entry after my nice explanation.
I told them (nicely) that if we can't get in without ripping off our roof items with our motorhome, that taller and more popular fifth wheels can't get in either.
And the less folks going INTO the campgrounds,
means less occupancy,
which means less revenue,
which means less operating budget allowed to their park in the future,
which means loss of jobs for them....
They called me four days later to tell me the task was accomplished in time for our weekend camping up there.
(by the way, 2 of the 9 campgrounds in the Ottawa Nat. Forest Iron River/Kenton districts in the U.P. of Michigan are already closed down due to low occupancy numbers, and I just got a letter from the Hiawatha unit telling of the shrinking occupancy numbers and which sites are closing too after a survey was completed)
Quote: If we don't like the way our resources are being managed, we can vote differently in the elections but we cannot change the rules to suit our own needs. That's why the majority voted in managers to provide fines for the few that think the rules don't apply to them.
Rules don't apply???? I said REQUEST they be trimmed. I did not say to trim them myself.
BTY: If you think the majority voted in the managers, I suggest you study politics more closely. Most environmental policies are put in place without public input. In addition, people are voted in and controlled by special interests. Then "majority" is highly manipulated by money. While the system we have is better than anything else, it is far from pure. And don't get me started about speed limits.
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