travelin2
Pennsylvania Chapter Leaders-retired
Wow! Lots of axles and a push tractor too!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This might cause a lot of talk about what I am going to describe to you but believe me it works. Before my wife passed away we went to Dicks RV Driving School in California. The following is what they taught and I have used it many times, and it works. Unfortunately I no longer have the help of my partner. I have heard or used most of the above methods, but the following works very well.
Using the Orange cones in a large parking lot is very helpful. You have room to practice and not hit anything but the cones.
When you arrive at the campground and get your rig positioned (This suggested by the driving instructor) put your partner in the drivers seat. Your partner does nothing but follow your instructions. Don't use the mirrors, turn and look around. Nothing but steer as you instruct.
You look at the site you want to back into so you know where all the problems might be. Move up beside the drivers mirror facing to the direction you are going to back into. Tell your driver to start backing and give the directions you want the trailer to go, such as go right. The driver turns the steering wheel right. Yes, the drivers right. (The bottom of the steering wheel will be going left). As the trailer moves in the direction you want and you want to straighten it out tell the driver to turn left. (bottom of the steering wheel will be going right). Make as many adjustments in the directions you need, even to tell the driver to stop, pull forward (you then face the front) and turn right. The person always faces the direction in which the RV is going to be moving and gives directions.
I went to a campground and was given an unusual site that I had to bend two directions to get into the spot. The person at the campground told me that he had driven Semi's for years and can direct me into the site with no problem. And he did, using the same method as I stated above.
Most people will not be comfortable with this method at first, but once you practice and get use to it, you will never go back to using other methods..
Again, use the orange cones at first. Back into the cones from both the drivers side and the passenger side.
FWIW
BC
As you are backing..turn the wheel slowly. Only use your mirrors. Never look out the rear window..as you will turn the wheel the wrong way every time. "If you can't see me in the drivers mirror....I cant see you" is what we use. Forget the truck....follow the trailer into the site. Until you get good at backing....never try "blind side" backing. Make sure you and DW are on the same page as to what signal's or verbal instruction's mean. Yelling at each other does not work out well. My 2cts worth.
Thanks Mark for the "Ata Boy". You can try this method. Worked for me driving a 18 wheeler and a big 5er. As you approach your site, get as close to front of the site as you can....driver's side. As you pull past the site, turn to the right to go as wide as the road will let you. Then turn your wheel to the left to slightly jack knife your rig. Then turn the wheels to the right... back in and try to follow your trailer into the site. Just remember...the longer the trailer....the slower it will react to your steering wheel. Turn the wheels slowly.....not lock to lock. The minute it will not come out of the turn...stop and pull forward. One other thing is to remember do not get toooo close to the shore power post. Figure 3' for your slides to go out. Hope you can see in your mind what I mean. It all just takes lots of practice.
With his instructions, I arrived and was being watched by a fellow Heartland owner. I could not believe I nailed it! Just had to pull forward a bout two feet. My fellow Heartland owner gave me 95 out of 100 for the back in.
The reason I don't advocate verbal communication is that it's to easy for the spotter to be hidden. Also there is a tendency for people to give "To much" information. If the spotter can't communicate everything they need to then the driver should get out and look.
Great thread, even for old timers.
It seems that there is too much Vodka involved or . . .
This might cause a lot of talk about what I am going to describe to you but believe me it works. Before my wife passed away we went to Dicks RV Driving School in California. The following is what they taught and I have used it many times, and it works. Unfortunately I no longer have the help of my partner. I have heard or used most of the above methods, but the following works very well.
Using the Orange cones in a large parking lot is very helpful. You have room to practice and not hit anything but the cones.
When you arrive at the campground and get your rig positioned (This suggested by the driving instructor) put your partner in the drivers seat. Your partner does nothing but follow your instructions. Don't use the mirrors, turn and look around. Nothing but steer as you instruct.
You look at the site you want to back into so you know where all the problems might be. Move up beside the drivers mirror facing to the direction you are going to back into. Tell your driver to start backing and give the directions you want the trailer to go, such as go right. The driver turns the steering wheel right. Yes, the drivers right. (The bottom of the steering wheel will be going left). As the trailer moves in the direction you want and you want to straighten it out tell the driver to turn left. (bottom of the steering wheel will be going right). Make as many adjustments in the directions you need, even to tell the driver to stop, pull forward (you then face the front) and turn right. The person always faces the direction in which the RV is going to be moving and gives directions.
I went to a campground and was given an unusual site that I had to bend two directions to get into the spot. The person at the campground told me that he had driven Semi's for years and can direct me into the site with no problem. And he did, using the same method as I stated above.
Most people will not be comfortable with this method at first, but once you practice and get use to it, you will never go back to using other methods..
Again, use the orange cones at first. Back into the cones from both the drivers side and the passenger side.
FWIW
BC