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?

[Winnipeg]

Happy that it is not just me. I have always been able to back a trailer up pretty much where I wanted it, sometimes with 1 adjustment. With a 5ver, I couldn't get it. Sometimes I would just want to move it over 2 feet and end up in the exact same spot.

Its funny how some blame it on their DW. Please. Own the problem!

[dave17352]

IdaD wrote:
In some ways a fifth wheel actually seems easier to me, but it does respond differently and you need more room for the truck to swing since the trailer reacts more slowly.

As to what you're doing wrong, don't have your wife help you back up. That's just asking for trouble.

More room for the truck is the only thing that I notice the most about a 5er.

[Durb]

I got some good advice; on this forum as a matter of fact. If the rear of the trailer starts pointing in the wrong direction then it is too late to make corrections. Pull forward and try again. Try to pick a site where you have some pull forward room to help straighten things out.

[rhagfo]

It is amazing that many that understand that a 5er responds slower just don't get why they can't backup. Once it starts turning the direction you want it to go, one needs to start to straighten out, otherwise you will never catch up to it.

[Rangerman40]

It is easy, you just gotta get it moving in the right direction first at the right speed.... it is just a different process than a TT.

[JIMNLIN]

op wrote:
I've always been told how easy it is to back up a five, so what am I doing wrong?

.
Your doing nothing wrong.
A bumper pull hitch point is several feet behind the trucks rear axle and reacts to steering input much quicker than a GN or 5th wheel trailer that the hitch point sits over the trucks rear axle.
It takes a lot more steering input when backing a GN or 5th wheel trailer to get the trailers back end to move than the same truck and a bumper pull unit.

[wilber1]

A 5th wheel just doesn't react as quickly as a trailer because of the hitch location. Sometimes there just isn't room to maneuver the truck even though the spot is plenty big enough for your rig. Like Showme 5vr, I have disconnected in order to straighten the truck and finish the job. The spot I am currently in as a matter of fact, because there is a honkin great palm tree in the way and the road is too narrow to pull the truck far enough forward to straighten it up.

On the other hand, after spending time with my 5th wheel, I have a heck of a time backing up my 12' utility trailer until I get used to it again.

[Reader1]

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.

[You_can_t_take_]

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!!

[clev]

Shame, that was great advice. This last time, the five was aligned perfectly in the door of the garage, but the truck was almost jackknifed. I should have unhooked, repositioned, recooked, and backed up. I'll keep that in mind.

[Showme_5vr]

The more you can keep the end (tailgate area) of the truck under the nose of the 5th wheel the more you will "turn" as you back up. Once the "end" of the truck comes out from under the nose the more you are moving the front end over and the less you are "backing" up. There have been a few times where I have gotten the 5th wheel lined up where I wanted to back it into but the truck was still at an angle, so I just dropped the landing gear pulled my truck out , straightened out the truck and hooked the trailer back up then backed it in.
Good luck

[patriotgrunt]

Also try buying your wife flowers. That'll prevent the divorce while you practice. Works for me.

[clev]

Again, thanks. I didn't think about You Tube; I check it out.

[Beaker]

...but it seems like it takes forever for the input to, well, input.

Yes, and you probably cut it more and when it does start turning it is way too much, too fast. When this starts to happen stop and pull ahead a bit in the opposite direction you where turning.

Of course the best way is practice, practice, etc but this should help in the meantime.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Check out the various backing videos on YouTube.

Sometimes it helps to "view" the methods and techniques,
rather than "read" about them.

Also, "Google" the subject. There's a lengthy description (with diagrams and info) intended for tractor/trailer operators.

On RV Net (5th Wheel Forum) - search the archives for *Backing*.
Been lots of methods described, including variations of the "Z".

And yeah - TT's always seemed easier to me.

You'll always hear...practice, practice, practice - - but do some research 1st.

Good luck!

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