The place was packed. It has trees, bins and water, but no loos.
It would have been just fine if it wasn't for the noise from someone's generator going all night.
Is this common with free campers?
It wasn't next to me, thankfully, but was loud enough that I got minimal sleep. It was too hot to close all the windows, especially because my poptop was down due to bent cross thingy.
J.
exa41 said
05:35 PM Oct 21, 2015
Hi Jamjar , they shouldn't the mongrels but some people are oblivious to others around them ,usually the rule of thumb is about 8.30/9.00 , for me when the sun goes out so does the genny if I run it at all.
Jamjar said
05:43 PM Oct 21, 2015
Well, that's encouraging, I was worried it was the norm.
On my way up to Parkes, today, there was a chap with van and generator set up at one of the highway rest stops. I thought that more appropriate.
J.
KFT said
05:48 PM Oct 21, 2015
Jamjar,
most people are considerate when using gensets but you get those who are not members of a forum like this one and have absolutely no clue as to the etiquette in this situation. Nor would they really care about others.
As it is a freecamp there are no real enforceable rules so you just have to cop it or move. We scope out these types of things when looking to pull up and usually get as far away from others as we can.
BTW which camp were you in at Forbes?
frank
Mutt said
06:08 PM Oct 21, 2015
I just had a person abusing me and using every 4 letter word he could think of. Told me how useless I am and should go jump off the nearest cliff. He also said I'm going to tell everybody about and your free camping. Asked him not to swear in front of my daughter but he continued to use foul language. Ranted and raved for quite awhile. I said I think I've seen you somewhere before. "You told me to turn my generator off. " That was at Attack Creek over 3 months ago. Well it was 11.00pm I asked him very nicely could he please turn his generator off. " he said "I'm running it all night". Please turn it off or it will never run again. So he carried on swearing at me and packed it up. After his tirade of abuse today. Next stop the pub. Think he has problems. Yet his wife is such a lovely person.
Radar said
06:08 PM Oct 21, 2015
Hi Jamjar and welcome to the Forum.
With our limited experience over the last few years when at the more popular free camps you will find people running generators.
For the most they have been switched off by 9pm but myself find the generators more noisy when I am about to eat or relax.
Now we try to find free camps away from other people at lesser used roadside stops.
Hope this incident will not ruin your total experience and there will be better ones to come. Its fuuny that it was at Forbes where after being away for a couple of months having a great time, we come into Forbes low on food and fuel spent 2 nights parked there at that most beautiful free area a short walk to the shops when a very inconsiderate couple in a large self contained caravan went to the trouble of backing into a spot 90deg to the waterview a couple of metres away from the walking path very close to us, then had showers and what else you do and then drove off leaving all this waist water laying about in 2 great puddles. Not a pretty sight leaving us with there smell and it was still there the 2nd morning when leaving. There was penty of room over near the roadway where they could of parked and drove straight into without backing into anywhere.
Enoy your travels. Radar
Jamjar said
06:08 PM Oct 21, 2015
Frank, not sure if you are asking me, as I don't know what BTW is. By the Way, no doubt. A bit slow tonight obviously due to generator noise. :)
I think there is only one in Forbes. Coming from West Wyalong you take the turn left before you cross over the river.
Just as you turn, on your right there is a little park with toilet, picnic table, caravan dump point. However, you can't stay overnight there.
Continue along the road. Directly after the stop sign you'll see the camp area on the right.
I would have moved on and was tempted to pay for a caravan park, but I only wanted to sleep and be up early to drop the van at Parkes Caravan repairs, before heading back home.
Never mind, it brought back memories of the night I spent trying to sleep in a semi with a refrigerated load. :)
J.
-- Edited by Jamjar on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 06:11:07 PM
Jamjar said
06:16 PM Oct 21, 2015
Thanks Radar.
I was parked by the road. Mostly because I can't reverse my van and wanted to be sure I could get a direct line out in the morn.
