I just upgraded from a 7.3L Excursion with a 36' travel trailer to a 2001 f350 7.3l crew cab drw with a 40' Heartland Cyclone fifth wheel.First, some observations on going from a big travel trailer to a big toy hauler. What a difference in towing. The TT would wiggle and wag with every breeze and passing truck. Very stressful driving. The X had plenty of towing power but going downhill or stopping quickly was also very stressful. It always felt like the trailer was pushing the truck around.With the dually and TH 5th wheel I can say, "wow" what a difference in towing. Of course the TH is heavier but the 7.3L puts out enough power to get me where I want to go. The big difference is in towing stability (nothing pushes this rig around) and in braking power. It seems that the combination of exhaust brake and trailer brakes makes downhills runs and quick stops very comfortable.But it aint all better. I absolutely suck at backing this rig up. With my old TT I could back it up into tight CG spots or driveways. I have heard that fifth wheels are great for tight turns, etc. But, I have not mentally figured out how to position the TH and then back it into a space.Here is my question. I want to back the trailer into a driveway that is about 12 feet wide and plenty long enough. Typical driveway, it sits perpendicular to street so I need to back it in at an angle. I can come down the street from either side. Any advice on how to position the truck, trailer to start backing it up? Also, how bad is it for the tires on the triple axles when I back it up real sharp? Thanks everyone for the help!

Find a big parking lot and practice, practice, practice.

I'm going to try and describe what I find worksApproach with driveway on driver sideHug the side of road driveway is onWhen front tire of trailer is at the leading edge of driveway turn away from driveway.When trailer swings to follow truck turn back straight.Truck should now be parallel to street and trailer should be angled (roughly 45*) and lined up to back into driveway.Start backing up watching trailer tires.......use them to follow the 'imaginary line' back into spot5'vrs are slow at first to react and then shift quickly so be ready to catch up and correct (lessen the turn angle).Practice and you will soon be squeezing that rig in between boulders and trees ready to drop the ramp.

Just takes practice, practice, practice....... being the turning point is farther forward....had the same issues in the beginning as you do........

Also When you get messed up,or have the trailer right and the truck not right only pull ahead and back about 2 foot to get the truck around with out screwing up the trailer.

As far as the tires scrubbing, they are designed for that. Couple of things, tire pressure is critical, I check mine before every trip. If you're going to back into tight places (and you never know when that may happen) the tires should be at the proper pressure (not to mention all of the other reasons). When backing in a tight turn (where the front and rear axles are dragging the tires, go slowwwwwly. The axles should flex a bit, and the tires will look really funny, but will be fine. And as mentioned above, I used a Orschlen parking lot when they were closed, cut up a dozen tennis balls (cut in half) and created 'situations' I had to get into and out of. Take your time and be patient. Helps to have a partner with a walkie-talkie so you can communicate easier.Have fun!

New to TH and looking for advice on backing it up

Tom_Barb
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Find a big parking lot and practice, practice, practice.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Aug 22, 2013
I'm going to try and describe what I find works

Approach with driveway on driver side
Hug the side of road driveway is on
When front tire of trailer is at the leading edge of driveway turn away from driveway.
When trailer swings to follow truck turn back straight.

Truck should now be parallel to street and trailer should be angled (roughly 45*) and lined up to back into driveway.

Start backing up watching trailer tires.......use them to follow the 'imaginary line' back into spot
5'vrs are slow at first to react and then shift quickly so be ready to catch up and correct (lessen the turn angle).

Practice and you will soon be squeezing that rig in between boulders and trees ready to drop the ramp.
Oaklevel
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Just takes practice, practice, practice....... being the turning point is farther forward....had the same issues in the beginning as you do........
hammer21661
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Also When you get messed up,or have the trailer right and the truck not right only pull ahead and back about 2 foot to get the truck around with out screwing up the trailer.
shagan77
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
As far as the tires scrubbing, they are designed for that. Couple of things, tire pressure is critical, I check mine before every trip. If you're going to back into tight places (and you never know when that may happen) the tires should be at the proper pressure (not to mention all of the other reasons). When backing in a tight turn (where the front and rear axles are dragging the tires, go slowwwwwly. The axles should flex a bit, and the tires will look really funny, but will be fine.

And as mentioned above, I used a Orschlen parking lot when they were closed, cut up a dozen tennis balls (cut in half) and created 'situations' I had to get into and out of. Take your time and be patient. Helps to have a partner with a walkie-talkie so you can communicate easier.

Have fun!
steiny93
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
congrats on the new rig!

When you are looking to back into a perpendicular driveway its easiest to watch the tires of the 5th wheel and guide then into the drive vs. the tail. By this I mean approach the driveway with it on your left (drivers side) then you can watch the tires of the 5th wheel as they angle towards the opening of the driveway, those tires are your pivot point. Unless you have a fixed object, then I like to have the inside tires on that side to pivot around.

When you start, have the truck relatively near the driveway on the cross street (so in the wrong lane) this will give you more room to swing the nose of your truck when you back in. But you only need enough room to swing the nose; so you don't have to be super tight to the driveway either (which will make it worse)

If you are having someone help you and that someone isn't used to guiding. Get both of you on a phone (put yours on speaker) and slowly and calmly talk through the process. If you aren't getting continuous 'keep coming' input stop and wait, it definitely isn't a race and by using a phone you aren't going to be yelling at each other over the noise of traffic, diesel rattle, etc.

I dunno why; but for some reason if my wife is helping, she interprets my loud enough to clear the noise of a Cummins voice as I'm yelling at her. Going to a phone fixed that :)

Practice; don't get rattled and take your time. You'll get better the more you do it.
Stefonius
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
When backing a 5th wheel, put your hand on the BOTTOM of the steering wheel and turn it in the direction you want the BACK END of the trailer to go. It takes a while to start turning, but once it does it turns fast, so you need to start straightening your tow vehicle out before you're done turning.

I have my cell phone attached to the truck's stereo via Bluetooth. DW stands behind the rig and tells me by phone which direction the back end needs to go. The only other thing she will tell me is when to stop to avoid hitting something. It takes practice, but it works well.
nayther
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Walkie talkies work well if no cell service.
RedJeep
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
What about the grinding of the tires on the triple axle when backing or tight corners? Should I be concerned?
honda4us
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
RedJeep wrote:
What about the grinding of the tires on the triple axle when backing or tight corners? Should I be concerned?

That is normal, I will typicaly pull ahead and then back up once I am in my "spot" to allow the tires and axels to returnn to their normal place. Typicaly take's about 10' of movement to get this done. As everyone has said, PRACTICE makes perfect :)