Do You Say Something? - Montana Owners Club

JandC · 02-08-2018, 07:46 AM

Several years ago we purchased our first every RV and immediately went full time. We had done a lot of homework and decided on a Montana 3400RL. Even though we came from a large boating background, we knew zip about the RVing world.

Thanks to this forum and it's members the learning curve was shortened. This may be a brand specific forum but the knowledge of it's members, both part timers and full timers, can't be matched anywhere IMHO.

Since first joining we have bought another home, changed to part timing in a gas MH, then sold that home, and are currently back to full timing in a DP.

On a current side trip in Florida I am parked next to a same brand DP. He is about my age and a little outspoken. He found out our coach was new so he must have assumed we were new to RVing also. He immediately "instructed" me that my surge protection was cheap and inadequate. He gave me a sales pitch on how good of a deal joining Thousand Trails was and I told him I wasn't interested. Finally he started pitching a brand specific club which we can join but it cost several hundred dollars each year and I told him I had viewed that and was not interested. He has pretty much avoided me since.

The issue here is he stated he is full timing. He is towing a car on a full size open car hauler. His receiver is a cheap one with the extension allowing him to attach a bike rack, which is only rated for 5,000 pounds max. I suspect between his heavy car hauler and vehicle he is at least 6,000 or more. He has no TPMS visible on the MH or trailer.

These are just some safety issues I would like to have a friendly conversation with him about. Since he was a little overbearing in our first encounter do I just forget about it, or do I try to bring some of these equipment issues up to save him some trouble down the road?

BB_TX · 02-08-2018, 07:56 AM

Off hand he sounds like one of those people who are quick to give advice but likely slow to accept any. Or even listen to any. People who jump in and start telling me what I am doing wrong without me ever having asked are people I avoid afterward.

Former StClairSailor · 02-08-2018, 08:11 AM

You will run into these type of folks from time to time. It would be prudent to not let him bait you into that conversation. Just be the good neighbor that you are and let him be.
We just had a different kind of neighbor here in Homosassa Springs. They came in after the office closed, found an open spot (next to us) and parked their older motor home. At first light, they dumped and pulled their sewer hose without rinsing at all,packed up and left. I got the license number and left it with the office. Those are the kind of people that make it harder on the rest of us.

bshgto · 02-08-2018, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB_TX

Off hand he sounds like one of those people who are quick to give advice but likely slow to accept any. Or even listen to any. People who jump in and start telling me what I am doing wrong without me ever having asked are people I avoid afterward.

Iv`e encountered many in our travels. We call them meat heads. When they start with why their world is flat and ours is round we just causally just walk away while they`re still talking. Even if you give them sound educated advice they won`t listen. Best just to mind your own business and leave before them to avoid being held up by the accident.

**DQDick** · 02-08-2018, 08:19 AM

Have had two overnighters here in Deming who needed some advise. One, with a Montana, let me know he knew it all and the forum wasn't for him so I didn't mention the things that may bite him down the road. The other asked about our EMS and so I showed it to him and explained it and some of the other mods and make it easier things we do. I'm willing to help anyone, but if they know it all I just leave them with their knowledge and let them learn the way some of us had to.

JABURKHOLDER · 02-08-2018, 09:05 AM

If he already "knows" everything, then he already "knows" he will be broken down on the side of the road with suspension, receiver, tire and trailer issues. Doesn't sound like a teachable moment. Just make sure you are not behind him on the road.

RoadRunnerTR21 · 02-08-2018, 01:10 PM

Let him be. Not being ugly but he doesn't sound like the receptive type.

mlh · 02-08-2018, 03:59 PM

Sounds like a guy who was in the Kroger parking lot with a busted tire. I tried to be nice and tell him it was his Marathon tires on his 5er. He had done thousands of dollars damage to his camper. He got mad and told me his camper had the best tires the manufacturer could buy. It didn’t matter to me. I could care less. My camper had suffered no damage so I smiled no laughed to my self and went on my way.
Lynwood

coachgrowl · 02-08-2018, 04:08 PM

My father used to say listen to everyone and then decide if you think they are right or not. If I can learn from your mistakes it is much cheaper for me than learning from my own (and I have sure made a lot).

Mike117 · 02-08-2018, 07:02 PM

I am finishing up 36 years in LE in 4 months. The majority of it in investigations. I have interviewed everyone from children to murders. I usually figure out real quick the type of person I am dealing with. My wife accuses me of not liking people. It's probably true. I hope to like people when I retire in 4 months. I usually size up folks and then will talk. If I think baloney, I listen and then move on rather quickly. I will listen but won't offer advice unless asked. I have Learned a lot from all of you by the way! By advice, I mean RV advice. New to Montana and 5th wheel stuff.