I won't be off. Is funny, I've never met a rude, inconsiderate person in a caravan park. Must be 'Free' brings out the worst in some.
J.
Jamjar said
06:24 PM Oct 21, 2015
Not nice Mutt.
I'm pleased it isn't just me it annoys. I had wondered if I was being unreasonable.
I suppose it only bothers light sleepers.
The folks next door to my house have 2 older A/C motors on my side of their house. It's only two driveway widths from my kitchen and in summer, as my windows are all open, I hear it running all night. One of the disadvantages of living in small rural communities that a deadly quiet at night.
However, the generator put their A/C to shame.
J.
Dougwe said
06:43 PM Oct 21, 2015
Nope, not the norm. You will at times get a mongrel, no, not "the mongrel" but just a mongrel that will upset the neighbours with a gene. Mongrel's.
Fuzzball said
06:58 PM Oct 21, 2015
Some people are so inconsiderate, but they're usually not the norm. I really do hope that you enjoy many more nights of FREE camping.
Mostly, the free campers are a lovely bunch of people, but there's always someone who likes to ruin it for everybody else. We run a generator, sometimes, to do the washing, but it's always off by 8:00, at the latest. I agree with Dougwe! Mongrels!!!
KFT said
07:00 PM Oct 21, 2015
Thanks Jamjar
you got it right (BTW)
thanks for the info I was not aware of just where it was.
happy camping
frank
Aus-Kiwi said
07:35 PM Oct 21, 2015
He may have reason ? As said most us Good guys try not to run gene in sleeping hours .. Some get cranky when some start one up to heat the jug for coffee etc.. I can put up with that.. But why run all night ? No need.. Just laugh at them..there rig needs to be better set up.. Move on...
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 07:37:12 PM
Jamjar said
07:50 PM Oct 21, 2015
I'm surprised someone would need to heat up water using one. Don't all vans have gas? Not being cheeky there, seriously wondering.
J.
Bruce and Bev said
07:55 PM Oct 21, 2015
we've always been lucky. Have been in a few free camps and rest stops where people have run gennies, but always turned off by about 9pm.
The only one that ran theirs all night parked way over in the corner of a very large main roads rest stop and they put it round the far side of the van, so it was not noisy and remember some people need them to run medical appliances, some of which will pull some much power that a few batteries wont keep the machine going.
Ive only used mine once in a WA National Park and my next door neighbour used theirs as well to run our air con (north WA) - and we went and asked/told all the others in the 9 site camp area before we started them. All were happy that we intended to turn them off by 9pm
Aus-Kiwi said
07:56 PM Oct 21, 2015
Jamjar wrote:
I'm surprised someone would need to heat up water using one. Don't all vans have gas? Not being cheeky there, seriously wondering.
J.
Yep.. Some woman don't like starting gas tops .. Unfortunately my Mrs is one of them...
your preaching to the converted .. Want to train my Mrs ? Ahaha ha Good luck.. Lol
Ours is built into motorhome . Twin cylinder diesel.. Built in double insulated cabin ... Very quiet...
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 07:57:32 PM
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 07:58:35 PM
Jamjar said
08:07 PM Oct 21, 2015
I hadn't thought of the medical aspect.
I love gas cooking, but we don't have natural gas out our way and I couldn't be bothered having those long gas bottles. I don't have an electric stove in the house either. I have a small two burner camp stove with a 9kg gas bottle and an on bench oven. So, gas in the van does me just fine, and it's a bit of a luxury as it has a real size oven.
J.
JayDee said
09:20 PM Oct 21, 2015
I have heard that there are people who need a CPAP machine so as to be able to enjoy a good night sleep. There are times when the gennie may be needed at night to keep the battery charged. I feel for thses people and I am just glad that I or we do not have that problem.
We have a gennie, but it is always put to bed before sunset every day it is in use.
If this is not the case then yes inconsiderate people do walk amongst us.
