want to thank everyone for their comments in the HELPPPPP! post, I am now the soon to be owner of a 2004 Keystone Sprinter (26 ft), hope to have the hitch in by Thursday and pick it up Friday with enough time to hit that big church parking lot to practice getting in the driveway. the issue is it is highly likely that the tail end of the camper will drag on the drive as I back up due to the crown in the street and the angle going up the drive. has anyone come across this before and found or built a ramp or something. I have plan B and C lined up already but really want to keep it at the house. I guess I could un hook and drop the front end down as much as possible ?? any comments welcome, I may only need a few inches. or should I plan on building a wood ramp to keep it at a better angle, I really wont know until I back it up.

Our 5er would drag a small bit. I built two small ramps to lessen the abrupt angle where my driveway starts. My DW places them and removes them while I do the driving. The ramps are about 4 feet long and "V" shaped to match the angle of the drive connection.

I've seen people put boards by the curb to roll over and get past that spot. I sometimes need to remove my spare tire - it drags first. Good luck.

If by any chance can you back in at an angle - you would be surprised how much clearance it will give you by having only one side in the low point at a time.

I'm just wondering, how much good can come about by dragging the trailer even for a short time?

Backing up at an angle to the driveway helps a lot... I've gone up and out some very steep/abrupt gas station driveways that way. If not, as others have said, build a sturdy ramp to lessen the grade.

getting in the driveway? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

Njmurvin
Explorer II
Sep 23, 2014
One of the few advantages of having to "lift" my trailer to match my 4x4 height. It not only clears the driveway, but I can go right up the curb without hitting.
bigdon68
Explorer
Sep 23, 2014
Google earth caught me backing in the driveway. Not really as tough as it looks -- but we have been doing it for 8 years now. You can see DW behind the trailer and she always has her walkie talkie.

Backing up

bigdon68
Halmfamily
Explorer
Sep 23, 2014
g4sbrg wrote:
I am assuming you lifers have back up cameras and stuff, on my list for X-Mas.

My backup camera is my 14 year old son and a pair of gmrs radios. He can back me into the tightest spots usually on the first try. My wife has tried to help me but getting her to press the button on the radio to talk and to get her right and left on the same left and right as mine is well not happening. Not sure what I'll do in four years. As I said before good luck and welcome.
abc40kids
Explorer
Sep 23, 2014
I need a 2x6 under both sides to back in my driveway, not a big deal, mine are both like 4' long and just enough to get me in.
g4sbrg
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
I am assuming you lifers have back up cameras and stuff, on my list for X-Mas.
CenTex
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
One more thing to be aware of is the distance from the wheels to the back of the trailer. I saw a guy pulling out of a camping spot once and as he pulled out he took a hard right and the left rear of his trailer hit a tree. He got off light as he only scratched it a little, but it could have been a lot worse if he had hit the tree three or four inches forward of where he did.
g4sbrg
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
I will need the good luck, I am not in a position with the wife at the moment to tell her I need to redo the driveway!!! I will wait to see how many arguments we have with her guiding to the back end of the driveway.
Halmfamily
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
TakingThe5th wrote:
Mfan wrote:
I'm just wondering, how much good can come about by dragging the trailer even for a short time?

That is a valid question. The few times I've done it are hard on it and leaves scars.

If he does this enough he won't have to worry about the bumper dragging as it will match the driveway slope. Issue solved. Just joking. I graded the side of my driveway the first time I pulled my fiver out. Very wide tail swing and took out about six inches of dirt and the bumper cap. The joys of owning an RV. Good luck.
Campinfan
Explorer III
Sep 22, 2014
^^sounds like a good plan
g4sbrg
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
sounds to me I may want to plan for the worse and pick up some lumber if I don't have enough at the house. I don't want to be caught off guard and want to make plan A storing at the house work. will let you know how it works, maybe I should you video it then I can post it on you tube. the question still to be answered is. will the title be "how not to get in your drive" or "how too get into your drive" let you know later this week! Thanks