bpounds
Whittier CA
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Another bit of advice - don't forget to watch overhead. Make sure your spotter understands the importance of this. It is so easy to forget, and these boxes are tall!
2006 F250 Diesel
2011 Keystone Cougar 278RKSWE Fiver
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bigdaddogg1
Martinez, Georgia
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Here's some tips from a truck driver:
Backing
One piece of advice a trucker friend of mine gave me to aid in backing and keeping the rig straight:
Go slow and use your mirrors. Whichever mirror you see more of the trailer in, turn the steering wheel in that direction to straighten it out.
Like others have said, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Nobody gets it right the first time...
"The only bad thing about being retired is you never get a day off"
2006 Sunnybrook 28RKFS 5th Wheel
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Nobody can ever be good at backing a trailer by memorizing a "how to" guide. Practice is what will help. Imagine if you had to memorize something and think about it to drive forward  You are lucky though that your longer trailer will back more easily than your pop up did.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
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mbrule
Massachusetts
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I am willing to bet, that he will find it EASIER to back in than the test trailer. Longer trailers are inherently easier to back. Though bigger and harder to see around response is slower and more predictable.
My DW does not understand the backing process AT ALL, her job is to maintain eye contact and wave arms and yell when I need to stop before hitting anything. Works for us.
The other major difference from the test trailer, as posted earlier is to look up.
My .02
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mayts
Los Angeles
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chuggs wrote:
When you get frustrated...and you will...don't yell at your wife. I've found that it doesn't do a bit of good.
Since I am the wife I second this
Thanks for all the tips, since I will be the spotter I'll make sure to look up so he doesn't hit the house or anything up above with the hight.
So much great advice! Can't wait to go out on our first trip.
2011 2500HD LTZ Duramax Crew Cab
2012 Keystone Cougar 293 SAB
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chuggs
Florida
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Here's a spotting tip...
The possibility always exist that the radios could cut out... So our policy is for me to stop...unless I hear guidance. It was amazingly difficult to get my wife to talk continuously...from seeing her on the phone so many times before I thought it would be an easy thing. Hearing her voice...let's me know she's there. If I stop while she's talking...then she knows to stop for just a second in case I need to talk... It works pretty well. I like to be able to see her in my mirrors...but it's not always practical.
We had a husband and wife team help us back our 5 th wheel in at one campsite. They were the camp hosts. They used their cellphones...She was in the back...he stood next to my window relaying directions. Wow...they really, really understand parking a 5 th wheel...I've never seen anything like it. Wish we could tote them around wherever we go.
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Beaker
Brevard, NC
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I have found it much easier backing up once I learned to pull further ahead.
Can't explain it but takes much less turning of the wheel and less of an angle between truck and trailer.
I have more problem with my 10' utility trailer.
2008 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
2010 Cruiser 26RK
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hallock5
Texas
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What I have learned:
1) Find pull-thrus
2) If you have to back, spotter calls me on her cell phone and I have speaker phone on..her only instruction to me: "trailer bumper: left, straight, right"
3) If trailer bumper needs to go left, then steering wheel, with your hand at bottom of wheel, goes left (clockwise)..if right, then wheel goes right (counterclockwise).
4) Don't try to get it right the 1st time--be ok doing it in increments until you get your tow vehicle almost straight with your 5'er, then straight back in. Yes, everyone is watching, but don't forget, they were once watched, as well.
That's how I was taught. But I am a 'backer' only when I have to be..so far, 5 days into 365, ONCE--15 feet at a fuel station.
* This post was
edited 04/11/12 06:17am by hallock5 *
2008 Jayco Eagle Superlite 28.5RLS
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Sad to say, time to sell to a good home.
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Farmer David
Mattoon, ILL.
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Backing takes practice go to a vacant parking lot and practice. I know there is a lot of people here on the forum that use walkie talkies of some sort, but myself I do not want any body telling me what to do I do a lot better on my own just going slow and watching what I am doing, if my wife is there I tell here to just stop me if I am going to hit something other wise just be quiet.
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57 Panhead
Central Valley Calif.
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And if the spotter is of limited help use the G.O.A.L. method of backing
Get
Out
And
Look
It hasn't let me down yet, learned it at work years ago, drove for a living for over 30 years.
Steve
Retired Teamster
2012 Jayco Eagle Superlite 31.5RLTS
07 F250 PowerStroke
U Y B
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