by Kary Wright

Created on: June 11, 2008   Last Updated: March 28, 2009

Parking a Travel Trailer

As a result of observing firsthand the intricate and complicated interpersonal dynamics that are spawned within a family unit during the seemingly mundane exercise of parking a camper trailer, I have decided to shed some light on some of the behind-the-scenes factors that are in place. Since a handbook cannot be written based solely on our own personal experiences, I resorted to analysis based on observations inside several test laboratories - campgrounds.

To truly observe and appreciate all of the particulars involved in parking a trailer, one must arrive at the campground, and have their own campsite completely set up by Friday noon directly across from a carefully chosen target campsite. Acquiring such a perfectly situated site for yourself is in itself an art, but key to the success of the investigations.

The target campsite should be a back-in site (pull-through sites will contaminate the data) designed by the latest engineering software. The site should be complete with large overhanging branches, a post to mark the campsite, metal-fire pit, and utility pillar. All of these are to be strategically placed so as to be completely hidden from the driver's view at all times, leaving the sole responsibility for their avoidance squarely on the shoulders of the person directing (many couples have worked out their own sign language, however a universally recognized, and censored here, signal occasionally gets "flipped"). You can detect proper placement of these items by the colorful marks and scrapes inscribed on them by multiple cheerful campers starting their vacation off on the right foot.

Next one must unpack and set up all of the scientific observation equipment needed to examine campers parking undisturbed in their natural habitat ... including but not limited to lawn chairs, umbrella, notebook, cooler full of Corona, video camera, etc. The observation area should be strategically situated in front of one's own campsite in full view of all goings-on. You may notice other folks in the campground doing the same for educational purposes or merely sheer entertainment value. In Quantum Physics the "Observer Effect" states that "There is no phenomenon until it is observed", so nobody really knows if a camper, without an observer present, has trouble parking or not. It's kinda like "If a tree falls with no observer present, does it make any sound"? I think that Observer Effect must be at play, because of the 396 campers that I polled, 89% stated

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