mike4947 wrote: The shorter the distance from the ball/coupler to the trailer axle the less input is needed for an amount of correction.
I think having a single axle also makes a PUP more squirrelly when backing. Our old HTT was virtually identical in length and weight, yet with its dual axles, it was much easier to back.
Backing into our driveway is a big challenge. It starts with a 10 degree slope with a 5-8 degree off camber to it. Then, the trailer has to make a 90 degree turn and up another 10 degree slope. When correctly located, the rear wheel of the TV is <3" from an 18" curb. There's ~3" slack in either direction for the trailer to sit so we can actually get by it on the side of the house. The tongue is about three feet off the ground (jack, block, jack again) to get it within a couple of degrees of level. I "smell" a new clutch sometime in the future.
Our driveway isn't that bad but I tried using my old Chevy S-10 (4 cyl 4 sp manual) to back our pop up up the driveway. It finally got it but the clutch suffrered greatly................ It does fine on the level around the yard but I would hate to try and get into traffic with it...
* This post was
edited 11/10/09 07:44am by Wildcat63 *
Wildcat63
07 Coachmen Clipper Classic 1070ST
02 Explorer 4.6 V8 TV
A trucker friend said to me, "Go slow - turn small." That was my eureka moment. I had another revelation when I realized the obvious - going backwards is the reverse of going forwards. I started to watch the trailer as I pulled forward on turns, noting where the wheels were in relation to the TV. Once I had the "arcs" down, backing was no problem.
Wright and Penny
Tundra 4X4
Starcraft 2107
"Remember to keep it simple. You can't get away from it all if you take it all with you."
The tow vehicle itself can dictate how hard to back up.
The larger the distance from the TV axle to the hitch, the harder it is to make precise adjustments.
In a nutshell it has to do with pivoting TV axle first and transfering angle to the hitch.
In my experience reversing with a full size long box was the most difficult , easier with a short box, piece of cake with an S10 Blazer and I'm sure it would be a dream with my CJ5 if only it could handle the weight.
This is why fifth wheels are so easy as the pivot is directly over the TV axle.
I enjoy this topic.....had our pop-up for little over a year and back it into the garage....first time I bet it took two hours....my last time, 10 minutes, which included asking the Mrs. to to inside the house!!!
Wanna have some real fun? Try backing a 4 wheel hay trailer with a 3 foot tongue with a tractor into a barn door just slightly larger than the width of the trailer. Yee Hi!
Guest wrote: Seems hard to believe. With no AC unit, I can see right over the top of my pup which makes backing her into my garage a breeze.
How many of you guys can back your TT into your garage? See, pups are easier to back!
Easier to back no way ..... Easier to store heck yeah i used to be able to paralel park our old starcraft but only because it was so short i could probably do it with the TT too but i would need the whole block to move their cars
TV 1997 GMC SUBURBAN, 92 Mustang Rag Top
1986 34ft Nomad
Eric 33,Tammi 39,Anthony 14,Julia 12,Jason 11,Briana 8,Ashley 6,Robert 4
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