Backing-In from SINGLE Lane Road

[mekkerl]

We are about to start our third season of camping with our 40' fifth-wheel. I've done a great job driving and backing in to campsites, between trees, and other places I probably shouldn't have even tried.
My problem is at home.
I park the camper on a stone pad next to our driveway.
This pad and the driveway comes off a single-lane 'access road'...about 10-12' wide.
I have a lot of trouble staying off of the grass on either side of the access road, where I put tire divots, and tear up the grass. And the side I mess the most grass up, is not my property!

Does anyone have good advice or videos on how best to back in a 5'r coming from a single lane road without any driveway aprons?

[4x4ord]

You don't have to back up in one continuous reverse movement. If the angle of the trailer is less than where you would like it to be, try stopping and pulling forward a few feet cutting the truck sharp to increase the angle then backing up again with the truck's wheels cut to increase the angle further. Once the trailer is on the pad you can pull ahead a couple of times to get the truck and trailer straight with each other again.

[greende]

I would use as much of your regular driveway and gravel pad as possible to do the "scoop" maneuver. I think you will do a better job backing. Also, can you pull out of your pad onto the access road to the left without your truck running over the neighbor's grass? If so, mark the path of the 5er wheels in chalk as you make the turn. Make note of how far down the road it takes for the trailer to straighten out. Now practice backing up following the chalk lines starting from that point.

[mapguy]

You approach driveway driving left to right -correct? Have you considered using your driveway to perform a t-type U-turn to get the use of the driveway and the designated parking area for the final backing up into position. This does assume (hate this word) the driveway is long enough for your combination to make the maneuver.

Another thing to consider; is your access road width developed fully along the front of your property? Many times these type access roads are very narrow, but the actual easement or underlying parcel is much wider.

[IdaD]

mekkerl wrote:
Duh! Probably good information to provide!

Looking at the picture, I come in from the left. So the parking area is on the driver's side.

Our access road is about 500-600' long...coming off of a country road. So its not out of the question to back all the way down and go into the parking spot blind. I am hoping I can avoid that however.

I'm thinking I will try to really exaggerate the 'scoop' or the 'S' up into the driveway...maybe clipping the grass some.

Yeah I think that's a good plan. I had you coming in from the opposite direction in my head when I posted before for some reason.

[troubledwaters]

Super_Dave wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:
Get some "GrassPave" and put them in as recommended by the manufacturer. Clicky

The area he damages isn't his property.

Is there a reason you can't come over your own driveway enough to get the truck straightened out in the road vs. the grass?

What difference does it make whos yard it is? What he's trying to do is be able to drive over the grass with out rutting it.

[turbojimmy]

troubledwaters wrote:
Get some "GrassPave" and put them in as recommended by the manufacturer. Clicky

This is pretty cool! I have an unpaved area where I park my Allegro and a couple of cars that only get occasional use. It was previously grass but has now turned to mud/dirt due to using it for parking. This stuff would be perfect!

[mekkerl]

Duh! Probably good information to provide!

Looking at the picture, I come in from the left. So the parking area is on the driver's side.

Our access road is about 500-600' long...coming off of a country road. So its not out of the question to back all the way down and go into the parking spot blind. I am hoping I can avoid that however.

I'm thinking I will try to really exaggerate the 'scoop' or the 'S' up into the driveway...maybe clipping the grass some.

[ependydad]

ACZL wrote:
Not to be a wise azz, but could always practice in a parking lot (school). Set up cones or something to simulate the road width, driveways and such.

A cheap way to do this is to fill red solo cups with water. You don't have to buy a bunch of cones and you aren't sad when you crush a dozen. 😄

[ependydad]

mekkerl wrote:
Thank you for posting my pic ependydad !!
RV.net must not like Google Drive or Photos!
Cause I know its not user error! HA

I've seen the 'scoop' video too -- and I've tried that, kinda do that every time to a different degree I guess.

I pick-up the camper from storage tomorrow -- so it will be another test for me.
I'll try and focus more on getting the camper at an angle before I start, although not much of an angle possible with the lack of space. And I need to try and keep the truck straight, as opposed to at an opposing angle to the camper, leading the truck towards the opposing grass.

Actually, folks have made a good point- which direction area you facing and backing in on? I assumed you would put the driveway/parking spot on the passenger side and backing in "blind" to give you the benefit of using your own driveway.

Cut the corner off by swooping into the grass, over the driveway, and getting lined up. Basically making an "S" shape.

As mentioned, you'll need to drive on your own grass- but you have much more control of that vs. mucking up someone else's property.

[ACZL]

Back in on blind side if possible. Put yourself at a angle on road so that the rear of the RV is aiming for driveway already. Try to get right tires on RV as close as possible to your lawn. This will allow you more swing room for your truck.

If you cannot blindside due to road being a dead end, do same thing as if blindsiding it only on driver's side.

Not to be a wise azz, but could always practice in a parking lot (school). Set up cones or something to simulate the road width, driveways and such.

[IdaD]

Swing right onto your property before you get to the pad and then swing the truck back out to the left where you can get the trailer lined up to back onto the pad from your driveway. It looks like you can stop short of the opposite side of the access road and reverse and leverage it onto the pad as you back up. You might need to go over your own grass for it to work but at least then you could put in some gravel or something else to address that problem on your own property.

[mekkerl]

Thank you for posting my pic ependydad !!
RV.net must not like Google Drive or Photos!
Cause I know its not user error! HA

I've seen the 'scoop' video too -- and I've tried that, kinda do that every time to a different degree I guess.

I pick-up the camper from storage tomorrow -- so it will be another test for me.
I'll try and focus more on getting the camper at an angle before I start, although not much of an angle possible with the lack of space. And I need to try and keep the truck straight, as opposed to at an opposing angle to the camper, leading the truck towards the opposing grass.

[Super_Dave]

troubledwaters wrote:
Get some "GrassPave" and put them in as recommended by the manufacturer. Clicky

The area he damages isn't his property.

Is there a reason you can't come over your own driveway enough to get the truck straightened out in the road vs. the grass?

[ependydad]

jkwilson wrote:
Approach your drive with the driveway side wheels on the edge of the road or even in the grass if you can. When your truck gets past the drive, turn hard away from the driveway side and keep going until you are near the other side and then turn back. The goal is to end up with the camper started pointing toward the drive and the truck already in the middle of the turn so the trailer turns quickly as you back straight up.

Agreed. I first learned of this called "The Scoop" in a YouTube video and later in truck parking videos (they refer to it more as an "S").

I'd personally swoop into the driveway through the grass (assuming it's level with the roadway and safe to do so) to get started. I'd shoot for my truck ending up at the far corner of the driveway at the road.

I can feel the OP's pain. My in-law's driveway should be VERY easy but I fight that dang thing every. single. time. we park there.

[troubledwaters]

Get some "GrassPave" and put them in as recommended by the manufacturer. Clicky