Turning a FW around in a Culdesac

[way2roll]

We keep our FW in a storage area about 5 mi from our house. It's not terrible, but loading for trips, water etc, gets to be a bit of a pain. It would certainly be easier to bring to the house to load. We live in a gated community, and getting through the gate, while tight, is manageable. But we live at the end of a cul-de-sac. In order to back into my driveway I will have to circumnavigate the cul-de-sac. I used to do it with our 30' MH but that's completely different. Our FW is 30'. My truck is long with the 8' bed and I can make the trip around it, so my thinking is I should be able to do with the FW in tow. I've had it near 90 degrees before so that isn't really an issue. But I certainly don't want to jackknife it. Any thoughts on this? The alternative is to make a right hand turn on the main street across from ours and back the whole way down the road - about 1/8 mi. Less risk with this approach and do-able, but my backing up skills are still intermediate at best. Thinking that would be a long process.

[way2roll]

rhagfo wrote:
Well we always kept most needed stuff loaded in the 5er year round, just had to load perishable food mostly.
What is your position on the cul-de-sac? Just before going full time we lived in an end unit townhouse. I needed to install a correct Track system and wet bolts, the townhouse driveway was at the 3 o'clock position on the cul-de-sac. I was able to swing around and nose into the driveway at the 9 o'clock position, then back down the other three units, with the front of the 5er just past the next door neighbors garage door.

We are at the 11:00 position, so not much of a turn while backing in. Not straight, but not too exaggerated either. I've backed in far worse places. The rub is the long section of street I'll have to back into but it is what it is.

[rhagfo]

Well we always kept most needed stuff loaded in the 5er year round, just had to load perishable food mostly.
What is your position on the cul-de-sac? Just before going full time we lived in an end unit townhouse. I needed to install a correct Track system and wet bolts, the townhouse driveway was at the 3 o'clock position on the cul-de-sac. I was able to swing around and nose into the driveway at the 9 o'clock position, then back down the other three units, with the front of the 5er just past the next door neighbors garage door.

[way2roll]

We leave for a trip Sunday so going to try it today. My luck my neighbor's truck is parked in the culdesac - he never parks there. My plan is to back down the street. I think that's easier anyway and will help to hone my skills.

[WE-C-USA]

To the OP, if you don't think you can make the turn around. Then back into the cul-de-sac off the main road. Most need to learn how to back away.

[Ivylog]

If your tires and axles can’t take it… better to find out at a slow speed. The back of the trailer is not going to hit anything as it will be inside of where the truck goes.

[Cummins12V98]

Just get er dun and let us know how it turned out.

[Cummins12V98]

way2roll wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Big Firetruck can do it you can also.

Our trash truck can't so not sure about a fire truck.

Sounds like it was not designed like most if it’s a newer neighborhood.

[Beverley_Ken]

It’s not tail swing, it’s the front bumper of your truck over the curb, mailboxes. The cul-d-sac has diameter of 52’ or radius of 26’. Your trucks turning diameter of 28’ (usually measured at the outside tire) is already more than the available space. Try driving your truck, without the trailer, in a circle around cul-d-sac. If you can do it without backing up, you should be able to do it with the 5th in tow. If you have to back up and maneuver just to get the truck around, think of doing that with the 5th or just backing down the street.

Ken

[n0arp]

way2roll wrote:

jshupe wrote:

way2roll wrote:
FYI - measured the culdesac, it's 52' dia. The specs for the turning radius for my truck says 28'.

Do you think you could swing the overhang above the curb? I think it would be doable with that.

Actually I hadn't thought much about tail swing. My plan was to skirt as far out as I could, but there are mailboxes. Does that mean I will need to track a few feet inside the circumference? This is starting to sounds more complicated than backing down the street.

If there are mailboxes that would obstruct tailswing over the curb, maybe it really isn't possible.

[way2roll]

jshupe wrote:

way2roll wrote:
FYI - measured the culdesac, it's 52' dia. The specs for the turning radius for my truck says 28'.

Do you think you could swing the overhang above the curb? I think it would be doable with that.

Actually I hadn't thought much about tail swing. My plan was to skirt as far out as I could, but there are mailboxes. My thinking was the FW will track inside the truck's path and not have to worry about tail swing. Meaning, the truck will follow the outside path as far out as I can to minimize the stress on the FW and it will track on the inside, eliminating any risk of tail swing into a mail box. There is no center circle/curb in the culdesac - it's just a wide open circle. Does that mean I will need to track a few feet inside the circumference? This is starting to sounds more complicated than backing down the street.

[n0arp]

way2roll wrote:
FYI - measured the culdesac, it's 52' dia. The specs for the turning radius for my truck says 28'.

Do you think you could swing the overhang above the curb? I think it would be doable with that.

[way2roll]

FYI - measured the culdesac, it's 52' dia. The specs for the turning radius for my truck says 28'.

[way2roll]

jshupe wrote:

way2roll wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Big Firetruck can do it you can also.

Our trash truck can't so not sure about a fire truck.

The truck can't, or the driver can't? I've never seen such a tight culdesac that would keep any trash truck I've seen from turning around in a single shot.

In fact, I don't think I've ever seen one that, barring cars parked on the street, would be too tight to turn a 40' fifth wheel around in with a long bed and 90 degree trailer to cab turn.

Probably the driver. Guessing the cans impede him and he has to position the truck to pick up each one. I am sure if he were just driving it he'd be fine. I am guessing there are codes that require emergency vehicles be able to navigate them.

[n0arp]

way2roll wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Big Firetruck can do it you can also.

Our trash truck can't so not sure about a fire truck.

The truck can't, or the driver can't? I've never seen such a tight culdesac that would keep any trash truck I've seen from turning around in a single shot.

In fact, I don't think I've ever seen one that, barring cars parked on the street, would be too tight to turn a 40' fifth wheel around in with a long bed and 90 degree trailer to cab turn.

[way2roll]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Big Firetruck can do it you can also.

Our trash truck can't so not sure about a fire truck.