backing a trailer

[cavie]

Why do people insist on backing a trailer to the right where they can not see and depending on the wife to direct??? I stay on a seasonal site at my park and there are 2 sites on a circle that are at an angle to the road. Of course, the lady that runs the park has never backed a trailer and she sends them the wrong way around the circle. It should be one way. When I hear someone try for more than 5 min I go down and offer to park it for them. I drive it down the road, turn around and back it in with one shot. Then I have to explain it to them!!! I tell them to look at how wide the site is. Understand how wide your trailer is and you don't have to see that side because nothing was there the last time you looked. You only have to look in your left mirror, don't run over the electric pedestal and park it! Been parking boats for 45 years. I have a 8" drop off on the right side of my driveway. Haven't dropped a wheel of it in 14 years with no help backing. I'm done now.

[andymil]

That makes a lot of sense. I never thought about it, but it would explain why I have trouble putting the trailer just where I want it in my driveway. It’s on my right side when backing up. The problem is, I don’t have a choice. I might have to cut down a couple more trees.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by andymil

That makes a lot of sense. I never thought about it, but it would explain why I have trouble putting the trailer just where I want it in my driveway. It’s on my right side when backing up. The problem is, I don’t have a choice. I might have to cut down a couple more trees.

If you have obstacles on your right side, get help getting close without hitting. Now mark your driveway on the left side. Now when you back up just look in your mirror and keep your tires on the marks and you can't hit what you can't see. Those trees didn't move while you were gone.

[spock123]

I don’t like backing to my blind side but it seems some campgrounds are set up that way. It doesn’t really bother me as I can get the camper in

[myxkp]

I put my bright orange leveling blocks down both sides of the intended parking spot. That way a quick glimpse of either side shows me how I'm doing.

[NMWildcat]

Hmm, I find it much easier to back to my blind side. Always have. Although, blind side seems a misnomer if you have towing mirrors adjusted correctly And the logic of knowing how wide the spot and your trailer is, and placing your trailer tires accordingly, works for both sides

[WFD]

I have a utilities box on my right side, and thats the side of the drive I have to be parked along, so if I back in on my left side the utility box is blinded, and while backing in the rear swing of the trailer would come dangerously close to it. So I back in on my right side that way I can see the box at all times.

[RangeMaggotBob]

Hmmmmmm...right, left, up, down- it doesn't matter much for me. I've been backing up fivers for a few years now, and I'm still crappy at it! I get the job done, but nothing like the guys that whip it right in. Hoping to get better but not holding my breath.

[SlfMdeFam]

I could put my 38’ bumper pull TT anywhere on any side. I can’t back my 32’ 5er to save my life.

I don’t know if it’s the auto slider or what but after having a 5er for a year and a half I still suck at it.

[chaps2018]

Lol, ur not alone. Been out 9 times in the 5er, still getting used to it.

[BuzzWolfAR]

Originally Posted by Chris Allen

I could put my 38’ bumper pull TT anywhere on any side. I can’t back my 32’ 5er to save my life.

I don’t know if it’s the auto slider or what but after having a 5er for a year and a half I still suck at it.

X2. The fiver reacts so slowly, and I'm used to my old trailer.

Needed to replace the whole roof due to a backing mishap -- $13,000 ( thank God for insurance).

This year can only get better. LOL

Originally Posted by spock123

I don’t like backing to my blind side but it seems some campgrounds are set up that way. It doesn’t really bother me as I can get the camper in

[benchmarks]

Originally Posted by RangeMaggotBob

Hmmmmmm...right, left, up, down- it doesn't matter much for me. I've been backing up fivers for a few years now, and I'm still crappy at it! I get the job done, but nothing like the guys that whip it right in. Hoping to get better but not holding my breath.

Bahabaha.....glad I'm not the only one 😅

[RangeMaggotBob]

Originally Posted by Chris Allen

I could put my 38’ bumper pull TT anywhere on any side. I can’t back my 32’ 5er to save my life.

I don’t know if it’s the auto slider or what but after having a 5er for a year and a half I still suck at it.

Yup. Me too.

[andymil]

Originally Posted by Chris Allen

I could put my 38’ bumper pull TT anywhere on any side. I can’t back my 32’ 5er to save my life.

I don’t know if it’s the auto slider or what but after having a 5er for a year and a half I still suck at it.

Crap! I didn’t want to hear that. We’ll be getting our first 5er in a couple of weeks.

[chaps2018]

I use a swift hitch wifi camera to keep an eye on the blind side. It has incredible range.

Swift Hitch SH04 Wireless Battery Backup Camera System for Trailer Hitch Up, RV Rear View via WiFi Link and Monitoring on iPhone/iPad or Android Devices https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07144127T..._SVCDAb1FC82K7

[BandJCarm]

Fiver is way easier to park than a similarly sized bumper pull. At least for me. You just have to learn the compensation degree. It's not the same. And you have to sometimes literally go a few inches, stop and assess, go another few inches, etc etc etc etc. Going too fast is my bugaboo sometimes.

Daughter's driveway, where we stay often, is angled terribly. ONLY way to get in is blind side, right side. There are NO trees, none. Yet it scares me when I don't know, can't see, and am not familiar with backing that way. Some are, I'm not. It's also a busy two lane road, and I always stop traffic till I can get in. That makes me more nervous.

DW is of no help. I've had to learn to ignore her meaningless hand waving and comments. She's wonderful, but not at that.

[myxkp]

I drove big rigs, conventional and cab over, both had shorter distances from front wheels to king pin than my tt.
That meant a smaller turn on the steering wheel and a little more time for the effect.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by andymil

Crap! I didn’t want to hear that. We’ll be getting our first 5er in a couple of weeks.

Don't sweat it. Most folks I talk to (and myself) say their fiver is easier to back than their smaller bumper pulls. And the longer the fiver, the easier. And it's true, fivers take longer to react, but for most folks that is a good thing! Enjoy your new fiver!!

[aceinspp]

Done a lot of trailer towing over the years and a lot of interesting places to back a trailer into. It just comes natural to me to back so I really do not worry what is a good side or bad side. Never worry about tightness of spot either. Not every one is cut out to back trailers without a lot of help but there are always folks there to lend a helping hand. Later RJD

[dinosaur]

Anything longer than 25’ I have to back into my driveway off a busy 2 lane road. Both sides of the driveway have a ditch so if I miss, road will be blocked until the tow truck comes
I’m usually backing in on the “blind side” as that’s usually the direction I’m traveling home in. It also allows me to “watch” traffic as I’m backing in since nobody stops or pays attention anymore.
Even at campgrounds it doesn’t matter which direction, there are good 1 shot days and there are go around the block and try again days.
It also doesn’t help that the camper is “only” a 33’ 5er, and with a crew cab long bed truck, the Truck wheelbase is almost longer than the pin to wheelbase of the camper. Short trailers are more difficult to back up.