Towing my enclosed motorcycle trailer behind my Class A

[obiwancanoli]

I have a 35' Class A DP, and a Harley I can pull behind me in an enclosed trailer. Problem is, it's not like backing up an SUV or a truck with a back up camera, and I'm wondering how others manage the task of backing up to a trailer, with a hitch, when the rear camera on the RV isn't much help in guiding me.

I can only guess that it's a lot of back and forth until you hit the sweet spot, but is there a better way? The trailer - even empty - is too heavy to manually move into place...

Wondering what and how others have accomplished this challenge...?

[Desert_Captain]

"If you can't see the trailer, you can't back up, period. "


I have to disagree...

If you know where the trailer is relative to your tow vehicle and where you want the trailer to go it can be done. But no, it is not much fun and yes, you really want a spotter you can communicate with and trust.

I learned years ago while running boats that if something bad is going to happen it is less bad the slower you are going... "Slow" is your friend. Take your time and practice and it will get easier.

As always... Opinions and YMMV.

:C

[mkirsch]

I have a friend who frequently tows a 6x12 enclosed with a diesel pusher. He NEVER backs up with the trailer attached if precision is required. Usually he borrows a vehicle from someone else at the campsite to position the trailer, or uses his wife's VW Toureg. One time he used a golf cart. At home he unhooks in front of the house, and parks the trailer with his pickup truck.

If you can't see the trailer, you can't back up, period.

[DougE]

Probably the quickest solution is to get an iBall rear camera or something similiar. The camera has a magnetic base and you can stick it on the rear of your MH so it gets the best view of the hitch. The monitor just plugs into a cigarette plug.

[Grit_dog]

Ha yeah they don't get much shorter or twitchy er to back up.
One thought is make a 8' wide tattle tale you can stick across the back of the trailer so you can see both sides in the mirror. Otherwise, turn gently, it comes around quick.
Or maybe put a backup cam on the top of the RV angled down where you can see the whole trailer like an Ariel view?

[Sam_Spade]

Roadpilot wrote:


Is your issue because the trailer is short and it wants to turn quickly?

I think you TOTALLY missed the point.

But after becoming attached, one needs to be VERY careful to NOT get into a situation where backing is needed. VERY CAREFUL.

Sometimes it is possible to get into an IMpossible situation.

[Sam_Spade]

obiwancanoli wrote:
when the rear camera on the RV isn't much help in guiding me.

You need to re-position your camera so that it IS HELPFUL in aligning the hitch and ball.

Painting parts of the hitch and ball WHITE can be helpful.

With a little practice, I was able to mate mine on the first try every time. That is, get it close enough that the hitch would slide down over the ball when lowered, sometimes with a slight sideways movement in the process.

Given the size, you will need a LARGE space to get close to straight to make the job easier.

[discovery4us]

I can see my hitch ball with the factory back up camera and have a center line on the monitor so I can usually hit it the first time. I also use an 8 inch extension to gain better clearance so that pushes the ball even better in to sight.

There are wireless back up cameras to be used for hitching up. I watched a guy place two cones on either side of the trailers a frame and then he backed up till the back corners of the MH just touched the cones. A spotter if one is available.

Friends can't see the hitch but found the tennis ball on the end of a magnetic pole gimmick tool stuck up high enough to see in the camera. He then placed tape on the front of the trailer and when the tennis ball and tape line up in the camera he usually within an inch of perfect.

[obiwancanoli]

Roadpilot wrote:
I have a 45' MH and a stacker trailer that measures 30' from the ball to the back. The shorter the trailer compared to the length of the MH the more difficult it gets to back up. I wouldn't want to back up a very short trailer with my MH.

I try to back up into an area using the side of the trailer I can see in the mirrors to guide me. I like to have a spotter make sure my blind side is not in any kind of danger.

I havde a camera on the back of the MH but I also have a camera on the back of the stacker. I don't use it so much during the back up process because I'm focused on the mirrors. But I do use it to make sure I've backed up as far as I want to go and no further.

Is your issue because the trailer is short and it wants to turn quickly?

Yes... it's 5' X 8', room for one bike inside.

[Desert_Captain]

I just added a 6 X 10 {14' overall} cargo trailer to haul my Indian Springfield {862#} with my 24' Class C. The first thing I did was to adjust the aim of my rear view camera down about 10 - 15 degrees so that it clearly shows the ball as I back down to the hitch. This enables me to back into position with the ball directly below the trailer hitch the first time every time.

As far as backing the trailer it is a challenge particularly because I went with a single axle model. Backing a tandem axle trailer is much easier as they are less sensitive to steering input. When backing straight back I cannot see the trailer and the view of the hitch is really not much help but... as the trailer begins to wander left or right it quickly appears in my mirrors and I can adjust pretty well to that visual input.

For now having my bride as a spotter gets the job done, that and really taking my time. I do plan on adding a second camera up on the roof of my coach that will show the trailer and give me the option of viewing it while underway {something my current camera does not do as it is only "on" when the coach is in reverse}.

Like the old joke about how do you get to Carnegie Hall... Practice, prctice, practice! I find setting some orange cones to mark my intended lane helps to give me the visual landmarks that make backing somewhat easier.

I find that it is all good when we pull in to a gorgeous location, roll the bike out and take off for a ride on another awesome road. Headed up to Flagstaff, Pinegrove CG, on Sunday for 5 days of incredible rides.

Good luck!

:C

[Roadpilot]

I have a 45' MH and a stacker trailer that measures 30' from the ball to the back. The shorter the trailer compared to the length of the MH the more difficult it gets to back up. I wouldn't want to back up a very short trailer with my MH.

I try to back up into an area using the side of the trailer I can see in the mirrors to guide me. I like to have a spotter make sure my blind side is not in any kind of danger.

I havde a camera on the back of the MH but I also have a camera on the back of the stacker. I don't use it so much during the back up process because I'm focused on the mirrors. But I do use it to make sure I've backed up as far as I want to go and no further.

Is your issue because the trailer is short and it wants to turn quickly?