Turning radius question

[daystrom]

Got a question about the turning radius of trailers and need some fresh eyes/minds.

I live in a suburb of a small city. I’m lucky enough to have a large enough driveway and no HOA (100 year old neighborhood) that I can store my trailer at home. I’ve never really had a problem getting in or out of my drive as there hasn’t been cars parked on the street for the past 3 years during the day. Coming home I can come from the south and pull into the alley directly across from my driveway and back it in even with the gold car where it is parked.

The issue I may run into is the guy that lives across the street. In the photo, his is the gold car. His spouse recently retired and the car is always in this spot, day or night. He and his spouse are old and going senile. They hate my wife and I, don’t know why but they do. Asking him to move his car is totally out of the question, he would slam the door in my face.

The car that is just north of my driveway comes and goes so it may be possible to exit north.

My question is, in the event that both cars shown in the photo are where they are in the pic, does it look like I would be able to pull my truck and trailer out of my drive going south.

Here are some specs:

My driveway is 12’ wide
The street is 25’ wide
My trailer is 30’ 10” hitch to bumper
The center point between the tandems is 20’ from the hitch
The truck’s wheelbase is 13’
The length of the truck from front bumper to hitch is 18’ 4”
The distance from the center of the rear wheel to the hitch is 5’

From my measurements I think I should be able to pull out with trailer attached going south. The off track of the trailer could ride on the sidewalk, curb lawn with no issues. However my lawn drops down a few feet to sidewalk/road level. I don’t have an issue getting my truck out, will the trailer track close to the truck’s track when making this turn?

The scale is on the map.


Looking at my driveway to street. You can see how my yard drops slightly to the road level:



Thanks!

[Bucky_Badger]

Thanks for the update

[daystrom]

For the curious, I was able to pull out last week with no issues with the grumpy neighbors car parked across the street. Had plenty of room to spare. Thanks for the comments!

[campigloo]

daystrom wrote:
There are ordinances like that but he abides by the laws. I don't want revenge or to make his life more difficult than it already is, I just want clear egress from my drive.

One good turn deserves another.

[daystrom]

How close do bumper pull trailers track the TV wheels? I know a lot more than 5th wheels but within a foot?

[daystrom]

There are ordinances like that but he abides by the laws. I don't want revenge or to make his life more difficult than it already is, I just want clear egress from my drive.

[OkieGene]

Any city ordnance ? Certain distance between car and curb? Fire hydrant? Tags current ?

Be a darn shame if that car was towed.

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

This all sound like the OP is trying hard to make this turn in one motion. I say stay to north edge of the driveway (beware of trailer back end swing, though), pull out a farther than you think the TV will make the turn to the south and clear the car across the street. Then stop, cut a hard left and back up a few feet, jack-knifing the trailer a bit. Cut back full right and finish pulling out to the south, most likely without cutting up the grass.

And be glad it's a quiet street. I've got the full width of a 2 lane, 30 MPH, road to get backed in off of, but jokers around here fly like it's the highway. I cringe a little every time I go to jockey the camper back in the driveway waiting for some fool doing 70 mph to plow into me.

[shelbyj]

Can you put blocks down to help with the drop off?

[daystrom]

Yeah I agree that it isn't all that tight but my concern was the slight drop off from yard level to street level. If the trailer tracks outside of the TV, the right side will go down the grade. It may be of no concern, just didn't want the back of the trailer to drag on the yard when the wheels go down the grade.

Will have to measure that.

[bdhoun]

Looking at the pictures, I don't think this turn is that much tighter than any campground I've been in

[johnnyrv]

You can buy a powered dolly to move it. Otherwise just go over the grass.

[mrw8i]

If my neighbors see me moving my trailer they scramble to move their cars out of the street.

Them: "Need me to move my car?"
Me: "No"
Them: "You sure?"
Me: "Yes"
Them: "Hang on, give me one minute"
They run into their house to get their keys
5 seconds later they run out and move their car 100 yards down the street or into their empty driveway.
Me: "Thanks"

[daystrom]

That's funny! His car is his nicest possession. I've lived across from him for 22 years now. When we moved in 22 years ago his roof was in bad shape. Now 22 years later it is in really bad shape, so much that it is collapsing between the rafters.

But that's another story. I'm just thinking off tracking and turning radius!

[campigloo]

If I had these neighbors I would send them a hand written letter, oozing with niceties, explaining the problem asking them if I could call them to move the car when needed to avoid any damage to their car. If this doesn't work, I would wiggle it in or out and if I hit the car, just inform them and not worry about their fussin. You may have to file an insurance claim, but I bet it would only take one