when freecamping:What does everyone think is an acceptable distance from another camper? We seem to park up for the night, then, when nearly asleep, a car with backpackers comes along and parks right next to my bed window. can hear everything. Does anyone know why they do this when there is an entire park to park their car? strop is wondering if they feel more secure snuggled next to our van. he could be right. what do you think? positive answers would be appreciated.
-- Edited by the rocket on Tuesday 21st of January 2014 09:45:22 PM
Cruising Granny said
10:17 PM Jan 21, 2014
Don't feel exclusive. They do this in caravan parks as well.
I'm not sure if it's relative to the nationality of the campers. The arrogance and ignorance factor is extremely offensive. They pull up in the park in the early hours of the morning after a night on the tiles, making all sorts of racquet, not to mention the whizzing and banging on that damned sliding door.
Maybe a polite request initially, but then the request could become a bit firmer if they fail to acknowledge their nuisance value.
Most times they avoid parking near trucks, but there have been times when they park right in the way of the truck so we can't move until we wake them up to shift the van.
It could be to escape the lights and road noise of the traffic as it passes on the highway.
Maybe you could do a roadside survey and simply ask them. I'd be interested in the results.
There's a project for you. Keep it safe.
Gerty Dancer said
10:39 PM Jan 21, 2014
Yeah we have had that happen too Rocket, they are always late arriving, then nearly get under our awning with us! Maybe they are scared of our wide open spaces?
Helena said
06:31 AM Jan 22, 2014
It is not only back[packers that do this we had a large Winnebago park right next to us at 4 am they turned their shower on which was right next to our bed then took off at 5am just part of free camping I guess. good to see you on the sight CG hope you are well
Landfall said
07:55 AM Jan 22, 2014
I think it's a security thing.
Australia doesn't have the best of reputations for being secure out there in the "outback" remember anything outside a city to a lot of tourists from overseas is "the outback."
Annoying though it is, it doesn't bother us if its an overseas mob, but if its young Aussie's, that's another story.
I know that when we pull up for the night or a couple of days, that I like to see someone else in the area and try to camp within loud yelling distance from them without being intrusive.
Ken
-- Edited by Landfall on Wednesday 22nd of January 2014 07:35:06 PM
jules47 said
07:59 AM Jan 22, 2014
Had a French couple in Tassy, not backpackers, drive into a spot where two of us were camped, and ask if they could camp near us, as they were scared of the bush and wild animals! We said ok, and as it was their first Aussie camp we lit a fire and had a good old chat, given their broken English.
The thing I find too with backpackers especially, is they tend to cook at any time - a lot of them are living on instant noodles, they eat late at night, washing it down with soft drink or alcohol - imagine all the wax from the noodles congealing in their arteries!!!! Yuk!
Zoomtopz said
08:12 AM Jan 22, 2014
never got used to Reefer vans or cattle trucks pulling up beside me ,
caravans , hippies other trucks not a prob
banjo said
08:41 AM Jan 22, 2014
Reminds me of one of my Northern winter sojourns, I pulled over for the night in one of my usual overnight freedom spots and placed my rig behind a tree on a small track, like a drive through site, ready to leave early next morning.
On awaking I was amazed to find some dewdrop had pitched a tent literally a few feet from my bullbar ! so I could no longer drive forward.
I had to make a difficult reverse back along the track to get out. hopefully when I started the truck it gave them a good wake up call. Silly buggers.
But yes its true no matter where you park someone will always come and park within a few meters to be close to you.
Mind when ever I fly anywhere I always get the drunk, noisy kid or other oddity that is on the plane next to me ;-( must be my magnetic personality.
Wirroff said
09:16 AM Jan 22, 2014
The backpackers (especially non-Aussie backpackers) are ADVISED by the hire companies (Wicked, Jucy etc etc) to park next to other vans and caravans for security reasons. The argument is that we, as experienced often older Aussies, will know what to do in case of an emergency. We should feel proud of that!
KFT said
09:53 AM Jan 22, 2014
We pulled up for the night at a RRA on the pacific hwy north of Newcastle one afternoon.
within an hour there were 3 caravans and a couple of motorhomes there with us and a young dutch couple pulled in right behind us in a small campervan. we said hello and waved and they came over and asked if we were staying the night and could they please park between us and the van in front?
It seems they were aware of the goings on further south on the hume and thought that applied all over aus.
we enjoyed their company that evening and told them a little about the real Australia. lovely young couple though.
