I'm not sure if I am posting to the right forum. I have a big toy hauler (40' fifth wheel) and figured that most toy hauler folks have big trailers too.Anyway, the other day I was jammed into a tricky parking area near Madras, Oregon. I had unhitched the trailer to take the kids in the truck out and about. Later, when we returned I found that I had gotten into a tricky parking situation where I could not pull forward or backward. So, I hitched the truck at a approx 45 degree angle from the trailer to pull it out of the spot. Worked great. It go me thinking that I could use a method of backup, unhitch, move the truck, re-hitch, backup, unhitch, move the truck, re-hitch, etc. to maneuver the trailer into some very tricky spots. Is this something that any of you do? Any problems with maneuvering the trailer like this other than the hassle of un-hitch/re-hitch?

I don't get myself into situations where I gotta turn the trailer sharp. Not with a triple axle trailer. Too hard on everything.

lincster wrote:I don't get myself into situations where I gotta turn the trailer sharp. Not with a triple axle trailer. Too hard on everything.I agree- very hard on the tires, leaf springs and frame. I really make every effort to keep the stress very light on the trailer. Now what's inside- well that is a totally different animal! Drive it like you stole it!

I have had to do the same, it happened the first time I had to park it in the storage yard, this is my first fifth wheel and I didn't have a lot of experience in backing up, I got the trailer lined up good but my truck was way out of position like close to 90 degrees, knowing if I try to pull the trailer forward I will lose the position I have, so I dropped the landing legs and pulled the hitch disconnect handle and drove out from under it, then lined the truck back up with the trailer and finished backing it into the spot, BTW I have gotten better with more practice, but I am by far not an over the road trucker that backs into a loading dock every day

Be aware of the tail swing when doing tight maneuvers. Guy hit my trailer making a turn.

Your gonna jack it up, dont do that.

Tricky parking techniques for big trailers | Good Sam Community

christopherglen
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
instead of unhooking and rehooking the trailer, cut the wheel, back up a foot or two, cut it the other way, and pull forward the same, cut it back and back up again, etc. You can jackknife the trailer faster then lowering the gear and unhooking. FWIW I only do that on soft stuff - no pavement. Way to hard on the trailers suspension and tires.
joebedford
Nomad II
Jun 19, 2014
I've never unhooked, repositioned and rehooked to get into a spot but I've hooked the truck at 45 degrees to get out of a tight spot.

Can't say I've ever had the trailer at 90 degrees but I'll bet I've hit 80 degrees.

Voltage 3950. Yes, it's a TRI-AXLE.
Dirtclods
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
We'll you don't need a big rig to get into those situations either. I reserved a spot down south looked great on the map. But this park was built in the 1800 I say that because my spot was on a circle and I had to park in 6 o'clock. Just in a car it would be a tight fit. So I circled clockwise then counter clockwise backing it in and used some of the planter in the middle to grove me backing in.
Macman83
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
I agree with whitehouse. I call ahead and ask if they have accommodations for big rigs. I have only stayed in one place where they said "sure we have plenty of room" and then they put me in a heavily treed back in site. They certainly heard about it, but the campground was full, so we stuck it in there. If I can't get it in the spot on without making all kinds of adjustments, I'll ask for another. If they don't have one, I will go somewhere else. I don't want to have that headache again, and I certainly don't want to damage my rig or anyone else's.
lincster
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
fly-boy wrote:
lincster wrote:
I don't get myself into situations where I gotta turn the trailer sharp. Not with a triple axle trailer.
Too hard on everything.

Now what's inside- well that is a totally different animal!

Drive it like you stole it!

You know it!!!!!!!!
WhitehouseLV
Explorer III
Jun 17, 2014
fly-boy wrote:
lincster wrote:
I don't get myself into situations where I gotta turn the trailer sharp. Not with a triple axle trailer.
Too hard on everything.

I agree- very hard on the tires, leaf springs and frame. I really make every effort to keep the stress very light on the trailer. Now what's inside- well that is a totally different animal!

Drive it like you stole it!

I've done some of those tight turns...and won't do them anymore unless it's unavoidable. Last time I almost learned my lesson watching the tire roll of the rim.

If a spot requires me unhitching & hitching just to get into a location I'm staying somewhere else.
Strabo
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
Your gonna jack it up, dont do that.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Jun 17, 2014
Be aware of the tail swing when doing tight maneuvers. Guy hit my trailer making a turn.
wirenutz
Explorer
Jun 16, 2014
I have had to do the same, it happened the first time I had to park it in the storage yard, this is my first fifth wheel and I didn't have a lot of experience in backing up, I got the trailer lined up good but my truck was way out of position like close to 90 degrees, knowing if I try to pull the trailer forward I will lose the position I have, so I dropped the landing legs and pulled the hitch disconnect handle and drove out from under it, then lined the truck back up with the trailer and finished backing it into the spot, BTW I have gotten better with more practice, but I am by far not an over the road trucker that backs into a loading dock every day
fly-boy
Explorer
Jun 16, 2014
lincster wrote:
I don't get myself into situations where I gotta turn the trailer sharp. Not with a triple axle trailer.
Too hard on everything.

I agree- very hard on the tires, leaf springs and frame. I really make every effort to keep the stress very light on the trailer. Now what's inside- well that is a totally different animal!

Drive it like you stole it!