Jay&Dee
NeilandRaine said
09:51 PM Oct 21, 2015
We usually follow the sun and have not needed a genny for a long time. Like us a lot of people now have solar so this helps.
Having said that all I can say is EAR PLUGS
navynurse said
10:07 PM Oct 21, 2015
Personally I have no problem if a generator runs all night. As has been already said there are a number of medical reasons that make this necessary, & let us be real most gennies are fairly quiet now days. I remember Dad had a honda about 45 years ago now that was loud and now would be cause for complaint.
Allan
Aus-Kiwi said
10:13 PM Oct 21, 2015
Thing is you don't mind some noise . But when it's done like figjam like it's almost deliberate .. If your running gene ? Try and camp away or make as quiet as possible .. I've seen leads 20m away from van when it ends up closer to other van sites... Sheesh !!
Young Simmo said
01:00 AM Oct 22, 2015
A tomahook makes a nice mess of an extension lead in a split second.
Mutt said
02:00 AM Oct 22, 2015
Hi Navynurse. This guy had his gen set running so he could watch his TV. The football of course. He didn't give a damn about the other 30 or so vans there. One old chap was 92 and still on the road with his wife. He was very thankful next morning as were also a lot of others.
Desert Dweller said
05:40 AM Oct 22, 2015
Generator owners love the beautiful sounds of the bush on their travels. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
grahamg said
07:19 AM Oct 22, 2015
If it hot , then you need to run the generator to run the air con. Nothing like being in the bush in a beautiful spot and all you can hear is the hum and noise from generators and air cons. I wonder why some people bother getting finding these great spots in the first spot.
If you have a pop top and no air con, you will have all the windows open and cop all the noise but if you have air con then you lockup with all the windows shut and can't hear the noise.
-- Edited by grahamg on Thursday 22nd of October 2015 07:21:40 AM
the rocket said
09:26 AM Oct 22, 2015
Hi jam jar, welcome. We were at ban ban springs recently n a couple said they would run their Jenny all night for a cpap machine. They parked away from others and had a quiet Honda. No problems. Fortunately, we have not come across any problems yet. Cheers. Rocket n strop
Jamjar said
11:00 AM Oct 22, 2015
I thought the idea of going bush was for the peace and quiet and getting away from it all.
I am definitely getting a whole new view here about caravanning. I think that when I stop somewhere I'll have to do a quick walk about before deciding to stay, or where to park.
I don't have tv, or A/C so I suppose I'm biased from the outset.
J.
Bruce and Bev said
12:49 PM Oct 22, 2015
Hiya Jamjar (keen to know the background to the handle you use here lol)
Maybe we've been lucky, but most people don't use their gennies, even when they have one. We've carted our Honda around for 18 months now and only used it once over a period of a week (I mentioned it in an earlier comment in this post).
You will get the odd d/head and they are often casual nomads who don't give two hoots about others, but most regular or full time nomads are sensitive to other campers. We've stayed at a couple of spots where we would have loved to have fired up the genie to turn the air con on )solar and batts don't have the power to run these), but because others have been nearby, we just open the screen door and all the fly screen windows and try not to get too hot.
There are also a number of other medical devices that people need to use when they sleep which requires genie power at night aside from a CPAP (to assist with breathing) machine, but TV to watch a footy match is not one of them - that's just arrogance!
JayDee said
02:05 PM Oct 22, 2015
When we bush camp with other campers I always advise the camper close by, that I will be starting a Gennie, but it will be off by say 6.0pm. Only ever had one issue. A lot of the other campers also have gennies so not an issue during daylight hours.
Do unto others as they would do to you, is a good slogan. 90% of campers are very tolerant and that makes a happu camp site.
jay&Dee
Jamjar said
04:49 PM Oct 22, 2015
Bruce, it was something an aunt called me when I was a little'un. Have no idea why.
