Help with Backing Up

mat60 wrote:
I think its best I just have her stay in the truck and Ill get in and out when I need to. I no she wont be much help and Id be afraid I would run her over and that would spoil the hole weekend.LOL

Last thing you want to do is run over the cook.

At work I took many people to get there CDL, none of them took there wives with them. I don't think that is allowed.

I think its best I just have her stay in the truck and Ill get in and out when I need to. I no she wont be much help and Id be afraid I would run her over and that would spoil the hole weekend.LOL

I’ve had trouble working with my wife too. She tries to steer me, but she doesn’t know how a 5er turns so her instruction is no help.

I’ve started stopping when I lose sight of her, and give her a particular thing to watch for. Usually that is something on the blind side of the trailer. Works better.

Start out by getting the basics down. If you cant see her it's all a waste so she needs to learn where she needs to be. If the rig is turned to the left and you are looking down the drivers side in the mirror she needs to be on that side. If it's turned the other way she needs to be on the passenger side. Come up with basic hand signals such as her pointing which way the rig needs to go or hand up palm out for you for stop. You only need 4 signals.

Roll your windows down so she can yell STOP in an emergency. We sometimes use our cell phones and the hands free truck feature. Get out and look as much as you need, it's far better than repairing body damage. DONT get excited, take your time when you are not actually pulling into a campground to school her and practice your moves. She can only be as good as the training she gets. Go to a parking lot and set up lawn chairs or other objects to mimic approximate camp spot sizes. Back up long distances in a parking lot to get the feel of it then go for creating a wide circle.

I hate looking down the passengers side when backing in. Look at youtube videos where they show you were to position your TT tires in relationship to the entrance of the parking area.

Wife with radio. She is a ham so no problem there. She also knows to stay in view of mirrors. She talks. I listen & do what I am told. No need to answer her. Like to think that we make a pretty good team. Occasionally we select a site that she says can't be done. I think we can. Then the argument starts. Most of the time if I think we can, we can.

Part of the CG 'entertainment' is watching some poor guy struggle to get into a site while she sits there holding the poofy dog & does nothing to help.

My wife also had no issues backing up a boat trailer - after I got it straight so she just had to back up straight.

I can count on my hands the number of times I’ve been able to get the trailer straight in the past 7 years / nearly 300 camping locations so it could be backed up straight.

Still a few times a year when I’m at a straight enough spot - I have her back it in.

She has learned to go slow. She also knows that when I’m backing up and stop, I can’t see her.

First thing before backing up - put the windows down so I can hear.

We stop before I start backing up / both get out and look at the site. I tell her what I specifically want her to watch for obstruction wise. I tell her where I want the trailer wheels to end up. I tell her where I want her to stand.

She has learned to give me near constant hand signals. She still doesn’t want to talk to me/ yell. It’s too loud. I tell her I don’t care. I want positive feedback every foot of the backing up process.

But whenever I have any doubt -

G O A L

Get Out And Look

A couple times I’ve had someone complaining about me taking too long getting into the spot. I give them my iciest stare and ask them in my chief petty officer voice “will you pay for any damages if I hit something”

And I never complain if someone else blocks the road for longer than I like. I’ll offer help once, and if declined, just watch the show.

Iraqvet05 wrote:
I always tell my wife "if you can't see me in the mirror, I can't see you in the mirror".

Years of ground guiding heavy track vehicles in the military has taught me to stop when you cannot see your guide. I'd rather take it slow than pin someone under or between the vehicle or trailer. It's a learning curve backing in the TT but we both have been patient and gotten much better at it. I often over-correct and she often underestimates the correction needed.

Much better than you over-correcting and her over-estimating. :)

I would have a friend or family member (who knows how to direct) show her how to direct you while you're backing up. The person can give her explanations as to wht and when he/she tells you.

You might also explain exactly what you want from her. She may wait until you've gone too far because she thinks you WANT to do it all over. Letting her know that you want her to stop you BEFORE you are all the way back so you can adjust your direction without having to pull back out may help her. Explain that she is guiding you in rather than simply providing feedback after you back in. Some people don't actually know that they are to guide you in rather than just make sure you don't hit something. She may also not understand how to guide you in - especially if she's never backed up a trailer herself before. Also letting her know where you want the trailer to be once you're in can help her. Hmm, you might try some practice with her - show her where you want the trailer to be at the end, then put cones or flags at points along the way to show her when she needs needs to give you a correction to make it in time.

Having her try to back up, or at least sit in the seat while you show her various positions for the guider, may help her understand why you need her to not stand directly behind the trailer.

If none of that helps, then you might just start depending on yourself and let her do other things. Sometimes the driver's own lack of trust in the spotter that can create problems. There are many folks I won't let spot me because I know they don't really understand why and what they're doing and I worry they will miss the tree on the left because they think they're only spotting for the right, etc.

At work we move motorhomes and trailers everyday but we are trained in hand signals. For some reason I can't get my wife up to speed on this so I do all the backing solo. No big deal, though, 'cause I've gotten good at it (knocking on wood).