Backing up a camper

[steversssss]

I feel your pain. I don't have problems at the sites, but I could charge admission to let people watch me back into my driveway. I don't live on a wide street. And if there is a parked car right across from my driveway it gets real hairy. When I get it in just enough to fit my wifes car in then I'm happy. Regardless of how it's facing.

 

[AZemptynesters]

My wife and I use two way radios. That way I can watch what the trailer is doing and listen to her at the same time. I don't have to be trying to watch the trailer and hand signals at the same time. You can come up with the directions that work best for you. She simply tells me which way the rear of the trailer needs to go-to the driver's side or the passenger side. We use this system to get our camper parked in our garage which only allows about 3 inches on either side. With a little practice, you'll be doing it in no time.

Dan

 

[vjlarson]

My wife and I use two way radios. That way I can watch what the trailer is doing and listen to her at the same time. I don't have to be trying to watch the trailer and hand signals at the same time. You can come up with the directions that work best for you. She simply tells me which way the rear of the trailer needs to go-to the driver's side or the passenger side. We use this system to get our camper parked in our garage which only allows about 3 inches on either side. With a little practice, you'll be doing it in no time.

That's exactly what we use... 2-way radios. They seem to work great. Otherwise we had trouble seeing each other and/or hearing each other if we resorted to just speaking directions because we couldn't be seen. The campgrounds have been no problem. The creative backing comes with getting it into our garage. We don't have room too spare on either side also - and DH says he can't see me at all once I get back into the garage. The radios have been a great tool.

 

[CampCrazyMom]

buy a toy truck and trailer about the same ratio as your combo. long TV short pup/ short TV short pup. put some stuff on kitchen table and "back up" till you can see the relationship between the TV and pup. then take that knowledge out side to the real thing in a safe place. Sounds silly to make believe in the house but it works

When my brother & I were kids we had the Matchbox cars. The one that I "drove" all the time had a hitch & a removable boat & trailer. We'd make roads, houses & driveways out of chalk on the sidewalk in front of our house. When my car got home, I had to back into the driveway. It does sound ridiculous, but I told DH that this was how I learned to back our grandpa's boat. I haven't practiced with this method since childhood. I guess I need to make a trip to the $ store to look for cars & trailers! Thank you for reminding me of happy things

Lots of great backing advice. Not getting flustered is my biggest thing to overcome. I worry about someone watching & laughing...

 

[PattieAM]

I found practicing in an empty school parking lt (Sunday mornings) to be best - back into the bus lanes if there are any.

As I solo, I will get out and 'mark' where I want the PUP to go, where the glide out needs to be, etc. Might use a leaf, stone, or just make marks in dirt with my foot. I also mark about where my drivers side vehicle door needs to be. I use my mirrors extensively.

 

[ecupcar]

I try my best to back up using the drivers side mirror the most, I rarely have a straight shot, so pull left as often as I can and follow the pup back using left mirror the most. Small corrections and go slow are the best advice, if you feel that you may hit something stop and start over, you will break less stuff.

Don't ever feel embarrassed when backing up, we have all been there. Just go to a boat ramp on a warm weekend day if you want to see people really get ignorant about backing up skills. You only have to worry about your spot.

 

[joet]

Find an empty parking lot and pratice, pratice pratice

 

[DelorFamily]

Just go to a boat ramp on a warm weekend day if you want to see people really get ignorant about backing up skills. You only have to worry about your spot.

Labor Day Weekend is always fun to watch I have seen fist fights at the boat ramp. Amazing how a long day in the sun mixed with lots of beer can turn so many people into complete A-holes....

 

[cwolfman13]

To echo pretty much everyone else...

1.) If possible, start the TV and trailer off in the direction you want it to go (ie don't start with the trailer straight and TV at an angle or vice versa)
2.) Place your hands on the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it the direction you want the trailer to go
3.) Take it slow, it's not a race. If you have to pull forward and start again, no biggy.
4.) Make small adjustments when steering rather than large, radical turns of the wheel.
5.) Pratice, practice, practice.....the parking lot idea is a good one.

 

[bummy]

It's like everybody has said "practice" and don't get all worked up when it isn't going where you want it just stop and start over.

 

[ATFD48]

It helps to get a good image of the camper or any trailer in your head while going straight down the road. This way if your backing up and the camper isn't lined up equally, you'll know your not backing up straight. The smaller the trailer, the faster they respond. Small movements on a small trailer go a LONG way. And like everybody else says, practice in an empty lot. Use the lines on the pavement. It only gets easier!

