Idling

Hey folks,

Might be a strange question but I've got to ask it because it's happened to me a couple of times now.

Why do some campers insist on letting their vans idle for 20 or 30 minutes, even when it's close to midnight?

There's been a couple of times where I'm parked up, bed is all set up, I'm just nodding off and a larger camper which has pulled up next to me turns the engine on and idles for what feels like ages. Granted, my Bongo wouldn't have the best sound insulation, but I find it strange, what could they be doing that they need the engine to run for 20 minutes or so?

Is there a sort of etiquette around these things? I try and keep things nice and quiet when it's dark, even if that means setting things up beforehand etc.

It's an etiquette called arrogance. Trying to put some power into their batteries as they haven't prepared or are too dumb to work out how not to use their engine.

No excuse at that time of the night or early morning.

Thanks for those replies folks. Thankfully, last night, the engine stopped at quarter to midnight so I was able to get some sleep. I'd say it must be the knackered leisure battery theory which is right. In both cases it has happened there's been a TV running in the camper (which is something I don't personally understand, if I wanted all the luxuries of home, I'd stay at home but then I'm speaking as the owner of a little Bongo so maybe I just don't know how it is in a bigger one).

Anyways, Killaloe, despite the rain last night, is a lovely place! Be careful of the kayaking place on the canal, you can stay overnight there but just don't get in the way of their container/shed.

If next to a person with the engine running a better approach than complaining about the noise is to complain about the fumes.
People might ignore the effects of the noise they are creating but fumes, which can be an immediate health issue, should be taken more seriously.

They could be running the engine while the diesel heater is starting up as it takes a good bit of power to get them up and running, I’ve seen several times people recommend to do this.

Or start the heater earlier. Or FO somewhere else and start it and come back.