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backing in a site

AcB875
Explorer
Explorer
i am having trouble backing in a site or making a 90 degree turn and backing in my drive. how do i learn how to back my 5th wheel up.
thank you in advance.
28 REPLIES 28

Hannibal
Explorer
Explorer
We're in Ginnie Springs now. Our regular site is a right side 90ยฐ back in with trees. 5th wheels don't react to driver input like TT'S do. I pull much farther ahead of the site to allow for the slower reaction. The rest is just a lot of practice and patience. With practice in an empty lot or field, you'll get the feel of it and it'll be easier to set up the proper arc to back in at the campgrounds. Like riding a bike. We can tell you how but the only way to perfect it is with practice. And maintain patience. Trees are hard!
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Hvyhauler
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Explorer
MTPockets1 wrote:
Most important to me; don't have anyone out there pointing or directing left, right, or whatever... There's some decent advice given here, but again for me, trying to back and watch the wife or anyone else does nothing... I pull well ahead, get out and do a walk around of the site making mental notes of overhead obstructions, power poles, water spigots, table, etc. I then imagine about where I want the trailer wheels to stop, keeping in mind where those obstructions are, and distance from them allowing enough space for slides; and then back slowly with that spot as my target. I'm the one with the wheel, and any "helpers" distract.


X2... Excellent advice,the same way I do it...also I've respectfully declined the help of the peanut gallery which came out of nowhere on a couple of occasions.
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2112
Explorer II
Explorer II
When I went from a TT to a FW I found myself overcompensating and zig-zagging all over the place. I realized there was a lag from my action (turning the wheel) and the reaction (FW changing direction, reacting to my input). Now, with practice and anticipating the reaction lag I can back this thing wherever I need it.

Go slow with small input changes.

I prefer not having a spotter. I'll tell my DW if she is with me to stop me if it looks like I'm going to hit something but don't direct me.
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Halmfamily
Explorer
Explorer
The easiet way for me is to watch the fifth wheels tires, not the rear, checking your sides to make sure you're not going to rub a tree. If I'm by myself I place several smal orange cones down ss marks where I want my tires to go.

As others have said practice, practice, practice.
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MTPockets1
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Explorer
Most important to me; don't have anyone out there pointing or directing left, right, or whatever... There's some decent advice given here, but again for me, trying to back and watch the wife or anyone else does nothing... I pull well ahead, get out and do a walk around of the site making mental notes of overhead obstructions, power poles, water spigots, table, etc. I then imagine about where I want the trailer wheels to stop, keeping in mind where those obstructions are, and distance from them allowing enough space for slides; and then back slowly with that spot as my target. I'm the one with the wheel, and any "helpers" distract.
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Dennis_M_M
Explorer
Explorer
Found this on a forum many years ago, have lost the attribution:

Backing a 5er
There are a few tips that make it easier.

Tip 1: Do everything possible to insure that you will be turning on the driver side. Even if it means driving around the campground and up/down a few roads to get yourself turned around. Passenger is your blind side and should be last resort.

Tip 2: You have to learn how long the reaction time is for your trailer to react. Go to a parking lot and practice. Always use your trailers rear axle as the reference point. The reaction time is the time it takes from the time you turn the tow vehicle steering wheel until the time the trailer starts turning.

Tip 3: There are two terms you need to know. Neutral, Jack and Chase. Neutral position is when the tow vehicle steering wheel is at the position where the truck is going in a straight line. When you Jack the trailer you are causing it to turn the opposite direction that the truck is turning. Such as in jack-knife. Chase is when you are trying to straighten out the truck and trailer, thus the term chasing the trailer.

Tip 4: Get out and survey the parking area (with your spotter) for obstructions. Determine where you want the trailer to end up and pick a reference point, which will act as the "edge of the parking area".

Tip 5: Start with the truck and trailer traveling straight. You want the side you are turning into to be about 4' off the curb or edge of the road. When the tow vehicles rear axle is at the far edge of the parking space, cut your truck wheel hard away from the curb. When the truck is about a 45-degree angle to the curb (or as close as you can get given the space you have to use) straighten the wheel back to the neutral position. As soon as the truck has begun going straight, cut the wheel hard in the opposite direction until the truck is again parallel to the curb. STOP. Your trailer is now at a good angle to start backing up.

Tip 6: Jack the trailer until it get to about 15-20 degree angle of the space you are going to park it then start chasing it.

Tip 7: If your running out of space to get the truck & trailer running straight, don't be afraid to pull forward to help straighten it out.

Tip 8: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE and never backup with out a spotter.

