Backing up a 5'ver.

If the site is a tough one to get in, I have a thirty foot towing strap that I carry. I pull of to the side so I am not blocking traffic and place the strap where I want the wheels to finally rest. If my viewing side is out the passenger side I place the strap the width of the trailer plus extra room for driver side slide outs and some extra room. When I am backing, I use the strap as something to aim at. It works for me. I even use in a big lot where I want the trailer to end up perpendicular to the back of the site so it doesn't look crooked. It is hard for me to judge without a curb or other landmarks.

One thing I have found that helps. After I survey the area I want to put the trailer I set a leveling block or anything where I want the left front trailer tire to be. Then I have a target and watch the trailer tire and my target as I back in.

May have to put target on right front trailer tire spot depending on conditions. I prefer to do left side if possible.

This does require a spotter to watch that no part of the trailer or TV hits anything as you are concentrating on the target.

camperkilgore wrote:
All good advice here. When we went to a fiver after pulling a TT for years...the first thing that I ran into is the fact that the front of the fiver is right at the back glass of the truck, and nothing can be seen through the back glass or the rear view mirror. Before that, I could see the travel trailers movements through the back glass. Not so with the fiver.

So my advice is to learn to use the side mirrors. Take the time to aim the side mirrors(ideally, large electrically controlled mirrors) down, so that you can see the wheels on the fiver. As you back up, you will have to readjust the mirrors so that you can still see the wheels......take your time......and watch the wheels as you back up. If you have already gotten out and looked to see where you want the wheels to end up, then you can back the wheels to that spot.

Big side mirrors that are electrically controlled are essential. Your wife spotting for you is good, but sometimes she might not be able to.

All the other advice on positioning the rig to start the back up turn will also make it an easier process.

Great concept! I find the total use of mirror is so much easier, than twisting turning to look back over the shoulder! It also makes "Palming" the wheel easier.

All good advice here. When we went to a fiver after pulling a TT for years...the first thing that I ran into is the fact that the front of the fiver is right at the back glass of the truck, and nothing can be seen through the back glass or the rear view mirror. Before that, I could see the travel trailers movements through the back glass. Not so with the fiver.

So my advice is to learn to use the side mirrors. Take the time to aim the side mirrors(ideally, large electrically controlled mirrors) down, so that you can see the wheels on the fiver. As you back up, you will have to readjust the mirrors so that you can still see the wheels......take your time......and watch the wheels as you back up. If you have already gotten out and looked to see where you want the wheels to end up, then you can back the wheels to that spot.

Also follow the previous advice about placing the hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and moving it in the direction you want the rear of the fiver to go, and shuffle the steering wheel around

Big side mirrors that are electrically controlled are essential. Your wife spotting for you is good, but sometimes she might not be able to. I also have a back up camera looking out the rear window of the fiver, but I only use it to roughly gauge how far back to go after I've backed almost all the way in.

All the other advice which is offered in this thread regarding positioning the rig to start the back up turn will also make it an easier process.

rhagfo wrote:
This is NOT Rocket science (though it may seem like it at first)!

#1 Pull further forward than you would with a TT.
#2 Stay close to the side you are backing into, TV will swing wide not the 5er.
#3 Steer from the bottom of the wheel, push the wheel in the direction you want the back of the 5er to go, and PALM the wheel, going hand over hand will confuse the heck out of you!!
#4 Keep input small and start to straighten out early.
#5 Learn to use your mirrors, when you are not twisted around looking over your shoulder it is easier to steer.

This is what works for me.

X-2! I put emphasis on #4. Most people that are having issues while backing are "over-steering" or making too big of a correction. It's OK to have to pull forward to assist in making corrections but you should only need to pull forward a few feet.

Learned early on the the best thing the DW can do for me as she helps me back it into the yard is to keep up the chatter on the walkie talkie rather than wait until she has to yell "STOP" all of a sudden. You know, like "looks good, keep it up, going fine, a little to the left/right etc." One other thing, when you accidentally catch the corner of the roof with your side/rear windows shattering it to smithereens, it's not a good idea to blame the DW unless you want to spend the night in the RV at home for a few days. lol (don't ask me how I know this)

My wife stays in the truck until its time to put some blocks under the wheels to fine tune leveling

And professional drivers are taught to get out and look if you are questioning what you are doing. I still do that once in awhile for a looksee and to converse with wife/spotter about what I am attempting to do. We do use a handheld CB and the CB in the truck. Chris

bigdon68 wrote:
Best advice I can give you is to get a set of good walkie talkie's. One in the truck-- put it on the seat and the other for your spotter. Follow all the other advice about practice, mirrors, etc., but listen to your spotter.

Enjoy the road. We do.

bigdon68

The best advice is learn to do without a spotter!!

My DW only job is to make sure no kids or animals run behind me!! I could watch for that, but just easier not to worry about.

The reason, you will not always have a spotter, and confusion between looking from the front and the back.

stetwood wrote:
I would suggest for every 5-10 ft you back up, pull back forward 1/2 the distance getting your vehicle and 5ver more into a straight line. Each time you pull forward you are making the angle less sharp.

That's exactly what we do - and it really works. We watched our neighbor who offered to back it in for us the first time. He considers himself an expert and he must be because he backs his fiver around a corner with a fire hydrant on one side of the curve and he does fine. Anyway, he does this too - backs, stops, looks, forward, backs, stops, looks, forward (if necessary), back, stops looks. He gets in every time without a problem. Take your time.