My first trailer towing experience was when I was 15 years old (parents travel trailer) and have been doing it MOSTLY ever since. got my first motor home when I was 30 (it was just a mini motorhome then but would be a class B now)
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
I think it varies quite a bit, I was taught how to tow and back a double trailer when I was about 12, taught myself to drive my first Big Rig yard dog around the property at work when I was 25 pulling 48'+ trailers, and when I bought my RV had no additional training.
For someone who hasn't had life experiance with those areas it would be whatever age they either aquire those skills or get properly trained.
Garrett
2004 Fleetwood Expedition 38N
Full Timer
Toad(still to be setup) 2011 Jeep Rubicon
2nd (to be put on double trailer with 1st when moving) 2008 Honda S2000
Here's the story. Son is 16, started racing karts at age 8 and went from that to a Skip Barber Racing School in a Mazda MX-5, then got his SCCA competition license at age 15. To make trips to the track easier, he has been taking the car in and out of the trailer for several years, and has been doing the backing up and parking of the trailer at home for the past year.
He now has his driver's permit now, and want's on occasion take the car to the track early, before I can leave work. His momma would have to ride along as his "supervisor", and Momma ain't happy on the idea, and despite me allowing him a pretty long leash so far I'm surprisingly "meh".
I'm sure he could quite capably tow the trailer with the F250; the MH I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with. Keep opinions coming.
Towing a trailer? Let's see, about 12 I think, but may have been earlier. Have to reach the pedals to tow a hay wagon.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
Started pulling a trailer on our own property before I had a permit or license.
We owned an 85-site campground, and I actually was not allowed to drive "forward" much. Everywhere I went, my Dad made me back up - not a long rig, just a pickup and a 16' flatbed trailer, but it taught me a lot of lessons about backing. When I finally had a permit and hit the roads (driving forward! ) with him in the passenger seat, he would hang his hat or his handkerchief on the rearview mirror. His reason was that the mirror is useless when you are hooked to a camper, enclosed trailer, or horsetrailer. He wanted me to learn to use the side mirrors only. I still to this day do not use the rear view mirror....
And, when pulling a trailer on the road with a learners permit, he would hold a fairly full cup of water or tea. I was not allowed to make it splash over the edge starting, stopping, or turning. Great visual tool to teach me how to ease into those 3 manuevers... We hauled our horses often, and he used the water to explain how standing in a moving trailer is hard on horses, and that I needed to be gentle for their safety and sanity. A horse that's had a bad trailer ride can refuse to get back on the trailer.
I am already coaching my kids in the same driving methods, though they are all still several years away from permits...
2012 Dutchmen Voltage Epic 3795
2010 Dodge 3500 DRW MC
2009 GMC 2500 DA CC
2012 Smart-for-two (sometimes hitches a ride in the Voltage!)
2005 Sundowner Sunlite 777
"His momma would have to ride along as his "supervisor", and Momma ain't happy on the idea, and despite me allowing him a pretty long leash so far I'm surprisingly "meh"."
I think the "supervisor's" vote is trump. Looks like a no-go.
2008 Dodge 3500 With a Really Strong Tractor Motor...........
LB, SRW, 4X4, 6-Speed Auto, 3.73, Prodigy P3, Blue Ox Sway Pro........
2007 Komfort 212 on 225 75R 15E Maxxis 8008 Tires.........
I grew up around construction equipment so I was running a hi-lift at 13 or so, and also drove a truck for wheat harvesting in the field.
Mom, dad & I tag-teamed towing a pop-up from NY to Florida when I was 16.
2013 North Trail 21FBS
2012 F-150 XLT Ecoboost ("EcoBeast") scab
Chuck&Gail wrote: Towing a trailer? Let's see, about 12 I think, but may have been earlier. Have to reach the pedals to tow a hay wagon.
At the same age I was doing the same thing with a Farmall "H" and two or three hay rack wagons.
For fun, my cousin and I would have contests to see who could put the third wagon 'on target' while backing around a corner.
Paul
Extra Class Ham Radio operator - K9ERG (since 1956)
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Was a campground host at IBSP (2006-2010) - now retired.
Single - Full-timer
2005 Four Winds 29Q
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) with him in the passenger seat, he would hang his hat or his handkerchief on the rearview mirror. His reason was that the mirror is useless when you are hooked to a camper, enclosed trailer, or horsetrailer. He wanted me to learn to use the side mirrors only. I still to this day do not use the rear view mirror....
