- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 5 years, 10 months ago by
CLOC-Admin.
CLOC-Admin.- Topic
CLOC-AdminThis You Tube video has some good pointers on how to back up a 5th wheel. Most of you probably know this, I need all the help I can get.Posted: 8:00 AM – Jul 11, 2014You are not the only one, Traveler. Even though I have had 5th wheels for over 10 years, I was never moving them often enough that it was second nature. Now that we are fulltiming, I expect to become more proficient.Thanks for the video!!
Mark
Posted: 12:34 PM – Jul 13, 2014I guess it’s just me, but I have a heck of a time backing into a site that’s on my right side. Now that we’re full time, we’re bound to run into this situation more frequently. Are there any videos for this?Posted: 2:14 PM – Jul 14, 2014Ah the blindside ,hate them myself.
I have seen campers drive throughout the whole campground to get themselves ‘turned around’ ,I will do the same if possible – drive around in a figure 8 until it is a driver side back in.Posted: 4:16 PM – Jul 14, 2014I thought the video was “cute” and I hope it helped a few of the readers manage the task. Because I learned to back trailers about 55 years ago as a 7 yr old backing the wagons on the farm, I have never had to think about a lot of this because it is second nature. The one point that I thought was important is the need to watch the front of the TV at the same time as the rear of the coach. It is so easy to swing the front wheels onto a curb or into a tree or post because you are concentrating on the rear.Be careful out there folks.
John
Posted: 4:25 PM – Jul 14, 2014Runtrails wrote:I guess it’s just me, but I have a heck of a time backing into a site that’s on my right side. Now that we’re full time, we’re bound to run into this situation more frequently. Are there any videos for this?Same way as on the left side. Just have your spotter stand on the right corner instead of the left.
I use my mirrors exclusively for backing and the electric mirrors that can be aimed at the trailer wheels are a great help! I just take my time so that I know where I am going and even if it means that I get out and take another look at where I am going and if there is anything in the way, so be it.
This is just part of the fun of camping.
John
Posted: 6:16 PM – Jul 14, 2014Well today I decided to practice backing up, did great until my grandson took his Tonka truck away from me. Sorry couldn’t resist; it will only mean something if you’ve reviewed the video.Posted: 6:21 PM – Jul 15, 2014Great YouTube video on backing a trailer. One item I might add, from 24 years of backing cryogenic trailers through hospital parking lots delivering liquid oxygen, is a tip on the initial approach.When the trailer wheels are even with the second edge of the site, I swing the truck to the right for a few feet, and then to the left before coming to a stop. This will have both the truck and trailer already at an angle to begin backing. It also lessens the extreme L position needed by starting the backing manoeuvre with the truck and trailer in a straight line.
We also never back up without a spotter with an FRS radio, and have a rule that the minute the spotter is not visible in the mirrors the truck stops, and does not begin to move until the spotter is visible again.
Posted: 10:49 PM – Jul 15, 2014Well, we just went through one of our (my) “greatest fears”. We arrived at our rural Massachusetts lakeside campground (not a KOA), and with the map in hand, were told to take the “second right hand turn behind the building”. We even had a map! Okay, one – two, got it. Well, after several tight turns around really big trees we (I) thought something isn’t right here. As I was slowly driving down what became obviously the wrong damn road, it got narrower and narrower. We soon found out it was the wrong turn. No “kidding” (not the original term) Sherlock. How hard can this be? Finally, I decided to get out and take a look at the road ahead. Of course, by this time there were, oh 10 or 15 bystanders / helpers discussing the situation. The campground employee on the John Deere Gator came by and advised that this WAS in fact the wrong road. “Where were you when I checked in”, I asked? After about an hour, with the help of DW, the bystanders and the Gator Guy, we were able to get backed out of this mess and on the correct road.What’s this got to do with, “How to back up a fiver”? Give it a try sometime.
My advice – IF the campground looks even the least bit tight, get out and walk the directions before you actually drive them.
I’m (sort of) laughing about this now, but I was a bundle of nerves during the event.
Posted: 7:26 AM – Jul 16, 2014Reminds me of the 1st time that I towed a fifth wheel. I meticulously followed the campground directions until I came to a 12′ 0″ underpass. I ended up backing up a windy road (with people honking because they couldn’t get around (arghh), my wife (who had never guided me into a site, let alone backwards along a windy road) until I got to a space where I could turn in, go over the train tracks to the left of the bridge and come down on the other side.Needless to say there was a large glass of bourbon that night (or maybe 2).
The good news was we made it and it taught me some valuable lessons.
Mark
Posted: 9:19 AM – Aug 20, 2014I did a lot of research when we bought our Cameo. Here is a post I made describing what I have found to be the best and easiest way to back a fiver.
http://michigantraveler.org/2013/01/22/ … 5th-wheel/Bob
Posted: 9:43 AM – Aug 20, 2014A few years back we had an invitation to visit some friends at the lake. Their cabin was smallish and they had other company and asked us if we could bring the 5er. Of course I said no problem because I much prefer to sleep in my own bed.We got to the cabin and realized that the only way we were going to get on to the lot was to back in from the main road about .2 mi. My buddy was apologizing because he did not realize what it would take to get in. The road was not a straight road and got a little narrow at one point, but it was do-able. About 15 minutes later I was unhooking and my buddy was wondering how it was done. I told him it was the mirrors (and the fact that I have been doing things like this for years). The message is that it is all about experience and practice. The more you do the better you will be so take on those challenges and don’t be afraid to be embarrassed. If I was to go and play golf with dutchanddi I am positive I would be embarrassed too.
So, revel in the experience and learn from it and you will do better next time. It is all part of “the experience”
John
Posted: 12:23 PM – Aug 22, 2014Best advice I received was a buddy suggested I get a toy truck (think he suggested a Dodge—for you Di) with a trailer, and just back it around to get the feel for it. Not sure if it taught me much, but I had fun taking a 6 year old’s toy away and sitting on the ground and playing with it. Think the campers around me scratched their collective heads a lot.B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.