Quite some years back, when I was living in the UAE, I was asked to come up with a name for my Internet connection and Jamjar just popped back into my head. Have been using it ever since.
My wireless/Bluetooth speaker just arrived, so if you hear of a battle of generator versus loud music you'll know who one party is.
Not really, as I can't sleep with music playing either. However, I do have audio books on the iPad, so that may help me nod off. Or, I could be lucky and won't have the same problem again.
I did my first free camp, last night, at Forbes.
The place was packed. It has trees, bins and water, but no loos.
It would have been just fine if it wasn't for the noise from someone's generator going all night.
Is this common with free campers?
It wasn't next to me, thankfully, but was loud enough that I got minimal sleep. It was too hot to close all the windows, especially because my poptop was down due to bent cross thingy.
J.
Well, that's encouraging, I was worried it was the norm.
On my way up to Parkes, today, there was a chap with van and generator set up at one of the highway rest stops. I thought that more appropriate.
J.
most people are considerate when using gensets but you get those who are not members of a forum like this one and have absolutely no clue as to the etiquette in this situation. Nor would they really care about others.
As it is a freecamp there are no real enforceable rules so you just have to cop it or move. We scope out these types of things when looking to pull up and usually get as far away from others as we can.
BTW which camp were you in at Forbes?
frank
Hi Jamjar and welcome to the Forum.
With our limited experience over the last few years when at the more popular free camps you will find people running generators.
For the most they have been switched off by 9pm but myself find the generators more noisy when I am about to eat or relax.
Now we try to find free camps away from other people at lesser used roadside stops.
Hope this incident will not ruin your total experience and there will be better ones to come. Its fuuny that it was at Forbes where after being away for a couple of months having a great time, we come into Forbes low on food and fuel spent 2 nights parked there at that most beautiful free area a short walk to the shops when a very inconsiderate couple in a large self contained caravan went to the trouble of backing into a spot 90deg to the waterview a couple of metres away from the walking path very close to us, then had showers and what else you do and then drove off leaving all this waist water laying about in 2 great puddles. Not a pretty sight leaving us with there smell and it was still there the 2nd morning when leaving. There was penty of room over near the roadway where they could of parked and drove straight into without backing into anywhere.
Enoy your travels. Radar
Frank, not sure if you are asking me, as I don't know what BTW is. By the Way, no doubt. A bit slow tonight obviously due to generator noise. :)
I think there is only one in Forbes. Coming from West Wyalong you take the turn left before you cross over the river.
Just as you turn, on your right there is a little park with toilet, picnic table, caravan dump point. However, you can't stay overnight there.
Continue along the road. Directly after the stop sign you'll see the camp area on the right.
I would have moved on and was tempted to pay for a caravan park, but I only wanted to sleep and be up early to drop the van at Parkes Caravan repairs, before heading back home.
Never mind, it brought back memories of the night I spent trying to sleep in a semi with a refrigerated load. :)
J.
-- Edited by Jamjar on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 06:11:07 PM
Thanks Radar.
I was parked by the road. Mostly because I can't reverse my van and wanted to be sure I could get a direct line out in the morn.
I won't be off. Is funny, I've never met a rude, inconsiderate person in a caravan park. Must be 'Free' brings out the worst in some.
J.
Not nice Mutt.
I'm pleased it isn't just me it annoys. I had wondered if I was being unreasonable.
I suppose it only bothers light sleepers.
The folks next door to my house have 2 older A/C motors on my side of their house. It's only two driveway widths from my kitchen and in summer, as my windows are all open, I hear it running all night. One of the disadvantages of living in small rural communities that a deadly quiet at night.
However, the generator put their A/C to shame.
J.
you got it right (BTW)
thanks for the info I was not aware of just where it was.
happy camping
frank
He may have reason ? As said most us Good guys try not to run gene in sleeping hours ..
Some get cranky when some start one up to heat the jug for coffee etc..
I can put up with that.. But why run all night ?