 

[badgerjen01]

We have learned (the hard way) that a little goes a long way when backing and that it helps us newbies to pull ahead a bit if you have cut it too far, which also allows you to decrease the angle so you are getting closer and closer to a straight back in vs trying to do a full 90 degree back in on one try. Last trip with a picnic table full of old timers next to our site, we did this back up / pull forward method (with 5 feet back, two feet forward) to straighten out / lessen the angle and after just a few minutes we had the camper where we wanted it .. They maybe chuckled at us, but we didn't harm the camper or each other

 

[vjlarson]

Last trip with a picnic table full of old timers next to our site, we did this back up / pull forward method (with 5 feet back, two feet forward) to straighten out / lessen the angle and after just a few minutes we had the camper where we wanted it .. They maybe chuckled at us, but we didn't harm the camper or each other

I'd bet us "old timers" have done the same thing once in a while so don't worry about it. My DH has been backing up trailers/boats etc for a lot of years and sometimes he can just back the PUP up (even at an angle) and put it right in place with one try. Other times, he has used the back up/pull forward method as well. Geesh, I've even seen people using "pull thru" sites that have had to manipulate the trailer to get it where they want it. Sometimes they've even given up and pulled right through, gone around and pulled thru again. No worries.

 

[jsalexan7]

I'm right up there with manipulating the trailer where I want it, I am a constant source of amusement trying to get it into the driveway or a campsite. Eventually I figure if it's more or less on the pad, it's close enough. I then unhook and, using the dolly wheel on my jack and some elbow grease, we hand move the trailer where we want it. Pipe flange for the jack wheel, Bal for the low side and normal chocks for the last wheel and we are set, level and cranking up.

 

[hammer1234]

I've been practicing this afternoon with the wagon attached to my lawn tractor...need to back the stone I'm hauling into different spots around the edges of my driveway.

 

[rugidne]

I dreaded backing up my trailer since I got it, started a few weeks ago after the trailer inspection by trying to back in my 90 degree driveway with a hedge on either side of the opening.

After holding up traffic and failing miserably, I put the jeep in drive and circled the block and drove forward into my driveway and pushed the trailer into her spot by hand.

Since that incident, I have been practicing. I backed up my buddies tent trailer in a tight spot between his garden and shed, without an issue, the tomaters are still in one piece. Also earlier today, I backed up a 10 foot enclosed trailer into a 10x10 service bay, alone and it went beautifully.

There is HOPE!

Key is to relax, and concentrate the best you can, easy to get confused when your trying to watch both sides of your trailer.

Next on the list...try the driveway again.

 

[raymonk]

Do everything slowly, and in small increments. Turning the steering wheel too much too fast will only cause problems. If that you aren't getting anwhere. Just move forward and straighten out the tv and pup. Here's a little thing that I came up with that really helped me learn to back.

Turn steering wheel so the the front wheels are facing forward. Put a piece of masking tape at top dead center of the steering wheel. Then also place a piece of masking tape about three quarters of the way down the steering wheel at each side of the steering wheel. With a marker write left and right with an arrow pointing up. Now you have a good reference point. just remember to remove the tape if you tape your vehicle in for service. I didn't and the service writers had a good laugh when I picked up my tv assuming I didn't know my right from my left not understanding that I was using this to help me wuth backing up.

 

[CampingGranny]

Lots of good hints here. Right now we get permission to park in a local school lot and wait until the wee hours of the morning to back into the drive (we live on a main street through our downtown area). We do, however, use the parking lot to practice. We have a N2U tv so we get to start all over again this year.

 

[HALE]

My truck is lifted so it sits a lot higher than my pup which helps a lot. Left hand on botton of steering wheel, right hand on passenger head rest, looking out the back window keeping in mind that hand to the left-trailer left, slowly and a little bit of brain geometry and you are where you need to be...or atleast close enough.

 

[rms62003]

Hear ya on your trouble with backing it in. I'm sure any surrounding campsites would be laughing at me as I moved my PUP into my campsite (thankfully, no one was near by.)

I'm much more comfortable, and even got my PUP in the 1 car side of my garage recently. I went out to an empty parking lot, and just played around with the wheel. Basically, what would happen if I did this. I also worked on backing it into the parking spots available. I'm no expert at this time, but can generally get the PUP in the location I want by myself (solo camper.)

General rule, practice, practice, practice. When you think you have it, you may want to practice some more!