my curse

The biggest mistake I've seen drivers make after years as a long haul driver is to try and aim the trailer. Sure you need to keep a watch on the sides of the trailer to make sure you don't hit anything but, watch where the trailer tires are going. What you need to do is put the trailer tires where you want to go and not try backing watching the rear of the trailer. And like was said before, if you have trouble on which way to turn the wheel try holding it on the bottom.

My husband does the backing into a campsite with me on a walkie talkie directing him. However, when it comes to hooking up the trailer to the TV, I always drive while he gives the directions. We rarely miss being dead on the first time when hitching up. We have been using this method for 35 years now, and it works great.

My wife and I have been backing boats and trailers together for 40 plus years. The longer ones are easier and the hitch doesn't matter. Years ago, bride got tired of me not being satisfied with where she had me stop or that we were too far left or right.

Since then she does all the backing and I direct her as to where I think it should be when we are finished. If she can't see me or questions my thoughts she just stops and waits until we talk.

For us it works good and she is a very good driver. Yes, I can do it by myself, but we camp and travel for fun together and its part of the adventure.

Sometimes things work the way they are supposed to... Not Often.

Last month We were at a campground in the Smoky Mts.
I had a spot that looked like it was going to be difficult to back into.
A couple of guys sitting on a nearby table thought it was going to be entertaining...
I lucked out. I followed my camper into the space, I got out to see how close I was to the hook-ups. I was dead on.
The cement pad was perfectly in line with the door.
I cut off my truck and began un-hooking... Looked like a pro.
Dumb luck, but I acted like I was that good.

There is a video of a guy using what he calls 'The Swoop'
when he backs up. I tried it and it works.

Basically you aim your truck into the spot headfirst, then at the last moment pull it hard out of the spot. Pull up, you are at the right angle, back in slowly. I put a traffic cone back there to tell me I'm back far enough.

FWIW... I tried having my wife assist, wanted to kill each other.
NOW... I have her go sit at the picnic table till I'm parked.
No shouting back and forth, no miscommunications...
She's still speaking to me. Married 39 yrs now...

Some days I have it and some days I don't. It usually depends on how many people are in the vicinity watching me. The more people that watch, the worse I am at backing up! LOL

Caveman, one of the sites where we recently camped was a bit like you describe, I told the DW, make a not of that site number so we NEVER get it!

To put my trailer in the shed I have to back up around a corner, up a really good incline, and then into a dark hole. Even though I have done it dozens of times I still have to GOAL (Get Out And Look) before I can get it into position. Besides not being able to see At All, I'm always worried that the front of the TT will hit the back of the pickup due to the fact that the trailer is going up the steep incline while the pickup is still on level ground and this is happening with the trailer at 45 degree angle to the pickup. Kinda hard to explain. It's kinda 3 dimensional.

At my house I have to back up a hill (8 foot rise over 35 feet) into a 12 foot gate. Practice practice and more practice. I have the wife spot me. She tells me if I am going to hit something, other than that she doesn’t tell me how to back up. Find a parking lot and spend a day learning how to do it. I promise you after 8 hours of practice you will be able to back up

The hard part is moving the wheel in the opposite direction to start the turn.