Backing into a site...

Diamondjim · Mar 27, 2016

TXBobcat - thanks for sharing your experience with backing. Cool method.

Nice campground with all the trees, judging how far out your off door slide would come, in relation to the tree limb, was a bonus, for sure. (well planned)

Always marveled (as a young man - 55 years ago) at a trucking company driver at my dad's work, maneuvering to a loading dock, square and an 2" away. Every time, and he had to start out with a 53' trailer, parallel to the dock sitting back 30' to the drivers left.

My DW does a good job, as we have only had a 5th wheel for 4 months, think I'll not try to re-train her just yet. Appreciate that there are several ways to get the same job done.

skiph · Mar 27, 2016

TxBobcat,

I think this is a superior video. First day I hooked up my trailer, by myself with no one from the dealer to help me, caused me a bit of anxiety. I have done it, hooked and unhooked, 3 times now and am a pro. Pulling the trailer no longer causes me angst. So, 2 out of 3 major taskings that I was not comfortable with have been made less anxiety ridden.

Ah, but backing! That's the fun one. Wife and I both have our separate lawyers on speed dial. She, still, cannot understand that when she motions in some direction, why I don't just go in that direction. I tell her, I am looking in the mirror, and if I want the trailer to go in another direction, I move the steering wheel until the trailer is going in the direction I want. I have NO clue if I am turning left or right or if the trailer is going left or right. When she signals, I have NO idea which is what or where. I am not being stubborn, I just have, exactly NO clue. Not hyperbole, truth.

Hopefully, we will give this a try before we have to set up visitation schedules for the dog. And if successful you may have saved our marriage.

I see by the time stamp on your video that you will, traveling into the future, be at said camp ground on April 24, 2016. Hopefully we can meet you then.

I am SO funny.

But seriously, thank you so much for the video, and the instruction. Right now SWMBO is not talking to me (we parked the trailer yesterday in our storage area) but we will be giving this a try.

Thanks.

TXBobcat · Mar 27, 2016

Diamondjim said:
TXBobcat - thanks for sharing your experience with backing. Cool method.

My DW does a good job, as we have only had a 5th wheel for 4 months, think I'll not try to re-train her just yet.

Actually You don't have to train the DW... Just put her in the drivers seat and tell her to turn the steering wheel the direction you tell her. She doesn't use the mirror or turn to look back. She only steers and watches out for the front of the truck, which you should verify yourself as needed. No arguments, no comments, just steer as told. Then it is all your fault, not hers. LOL..

Good luck.
BC

avvidclif · Mar 27, 2016

TXBobcat said:
Actually You don't have to train the DW... Just put her in the drivers seat and tell her to turn the steering wheel the direction you tell her. She doesn't use the mirror or turn to look back. She only steers and watches out for the front of the truck, which you should verify yourself as needed. No arguments, no comments, just steer as told. Then it is all your fault, not hers. LOL..

Good luck.
BC

Looks good on paper and I tried to explain it to the DW. I got the standard answer, "When the trailer is hooked up the "R" on the gearshift doesn't exist" End of discussion.

'Lil Guy' · Mar 27, 2016

TXBobcat said:
Actually You don't have to train the DW... Just put her in the drivers seat and tell her to turn the steering wheel the direction you tell her. She doesn't use the mirror or turn to look back. She only steers and watches out for the front of the truck, which you should verify yourself as needed. No arguments, no comments, just steer as told. Then it is all your fault, not hers. LOL..

Good luck.
BC

That is the way we do it now but there is still some yelling. I don't want her to know I told her wrong.lol

TxCowboy · Mar 27, 2016

TXBobcat said:
I came by but you were gone.. I am leaving tomorrow. If I had your phone number I would have called you... I left my card on your door...

It would be great to meet you.. Catch me if you can.. LOL

BC

BC, our neighbor gave us your card TODAY...just as they were leaving the park! LOL

Sorry we missed you but hope to link up with you someday soon.

Jeff & Laurie

Lynn1130 · Mar 28, 2016

Being a ranch/farm girl who's father thought that she should be treated like her four older brothers when it came to trucks, trailers, tractors, and combines not to mention animal work, she can back a trailer better than I and I did my share on a ranch too. There is an art and once you get it down it becomes second nature.

rxbristol · Apr 3, 2016

Bob,

Thanks for posting the backing refresher even though I've never used the particular spotter technique like you mentioned. It's been over a year since I've had to back my 5th wheel and when we arrived back to Wichita Falls today I made the backing turn into our spot in one smooth swing. I felt pretty good about that.

Vinny773 · Apr 10, 2016

Get job! That looks like a tight spot.

Chippendale · Apr 10, 2016

I saw a video a while back where instead of "left" and "right" they used the words "driver" and "passenger" to indicate which direction the back of the trailer needed to go, this seems much less confusing to me. When DW used to try and help me, it was always a disaster and a ruined afternoon. I finally told her to just yell "stop" if it looked like I was going to hit something and I would try and do the rest. I have been known to get out of the truck and let someone who knows what they are doing put it in the space. Time for backing school.

Capt7383 · Apr 11, 2016

I know what you mean Chippendale. Saturday we a Muddy disaster for me. Are there any schools out there?

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

Chippendale · Apr 11, 2016

Capt7383 said:
I know what you mean Chippendale. Saturday we a Muddy disaster for me. Are there any schools out there?

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

Yes: http://www.rvschool.com/ I have heard a presentation by the owner of this school, but have never taken his course, but I need to. My understanding is they have instructors all over the country, so you just need to contact them and they will get you matched up with an instructor in your area. Good luck.

Chippendale · Apr 14, 2016

Just ran across this video. http://getzone.com/ford-pro-trailer-backup-assist-review/ Of course, it is a F150 and a “bumper pull” trailer, but if they have this for 1/2 tons, maybe Ford is working on something for the Super Dutys and 5th wheels. I swore I am driving my last tow truck, but if they come up with a backup tool like this for 5th wheels, I may be forced to talk to my friendly salesman one more time.
Here is another “bumper pull” trailer mover that is advertised in this month’s Trailer Life magazine. http://www.purplelineusa.com/video-introducing-power-trailer-movers.php With all this coming on the market, maybe there is hope yet for those of us who are “backing challenged”.

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Backing into a site...

Diamondjim

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skiph

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TXBobcat

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avvidclif

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'Lil Guy'

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TxCowboy

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Lynn1130

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rxbristol

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Vinny773

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Chippendale

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Capt7383

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Chippendale

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Chippendale

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