backing in a site

[AcB875]

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.

[Sport45]

gkainz wrote:
Last campground was exactly this way. A loop (counterclockwise traffic) with campsites only on the outside of the loop. All sites angled about 45° so if one would go the wrong way around the loop it would require a 135° cut into the site.

I hear ya. Driving the wrong way could put the site on the visible side of the vehicle but doesn't necessarily make it easier to park. The take-away here is that you can't always avoid backing to the blind side.

[rhagfo]

robwhite61 wrote:
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.

To me this is the most useless instruction. Every campground I've been to has one way streets and most of the sites are angled to aid in backing in when going the right direction. Just my experience and .02 worth.

I always try to challenge myself, or not worry about it! Last spot was backing uphill to the passengers side, with a manual transmission. 11,000# 32' 5er. :B

[gkainz]

Last campground was exactly this way. A loop (counterclockwise traffic) with campsites only on the outside of the loop. All sites angled about 45° so if one would go the wrong way around the loop it would require a 135° cut into the site.

[Sport45]

robwhite61 wrote:

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.

To me this is the most useless instruction. Every campground I've been to has one way streets and most of the sites are angled to aid in backing in when going the right direction. Just my experience and .02 worth.

No sites on the right side of the road where you go? How can the campground angle all the sites for easy backing on a one-way road when half of them are on the wrong side. 😉

[robwhite61]

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.

To me this is the most useless instruction. Every campground I've been to has one way streets and most of the sites are angled to aid in backing in when going the right direction. Just my experience and .02 worth.

[AcB875]

thank you all for your advise.

[Executive45]

I hate it when you guys use the walkie talkies....we miss all the arm flinging, screaming and finger pointing.....:B:B....Dennis

[steiny93]

Allworth wrote:
Two smart phones on speaker, unless you are way out in the boonies.

I turn the volume up and drop mine in the cup holder.

Also, empty parking lot and practice, practice, practice!

yup
and keep in mind; it isn't a race, don't get rattled and hurried and in a yelling match with your spotter 🙂

you have all the time you'll need to get your rig parked and parked safely; no sense in causing unnecessary damage

[Allworth]

Two smart phones on speaker, unless you are way out in the boonies.

I turn the volume up and drop mine in the cup holder.

Also, empty parking lot and practice, practice, practice!

[wilber1]

I won't muddy the waters with more backing advice but as far as spotting goes, the best thing we ever did was get walky talkies. No frantic waving or shouting. Your spotter can move around to check cleances without needing to be visible in your mirrors. All you have to do is listen and if you want to discuss something, you can do it in a normal tone of voice without leaving the truck.

[Tyler0215]

When I started driving a semi,33 years ago, my first job was spotting trailers at a grocery warehouse. For 8 hours every night I moved trailers into and away from loading docks. That was the worst driving job I ever had but the best experience. I learned how to back a trailer.
What I am saying is, the ONLY way to learn how to back a trailer is to practice. Once you get it, you got it.
If you can imagine a line your trailer tires make when pulling out of a spot that is the line you want the tires to follow going into a spot.
I taught my neighbor how to back a TT using empty soda cans as a guide. Just line them up along the path the trailer tires need to follow. Recycle the crushed cans.

[Executive45]

The BACK of the trailer goes the SAME direction as the FRONT of the truck!...if all else fails remember G.O.A.L. ....Get Out And Look...don't forget to look UP....Dennis

[rhagfo]

Hvyhauler wrote:

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 respectively declined the help of the peanut gallery which comes out of nowhere on a couple of occasions.

X3!

One should never rely on a spotter for directions! My DW makes sure on kids cut behind the 5er as I am backing, but no directions excipt if she sees me about to hit something.

One of the best tips I ever got was to steer from the bottom of the steering wheel and push the direction you want the back of the trailer to go.

[Winged_One]

Try the scoop. Not as easy as with a TT, but it helps.

The scoop