Steep Driveway

[chuckm99]

Hi All,

We are planning to buy a fifth wheel soon (our first). But, I am afraid that our driveway may be too steep to park it at home. We live on top of a hill, which is nice. The driveway has a 28 inch in 10 feet rise to start, then eases to a 22 inch in 10 feet rise, before leveling out at the top. There is plenty of level space at the top to park.

How can I figure if it will tail drag when backing up the driveway, before I try to back it up the driveway??? I would rather work out a place to store it than break something with a tail drag.

Thanks.

[Bob_Olallawa]

Well since you are buying the trailer anyway. Just give it a try once you get it. It really depends on the distance from the axles to the rear of the trailer and how long the distance is before it breaks to the lower rise, and if there is a pad area next to the road to keep the water from running out on the travelway before heading uphill. Be aware that if you put rollers on the skids you just might be lifting the axles of the trailer off the ground which is not a good thing.

[korbe]

If you have access to the 5er, measure that same 23% from your rear wheel to the underside of the rig. In 5 ft, rise 14 inches, etc. If the access road adjacent to the start of the driveway is either level or sloped away from your driveway, the critical angle will be less.

[tnclays]

We too have a challenging driveway rise. If the dealer you are working with is local, get him to bring the unit you like and let him be the first to back it in. We did this and tried 2 units before we found one that would clear without bottoming out. We told him if he could get it up the driveway he had a sale---that was motivation for him to bring the fivers by our house. Obviously we compromised floor plans, features, etc. But in the end wound up with a unit that has worked for us.

It was a "must" for us to be able to park in the driveway to pack, do maintenance, winterize, etc. We store it in a covered location, but would not like to be in a situation where we can't park at the house. Good luck!!

[goukcats]

I have a similar drive way & barely clear the rear bumper, pulling into it. I am not sure if it would make a difference backing. I did learn with a previous RV & TV that the trans doesn't do as well in reverse going up hills & it does in drive. That TV would not back that RV up my drive.

[Artum_Snowbird]

You could use a piece of string that is equal in length from the pin box to the bottom of the tail dragger. Hold it at each point, and measure down to the bottom of the rear wheel from the point on the string that is shortest and tie on a light plumb bob right there with the tip just touching the ground.

If you know the exact height of your unladen hitch in the truck, get a stick that long and have one person hold that and another person hold the other end of the string on the ground. Move those two positions to simulate the backing up of the truck up the driveway.

If that plumb bob comes off the ground that would mean you are high centered between the tail dragger and the pin box and the wheels are off the ground.

Obviously, with a laden hitch, you will get just a bit more leeway, but this method should tell you whether it is possible or not.

If this seems unclear, send me a PM with your email address, and I will send you some pictures that may help explain it.

[2oldman]

chuckm99 wrote:
How can I figure if it will tail drag when backing up the driveway,

Make a scale model with paper.

[blangen]

Simple math, isn't it? How far from the back axle to the low point on the back end? How high is the low point on level ground? The good news is there are rollers and mounts like these thesethat should solve your problem. There are lots of rollers like this on the market... these are just an example. Welcome to the Forum!

[jasult]

If he comes in on some sort of angle it will be less then if backing dead straight in.

[TomHaycraft]

Never encountered the need to do this, but reading your description, I'd start with this. Drawing the picture I have in my mind would make it easier, let me try describing ...

(1) Measure the vertical rise at the rear wheel of proposed trailer, until you intersect the horizontal plane where the bumper or lowest portion of your trailer would potentially hit the driveway.

(2) Measure the horizontal distance between your vertical line at the wheel and point of contact.

(3) You now have a right angle. At the start of the driveway, measure the vertical distance, and horizontal distance to see if you hit the pavement before you get your full distance measured.

Follow my thinking? Let's see if others have done this, how close I am to something that works.

[jasult]

I would lay some 2x10 planks at the lowest point at curb along curb to help the first try.