Challenges with a long(er) trailer?
Have to replace our 30' fifth wheel due to damage. My TV was pretty well maxed out, and more recent versions are just enough heavier that I'll be exceeding payload. So, looking very close at going t...
Forum Discussion
We went from an 18 foot TT to a 31 foot TT to a 35 1/2 foot TT, pretty much towing with either a Suburban and then a 3500 Long bed/crew cab duly (3 different trucks)
I had no problems with any of the trailers, backing them. However, we have always been very selective of our campsites. We do primarily State Parks, so we can always find the spot when making reservations and compare images with Google Earth or Bing Maps in Satellite view. Previous planning makes it a lot easier.
My truck is now 22 feet long. My trailer (with the cargo carrier) is 38 feet long. That puts me at 60 feet total length. And my duly does not have a sharp turning radius.
First thing I did with new truck and new trailer combination is to go to an open parking lot and make a sharp right hand circle, as tight as the steering wheel will allow, watching the hitch, A-frame, and bumper of the trailer. (actually, my wife drives and I walk beside it as the turn gets tighter and tighter. I'm looking to see if the trailer jack-knife's when making a normal forward turn. It did not. I then get in the drivers seat and fix the angle of the turn in my head. When backing the camper, I know the max angle I can get to without jack knifing. I think this little exercise was the best thing I could do to learn the limits of the turning pivot point. (and I've done this with ever trailer and tow vehicle combination, first thing).
When we lived in town. The road was 2 lane with a turn lane in the middle. (we had the 31 foot trailer then). I found I could only back into my drive way from one direction. The drive way had to be on the left side of the driver, so backing in from the left. That meant, stopping in the for right (straight) lane far enough ahead of the drive way, then backing across the turn lane and the opposite direction lane. But it worked. Yea, I ticked-off oncoming traffic some times ... people are so danged impatient and rude! But I didn't care.
In campgrounds, I had the luxury of taking my time a bit more with that same trailer. I could make a tighter left or right turn back-in almost anywhere. Working through trees was no problem, BUT it did mean being patient, taking your time, and using backward and forward strokes.
Now, my current camper is even longer! And the turning radius of the truck hasn't changed. The wheel base of the trailer is farther back, which makes even a longer runway to back in. But in the 4 years we've own it, I've never had problems. We now live in the country, there are absolutely no obstacles at the end of my drive way, except the mail box across the road, I live in the country, and I have LOTS of tire depressions at the end of the drive way in my yard!
Bottom line, you can do it! You just need to find an open parking lot and practice, practice, practice with your truck and camper to learn it's limitations right from the get-go! In time .... you'll even amaze yourself some of the places you can park that 31 foot camper into!
Maybe, I'm a bit different now. I use to cringe at the though of backing into a tight campsite. No more! Now it's a personal challenge and a test of my own ability!
And by the way! ALWAYS ... when backing ... use a spotter and have your communication technique down pat before even starting! My wife is my spotter. With out, I think it would much, much harder.
I had no problems with any of the trailers, backing them. However, we have always been very selective of our campsites. We do primarily State Parks, so we can always find the spot when making reservations and compare images with Google Earth or Bing Maps in Satellite view. Previous planning makes it a lot easier.
My truck is now 22 feet long. My trailer (with the cargo carrier) is 38 feet long. That puts me at 60 feet total length. And my duly does not have a sharp turning radius.
First thing I did with new truck and new trailer combination is to go to an open parking lot and make a sharp right hand circle, as tight as the steering wheel will allow, watching the hitch, A-frame, and bumper of the trailer. (actually, my wife drives and I walk beside it as the turn gets tighter and tighter. I'm looking to see if the trailer jack-knife's when making a normal forward turn. It did not. I then get in the drivers seat and fix the angle of the turn in my head. When backing the camper, I know the max angle I can get to without jack knifing. I think this little exercise was the best thing I could do to learn the limits of the turning pivot point. (and I've done this with ever trailer and tow vehicle combination, first thing).
When we lived in town. The road was 2 lane with a turn lane in the middle. (we had the 31 foot trailer then). I found I could only back into my drive way from one direction. The drive way had to be on the left side of the driver, so backing in from the left. That meant, stopping in the for right (straight) lane far enough ahead of the drive way, then backing across the turn lane and the opposite direction lane. But it worked. Yea, I ticked-off oncoming traffic some times ... people are so danged impatient and rude! But I didn't care.
In campgrounds, I had the luxury of taking my time a bit more with that same trailer. I could make a tighter left or right turn back-in almost anywhere. Working through trees was no problem, BUT it did mean being patient, taking your time, and using backward and forward strokes.
Now, my current camper is even longer! And the turning radius of the truck hasn't changed. The wheel base of the trailer is farther back, which makes even a longer runway to back in. But in the 4 years we've own it, I've never had problems. We now live in the country, there are absolutely no obstacles at the end of my drive way, except the mail box across the road, I live in the country, and I have LOTS of tire depressions at the end of the drive way in my yard!
Bottom line, you can do it! You just need to find an open parking lot and practice, practice, practice with your truck and camper to learn it's limitations right from the get-go! In time .... you'll even amaze yourself some of the places you can park that 31 foot camper into!
Maybe, I'm a bit different now. I use to cringe at the though of backing into a tight campsite. No more! Now it's a personal challenge and a test of my own ability!
And by the way! ALWAYS ... when backing ... use a spotter and have your communication technique down pat before even starting! My wife is my spotter. With out, I think it would much, much harder.
