Backing up a TT

pxt wrote:
Any tips or tricks to backing up a travel trailer? I have a 21ft TT. TY

I learned to back a tractor trailer when I was 14, my parents owned Moving and storage companies through out the southern part of the country form Cal to NC.

The biggest mistake most people make is to try to practice backing and TURNING first.

The first thing you should do is learn to back it in a STRAIGHT LINE for at least 50 yards and be able to do it reliably before you start backing into turns.

Once you master straight-line backing then try backing into a space.

You will find that the small corrections you neededd to make to keep straight will teach your brain much of what you need to know to back up while turning.

DO NOT start by putting your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. This is a crutch you must UNLEARN to really drive the thing. Keep your hands in their normal position, and teach your brain the correct way the FIRST time.

There are many other practices that you will need to know. Like the proper way to "Set Up" for backing. But this is too complex to really explain here in text.

Just practice...and when you find a guy in a campsite that can really back up well...he nails a complex and tight space the first time...Dont be shy in going over and asking him for a few tips.

Watch how the guys who can back up well do it. and Practice.

But be sure you are practicing the RIGHT technique. Practicing the wrong technique will get you nowhere.

Remember, G.O.A.L. GET OUT AND LOOK.

A couple of things. Where we like to camp, the camp sites have these little posts along each side of the parking site, or large trees. If you have a slide out, measure how far out the slide goes so you make sure you are far enough away from those obstacles. If it is a dirt site, draw a line in the dirt to show where you need to be.

If you want, you can continue the line in the dirt out to the road, curving it toward your trailer. This gives you a target path for the trailer tires to follow.

We use walkie/talkies, we don't have cell service at the camp grounds we go to.

I was at a park last week that had spots at a 90 degree angle and the road was small with not much room to maneuver in. It took me 15 minutes and three passes to back my rig in the spot. The next day a lady was trying to into the spot down the road. Her neighbor came over and did it over with no problem.

You never know the moods of the folks trying to back in, have to approach it carefully.f

Ha yep. We were beside a massive motorhome last year. The guy was cranking it hard and if he continued he was going to hit the water spigot. I got him to roll down his window informed him of this and he told me his wife knows exactly where's he at (she's was on the other side of the coach.) I just sat back down and watched run it down the side of the motorhome leaving a nasty scratch. He got out looked at it didn't say a word and got back in and drove away.

jmign, sounds just like us. only time I have a problem is if someone else tries. We have a great system and it works well.

there was a couple trying to get backed in and everyone was watching and listening. so much screaming at each other. I walked over and asked if I could help. MISTAKE don't need your bleeping help, we have been doing this for 35yrs. their system must have worked :)

It wasn't as difficult for me personally as I thought it would be. And once you're in a routine with someone as a spotter use them. I've had campground host try to help me and it is never as smooth as when my wife does, and so I no longer bother with them I tell them they can watch if they like but my wife will be the spotter. We have learned to communicate with each other (we are on cell phones btw with mine over the radio via bluetooth). We are generally at this point the where we want to be first try, maybe occasionally pulling forward just to straighten out because we know we can get it exactly where we want it.

My other piece of advice is don't get too worked up. Most people have struggled with backing up at some point, so if you don't get it right the first time pull forward and try again. You'll find it gets easier.

If you can back up with a log splitter, you can back anything up!

Really good advice. Anyone else want to add?

I've found that making sure you've pulled completely past the site before backing up makes things way easier. If you don't pull past it, you'll end up having a much harder time wiggling it in to the spot. Find a good path mentally and just try to follow it.

I got my hard dose of training on our first trip out in our first travel trailer when I was in the Bakersfield, CA area in 118 degree weather and we were heading to a campground that was off I-5. The road dead ended at a private property and then picked up again on the other side. The GPS didn't seem to know that. I spent an hour backing up and pulling forward after it started to jack knife to one side and then backing up and pulling forward until I got to a spot where I could make a loop and turn around. After that experience, I got pretty darn good at backing up trailers.

For those of you with only experience backing up small trailers....I've found the longer the trailer, the easier it is. My current trailer is 35' and I can back that up way easier than I can back up my friends jet ski trailer.

Just don't sweat it. Take it slow and steady and it'll come with time. The embarrassment felt at campgrounds by NOT being able to park it will motivate you. :)