No need.. Just laugh at them..there rig needs to be better set up.. Move on...
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 07:37:12 PM
I'm surprised someone would need to heat up water using one. Don't all vans have gas? Not being cheeky there, seriously wondering.
J.
The only one that ran theirs all night parked way over in the corner of a very large main roads rest stop and they put it round the far side of the van, so it was not noisy and remember some people need them to run medical appliances, some of which will pull some much power that a few batteries wont keep the machine going.
Ive only used mine once in a WA National Park and my next door neighbour used theirs as well to run our air con (north WA) - and we went and asked/told all the others in the 9 site camp area before we started them. All were happy that we intended to turn them off by 9pm
Yep.. Some woman don't like starting gas tops .. Unfortunately my Mrs is one of them...
your preaching to the converted .. Want to train my Mrs ? Ahaha ha Good luck.. Lol
Ours is built into motorhome . Twin cylinder diesel.. Built in double insulated cabin ... Very quiet...
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 07:57:32 PM
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 07:58:35 PM
I hadn't thought of the medical aspect.
I love gas cooking, but we don't have natural gas out our way and I couldn't be bothered having those long gas bottles. I don't have an electric stove in the house either. I have a small two burner camp stove with a 9kg gas bottle and an on bench oven. So, gas in the van does me just fine, and it's a bit of a luxury as it has a real size oven.
J.
We have a gennie, but it is always put to bed before sunset every day it is in use.
If this is not the case then yes inconsiderate people do walk amongst us.
Jay&Dee
Having said that all I can say is EAR PLUGS
Allan
Generator owners love the beautiful sounds of the bush on their travels. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
If it hot , then you need to run the generator to run the air con. Nothing like being in the bush in a beautiful spot and all you can hear is the hum and noise from generators and air cons. I wonder why some people bother getting finding these great spots in the first spot.
If you have a pop top and no air con, you will have all the windows open and cop all the noise but if you have air con then you lockup with all the windows shut and can't hear the noise.
-- Edited by grahamg on Thursday 22nd of October 2015 07:21:40 AM
Hi jam jar, welcome. We were at ban ban springs recently n a couple said they would run their Jenny all night for a cpap machine. They parked away from others and had a quiet Honda. No problems. Fortunately, we have not come across any problems yet. Cheers. Rocket n strop
I thought the idea of going bush was for the peace and quiet and getting away from it all.
I am definitely getting a whole new view here about caravanning. I think that when I stop somewhere I'll have to do a quick walk about before deciding to stay, or where to park.
I don't have tv, or A/C so I suppose I'm biased from the outset.
J.
Maybe we've been lucky, but most people don't use their gennies, even when they have one. We've carted our Honda around for 18 months now and only used it once over a period of a week (I mentioned it in an earlier comment in this post).
You will get the odd d/head and they are often casual nomads who don't give two hoots about others, but most regular or full time nomads are sensitive to other campers. We've stayed at a couple of spots where we would have loved to have fired up the genie to turn the air con on )solar and batts don't have the power to run these), but because others have been nearby, we just open the screen door and all the fly screen windows and try not to get too hot.
There are also a number of other medical devices that people need to use when they sleep which requires genie power at night aside from a CPAP (to assist with breathing) machine, but TV to watch a footy match is not one of them - that's just arrogance!
Do unto others as they would do to you, is a good slogan. 90% of campers are very tolerant and that makes a happu camp site.
jay&Dee
Bruce, it was something an aunt called me when I was a little'un. Have no idea why.
Quite some years back, when I was living in the UAE, I was asked to come up with a name for my Internet connection and Jamjar just popped back into my head. Have been using it ever since.
My wireless/Bluetooth speaker just arrived, so if you hear of a battle of generator versus loud music you'll know who one party is.
Not really, as I can't sleep with music playing either. However, I do have audio books on the iPad, so that may help me nod off. Or, I could be lucky and won't have the same problem again.