my curse

I think most of us still share a common level of respect and a little fear while towing. Practice and experience adjust your comfort level so that most backing situations are second nature. However I
also think we all share a fear of that dark, unfamiliar, single lane road that just keeps winding down,
down never to offer a pullout. Throw in some rain, cliffs and a bunch of spectators and my trailer is
FOR SALE

Use cell phones like walkie talkies and go slow are the best tips.

Tvov wrote:

As to someone helping... I make sure that if someone is helping me back in, they ONLY tell me which way the rear of the trailer should go. If they start trying to tell me which way to turn the truck, things just get confused quickly.

As to hitches - different hitches don't really change backing in (although I've never used or even seen a "Pullrite" hitch), BUT remember to disconnect sway control bars. Sometimes backing into tight campgrounds can mean almost jackknifing the trailer, which can bend a sway control bar. Also, depending on your setup, it may be easier to disconnect weight distributing bars before backing, in case when you are done the truck is at an odd angle to the trailer.

Practice, practice, practice!

I agree, my brother would always confuse me by telling me what he wanted me to do with the pickup and not what he wanted me to do with the trailer. After a couple of good swear words he now lets me do it on my own and that's a 1000 times better then him confusing me with bad instructions.

CavemanCharlie wrote:
Growing up on the farm my dad would yell at me if he saw me backing up a trailer by looking out the side window. He insisted I use my mirrors only. I still don't do it that way religiously but, the practice was good.

Yes! Actually, in many states you will fail your commercial driver's license test if you look over your shoulder. Learn to use your side mirrors, understand what they are showing you.

As to someone helping... I make sure that if someone is helping me back in, they ONLY tell me which way the rear of the trailer should go. If they start trying to tell me which way to turn the truck, things just get confused quickly.

As to hitches - different hitches don't really change backing in (although I've never used or even seen a "Pullrite" hitch), BUT remember to disconnect sway control bars. Sometimes backing into tight campgrounds can mean almost jackknifing the trailer, which can bend a sway control bar. Also, depending on your setup, it may be easier to disconnect weight distributing bars before backing, in case when you are done the truck is at an odd angle to the trailer.

Practice, practice, practice!

We have inexpensive walkie talkies. That way I don't have to learn fancy FAA hand signals or practice landing an carriers - whew! As others have stated, don't over think and go slow. Backing into my driveway is what makes me th emost nervous, but I know that my TT's wheels have to do slightly off the drievway at the front corner. If they don't, then I need to try again. Don't let it ruin you camping - you will get it sooner or later!

When I, not a great backer, pull up to my site and there are campers standing around watching I get out of my truck to look the site over and say to all of the onlookers "Pull up your chairs the entertainment starts soon".
Don

Howdy Well thanks to all for input. Since we took our 22 foot Jayco out only 2 weeks per year I didnt get a chance to practice "iive" backing and hooking up to practice wasnt something I gave much thought to. We sold our Jayco a few months ago and we are now looking at buying the Passport 252BH which is 26 feet 9 inches. I saw a back up camera named Switch Hitch but its for coupling trailer to tow vehicle. I never had any trouble hooking up though. Believe me we have tried all the suggestions mentioned here and I guess the common remedy is practice practice and more practice plus go slow.

Growing up on the farm my dad would yell at me if he saw me backing up a trailer by looking out the side window. He insisted I use my mirrors only. I still don't do it that way religiously but, the practice was good.

Many folks think that backing up a long coupled trailer is more difficult than an short one. The opposite is true. A short coupled trailer will turn sharper with less movement of the TV. This makes it much more difficult to maneuver when backing up. Long trailers are much easier, but you need to either have a camera, spotter, or really good depth perception.
Even though I've never had a backup camera, I'm thinking about getting one. Not because I can't back a trailer up, but more for safety and being able to see a little kid or something that shouldn't be back there.

my opiniom, most people that have trouble backup a trailer...

ether over THINK the job.. OR.. Over steer the tow.

go slow, steer slow. wait for trailer to answer steering input.

and practice, practice, practice.. and Yes using TOY stuff will teach the reaction process...