Last weekend we camped with family and friends (1 TT and 2 FW). All three were backed perfectly in place. DH can back anything but sometimes he likes to try a different approach and neighboring campers pull up their lawn chairs for the show. Sorry but no show this weekend... but keep those lawn chairs handy, you never know.:)

Backing can become quite the art and like any art, there are connoisseurs!One time I had to back around some tall bushes and it was a bit tricky. After hitting it on the first try, a girl of about 15~16 years old came over and congratulated me on a good job.

last week at work i backed a dumptruck up to a godwin pump trailer to hook it up and nailed it first try while a couple summer temps stood there watching.no way in hell i could pull that off twice,but it looked good.:B why cant i do that with the boat?

While I drive the coach, my wife actually backs it up with hand signals. No arguing or drama involved. She gets out, assesses the situation and signals me to the precise spot we need. First time, every time.

holstein13 wrote:While I drive the coach, my wife actually backs it up with hand signals. No arguing or drama involved. She gets out, assesses the situation and signals me to the precise spot we need. First time, every time.We do the same thing but with walkie-talkie radios. My DW thought her thumb in the air was a good enough guide LOL even when my eyesight was good it was difficult to see, so this time I set her up to not use the thumb, just talk me in.

Dad owned a small excavating business, so my brothers and I had our CDL's at 18 and were driving trucks and trailers.DW & I enjoy canoeing. Watching other people backing down a boat ramp IS a spectator sport.

Perfect backing! | Good Sam Community

wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 16, 2015
That is one thing that is missing in the RV park I'm in.

The "Novice backing into site Show" Often much better than anything on TV.

(All but the two tent sites and one open back in site are pull through here and no trees to doge.. Still one lady backed over the water spout :) )
Reader1
Explorer
May 16, 2015
ChopperBill wrote:
Wife helping me back in would have to have a marriage counselor involved. She disappears and I get help from one of my male friends. No yelling and screaming that way.

My job is pretty simple. I am just there to tell him if he is going to hit something and to watch for kids on bikes etc. When I think it might be right I tell him "GOAL" - get out and look and we are done.
FlatBroke
Explorer II
May 16, 2015
Wife helping me back in would have to have a marriage counselor involved. She disappears and I get help from one of my male friends. No yelling and screaming that way.
PenMan
Explorer
May 15, 2015
restlesswind wrote:
Watched a fellow backing into the space. His wife was giving hand signals with both hands. She had one hand up in what I took as a signal to stop, with the other hand she was motioning to keep coming on back.

Talk about "mixed signals"! They got the rig parked, so I guess they had their own signal system.

That's the signal that you need to back slowly but still a little ways to go.:B
restlesswind
Explorer
May 15, 2015
Watched a fellow backing into the space. His wife was giving hand signals with both hands. She had one hand up in what I took as a signal to stop, with the other hand she was motioning to keep coming on back.

Talk about "mixed signals"! They got the rig parked, so I guess they had their own signal system.
jbrad13
Explorer
May 14, 2015
owenssailor wrote:
At our marina we had a guy back down the launch ramp and slam his brakes on. He had disconnected all the ties for the boat. Boat slid backwards onto the concrete launch ramp.
Then he threatened to sue us because the ramp was on a slope.
Endless fun

Ha! Seen that a number of times. Then you have the guy that guns the engine up the slope after he gets the boat on the trailer without securing it! Same thing-just going the other way!
lazydays
Explorer
May 14, 2015
In fourteen years of camping I've only seen one person have any real trouble backing into a camping spot. My hometown is right on the Ohio Rive and most of my friends have boats. Been with them many of times and I've never encountered anyone have trouble at at boat ramp. I can't relate.
Dave_and_Sue
Explorer
May 14, 2015
The odds of messing up when backing are proportional to the number of people watching.

I drove a truck for a number of years and consider myself better than some.Always a good feeling when we back up and hit it the first time.Not so much when I don't.I hate arriving late to a spot.The gawkers are usually out and having a adult beverage in hand.Love it when the SWMBO gets out and stands pointing to a spot and when the 5er hits it she throws down the Anderson levelers,I back up while watching the level on front.She turns on her heel and starts doing her thing while I finish up the outside.She has the slides out and everything ready when I'm done.She has her to list and I have mine.Large glass of tea when we are through.Takes us about 20-30 minutes,start to finish.
PenMan
Explorer
May 14, 2015
Best backing job I have ever seen was at a lake in Georgia. There was a fishing tournament going on and I just happened to be there fishing (not in tournament). The ramps actually had concrete curbs on both sides so the "lanes" were very clear. They were at least 40 yards long. As I was slowly and carefully backing my boat down the ramp, one of the pros was doing the same on the ramp next to me. He had his partner in the boat and he must have been backing about 40 mph. When the trailer tires hit the water he hit the brakes. The boat launched perfectly into the water and the guy in the boat had the engine down and running in seconds. The truck driver was parked and in the boat with his partner before I got my boat in the water.
mabynack
Explorer II
May 14, 2015
The odds of messing up when backing are proportional to the number of people watching.