Solo RV'ing

With a small class C, it is not that difficult. A few main points to remember:

1. Your C is wider than a regular vehicle. Pay attention to how much width the parking spot has before parking.
2. Even with a rear window, you will not be able to see things behind you that are under 3ft tall (depending on the window, that may be taller). That includes stupid little sports cars that are being driven by stupid little idiots who think riding on your butt will get you to move over but in reality just makes it impossible to know they are behind you.
3. You have to pay attention to what is ABOVE where you're going. Your C is 9.5 feet or taller.
4. USE YOUR SIDE MIRRORS. If you have a hard time getting used to the side mirrors during the occasional RV driving moments, remove the rear-view mirror in your daily vehicle and use only the side mirrors. Also learn how to set your side mirrors to get the most view on each side (rather than seeing the full length of your vehicle and barely nothing of the lane next to you).

Practicing in an empty parking lot helps. Get used to backing up on your own. Yes, sometimes you have to get out of the vehicle and look at how you're positioned before backing up. But, if you RV solo, you can't guarantee that there will be a spotter - so just get comfortable doing it yourself and enjoy it when you have a spotter.

If your street is like mine, it is a small city street. This means that you might not be able to turn enough to get the C lined up with the driveway for simple straight backing (especially if people park their vehicles on the street). If that's the case, learn how to "dip" into the driveway before turning away - it can give you enough extra maneuvering room to back in without a bunch of back & forth.

Ok.....it is a 1998 Minnie Winnie class C that the person bought in April ask me how I know this.

since its something this small you know there's no real big mystery to it just make sure that you realize that its wider than your average car or van

and find an empty parking lot and practice backing in it out of parking spaces with no one around you
even buy some cones if you want but shouldn't be a big deal
when you're in campgrounds things like that make sure you watch out for a height of tree limbs width of road cut...

All great tips posted already...

At campgrounds, ask for a pull-through or if you have to back-in, ask cg personnel to help you or a NUMBER of campers will be more than happy to help you back in... LOL. Just remember, no matter "who" helps you, the responsibility to keep both eyes open for objects that are out to get ya,
is still yours. Check out overhead branches too!

I have backed in fivers or motorhomes by myself... just constantly on the lookout. Lots of practice and then more practice. Good Luck.

Besides general practice backing up, if you're not really confident with driving, I would suggest making a few trips around your local area for practice. That way, you will at least know what to expect from the roads and intersections, and be better able to concentrate on the RV driving skills.

Besides this, there's something oddly satisfying about getting take-out from your local haunt and eating it in your own home in their parking lot...or, at least, so it seems to me. It's probably even better if you move your home to a nearby park or some similar pretty spot.

As was said, Practice....
If you have an experienced friend, enlist the aid of same.

Where to practice??
Do you have anything near by that is big, paved and empty??
Go there.

How to practice?
Get some things you can see. Empty Boxes, Empty (and sort of clean) commercial ice cream buckets or, Traffic cones, if you can borrow a few. Trash cans will work too, but that can be expensive during the early efforts.

Without knowing what the rig is, I am afraid I can't be more help than that.

Matt

My advice about backing is to avoid it when possible. I use to train guys to drive tractor trailers and saw several accidents were guys were backing when there was no need.

If you have to back in, try to back in on the driver's side instead of blind-side backing.

My dad drove trucks for 50 years and told me if you have any doubts about getting in and out of a place, always back in and drive out. Better to not be able to get into a place than to get in and not be able to get out.

When backing get as straight as possible before you start. Give yourself more room than you think you need. Put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and move it in the direction you want the trailer to go. Try to make small inputs and don't cut the wheels any sharper than you have to. If you get behind in your steering, pull out and try again.

There are really only two important rules:

1. Practice...Practice...Practice.

and

2. G.O.A.L. -- Get Out And Look!

I'll assume that "it" is either a travel trailer or a 5th wheel since you mentioned "pulling".

Advice I've always given to someone with little pulling experience is to find a nice large parking lot without any vehicles. Practice backing and tight turns. If you have something like an empty box you can use that as a "tree" or something to practice backing around.

Always start with your wheels straight if possible, keep your right hand at the 12 o'clock position and back up, noticing how a slight turn is accomplished. For tighter turns learn to give yourself plenty of room getting around that "tree", but be careful to know where that hidden corner of your trailer is. You may have to stop & get out to check from time to time since you don't have a spouse to confuse you. (That's a joke, but not really.)

It's not illegal to ask for assistance when pulling into a campsite. Sometimes the RV park will have someone help, but at state/federal parks you might want to ask one of your neighbors if one is available. I know I've helped many-a-camper back into a site.

Experience is your best teacher, but you'll gain confidence by practicing in a nice open area. And if you accidently turn your steering wheel the wrong way while backing into a spot don't feel bad, we all do it. I've done it plenty of times and I've pulled an RV for over 20 years. And one last thing - USE YOUR MIRRORS.

Happy travels!

Better advice could be had with a little more about exactly what "it" is...