When I got up early the next morning the place was chocka block with cars vans campers that had pulled in during the night.
frank
NeilandRaine said
03:47 PM Jan 22, 2014
Zoomtopz wrote:
never got used to Reefer vans or cattle trucks pulling up beside me ,
caravans , hippies other trucks not a prob
We used to throw stones at cattle trucks, back in the day when air cons were not the norm and you slept lying across the steering wheel with the windows open
NeilandRaine said
04:15 PM Jan 22, 2014
Then again depends on what the backpackers look like. These backpackers parked beside us at St Lawrence and fell in love with Jamie (Raines baby who travels with us)
I have been told that they are advised when leaving where ever they come from to park as close as possibile to c/vans & m/homes as thats the safest place to be.
Time to start a vicious rumour & spread the word.
We were in a very small free camp, I had to roll the awning up to let the garbage truck have access to the bins.
A car load of them was watching & tried to jump in as the truck moved off before I could lower the awning.
Big mistake on their part.. Have seen them come in at 3.00am & party to daylight, then go to sleep, thats when we need to start a party.
JC.
KFT said
05:00 PM Jan 22, 2014
JC you must have been a bit desperate for a space if you parked THAT close to the garbo's.
eeuwww!!
frank
justcruisin01 said
05:20 PM Jan 22, 2014
KFT wrote:
JC you must have been a bit desperate for a space if you parked THAT close to the garbo's.
eeuwww!!
frank
As said it was a very small but a beautiful area. Garbo's were clean, no smell as they were daily serviced. They were off to the end of the awning , I was making it easier for the service guy. But I know what you mean & no, not that close normally.
Cruising Granny said
06:20 PM Jan 22, 2014
Hmmmm..... I could crank up the diesel gennie built into my Sprinter. Quiet inside, but not so quiet outside. I'm very choosy where I park if I start it up to be fair.
The dog lady said
12:34 AM Jan 23, 2014
While I agree that being the first in a camp for the day does seem to attract other campers (perhaps it is the safety in numbers thing), the only time anyone parked uncomfortably close to me it was a giant bus type motorhome. The couple driving it were clearly Aussies, probably retired and should be used to our free camp areas. So I'll never understand why they felt the need to park less than 3m from my van in such a way that I was blocked in, even tho there were plenty of other spaces available. I said to them "not so close" and they just breezily said they were only staying one night, as if that makes it OK that I had to put up with their TV, water pump and various other unidentified noisy appliances. I just hope my dogs barking everytime they flushed kept them awake too
Delta18 said
09:59 AM Jan 23, 2014
We had a whizz-bang park very close behind us at a very large, lightly populated camp a couple years ago, put out their door mat & went for a walk. By the time they got back my generator was at the back of my van probably 3 feet from their bed.
When they got back from their walk they picked up the doormat & moved further away.
Mission accomplished. Put the gennie away again.
Vic41 said
10:08 AM Jan 23, 2014
I parked in a free camp that had a huge area, I was the only one there. A huge camper bus came in and drove right up behind me, they proceeded to get there genny out (I was pulling a pop top caravan) and put their mats out.
I went over to them and asked them whether they would be running their genny during the night, they scowled at me and asked why, when I said well it is a big camping area, they packed up and chose another spot some distance away, not long after some friends of theirs in another big bus came in and joined them, thank goodness they moved as they drank and carried on till late.
Some are just plain inconsiderate of others.
Wirroff said
11:26 AM Jan 23, 2014
Why is the term 'whizz-bang' quoted in such disdain?? We are a very respectful, middle aged couple from a good background and I have just retired from a position as a GM of a major Queensland company. We own a 'whizz-bang' that cost $125,000 and we are more than happy to be proud of our little 'whizz-bang'. I would have never thought such snobbery existed from Grey Nomads but, then again, I have seen multiple examples of this snobbery in our three months of travels so far. Disappointing to say the least......
Gerty Dancer said
11:32 AM Jan 23, 2014
"Whizz-bang" is the noise made by careless young people on their hired campervans ... over and over again, often during the night. After you have been parked next to such people a few times you get a bit sour. I take your point Wirroff, not all sliding-door M/homes are the same, and not all have inconsiderate twits using them. Sorry you are offended.
sandsmere said
11:47 AM Jan 23, 2014
Don't take it personally Wirroff . It's just one of those terms that has stuck , and everyone that has that type of
vehicle has to cop it I s'pose . Not ideal when you have a very good unit I know , but that's the way it is .
justcruisin01 said
12:08 PM Jan 23, 2014
Wirroff wrote:
Why is the term 'whizz-bang' quoted in such disdain?? We are a very respectful, middle aged couple from a good background and I have just retired from a position as a GM of a major Queensland company. We own a 'whizz-bang' that cost $125,000 and we are more than happy to be proud of our little 'whizz-bang'. I would have never thought such snobbery existed from Grey Nomads but, then again, I have seen multiple examples of this snobbery in our three months of travels so far. Disappointing to say the least......
