Fifth wheel backing

[clev]

First, I've been towing for 45 years, but it's always been a travel trailer. And, I was good, no brag, just fact. I remember parallel parking my van and 37 foot trailer at a parking area in Deadwood, SD quite a few years back. I got my first five in November and tow it with an F350 long bed SuperDuty and I can't make it do anything; I've tried until I'm exasperated. I know which way to cut it, but it seems like it takes forever for the input to, well, input. I have a 60 ft long garage with 12 ft wide door that I back it into, and this last time, it took an hour, plus divorce threats from my wife. I've always been told how easy it is to back up a five, so what am I doing wrong?

[one_strange_tex]

I have seen a lot of perspectives on this thread. It is surprising to me that more drivers are not receptive to advice from their spouses and insist on seeing it all themselves and getting out and looking. We use walkie-talkies. My wife knows she is steering the wheels of the trailer and I have taught her to keep her commands simple as in "back end to the left," "back end to the right," "straight back," and "stop" if I am about to hit something. I am the one who has to anticipate the delayed reaction of the fifth wheel trailer and the need to correct to follow it into the target area. It took some training to clue her into the need to avoid the editorial comments such as "You seem to be having a lot of trouble" and "I don't like this spot, it is hard to back into."

[wrvond]

Reader1 wrote:
Over the years I have watched my husband back nearly everything perfectly... then we got a 5th wheel. Yikes! I have no idea but it seems like when he uses his mirrors he puts it right in. When he turns and looks another way, well neighbors get out their lawn chairs to watch the show. My job is only to make sure he is not going to hit anything and watch for children. Otherwise I keep my mouth shut until he asks if it is OK. Then I tell him (GOAL) - get out and look... but I always say it nicely, well not always nicely. Once in a while while watching him I will say, "What are you doing?". That is not a good idea.

Post of the year!

[sele]

My next door neighbor is also a retired semi driver and he says the shorter the trailer the harder it is to back in and the slower you go the better. I also agree with stopping and pulling forward a couple of times to make correction's is a good idea. The more practice you get the better you will be.

[frizzen]

You can't take the Fisherman out of this Camper wrote:
When I had my fivers and the DW to help me back up she would not give me the right direction until she saw which way I should be turning TOO LATE into the turn. I started ignoring her directions and turning before she would tell me on the walkie talkie. That worked for a while until she noticed I was always turning before she would give me direction... which created some more 'unfriendly' dialogue!! She did not understand that I needed to get my initial direction well before she realized what I needed to do. I finally got her to agree to be a SPOTTER ONLY and not to distract me with unnecessary directions so I could make my own mistakes. Believe it or not... that's when I learned how to do it and nail it... after some more practice of course!!

Sounds very familiar


One other idea that I finally tried. Last time we took it out I had DW walk along side the drivers side wheels and put a paint spot on the driveway every 3 feet or so about a foot outside the wheels. When I went to back in I just backed along this natural trajectory. Worked like a charm. If you don't want the paint on your driveway use some sidewalk chalk and put empty drink cans on the spots.

[Likes_to_tow]

Once you have the 5th wheel turning don't be ashamed to pull forward a short bit to start correcting the turn. This was what made it hard for me. I too had always pulled bumper hitch trailers and would take pride in backing in my driveway with out having to pull forward to correct. My next door neighbor was a retired truck driver and I always thought he was watching me so I tried to show off a bit.
When we brought our first 5th wheel home I made a total mess of the grass on each side of the concrete driveway!! I felt like a rookie. Once I realized how slow a 5th wheel reacts to steering wheel changes I begin to get better. This is why I say don't hesitate to pull forward a time or two for a couple of feet to make corrections. Making corrections while still backing is really difficult with a 5th wheel.

[Hammerboy]

Aridon, I love your illustration, it's amazing what you can illustrate with a few keystrokes. 🙂

[Aridon]

Yeah the wife is a great asset. Once I showed her the spot that the tires get to so she can let me know when to turn after a few stops she just gets it. Her primary job is keeping an eye on the side that I can't see after that.

Biggest trick is not to over steer the turn and prep your turn by positioning yourself properly.

The fifth takes longer to start that turn but essentially is the same trick as any tow able. Don't over steer. Once the unit starts it's turn it will keep turning until you apply pressure on the opposite angle to cancel the force. No reason to over steer, just get the truck centered after the turn starts and use small adjustments. That is the biggest error I see most people make when backing in.

