Driveway Incline Issue

JBarca wrote:

allenECUUNC wrote:
Ok, I agree with all and getting ready for the 2nd-weekend camping trip in the morning. I want to address all those statements.

Step 1. Take roller ball off
Step 2. Pulling out was easier to take a left at an angle since the tree is in the right side of the driveway exit.
Step 3. Let the hitch scape (I thought this was doing damage to the system but can now understand just the bottom metal piece.)
Step 4. When returning try again to scrap and push up along with boards. It seems to be only a few inches of clearer but it happens twice. Moving the 2X4 worked. I've also seen driveway ramps on amazon but unsure of exactly which ones I need.

Last time we got the best angle swooping in while at same time not going over curb. I would think you don't want the trailer doing that and tilting. If it was flat trailer sure.

Hi,

Now that I can see your pic, this one,



I have a few comments/thoughts.

First, from my background on GM truck receivers, I recommend you to "not" take the bars off your hitch with that style of GM truck receiver you have. You are overloading the receiver by the name tag, and worse, you are backing up hill putting excess downward force into the truck receiver. Both are not doing any good for that style receiver.

Member ktmrfs recommend getting a WD hitch with the WD bars on top, this is a possible solution. EAZ lift makes that they call it the Re-Curve, see here: https://www.eaz-lift.com/products/recurve-r3-weight-distribution-hitch-1000lb-kit

There is research to do to make sure you get the correct one, and get it installed and setup right. The link I gave you was to the series hitch that has the WD bars on top, not the exact hitch to get. Mounting and setting up your own WD hitch is very doable, and knowing how to setup a WD hitch on your camper is a very good idea in the long run. Every camper tower should understand it.

Your old (new hitch) can be sold on Craig's list, Facebook Market place etc.

A thought that may help, if when you pull out, if going out is easier, use tape on the driveway to mark the tire path of the trailer. Then when backing in, you have a target to to hit and try to repeat the same path. Adjust tape to find the sweet spot. Then use spray paint and put dots of paint on the driveway to last until you can find a long term solution.

Using the boards with the WD hitch on, combined with the tape and paint markings my be a workaround until you have a better fix.

Again, I would not be using dead weight hitch setup with your camper tongue weight on that GM truck receiver backing up hill. Sooner or later you will have other problems with truck hitch.

Hope this helps

John

@Jbarca, what you said couldn’t be further from the truth regarding damage to the hitch or receiver back into the driveway. The only part of that equation getting stressed is the (presumably) old factory air shocks. They’re pretty reliable but…OLD.