kdkrause
Redcliff AB Canada
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Joined: 06/06/2006
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We are bringing home our Trail-Lite TL30BH tomorrow. I am excited to finally get it home but a bit apprehensive about backing it into our driveway.
I need to execute a 90 degree angle from the street into our driveway. I plan to approach with the driveway on my left. When I approach the driveway am I better to stay as far left as I can or do I keep it wider by staying farther right?
I was planning to stick to the left and as I pass my driveway I will cut my wheels to the right until I reach the right hand side of the street and then turn them back to the left. This should leave the trailer in a good position to start backing.
We are upgrading from a 19' hybrid, with that trailer I was able to get it into the driveway okay but my TV always ended up in a jacknife position.
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2oldman
WA
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Joined: 04/15/2001
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I don't envy you - a jackknife move takes some skillful driving. I would avoid this if possible.
Could you drive up on a neighbor's property to get a straighter shot? Also, would it be possible to position the trailer, unhitch, and move the tv to a better location then rehitch?
For tight moves you might consider a front receiver. Makes this move a lot easier. Also there are dollies built for tight trailer moves.
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Stressor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Joined: 05/29/2001
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I would tell you, but I have never been able to get it right except by accident, and my best efforts have twice required the assistance of a tow service. Good luck.
Milton Findley (and Kerene)
A small piece of my mind...
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Jayco-noslide
Galesburg,Il., USA
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Joined: 11/24/2004
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If you had a little trouble with the much shorter hybrid, then I'm afraid you have cause to worry. We have a similiar situation going from a 17 ft. hybrid to just a 25 ft 5th wheel. 1st few times I thought we had made a terrible mistake. Now, after several years of practice, it is manageable but never easy. Staying near the middle of the street seems best but I have the drive-way on my right. Place hands at bottom of steering wheel and turn the same direction you want the back of the trailer to go but don't over turn. To correct, pull forward often but not very far. That's about all i can help.
Jayco-noslide
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Drippin
Dripping Springs, TX
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Joined: 08/09/2005
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Due to the placement of my mailbox across the street I end up with my driveway on the right as I approach. But if you can approach so it is on the left you will have a better view of where the trailer wheels are as you back in. Have your DW stop and let her know to always keep one of your mirrors in sight so you can see her. If she can not see the mirror you will not be able to see her. Have her signal if you are about to drop off the drive or back in to something. Take your time and get out to look as required.
Good luck.
A man, his wife, a son and Cody the Goldendoodle.
2008 Laredo 284BHS, 2001 Chevy Sliverado 2500HD 4X4 4.10, Equal-i-zer, Primus, Subaru RG4300iS
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DualCam
Sisters, OR
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Joined: 05/24/2008
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Use the whole street and make sure to turn the back end of the trailer in the correct direction. Doing this should help you reduce the angle from 90 to something between 45 and 65, which should be much more managable.
Just go slow and make small corrections as you go - you'll be fine! You have an advantage in that you already know how to back with a trailer.
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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Joined: 10/06/2000
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It's going to depend a great deal on how wide your street is... If you have the width, I'd stay about 2-3 feet from the curb on your left and then execute a partial turn to the right to put the TT on an angle across the street... The end of the TT should be about 5-10' from the end of the driveway when you start to back... As you begin to back cut your TV steering hard in the proper direction and watch the TT as it begins to turn and adjust your steering acordingly...
I have a similar situation with my 31' footer and putting on the side of the garage with a chain link fence on the other side... I have to back to my blind side so I have to watch the corner of the garage closely when backing and I have a 90 degree to right rather than the left...
I can usually "grease it in" as I've done it for 2 years now and the 31 footer isn't much longer than my previous 27 footer, but sometimes I'm a bit off and I jockey it back and forth a time or two to move it over 6" or so - - - but my side street is wide enough and I usually do not have cars parked on the street so I can swing wide when backing without interference...
Longer TT's are easier to back because of the longer moment arm from the wheels to the ball, they respond slower than a shorter wheel base TT, but you'll have to get a feel for how much steering input is required on the new rig... I would suggest you buy a few parking cones and go to a Wal Mart lot or the like and see how you do... Of course, you could practice in your own driveway as well 
Good Luck - practice makes perfect 
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
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Diabs
Toronto, Ontario
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Joined: 03/29/2006
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Depending on which side of the driveway you want your trailer parked.
You should drive close to the curb as you approach your driveway...when you start to pass your driveway, head for the opposite side of the street...going slow of course.
You should be on the other side of the driveway were the trailer needs to be....(if you can visualize it...lol)
Start backing in slowy cutting the coner of your driveway...as the trailer wheels hit your driveway and the back of your trailer is still not hitting anything...start turning the wheel as to jack-knife and you should be close, with some fine tuning of pulling forward and reverse...after 10-50 times of doing it...you'll do it in one shot!
Any camping is good camping!
DH & DW , DD x 2
2008 Salem 27RB LTD
Yukon XL 1500 5.3SLT
Prodigy BC, DC Reese WD, Scan Gauge II
Days camped in 2008 -34-
All packed away for the season....
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kknowlton
Wisconsin Border Country, IL
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Joined: 05/27/2005
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I was really worried about this when we traded our 23' HTT for a 34' TT last month. However, it hasn't been that much harder to get our TT in the driveway - granted, have done it only 2-3 times so far.  We are fortunate in that almost no one parks on the street here, and we have a long driveway, which allows for position correction once we've made the turn into the driveway. However, we have a 90 degree angle too. We found that starting basically from the middle of the street makes sense for us; more to the opposite side from our driveway & I might end up swinging the front of the truck into the ditch  ; more to our side of the street and we're more likely to jackknife. The big challenge for us is to miss the ditches and the mailboxes (which are on both sides of the street.) Oh, and a good spotter helps!! Good luck!
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spepi
Mansfield MA
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Joined: 01/11/2006
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take a picture and post....here is my driveway....
DW, 2 Teen's, 2 Dogs
05 Chevy Trailblazer (I know...its small)
3.42 Gears
Prodigy Brake Control
Reese 800lb Weight Dist Bars
Dual Cam Sway Contol
2008 Rockwood 2701ss
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