Solarman
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Re: fifth wheel backing trouble
I’ve been backing 5th wheels into that spot since 1997 and we are in and out four or five times every year, sometimes more so I’ve had a LOT of practice. After I took out a telephone pole is was easy with my first one, a 28’ HRC. The second one, a 31’ Alpenlite with a longer kingpin to axles length, was more of a challenge but I always got it in, it just sometimes took a lot of tries. Obviously I go very slow. The new rig is a 35’ Forest River and the kingpin to axles length is about a foot longer. Envision an upside down L. The driveway is the long leg. It’s 15’ wide and has a fence on the passenger side (when backing up) and a tree on the corner of the driver’s side. You are backing around the tree, to your left so the rig is visible to the driver which helps hugging the corner. You are backing into the short side of the L with the house behind you. The short leg is just wide enough to be able to open the slides with less than a foot clearance but it’s a little wider (~20’) where you first enter it. I have friends with trailers who have looked at our 31’ Alpenlite in its spot and they say, like Breaker did, “WOW!!!! I would never get that in there.”472Views0likes0CommentsRe: fifth wheel backing trouble
garyp4951 wrote: 5th wheel dolly Those things are WAY too expensive (less expensive options available) and I wouldn't trust them on a big 5th wheel. That guy in the video sure doesn't need one to get that small 5th wheel into that spot. Easy with just the truck.473Views0likes0CommentsRe: fifth wheel backing trouble
Super_Dave wrote: My gate is narrow and the turn is tight. Dropping the 5er a couple times to reposition the truck works best for me to reduce stress of jack knifing or hitting the corner of the house. Thanks, Super Dave. That did the trick. I might have been able to get it in with a bunch of tries but just dropping it once and repositioning the truck made it easy... well, not exactly easy but possible.472Views0likes0CommentsRe: fifth wheel backing trouble
You'd think it would work that way but I have to hug the fence on the right side of the driveway with the truck as I turn the corner pulling out (and the trailer hugs the corner on the other side). To get it in I have to start with the truck on the inside of the corner. I never come close to that location (with the truck) when pulling out.473Views0likes0CommentsRe: fifth wheel backing trouble
I appreciate everyone's advice. I modified a heave-duty Power Caster to work with our first rig (28' Alumalite HRC) before we removed the power pole and rounded off that corner. It worked fine but that trailer was a lot lighter and the Power Caster was struggling. That was a long time ago and I suppose there is new equipment available now. I'll do some more research. Since I only have trouble backing in, not pulling out, I suppose I could always rent a forklift two or three times a year... or just keep putting up with the hassle. I've been doing it for over ten years now (with the 30'Alpenlite in the picture) and I'm not getting any better at it, but I always get it in, eventually.472Views0likes0CommentsRe: fifth wheel backing trouble
I've done it many times with the 30' Alpenlite in the Google picture (it's actually ~ 32.5' including the motorcycle rack) and the distance from the kingpin to the axles is almost identical in the new rig so it should turn about the same. It's just so **** frustrating. It can take ten tries and a bunch of back and forth and tire scrubbing to get the angles just right. I guess we will find out once the Alpenlite is sold and room made for the new rig, which is just parked in the driveway now. Final option is to take out more bushes, move some sprinklers and widen the corner. Not looking forward to that.194Views0likes0Comments
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Interested in fifth wheels? You've come to the right spot.Jan 13, 202519,006 Posts
