Help!!!! Travel Trailer Back in

[organcory97]

I feel so dumb and miss out on a lot of campgrounds, as my anxiety hits an all new level when trying to back in to a site. Part of that anxiety occurs when people are watching me fail, lol. What gives?

[rexlion]

I noticed a guy backing into a tight campsite in a state park one time, and he took a good 45 minutes getting the trailer in there. I admired his patience and persistence. I doubt anyone nearby was judging him, laughing about it, or anything negative. We're all there to enjoy ourselves and backing in is part of the process.

Personally, I was lucky to have a positive experience early in life. I was about 15 years old and we lived on a dirt road out in farm country. Dad needed to get a disk loaded onto a flatbed wagon, so he parked the wagon in a deep enough ditch 1/8 mile down the road, such that the bed was nearly level with the road. Then he walked home and informed me that I was to tow the disk with the other tractor to that location and back the disk up so it would be sideways on the wagon bed. I was unnerved, obviously. But I just kept jockeying it around and in about 10 minutes I had it on the wagon. No one was around to watch, and maybe that helped. Boy, did I feel a great sense of achievement! I never again feared backing up trailers.

Like someone else suggested, go find an empty parking lot at an 'off' time and practice trying to back your trailer into a parking spot. You can't hurt anything, and you'll gain both skill and confidence.

[FLY_4_FUN]

Natural to feel pressured those first few seasons of backing a rig. For sure get somewhere open and practice with your spotter. I insist on radios or phone contact so theres no yelling/gesturing etc. Back in the day if we got really out of shape I did a "lap" of the campground and then started over. This gave me cool down time and cleared all the folks behind me out. Its all part of the lifestyle.

[ken56]

That anxiety is the enemy so try to let it go. Those people watching don't matter. Don't be too concerned about blocking traffic either. Backing in from the drivers side, meaning turning to the left is easier. Position your mirror so you can see the wheels of the trailer and pick a point to start your turn and when the wheels are at that point start your turn. One hand at 6 o'clock and turn the wheel the direction you want to turn. Take your time and go slow. I stop and get out when I feel the need to go look. Don't feel pressured. Don't be rushed. You will wreck your trailer if you try to be fast about it when you don't have the confidence to do it yet....but that confidence will come with practice. You can do it.

[Edd505]

Practice practice practice, and here's my tip. I saw the other about 6 o'clock but this might woke better. Hold the top of the wheel with both hands, which way do you want the back of the RV to go? Your thumb will point the way you need to turn the wheel. Depending on your RV some turn quick so when you see it move it's already too late, you need to learn yours and may have to anticipate when. The shorted it is the quicker it's going to turn.

[Mickeyfan0805]

As stated above - practice and attitude. Take the time to do it under no pressure in an open setting to build up your comfort a bit. Then, as Sjm suggested, own it when you get to the campground. Allow yourself to be inexperienced. If others are looking on, laugh a bit and joke with them that you are just learning, and take your time.

Every driver towing a trailer has been a beginner at some point - don't let it become a barrier, just give yourself the time to work through it.

[Sjm9911]

We have all been there including the lookers. Lol. Just wave and say hi , and tell them this may take a bit. But dont get flustered, take your time and do it right. Dont listen to helpers that you haven't asked for help. Just say thanks but i need to learn. ( they can really mess you up, turn left right , not i ment the other right!). And what they said above. And remember everyone will still screw up, even experienced drivers. Hell i backed in once perfect in a spot where i was supose to remove the fencing to back in, didn't know that at the time. It was a one shot and fast. Guy next to me was amazed i even fit it in the spot. Then he told me about the fence. And the next time out had a footbal feild to back up onto and couldn't get the TT stright on the site. Took me like 15 times to get it close and i gave up. Lucky it was a big site!

[CA_Traveler]

Go to a empty parking lot and practice. Take some small markers (tin cans, boards, etc) and a ruler to set up some practice sites. If someone travels with you develop a set of hand signals. Radios are helpful but don't rely on them entirely.

If someone is helping keep them visible and if not foot on the brake. They are responsible for the rear of the trailer including ground and roof level. You are responsible for the front of the trailer and the TV.

[organcory97]

BarabooBob wrote:
Backing a TT into a camping spot is just like performing at Carnegie Hall. All it takes is practice, practice, practice. Can anyone identify the reference?

Now to get serious. Practice with a spotter. Before you start backing in, get out of the vehicle and decide where you want the TT to be within the parking area. Go SLOW. We use 2 way radios so that we don't have to yell at each others. If things so sideways, get out, look at what is going on and try again.

All of those people that you think are looking at you were once beginners also. Some of them just don't have a good enough memory to remember back that far.

Hahahahaha Yeah i hear ya. I will remember that.

[BarabooBob]

Backing a TT into a camping spot is just like performing at Carnegie Hall. All it takes is practice, practice, practice. Can anyone identify the reference?

Now to get serious. Practice with a spotter. Before you start backing in, get out of the vehicle and decide where you want the TT to be within the parking area. Go SLOW. We use 2 way radios so that we don't have to yell at each others. If things so sideways, get out, look at what is going on and try again.

All of those people that you think are looking at you were once beginners also. Some of them just don't have a good enough memory to remember back that far.

[organcory97]

Awesome Thanks..

[Lwiddis]

I always call out to those campers watching me back in that I’ll show them how not to do it three or four times and then do it right! DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT! Go slow, get out and check, remain positive! Find an empty parking lot and practice.

[Seon]

Place one hand on the steering wheel at the 6 o'clock position. Then turn the wheel to the side where you want your trailer to go. You'll be fine with a little practice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVVEl917UOU