I always have my wife (spotter) standing right next to the truck (rather than at the back) In the angle of the turn. We've already surveyed the area so we know what is where. We've picked our reference point as the point we want to miss. This point is far enough away from the opposite side of the parking area such that I will miss any obstruction. She watches to rear trailer axle and tells me whether to JACK IT or CHASE IT. That is the only thing I need to hear (other than STOP). With those terms I know exactly which way to turn. She is not standing at the back of the trailer flailing her arms yelling LEFT, NO MY LEFT, STRAIGHT, TURN IT THE OTHER WAYโ€ฆ... Nobody can react to those terms.
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Coach-man
Explorer
Explorer
Just as in Real Estate, there are only three things in backing, pratice, pratice, and practice! DW is your spotter? Have her try and back it in so she gets a feel for what is going on, she will then be more able to assist you in backing into a spot. Learn from your mistakes, each time you back it into a spot you will do things right, and then you will make some mistakes, realize what mistakes you are making, and the next time try and do the right thing. Over time it will become second nature to you so do not worry to much in the begining! Enjoy your rig!!

e-light
Explorer
Explorer
Practice in an open parking lot. Try to stay in lanes and back into "spots." Pull about 10' past where you want to back into and then cut the wheel all the way to the opposite side. Like youre backing the truck itself into the opposite side. This will "jack" the trailer. Then watch the mirrors and start to "chase" the trailer.

A little practice and you will have it down. I got good at backing up trailers years ago with my boat. My TT took a little practice and the 5er a little more. Of the 3 the 5er is the easiest for me. I just think of it like jack and chase. You will catch on quick. And USE your mirrors. If you cannot see something GET OUT AND LOOK.
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B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Explorer II
Start by practicing backing in a straight line for several hundred feet using only the mirrors. Then pratice turning into a space from both the right side and the left side. then practice some more...

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VoodooMedicineM
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Explorer
All of the above

Watch the rear wheels of the trailer. That's where its going to go.
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Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Explorer
Practice!

Think about where your RV is going to go as you leave the site. You normally do not drive out, back up and then drive out again, and you should (with practice) be able to drive up next to a site, be in the place where the RV will be once have left the site, then back in.

So start with the RV a little ahead of the RV site, to the right side of the road, truck a bit to the left. As you back, and you want the back of the trailer going right, put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, and go to the right. As you want to straighten out, your steering wheel will go to the left, and if you turn further, the trailer will start to go to the left.

The person directing you need to use their ARMS. If they point a finger and say go this way, you will be 60 feet away and not see their finger or hear them over the engine! They also must start to realize that you will not see them at all if they can not see your mirrors.

So with their ARMS they point the direction that they want the back of the trailer to go. Right or left, or point them up for straight. AS you reach the stopping point, have them put their arms say 4' apart, and gradually bring them together, once together, you stop, set the parking brake, and get out, look over the site, and see how the position is.

Some have used radio's like you can buy at Costco for communications in the campgrounds. But sometimes a wise guy gets on the radio and starts saying 'faster' "STOP" and confuses everything. . . Changing channels sometimes helps, unless they figure it out, and change with you. . .

Once you are parked, or near parked (or at least have enough room on the roadway for others to get by) get out and look for trees or other things that might block the slides, or electrical compartment doors. It is no fun to set the jacks, then figure out "that slide will run into that branch" a banging branch against the sidewall is annoying on a windy night. . .

So practice in a large mall parking lot, and try getting into a couple of spaces. Most campgrounds are set up with the parking spaces at a 45 degree angle to the driveway, so do not practice backing 90 degree turn into the parking space, but rather about 45 degree. Or better yet, pull across a parking space, then pull out, like you are going home, then stop after about 40', and back into that same space. This will get you good at figuring out how far to swing the RV as you go into a space.

Once you can pull into a space, are centered, and can pull forward to the right and go about 60 feet, then can back into that same space and center it, you will gain the confidence to do it in a real campground!

My wife practiced backing our motorhome into several campground parking spaces while on a 3 day weekend. On Sunday, after packing up late, we drove around the empty section of the campground, with me on the rear bed, backing into sites, until she got really good at it. . . Her only request was me to yell out if she was backing into something!

I always wondered why she was not so 'great' at backing up the RV. I backed my work truck into the parking space at my work in front of the HVAC shop several times a day, and I guess that is why I can back into a site much better than pulling into one. If the site is really tight, with trees on both sides, I back in, not pull in, as I can see everything in the mirrors as I go.

At home I always back into my driveway. I can see all the cars, kids, bikes, ect as I back in. And pulling out in the morning, when the windshield is fogged over, or the back window is not clear at all - that would be really difficult. Backing in is what I prefer. Even at supermarkets! Practice by backing your car into sites at work or the driveway at home.

Now rear view cameras are fairly cheap. You can search for Wireless rear view camera at this site. AliExpress.com

Good luck!

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the_bear_II
Explorer
Explorer
There are some videos on YouTube with tips for parking a 5th wheel.

X-2 the practice in a parking lot.

Toolguy5
Explorer III
Explorer III
If you have an area where you can go that has a large parking with open spaces. Take some cones or something to use for markers that won't hurt 5er or the markers if they get hit. Practice there.
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icanon
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Go to an empty parking lots and practice practice practice. Put yourself into different scenarios, be patient.
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