A simple idea

[ADK_Camper]

We often camp on wooded sites with lengthy litter covered access drives. Backing up in this situation is difficult because I can't clearly see the edge of the drive. My wife tries to direct me, but sometimes her wild incomprehensible gesticulations just add to the confusion. I got some small (about 12") orange traffic cones at the dollar store to mark the edge of the drive. Now I can confidently back up knowing exactly where the edge of the drive is located.

[SAR_Tracker]

valhalla360 wrote:

And one more signal: If you are getting close, she holds her hands apart equal to the distance you need to move...then as you move back, she follows with her hands. Makes it easier to predict when you come to a full stop.

THIS!

[valhalla360]

Pangaea Ron wrote:
I usually mark the end of my backing with an orange cone and place it on the left edge of the road

My wife is great at helping me back up. I tell her that I only want 4 signals from her to tell me which way we want the rear of the MH to go. She positions herself at the left rear corner and walks backwards. I don't move unless I can see her.

The signals are:

Pointing to the left
Pointing to the right.
Fingers on her hand up, palm in, waving towards her.
Hand raised fully, palm out, to tell me to stop

She forgets that I have a microphone at the rear of the MH, and I can hear what she says under her breath.

Exactly, if you don't have standard signals...random gestures won't mean much. Standardize the signals and it's simple. Biggest issue is she is in charge and your only right is to hit the brakes if something doesn't feel right.

Also, make a rule that if you can't see her, the brakes go on. It will annoy her the first couple times until she starts moving over so she can see your mirrors.

And yes, worst case scenario, put it in park, get out and look.

PS: Tell her when signaling to exaggerate her movements. If you can't see it, you can't react.

And one more signal: If you are getting close, she holds her hands apart equal to the distance you need to move...then as you move back, she follows with her hands. Makes it easier to predict when you come to a full stop.

[badercubed]

When I had my longer trailer, I had four (4) 16" square pieces of 3/4" plywood.

I painted them orange and in tight spaces if I needed the assistance I would lay them on the ground in the path I want my trailer to backup and just ran them over. Once I was in, they were what I put under my stabilizer jacks.

[Pangaea_Ron]

Her words are not usually hyphenated!

But, usually something like. . . no, no, no, the other way.

[CavemanCharlie]

Pangaea Ron wrote:
I usually mark the end of my backing with an orange cone and place it on the left edge of the road

My wife is great at helping me back up. I tell her that I only want 4 signals from her to tell me which way we want the rear of the MH to go. She positions herself at the left rear corner and walks backwards. I don't move unless I can see her.

The signals are:

Pointing to the left
Pointing to the right.
Fingers on her hand up, palm in, waving towards her.
Hand raised fully, palm out, to tell me to stop

She forgets that I have a microphone at the rear of the MH, and I can hear what she says under her breath.

So what does she say ? :B

[CavemanCharlie]

Pangaea Ron wrote:
I usually mark the end of my backing with an orange cone and place it on the left edge of the road

My wife is great at helping me back up. I tell her that I only want 4 signals from her to tell me which way we want the rear of the MH to go. She positions herself at the left rear corner and walks backwards. I don't move unless I can see her.

The signals are:

Pointing to the left
Pointing to the right.
Fingers on her hand up, palm in, waving towards her.
Hand raised fully, palm out, to tell me to stop

She forgets that I have a microphone at the rear of the MH, and I canhttps://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/mn/storden?cm_ven=localwx_10day hear what she says under her breath.

So what does she say ?

[Pangaea_Ron]

profdant139

Nicely done! I tried to sing it to her, but poorly. The dogs next door are howling.

[BarabooBob]

My wife could train the crew on an aircraft carrier on how to tell someone how to park. When we arrive at a campsite, we park on the road and decide where we want the TT to be when finished. She is great at signaling me where she wants me to go. She learned what signals I want quickly and always stays in my line of sight.

[profdant139]

And of course, let's not forget the key "GOAL" maneuver -- get out and look! (Which, I admit, can get tiresome after a number of repetitions . . . . )

[bpounds]

I don't use cones (don't want an extra widget to carry), but marking the path to follow is something I do frequently. Often just using a rock or stick of wood. And usually I just put it next to exactly where I want my trailer wheels to end up. Kind of an "aim small-miss small" kind of thing, but having a target helps me a lot.

[profdant139]

One other thought -- we also have a signal for "pull forward," mostly used when we are trying to straighten out the trailer a little.

[profdant139]

ADK, don't give up on your spotter. She and you can train each other to work together. It takes a lot of practice. Ron's suggestion about standard gestures is a good one. It is also important that she stand where she can see your mirrors (so that you can see her!).

When it is pitch-dark (like when we are preparing to boondock on a moonless night), we use walkie talkies. Headlamps are helpful, but I can't see her hands well enough.

After several years of trailering, she eventually got so good at guiding me that I wrote this tribute song, to the familiar tune of "Pinball Wizard:"

Ever since I was a camper
I've worked with my hitch ball
From Glacier to the Tetons
I've tried to hitch them all

But I ain't seen nothing like her
In any campground at all
That’s my own DW
Sure plays a mean Hitch Ball

She stands like a statue
Becomes part of the machine
She can see my bumper
Always hitches clean
She plays by intuition
That coupler neatly falls
That’s my own DW
Sure plays a mean hitch ball

She's a Hitch Ball Wizard
There's got to be a twist
A Hitch Ball wizard
She's got such a supple wrist

How do you think she does it?
(I don't know)
What makes her so good?

She never gets distracted
Can't hear the neighbors yell
Doesn't see the taillights flashing
Brings me in so well
Always gets it hooked up
Never missed the ball
That’s my own DW
Sure plays a mean hitch ball

I thought I was
The Hitch Ball Star
But I just handed
My Hitch Ball crown to her

Even on my little trailer
She can beat my best
She simply leads me in
And she just does the rest
She's got crazy waving fingers
Never seen her fall
That’s my own DW
Sure plays a mean hitch ball . . . .

[Pangaea_Ron]

I usually mark the end of my backing with an orange cone and place it on the left edge of the road

My wife is great at helping me back up. I tell her that I only want 4 signals from her to tell me which way we want the rear of the MH to go. She positions herself at the left rear corner and walks backwards. I don't move unless I can see her.

The signals are:

Pointing to the left
Pointing to the right.
Fingers on her hand up, palm in, waving towards her.
Hand raised fully, palm out, to tell me to stop

She forgets that I have a microphone at the rear of the MH, and I can hear what she says under her breath.

[BB_TX]

By litter I assume you mean things like leaves, pine needles, etc rather than trash.

Orange cones are a good idea.