1retired06 · 02-08-2018, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JandC

Several years ago we purchased our first every RV and immediately went full time. We had done a lot of homework and decided on a Montana 3400RL. Even though we came from a large boating background, we knew zip about the RVing world.

Thanks to this forum and it's members the learning curve was shortened. This may be a brand specific forum but the knowledge of it's members, both part timers and full timers, can't be matched anywhere IMHO.

Since first joining we have bought another home, changed to part timing in a gas MH, then sold that home, and are currently back to full timing in a DP.

On a current side trip in Florida I am parked next to a same brand DP. He is about my age and a little outspoken. He found out our coach was new so he must have assumed we were new to RVing also. He immediately "instructed" me that my surge protection was cheap and inadequate. He gave me a sales pitch on how good of a deal joining Thousand Trails was and I told him I wasn't interested. Finally he started pitching a brand specific club which we can join but it cost several hundred dollars each year and I told him I had viewed that and was not interested. He has pretty much avoided me since.

The issue here is he stated he is full timing. He is towing a car on a full size open car hauler. His receiver is a cheap one with the extension allowing him to attach a bike rack, which is only rated for 5,000 pounds max. I suspect between his heavy car hauler and vehicle he is at least 6,000 or more. He has no TPMS visible on the MH or trailer.

These are just some safety issues I would like to have a friendly conversation with him about. Since he was a little overbearing in our first encounter do I just forget about it, or do I try to bring some of these equipment issues up to save him some trouble down the road?

Ignore him. Likely lots of other nice people in the park to interact with.

**AZ Traveler** · 02-08-2018, 09:03 PM

I would leave him be, life is too short to deal with people like him.

mtlakejim · 02-08-2018, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike117

I am finishing up 36 years in LE in 4 months. The majority of it in investigations. I have interviewed everyone from children to murders. I usually figure out real quick the type of person I am dealing with. My wife accuses me of not liking people. It's probably true. I hope to like people when I retire in 4 months. I usually size up folks and then will talk. If I think baloney, I listen and then move on rather quickly. I will listen but won't offer advice unless asked. I have Learned a lot from all of you by the way! By advice, I mean RV advice. New to Montana and 5th wheel stuff.

Thank you for your service!

bethandkevin · 02-09-2018, 06:00 AM

I in no way mean to offend you here. Sounds like you encountered "that guy". He annoyed you with his advice that you didn't ask for. You are here asking advice. Mine is don't be "that guy".

JandC · 02-09-2018, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bethandkevin

I in no way mean to offend you here. Sounds like you encountered "that guy". He annoyed you with his advice that you didn't ask for. You are here asking advice. Mine is don't be "that guy".

I'm sort of like Mike117 when it comes to dealing with folks sometimes. I am usually a little more suspicious and pick up on the "bad" in them first before seeing any good qualities. The DW says it is because of my LEO career.

My first thoughts were to totally ignore him for the entire stay, which has been easy to do since I haven't seen him outside his rig again. It is rare that we run across a fellow camper this rude.

Sorry Kevin but I honestly think you missed the point. I didn't post here giving advise like he did, I was simply stating what happened and wondering if I should make an effort to help him out and look past his demeanor.

Not an issues anyway since we are getting ready to pull out this morning.

richfaa · 02-09-2018, 12:58 PM

If you travel a lot you will met all kinds of folks we have met them all in our 11 years of long timing. The folks that " know it all" are very amusing when you realize they know little. The tire story brought back a memory of a few years ago when we had a conversation about marathon tires at with a guy at the same CG we were stopping overnight at. The next day and about 250 miles down the road the guy was again at the same CG we stopped at with a heavily damaged side caused by a blown tire. We took a long time looking at it, said not a word and moved on.

scattershot · 02-09-2018, 04:50 PM

Guy sounds like a jerk. I say let him be happy in his ignorance, and leave him be.

S&VALLAN · 02-09-2018, 05:11 PM

google dunning kruger effect and see if that applies

phillyg · 02-09-2018, 08:01 PM

I wouldn't go out of my way to speak further to him.

CaptnJohn · 02-09-2018, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike117

I am finishing up 36 years in LE in 4 months. The majority of it in investigations. I have interviewed everyone from children to murders. I usually figure out real quick the type of person I am dealing with. My wife accuses me of not liking people. It's probably true. I hope to like people when I retire in 4 months. I usually size up folks and then will talk. If I think baloney, I listen and then move on rather quickly. I will listen but won't offer advice unless asked. I have Learned a lot from all of you by the way! By advice, I mean RV advice. New to Montana and 5th wheel stuff.

My wife says the same thing at times. It is not that I do not like people, I just know I do not like every person. She says it is PTSD but after dealing with many people in mostly bad situations I just prefer to wait short time to determine what I'm dealing with. It generally only takes them saying a little.

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