A valid point, & like all there's good & bad in every thing. The term whizz-bang is widly used & sticks like s#!t to a blanket.
Created from those hippy vans/backpackers in poorly serviced vehicles with very noisy doors that wish to camp under your awning etc.
The bigger part of the noise comes from well worn to wornout roller bearings running dry, also from dirt/grit in the bottom roller guide & people are too usless to clean it out.
Then they insist on a continual open/close operation of the door. I watched a girl open & close the door six times one morning without even letting the handle go, that was the final straw.
KFT said
12:16 PM Jan 23, 2014
We have found that those types of vehicles seem to like camping not too far from the toilets.
Which is why we choose to be as far from the toilets as possible.
We are also inclined to pick a camp/rest spot that has no toilet facilities as most others will not stop there usually only the self contained like we are.
makes for a much quieter experience
frank
jetj said
12:20 PM Jan 23, 2014
i've got a whiz bang and I don't like the sound of mine either. I haven't noticed any snobbery, people seem to want to park on top of me.
native pepper said
12:38 PM Jan 23, 2014
Luckily 9 out of 10 places we camp, there's just us, or someone we know and rarely any problems, as everyone is very considerate of each other. So we don't have to put up with generators, smokey fires, noisy drunks and cigarette smoke wafting round the bush.
The places we do camp at where there will be more people are large and we only stop there because we need to be in the region and it's central. One place in Nth E Vic, is very large and we camp well away from the toilets, but still get egg heads camping near us. You always know the type who will be a problem, they have the same life approach, me me me and stuff everyone else. It can be good laugh at times, as they are also normally angry bitter types and feel they have some inalienable right to do and act as they please.
As for wiss bang vehicle, we see a lot of those these days. Years ago it was converted buses, kombie type vehicles, small vans and camper vans. Now there is every configuration you can think of, which is a good thing. What people pay is up to them, it's their life and money. If we had a lot of money, we'd have a monstrous 12m 4x4 that floats and expands to twice it's size. But never had an interest in lots of money, just travel and good times, so we stick to older buses which are cheap, can be fitted out cheaply, unless you want all the wiss bang things in it and are reliable and comfortable. This gives us more disposable money, our current set up, has cost less than $10000 fully self contained. It will cost a bit more over the years as we alter and adapt it, low maintenance, very reliable and safe.
We are on holiday, so at home and I've made and fitted a new bullbar, stone guard, made an air snorkel for it and am putting 12v outlets beside all the seats. Last year we got stopped by water, as the intake pretty low and at the very grill of the bus.Then it will get a paint job before we head to Aus in march, if I get the time.
barina said
01:45 PM Jan 23, 2014
I have a whizz bang as well. On my couple of trips, I open the door when I arrive and then close when sleeping and do not open until the morning, very quietly. I have no generator yet, but certainly have heard them and it is just part of the deal for free camping, so if I had to close or open my door a couple of times there are ways to do it quietly, so be it.
Happywanderer said
02:27 PM Jan 23, 2014
I was parked at Girgarre last night, one of the very colorful whizzbangs came in late and parked within metres from my van. Four guys, very chatty, got
guitar out, played for ten minutes then put it away again. Soft talking till late.
None of it worried me. Jessie growled when they started bouncing a ball, they stopped instantly.
No complaints from me with these guys although I did initially think there was plenty of room to park well away. Maybe they thought I looked like their favourite nana as they were very friendly.
One even came over and helped me get Jessie out from under the van this morning. Her favourite trick when it's time to leave and she would rather nottheir
Cruising Cruze said
02:38 PM Jan 23, 2014
@ Jules
very normal to go in France at 2100 hrs to a restaurant for dinner
most are closed before 20.00 hrs
John
Baz421 said
03:23 PM Jan 23, 2014
Have experienced many of theing quoted here,,, some good some frustrating,,, but after visiting Finland and Estonia where it is common to sit together, join up and do things in close proximity and share "space" I can understand better.
Many are,, as other say,, a bit daunted or a little scared of the "outback" and take comfort in the Aussie friendliness.
