dannytas
Pioneer, CA
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slarsen wrote:thanks, bpounds.
I've posted quite a bit over the past couple years. I try to keep it to things I think might be useful to others. Sometimes I wonder why I bother, but then, a few people always seem to indicate that maybe they can use the idea. That keeps me engaged in this forum. That, and the fact that I've learned a lot from others, too. Maybe not so much anymore, but two years ago I was a total newbie.
This is exactly why I keep coming back. After 5 years I'm stll a "newbie" and have something to learn! 
I'm a towering 5'5", driving a crewcab, longbed, dually. I can see the hitch until I stack anything higher that the front of the bed. We just picked-up our new Cougar and it has a mirror on the 5er. What a concept. After a couple of "reverse" pictures in my mind's eye, it was just what I needed. 
'12 Keystone Cougar 297RKSWE
'03 Dodge 3500 QC 4X4 Long bed Dually
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partsman01
Poco British Columbia
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I have nothing in the way on my 96 GMC extended cab long box, but I did see a used fifth wheel today at a local RV dealer that had a mirror affixed to the front of the pin box on the fifth wheel itself, that would allow one to I imagine look back or use your rear view mirror and be able to see in the mirror how things are going.
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jcullipher
Arkansas
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Joined: 12/13/2009
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I cannot see my hitch with my crewcab dodge and toolbox, I stuck a piece of black electrical tape in the center of rear window and while hooked to the trailer in a straight line, my wife stuck a piece of tape of the nose of trailer to align with the one on the rear window while I watched to line up with rear view mirror. I just align both pieces of tape as I back up using the mirror.
2006 Dodge Ram QC,4x4,5.9 CTD
2009 Heartland Sundance 2800RLS.
"Always forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." JFK
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stickdog
29.820224, 81.94542
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Some people are just poor at spatial relationships.
9-11 WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
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09 F350 CC DRW 4X4
John
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” Lao Tzu
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DodgeVoltage
Nanjemoy, MD
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Joined: 12/08/2011
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mpierce wrote:I just do it the same way I did with my Peterbilt over a couple million miles. Just look in the side mirrors, get equal on both sides, and back into the hitch! Works for me.
MP
Same here. Too easy. No twisting and looking backwards thru the rear window when you're used to having a sleeper behind you with no window.
2010 Dodge 3500 Mega Cab Cummins Diesel DRW
2009 GMC 2500HD D/A Crew Cab
2012 Dutchmen 3795 Voltage Epic Package
2012 Smart Passion for Two
2003 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC Cruiser
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danskool
Elma, N.Y.
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Joined: 07/24/2004
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Guess i am glad i can see the hitch just looking back, Never thought about it "what if i couldn't see it" I did see one guy put a mirror on his pin box just behind his "HUGE" level and on a slight angle forward on the top of the mirror.
Hardly ever am i "straight on" when backing up. I just back in no matter what angle the truck is. I have seen guys work with the trucks for 5 minutes to get everything straight before making the attempt. I just swing around and back in, not caring what angle i am in, probably because i can turn and see the hitch. Plus helps not to block the driveway.
I have also seen a guy backing into his camper and the wife was over reading the paper on the picnic table. He ultimately damaged his tail gate.. I couldn't get out the door quick enough to stop him. Wonder if there was any tailgate sales going on in the paper?
Why do us guys always do things ourselves, We get into more trouble that way. Ask for help, dang it ! Expensive stuff we are dealing with. My wife is always present when hitching up and working with the camper, She will even push the lever in engaging the hitch lock as i keep pressure on it. I get into more trouble not asking her to help. She will scream at me if i do stuff like that myself. Or i will yell over to the neighbor that is ultimately just going to watch me anyways, I ask him if he can help guide me in.. I have never been turned down. Plus I make a friend .
If you need help, Give a holler, I will send my wife over !.. lol 
Dan
2005 Crossroads Cruiser 27RL
2001 F250 XLT 7.3 PSD
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Mootpoint
Somewhere in North America enjoying the life!
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mpierce wrote:I just do it the same way I did with my Peterbilt over a couple million miles. Just look in the side mirrors, get equal on both sides, and back into the hitch! Works for me.
MP
I have never had the opportunity to drive something that big but I do use the same technique. There are some good ideas here and possibly may have to change my style with a new rig. I have seen the mirror mounted to the pin box and know someone who has it. That would probably my choice.
Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
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bpounds
Whittier CA
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What hasn't been mentioned is the secondary reason why you want to see your hitch. On my Reese, I need to see the lever open to accept the pin, and see it close when fully seated. If it doesn't close all the way (or nearly so) then I know I need to bump the truck to allow it to seat. Saves me another trip out of the cab to check it.
2006 F250 Diesel
2011 Keystone Cougar 278RKSWE Fiver
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BlackSilver
East of Heaven, North of Hell
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stickdog wrote:Some people are just poor at spatial relationships.
I've never been in space yet, so have no experience in spatial relationships.
Pulled a lot of liberty in foreign ports in my Navy days, so I bet I'd be good at it though.
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BlackSilver
East of Heaven, North of Hell
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danskool wrote:
Hardly ever am i "straight on" when backing up. I just back in no matter what angle the truck is.
My pin (a Sidewinder) requires a "straight on" approach.
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