We'll be camping at a new location this weekend. Yesterday we drove out and scoped it out. It appears our site isA. on a cornerB. has a big cluster of shrubbery blocking the site/sight.C. it's relatively narrowD. the road drops slightly off on the side my truck will swing during the process.The first problem is, i will have to pull partially around around the corner past the pad site, then where i would normally have a spotter, the shrubs completely cover the line of sight. Last, like stated above, there is about a 2 foot drop off ditch where i imagine my truck tires will swing into.Without needing a backing tutorial, is my best bet starting on the side of the road closest to my campsite, or start on the side of the street furthest away from the campsite?I'm always at a loss which is more effective, cranking it in tight or going out wide?

I remember a situation where the road was right next to a lake and I could create the angle but couldn't straighten the truck out because my front wheel would go into the lake. I had to swallow pride and ask the campground manager to back in for me. (Only time that has ever happened!) Seems that he had backed others into that site many times and knew just how to do it.

If possible, it's always easier backing in from the (left), driver's side. But if you have to back in from the passenger side, have a good spotter. So, if the spotter is truly on the blind spot, and truly blocked by trees, you have a couple options.1. Use walkie talkies or cell phones and communicate, communicate, communicate! You, as the driver, absolutely do not get in a hurry or try to out-think your spotter. Your spotter can guide you without them being in your physical view (at the end of the trailer behind the bushes). But you MUST follow their directions.My wife is my spotter and I've instructed her to tell me which way the back-end of the trailer needs to go, not which way I have to maneuver the truck. This simplifies tremendously. She says, "left, left, left!" I know which direction I have to maneuver the truck. We've successfully backed into completely dark spots and between trees in absolutely unknown new campgrounds many times. It's not easy, it requires a 100% dependency upon the spotter and it means .... GOING VERY, VERY SLOW!2. The second option. First... you as the driver MUST still follow the directions of the spotter. And you, as the driver, maneuver the rig only a couple feet at a time. VERY, VERY, VERY slow. Meanwhile, your spotter is running behind the trailer, then back into your view in your mirrors. You back up a couple more feet, they check and come back. It means a lot of running back and forth for the spotter, but it does work. And yes ... you'll be sweating bullets when you finally get backed in.3. Remember.... not only do you have to back in, but you also ... eventually have to pull out! Sometimes this is not so easy either. Your spotter is essential then too, especially if trees are close. Your trailer end can swing and hit something, long before you realize you just taken out the end of your camper. So your spotter is your best friend.Together you can do it. Just get the commands down so you clearly understand each other.(It's because of the many times we've arrived after dark at so many different campgrounds, we've made a commitment to arrive before it's completely dark. This makes for a shorter driving day ... especially between December and March when we like to do our best Southern USA camping. But's my wife has really become great with the instructions. We now use walkie talkies. They are are much louder than the cell phones and work in areas where cell phone reception is questionable.)

As you back and turn, your rigs wheels will be in the tightest corner, and then your back wheel and your front wheels. So when you set up to turn into your site, you want to have your rigs wheels closest to the inside of the turn. So, to answer the question, pass the site and have your rig on the side of the road closest to the campsite. As you back up the truck will need to go to the side of the road furthest from the campsite.It might help to imagine driving into the spot truck first. To make the curve, the truck has to take the outside curve, so the trailer wheels don't run over the inside curb.

I try and have the 5er rear end already angled toward the space a bit by the time I put it into reverse for the first time. The smaller the turning angle the better. A 90 degree angle is normal. If you can get the angle to be less, it will help.I try and have my inside 5er tires near the space and my truck front end on the other side of the road when I start backing.

Backing into A Blind Spot | Good Sam Community

33 Replies

DutchmenSport
Explorer
May 16, 2016
If possible, it's always easier backing in from the (left), driver's side. But if you have to back in from the passenger side, have a good spotter.

So, if the spotter is truly on the blind spot, and truly blocked by trees, you have a couple options.

1. Use walkie talkies or cell phones and communicate, communicate, communicate! You, as the driver, absolutely do not get in a hurry or try to out-think your spotter. Your spotter can guide you without them being in your physical view (at the end of the trailer behind the bushes). But you MUST follow their directions.

My wife is my spotter and I've instructed her to tell me which way the back-end of the trailer needs to go, not which way I have to maneuver the truck. This simplifies tremendously. She says, "left, left, left!" I know which direction I have to maneuver the truck. We've successfully backed into completely dark spots and between trees in absolutely unknown new campgrounds many times. It's not easy, it requires a 100% dependency upon the spotter and it means .... GOING VERY, VERY SLOW!

2. The second option. First... you as the driver MUST still follow the directions of the spotter. And you, as the driver, maneuver the rig only a couple feet at a time. VERY, VERY, VERY slow. Meanwhile, your spotter is running behind the trailer, then back into your view in your mirrors. You back up a couple more feet, they check and come back. It means a lot of running back and forth for the spotter, but it does work. And yes ... you'll be sweating bullets when you finally get backed in.

3. Remember.... not only do you have to back in, but you also ... eventually have to pull out! Sometimes this is not so easy either. Your spotter is essential then too, especially if trees are close. Your trailer end can swing and hit something, long before you realize you just taken out the end of your camper. So your spotter is your best friend.

Together you can do it. Just get the commands down so you clearly understand each other.

(It's because of the many times we've arrived after dark at so many different campgrounds, we've made a commitment to arrive before it's completely dark. This makes for a shorter driving day ... especially between December and March when we like to do our best Southern USA camping. But's my wife has really become great with the instructions. We now use walkie talkies. They are are much louder than the cell phones and work in areas where cell phone reception is questionable.)
RoyF
Explorer
May 16, 2016
I remember a situation where the road was right next to a lake and I could create the angle but couldn't straighten the truck out because my front wheel would go into the lake. I had to swallow pride and ask the campground manager to back in for me. (Only time that has ever happened!) Seems that he had backed others into that site many times and knew just how to do it.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 16, 2016
Wide and straight.

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Backing into A Blind Spot

33 Replies

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