Part of life on the road, and as many have said sometimes a "quiet" word gets the message across.
when freecamping:What does everyone think is an acceptable distance from another camper? We seem to park up for the night, then, when nearly asleep, a car with backpackers comes along and parks right next to my bed window. can hear everything. Does anyone know why they do this when there is an entire park to park their car? strop is wondering if they feel more secure snuggled next to our van. he could be right. what do you think? positive answers would be appreciated.
-- Edited by the rocket on Tuesday 21st of January 2014 09:45:22 PM
I'm not sure if it's relative to the nationality of the campers. The arrogance and ignorance factor is extremely offensive. They pull up in the park in the early hours of the morning after a night on the tiles, making all sorts of racquet, not to mention the whizzing and banging on that damned sliding door.
Maybe a polite request initially, but then the request could become a bit firmer if they fail to acknowledge their nuisance value.
Most times they avoid parking near trucks, but there have been times when they park right in the way of the truck so we can't move until we wake them up to shift the van.
It could be to escape the lights and road noise of the traffic as it passes on the highway.
Maybe you could do a roadside survey and simply ask them. I'd be interested in the results.
There's a project for you. Keep it safe.
I think it's a security thing.
Australia doesn't have the best of reputations for being secure out there in the "outback" remember anything outside a city to a lot of tourists from overseas is "the outback."
Annoying though it is, it doesn't bother us if its an overseas mob, but if its young Aussie's, that's another story.
I know that when we pull up for the night or a couple of days, that I like to see someone else in the area and try to camp within loud yelling distance from them without being intrusive.
Ken
-- Edited by Landfall on Wednesday 22nd of January 2014 07:35:06 PM
The thing I find too with backpackers especially, is they tend to cook at any time - a lot of them are living on instant noodles, they eat late at night, washing it down with soft drink or alcohol - imagine all the wax from the noodles congealing in their arteries!!!! Yuk!
never got used to Reefer vans or cattle trucks pulling up beside me ,
caravans , hippies other trucks not a prob
On awaking I was amazed to find some dewdrop had pitched a tent literally a few feet from my bullbar ! so I could no longer drive forward.
I had to make a difficult reverse back along the track to get out. hopefully when I started the truck it gave them a good wake up call. Silly buggers.
But yes its true no matter where you park someone will always come and park within a few meters to be close to you.
Mind when ever I fly anywhere I always get the drunk, noisy kid or other oddity that is on the plane next to me ;-( must be my magnetic personality.
The backpackers (especially non-Aussie backpackers) are ADVISED by the hire companies (Wicked, Jucy etc etc) to park next to other vans and caravans for security reasons. The argument is that we, as experienced often older Aussies, will know what to do in case of an emergency. We should feel proud of that!
within an hour there were 3 caravans and a couple of motorhomes there with us and a young dutch couple pulled in right behind us in a small campervan. we said hello and waved and they came over and asked if we were staying the night and could they please park between us and the van in front?
It seems they were aware of the goings on further south on the hume and thought that applied all over aus.
we enjoyed their company that evening and told them a little about the real Australia. lovely young couple though.
When I got up early the next morning the place was chocka block with cars vans campers that had pulled in during the night.
frank
We used to throw stones at cattle trucks, back in the day when air cons were not the norm and you slept lying across the steering wheel with the windows open
I have been told that they are advised when leaving where ever they come from to park as close as possibile to c/vans & m/homes as thats the safest place to be.
Time to start a vicious rumour & spread the word.
We were in a very small free camp, I had to roll the awning up to let the garbage truck have access to the bins.
A car load of them was watching & tried to jump in as the truck moved off before I could lower the awning.
Big mistake on their part.. Have seen them come in at 3.00am & party to daylight, then go to sleep, thats when we need to start a party.
JC.
eeuwww!!
frank
As said it was a very small but a beautiful area. Garbo's were clean, no smell as they were daily serviced. They were off to the end of the awning , I was making it easier for the service guy. But I know what you mean & no, not that close normally.
While I agree that being the first in a camp for the day does seem to attract other campers (perhaps it is the safety in numbers thing), the only time anyone parked uncomfortably close to me it was a giant bus type motorhome. The couple driving it were clearly Aussies, probably retired and should be used to our free camp areas. So I'll never understand why they felt the need to park less than 3m from my van in such a way that I was blocked in, even tho there were plenty of other spaces available. I said to them "not so close" and they just breezily said they were only staying one night, as if that makes it OK that I had to put up with their TV, water pump and various other unidentified noisy appliances. I just hope my dogs barking everytime they flushed kept them awake too
We had a whizz-bang park very close behind us at a very large, lightly populated camp a couple years ago, put out their door mat & went for a walk. By the time they got back my generator was at the back of my van probably 3 feet from their bed.
