Well, today we took our TT to the empty college parking lot to practice backing into a "campsite". John took first at the wheel and I spotted, then we switched and I took the wheel and he spotted. Two hours later neither of us was very successful at getting our little 21' TT into the "campsite" :E I tried the "scoop" several times but just could not get it right. We both continued to jackknife and then couldn't figure out how to get the TT into the site without doing so. Frustrated, but laughing, we agreed it's going to take practice, practice, practice! Without someone to teach us the right way, or to tell us what we're doing wrong, we figure we'll be practicing for a LONG time :R After a bit of discussion on the way home, we concluded that we think we're turning the steering wheel too much. I just finished watching several you tube videos, but bottom line, I believe it's just going to take DOING IT until we get it right. We have reservations next week at a state park not too far from where we are in FL, but John is thinking we should cancel them until we get this backing up thing down. I'm thinking we should go and use that experience as part of our practicing.We're still working on the best option for easy access into the trailer for John.

Go back to your dealer. Have them show you how. They made enought money off of you.

Yes if you are jack knifing you are steering too much. The trick is to start steering back the other way before you think you need to. If you wait until you see that you need to steer the other way, it's too late, you waited too long. Keep practicing, it's not rocket science. Don't cancel your reservations, some good Samaritan will help you get parked if you run into trouble.

I am AWFUL at backing up a trailer even though my dad was a trucker. If I'm not camping with my dad (he never takes the wheel just gives me direction) or my husband doesn't go, I tend to get extremely nervous but there is always a nice gentleman at the campground to help me. I am getting better but....I completely understand.Practice is the key (and finding sites with pull thrun sites :) )

When backing "less, is often more". The shorter the trailer the faster it will respond while backing. Start by backing in a straight line. If you can keep it going straight while backing, then you can start to work on turning it.Some people find it's easier to hold the steering wheel on the bottom since the trailer will then go in the direction you move the steering wheel. Good luck and have fun while learning.

BurbMan wrote:Yes if you are jack knifing you are steering too much. The trick is to start steering back the other way before you think you need to. If you wait until you see that you need to steer the other way, it's too late, you waited too long. Keep practicing, it's not rocket science. Don't cancel your reservations, some good Samaritan will help you get parked if you run into trouble.X2, Agree and someone will usually be around to help if needed. JMO

Backing the TT into the Space | Good Sam Community

58 Replies

DE88ROX
Explorer
Jan 17, 2015
i would rather back up a 53' semi trailer than my 26' TT axle placement helps in that regard
BellaLynda
Explorer
Jan 16, 2015
Thanks all, we really appreciate the great tips, suggestions and recommendations. The camaraderie here is awesome and we look forward to being active and productive members and contributors (after some time and experience...:B )to the site.
Uncle_Rj
Explorer
Jan 16, 2015
Some very good tips here.

One trick we do is use our cellphones instead of radios. My wife calls our truck and acts as the spotter. We also have found that simple directions work better. She just tells me which way the back of the trailer needs to go (driver's side, passenger's side, not right or left) and how far it needs to go, one foot, three feet etc.

If you are struggling, get out and look a lot. Visualizing helps a bunch.

One more thing, watch the front of the truck too. Lots of times you may get close to running into other vehicles or trees because you are so intent on what the trailer is doing.

Finally, I will sometimes pull the load/sway bars off if we are making tight turns or parking on a site that is not level (front to back). Usually it is not an issue.
xteacher
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
BellaLynda wrote:
OK...I've got another question along the lines of backing up...should or should we not disconnect the anti=sway bars before we back-up the TT? If the answer is going to be yes...I'm thinking we were darn lucky we didn't damage either the TT/TV or the hitch system when we had it jackknifed more often than not :S

We take the bars and friction sway bar off in the parking lot when checking in at the campground office, especially if it's a back-in site that we're not familiar with. Too much of an angle backing in can bend/damage the friction sway bar. This way, we don't have to worry about holding up traffic doing it on the campground road in front of the site. Driving the short distance to the site from the office shouldn't be a problem, even if you're sagging a bit. I've gotten some strange looks doing this, but I could care less!
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Jan 14, 2015
OK! - Easy Peasy right? Now go camping! :P
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jan 13, 2015
Congrats! It's a nice feeling when you get it.
BellaLynda
Explorer
Jan 13, 2015
Linedog wrote:
I don't post much but I read a lot. I pulled and backed trailers at work for about 12 years. All I can add is practice is what's its all about.

Well, we went out to practice again today, as many here have mentioned...practice, practice, practice. Today we decided that I would be the driver and John would be the spotter. So for an hour I practiced just backing in a straight line, finding a "target" in the driver side mirror and putting the trailer straight back to it. I used the hands on the bottom of the wheel and the hands in the standard position methods and moved the wheel little by little, left and right getting a "feel" for the movement and watching, in the mirror, how the trailer moved. It was a good day and we went home feeling much better.

Where we park the TT, next to our place in FL, is a straight back-in site. Yesterday, I brought the trailer home from our practice and got it backed in with the help of our neighbor. Today, John brought the trailer home from our practice run and, with me spotting, he got it in with minimal adjustments.

Thanks to those who responded to my query regarding backing-up with the sway bars. :)
Linedog
Explorer
Jan 13, 2015
I don't post much but I read a lot. I pulled and backed trailers at work for about 12 years. All I can add is practice is what's its all about.
profdant139
Explorer II
Jan 13, 2015
I always loosen my sway bar (a friction bar, not weight distribution) before backing up -- it makes the trailer more responsive. Plus the groaning of the sway bar would drown out DW's helpful commentary!!
Drew_K
Explorer
Jan 13, 2015
I don't think it's necessary to remove the bars, although I might if the area I was backing into was at a severe angle. In other words, would backing up put the TT at a severe angle to the truck due to an elevation change?

I've never been in that situation, and I've also never removed my bars to back up. It's just noisy from the bars moving.

Forum Discussion

Backing the TT into the Space

58 Replies

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Back up camera

Storage and Work Space Near Portland

Space Heater

Back in a Bigfoot

Zihuatanejo RV space?