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 2/28/2010 9:50 PM
 

Soooo, just how long does it take to get used to backing a trailer? I can back it, just not necessarily where it should go! I go slow and hubby and I have had help from someone in the know, but it just seems to darn hard! Practice makes perfect...I guess.

AndiJean

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 2/28/2010 11:08 PM
 

you need to develope signals that you two understand! It takes practice and more practice easier to pull in if possible have dh or yourself look it over and see what it looks like then those wild gestures might make since to him...you may go and practice in a big parking lot...what are you backing up? Oh and those cameras also help when they work

sheila

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 3/1/2010 12:59 AM
 

Dan teaches driving training on RV's and I always see and hear him tell the students to put their hand at the bottom of the wheel and turn either left or right. Trailers and 5th wheels you have to jockey back and forth LOTS of times to get it where you want to go. I think 5th wheels are easier thatn trailers and motorhomes are the easiest.

With 5th wheels and trailers it is hard to give dirrections because most of the time the driver cannot see you in his mirrors like a motorhome can and rarely do they have back up mirrors like the motorhomes. We suggest walkie talkies with the 5th wheels & trailers for communication.

Directions I give Dan or he gives me is

left, right, straighten out your wheels, go forward, come back, stop


Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away
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 3/1/2010 7:01 AM
 

Dan is right. When you leave your hands on the top of the steering wheel, you have to turn it the OPPOSITE way from where you want that trailer to go. That's just not natural! If you put hands on the bottom of the steering wheel, you turn the way you want the trailer to go.

Practice will help, and it will get better in time. It's also easier if you can select a space that you drive past it to the left and then back in. You can see where you are going better, and aren't backing to a "blind side". The easiest is to ask for a pull-through and even many years seasoned drivers do that.

It is always good to have a spotter as there are places on that RV you simply can't see, and need someone back there to check on things for you. I signal like Jenny does. I stand where I can see Milt in the mirrors. If I can't see him, he can't , see me. I also signal slowly as the mirror he is looking in is small. I move my left hand to the left and my right hand to the right to designate movements in those directions... Both hands held up mean come straight back. A hand up with palm facing him means Stop. Often, I have him stop so I can walk to the other side of the trailer to check out how we are doing. If I throw things on the ground and fall down and kick my feet that means we have messed up bad!! Grin.

Hang in there. Y'all will get your routine down pat with practice.

Happy Travels!

Joella


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 3/1/2010 8:52 AM
 

Sheila, We're backing up a 27' Airstream. I feel like all thumbs sometimes! We do have the walkie talkies...big help!!!! We'll just keep practicing and practicing and practicing....Wish there was a school nearby to teach us the ins and outs. I'm sure we'll do fine...with time. Just got a little nervous!

AndiJean

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 3/1/2010 10:54 AM
 

I agree with Jenny and Joella - get used to having your hands at the bottom of the steering wheel NOW! I DIDN'T learn that early on and now I'm always moving my hands are around and saying to myself - is this the position for the way I want to go - or the opposite! Pick a position and work with it until it feels natural. And it will! Yup - time and patience. I think however, that a TT is easier than a fiver. With a fiver you can't correct the line and you just have to start over - with a TT you can usually muscle it around. They just respond more quickly. That's usually a good thing, but not always..........:)


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 3/1/2010 3:47 PM
 
I have a 28' Airstream and I had to learn to back it up because I have a very narrow driveway with a big tree on one side and a telephone pole on the other. I didn't have a choice! It's a 45 degree turn in a very narrow street. I went to a vacant parking lot and practised for three hours until I could put it right where I wanted it. I found that if I aligned the back bumper of the trailer with the edge of the driveway before I started my turn I could get it in right the first time. Do put your hands on the bottom of the steering wheel and then when you get to the point where you can't see and aren't sure on the blind side, stop, get out and walk around the rig so you can see where you need to correct. One of my problems is that I was oversteering - start the turn and then let the TV follow the trailer. Stop, get out and look, pull forward as much as necessary to straighten it out. A helpful thing is to learn the position of your steering wheel when the wheels are straight - then if you keep it in that postion and the trailer is aligned straight wth the TV you will go straight back. Hope this helps.


Louisa & Jasper Joy 28'2007 Airstream 2002 GMC 4x4 5.3 liter shortbed pickup
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 3/1/2010 10:22 PM
 

Post HIjack! Hey Louisa...been wondering how you have been with the snowstorms going on there! I see you have electricity at least! Let us know how you are, ok?


Alice
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 3/2/2010 6:46 AM
 

Yes, Louisa--- we have been missing you! I know winters are tough and depressing with driving to work in adverse conditions and added chores of snow shoveling. Please know we have been thinking of you--- and again, missing you!

Hang in there....Spring IS coming!

Joella


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 3/2/2010 3:32 PM
 

I have haven't learned to back up. Done it a couple of time with lots of help. Laughed when I was readying Joella's tips for how she signals Milt. Thought 'and if she falls down and is lying on the ground not moving - he backed over her'.


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