When they got back from their walk they picked up the doormat & moved further away.
Mission accomplished. Put the gennie away again.
I parked in a free camp that had a huge area, I was the only one there. A huge camper bus came in and drove right up behind me, they proceeded to get there genny out (I was pulling a pop top caravan) and put their mats out.
I went over to them and asked them whether they would be running their genny during the night, they scowled at me and asked why, when I said well it is a big camping area, they packed up and chose another spot some distance away, not long after some friends of theirs in another big bus came in and joined them, thank goodness they moved as they drank and carried on till late.
Some are just plain inconsiderate of others.
Why is the term 'whizz-bang' quoted in such disdain?? We are a very respectful, middle aged couple from a good background and I have just retired from a position as a GM of a major Queensland company. We own a 'whizz-bang' that cost $125,000 and we are more than happy to be proud of our little 'whizz-bang'. I would have never thought such snobbery existed from Grey Nomads but, then again, I have seen multiple examples of this snobbery in our three months of travels so far. Disappointing to say the least......
Don't take it personally Wirroff . It's just one of those terms that has stuck , and everyone that has that type of
vehicle has to cop it I s'pose . Not ideal when you have a very good unit I know , but that's the way it is .
A valid point, & like all there's good & bad in every thing. The term whizz-bang is widly used & sticks like s#!t to a blanket.
Created from those hippy vans/backpackers in poorly serviced vehicles with very noisy doors that wish to camp under your awning etc.
The bigger part of the noise comes from well worn to wornout roller bearings running dry, also from dirt/grit in the bottom roller guide & people are too usless to clean it out.
Then they insist on a continual open/close operation of the door. I watched a girl open & close the door six times one morning without even letting the handle go, that was the final straw.
Which is why we choose to be as far from the toilets as possible.
We are also inclined to pick a camp/rest spot that has no toilet facilities as most others will not stop there usually only the self contained like we are.
makes for a much quieter experience
frank
i've got a whiz bang and I don't like the sound of mine either. I haven't noticed any snobbery, people seem to want to park on top of me.
The places we do camp at where there will be more people are large and we only stop there because we need to be in the region and it's central. One place in Nth E Vic, is very large and we camp well away from the toilets, but still get egg heads camping near us. You always know the type who will be a problem, they have the same life approach, me me me and stuff everyone else. It can be good laugh at times, as they are also normally angry bitter types and feel they have some inalienable right to do and act as they please.
As for wiss bang vehicle, we see a lot of those these days. Years ago it was converted buses, kombie type vehicles, small vans and camper vans. Now there is every configuration you can think of, which is a good thing. What people pay is up to them, it's their life and money. If we had a lot of money, we'd have a monstrous 12m 4x4 that floats and expands to twice it's size. But never had an interest in lots of money, just travel and good times, so we stick to older buses which are cheap, can be fitted out cheaply, unless you want all the wiss bang things in it and are reliable and comfortable. This gives us more disposable money, our current set up, has cost less than $10000 fully self contained. It will cost a bit more over the years as we alter and adapt it, low maintenance, very reliable and safe.
We are on holiday, so at home and I've made and fitted a new bullbar, stone guard, made an air snorkel for it and am putting 12v outlets beside all the seats. Last year we got stopped by water, as the intake pretty low and at the very grill of the bus.Then it will get a paint job before we head to Aus in march, if I get the time.
I have a whizz bang as well. On my couple of trips, I open the door when I arrive and then close when sleeping and do not open until the morning, very quietly. I have no generator yet, but certainly have heard them and it is just part of the deal for free camping, so if I had to close or open my door a couple of times there are ways to do it quietly, so be it.
guitar out, played for ten minutes then put it away again. Soft talking till late.
None of it worried me. Jessie growled when they started bouncing a ball, they stopped instantly.
No complaints from me with these guys although I did initially think there was plenty of room to park well away. Maybe they thought I looked like their favourite nana as they were very friendly.
One even came over and helped me get Jessie out from under the van this morning. Her favourite trick when it's time to leave and she would rather nottheir
very normal to go in France at 2100 hrs to a restaurant for dinner
most are closed before 20.00 hrs
John
Have experienced many of theing quoted here,,, some good some frustrating,,, but after visiting Finland and Estonia where it is common to sit together, join up and do things in close proximity and share "space" I can understand better.
Many are,, as other say,, a bit daunted or a little scared of the "outback" and take comfort in the Aussie friendliness.
Part of life on the road, and as many have said sometimes a "quiet" word gets the message across.