Learning to BackIn!!

SoundGuy wrote:
Regardless of whether you're a newbie or someone like myself who has been doing this for "awhile" it's always much easier to back a rig into a site with it angled in on the driver's side, as it obviously was for the OP in this case. Sometimes that's just not possible because of the relationship of the road to the site, sometimes because of obstructions on the opposite side of the road that may prevent you from directing the front of the truck where you need it to go, sometimes the park designers just didn't have their thinking caps on at the time and designated the road one way but the wrong way, forcing you to back into the site at an obtuse angle. In that case you'd find it much easier, if possible, to ignore that one way sign and approach the site from the opposite direction. :E Doing it this way you don't need to know where the entire trailer is during the process, only where that inside back corner of the trailer is and since you can always see it, either in your mirror or visually by simply looking at it, backing into any site shouldn't be a challenge at all. I do have my DW spot for me on occasions when she's with me on a camping trip but not to direct me into a site but simply to keep an eye out for those who would suddenly appear out of nowhere and dart in front of the truck or too close to the trailer, particularly young kids who also often don't have their thinking caps on. ;)

I actually like to have the biggest hazard on the passenger side and the angle in on the passenger side that way I can look over my shoulder and see the hazard. Like another poster stated a good backer knows how to use his mirrors as well as taking the opportunity to look over your shoulder when needed.
When I back into my alley I back with the in angle on the passenger side so I can keep an eye on the darn telephone pole and make sure I am not backing into it. Its just an easy transition from looking in the right mirror to a small head turn to see where the telephone pole is.
You know you have done a lot of backing when you go to back your pickup into a park space without a trailer and you turn the wheel the wrong way.