Backing the TT into the Space
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. T...
Forum Discussion
Besides walkie-talkies, it REALLY helps if DW & DH learn hand signals for backing up. I took us a couple of years to get this to work out smoothly and now it's a piece of cake. We rarely use our walkie-talkies anymore.
First, the spotter needs to be on the short side of a turn so that the driver can see the spotter in a side view mirror at all times. Spotter should point in the direction you want the rear of the TT to go. Spotter can show how much farther to go by spacing hand far apart or close together. Slow down, speed up, keep coming, keep coming straight and stop should be easy to figure out. AFAIK there's no universal standard for hand signals but most are obvious and the important thing is that you both know and understand the signals you use.
Backing up vids on this website. RV backing up tips The guy in the vids is rather long winded though. There are numerous vids on Youtube for backing up a trailer.
If you have your spotter with you, do not let a campground host or other RVers help you as they can be a serious distraction. Just politely say you're okay. If you are alone, that's different.
If you have been driving all day and are tired and hungry, it can help a lot if you get out of the TV for a few minutes and stretch your legs before backing into a site. For more challenging sites, it helps to get out at least once before backing up to scope out obstructions like large tree branches, pedestals, picnic benches, etc.
Do or not do... The best way to learn is to just go and do it. When we bought our 1st TT, a 20 footer, we went to a CG 15 minutes away. It was a white knuckle ride the whole way for me. But it wasn't long after that I was flying down the freeway, flinging the TT around corners and driving up and down lanes in a Walmart parking lot. I even backed the TT down a winding road about 1/4 mile to get into a site at a KOA. Some of the campers there were even clapping!
First, the spotter needs to be on the short side of a turn so that the driver can see the spotter in a side view mirror at all times. Spotter should point in the direction you want the rear of the TT to go. Spotter can show how much farther to go by spacing hand far apart or close together. Slow down, speed up, keep coming, keep coming straight and stop should be easy to figure out. AFAIK there's no universal standard for hand signals but most are obvious and the important thing is that you both know and understand the signals you use.
Backing up vids on this website. RV backing up tips The guy in the vids is rather long winded though. There are numerous vids on Youtube for backing up a trailer.
If you have your spotter with you, do not let a campground host or other RVers help you as they can be a serious distraction. Just politely say you're okay. If you are alone, that's different.
If you have been driving all day and are tired and hungry, it can help a lot if you get out of the TV for a few minutes and stretch your legs before backing into a site. For more challenging sites, it helps to get out at least once before backing up to scope out obstructions like large tree branches, pedestals, picnic benches, etc.
Do or not do... The best way to learn is to just go and do it. When we bought our 1st TT, a 20 footer, we went to a CG 15 minutes away. It was a white knuckle ride the whole way for me. But it wasn't long after that I was flying down the freeway, flinging the TT around corners and driving up and down lanes in a Walmart parking lot. I even backed the TT down a winding road about 1/4 mile to get into a site at a KOA. Some of the campers there were even clapping!