Starting out in a good position is also paramount to an easy turn in a tight area. Getting the unit on a good angle so you aren't trying to turn 260 degrees is paramount to easy backing. The larger your angle over 180 degrees (straight back in) the harder your turn must be and the harder it is to get the timing on getting the truck straight.


Hard
...._____
I I
I I




Easy

....//
...//
I I
I I
I I

The closer you start that turn to 180 degrees the better so pull up to the site close on the passenger side, ride forward until the rig is coming across the driveway and your goal is then pull forward and out hard driver side so ultimately the passenger wheels come up on the edge of the patio side of pavement and just a tad beyond as you straighten out the truck and trailer so you are able to start backing. Obviously opposite if you're backing from the other direction.

So long as the rear of your unit can swing without smacking trees the only thing you need to worry about is the back tire location as that is the path the unit is going to take. Adjust that from there to account for foliage but the pivot point is going to be the back axle and the back wheel is where the turn will start once the units begins turning. The giant box hanging off the back is irrelevant except for obstructions. which you should have 15 ft+ of drive way width to use.

Start your turn backwards and once it starts turning good get the truck straight. Keeping the unit moving the direction you want. Once you get that point down it is like butter.

[Pipeman]

Watch your trailer tires not the back end of the trailer. Don't be afraid to pull ahead and readjust. My wife watches me back in and we use radios. She forgets to push the button to talk and I have to lip read :). When she does use the button she yells because she thinks I'm going to hit something. One time backing into the driveway she disappeared and all of a sudden I saw her cane show up in my mirror. I stopped and got out to look. Stopped just before hitting the house. It's just so much fun........

[Veebyes]

Much has to do with frequency of doing the operation. The commercial trucker is backing into places every day. Each time is very similar. Into a tight but squared off spot. As long as he works with the side he can see, he knows he is safe. He does not have overhead stuff to think about.

The 35' 5er was my first experience with any trailer besides the homemade trailer for the mower. The backing is all self taught. We actually prefer a back in to a pull through site. Can't say it is always easy & not always pretty but it is always done under the direction of the DW via the FSR radios or simple hand signals. The operation never looks like 'so you think you can dance'. There are no screaming voices that can be heard all over the CG. She gives direction on where she wants the trailer to go. I follow directions.

When things go wrong it is often much easier to go forward & start again than to try & fix it with a bunch of backwards & forwarding only moving a few feet.

The only way to get good at reversing is to do it frequently & do it into challenging sites.

[bucky]

The best thing to do with a loved one as a spotter is have them take the dogs for a walk while you back in. They need to go anyway after a long day on the road. My loved one can't back out of a straight driveway we had for 20 years, why would I want that person as a spotter. The stranger in the next site is a better choice if they offer, or get out and look if you need to.

[schlep1967]

You will eventually get it. The 5vr backs best in a slow arc. Mentally picture a length of hose laid out on the ground in a sweeping curve. That is the 5vr path. With a TT you can tighten up that arc and recover fairly easy because it happens quickly. With the 5vr you can make it turn tight but when you do you start moving the front of the trailer. So what happens is you get the rear wheels on the path that you want them, and start cutting back to continue straight, well it takes so long to get back "under" the trailer that your trailer wheels are now past the line you thought you were going to follow. A quick pull front will straighten things out.

The angle your towing vehicle is in in your signature is about perfect for turning your 5vr.

[clev]

Well, most agree, practice is all it takes, and patience.

[sele]

I always watch my rear bumper and wheels as i back up and just follow it. And remember it little goes along way. I also figure as long as i get backed in into my spot I can always pull forward and straighten it out even if this takes a couple of tries. I would rather back our f'ver than my boat, It is a 14 ft john boat that i can hardly see in the mirrors.

[thomas201]

Pity you were not there the first time I backed up a bumper pull.

I learned on a tractor and trailer. Never pulled a bumper pull for 15 years after that. Only had pulled 5th wheels.

Turns too quick, can't see it right in the mirrors, doesn't track right. Very funny.

Practice is of course the key. Find a big empty parking lot, and get a few cones.

Then wait till you cut the wrong way without the trailer.

[korbe]

The key for me, witch takes repetition, is when to start the truck to "follow" the fiver. That takes experience.