Have you ever had 'one of those days'?

[Dave W]

Have you ever had 'one of those days' with your towed RV?

I had one on Sunday while backing into my driveway. It all began when we arrived home from our last weekend at our usual summer CG hangout. I attempted - many times - to back our 5er into its usual parking place. Mind you, this is a nasty place to try to put any trailer, but between the length of the trailer (38 ft) and the fact that my truck is a long bed (23 ft)and we live on a cul-de-sac, center house of three and the 10 foot wide ~20 degree angled entry driveway (wrong way for ease of backing) from a 20 foot wide street with a center island with two large trees opposite the driveway entrance all adds to the fun. To make things even more interesting, the driveway has a 3-4 percent uphill slope then a dogleg to the right where the camper is supposed to go. I have probably made other attempts to back a trailer up that drive with more back and forth moves, but never as many lengthy excursions on the lawn as told by the interesting dusty tire tracks left on the driveway's surface. The 5er is in its proper place, I didn't knock the mail box or post lamp down. I didn't hit the power pole or the tree next to the drive tho from those tire tracks, appear to have tried. Best of all, my wife is still speaking to me though the neighbors all hid (snickering or worse, laughing loudly, most likely)

What is most embarrassing is that I can usually back a trailer almost anywhere with no problem. It's our @#$% driveway that continues to baffle my senses and defy many years of 5th wheel ownership and backing (successfully!!) into tight places.

Oh well, thanks for listening. I'm on the road to full recovery

[chuckster57]

I hear ya!! And mine is a straight shot into the back yard. My excuse: I move stuff at work with a forklift. And I have to re learn with the CC,LB. thankfully you didn't damage anything.

[hankpage]

Been there ...... having flash backs while reading. Glad all is okay, Hank

[Desert185]

We've all had bad days. Thankfully, we now live on what used to be a cattle ranch. You can u-turn a triple in our front yard. You have my admiration.

[Tbos]

We have all been through those days. Cul-de-sacs are no fun. I live on one too and have a weird driveway. At least I don't have the trees or uphill. At least it was at home and your wife is still talking to you through your neighbors.

[GaryWT]

We have all had them. Once going into a pull through site, the site was short and the roads were thin. You would think it would be easy but not always.

At home I am lucky, we are on a cul d sac but no island and I am on the left so I just pull up the street, cut across the entire road and roll back into the driveway. Makes me look like I know what I am doing every time. LOL

[gkainz]

yep - had those days. Fortunately I've had days where I made it look easy (and had witnesses to that, too)! Just hope the good days outnumber the bad.

[Dave W]

Thanks for the 'encouragement'.
I've successfully backed TTs, a car hauler and even three different 5ers including this one up that driveway on the blackest nights and even with rain. Sunday was ---- not pretty. I think our two pups even went into hiding.

[Pull Toy]

If in doubt... straighten it out!

I remember the time I straightened it out so many times, we had to rake out, and reseed the lawn. LOL! We had more sod on the blacktop than we had on the lawn.

BUT WE DID IT!

Yes, in other words, we all have had days like that.... but you got her done.

Congrats,

[hankaye]

Dave W. Howdy;

BTDT to many times to attempt to count. For what its worth, I think it all has
to do with being familiar with the location. You pull in to an unfamiliar CG or
other location and your senses go into alert mode (even after a hard days
drive). You get home and you get just a bit relaxed, things start out good
but after the first pull-up you start to tense (and not in a good way), and
the becomes history. Nothing we can do about it. Just set the parking break
and po the top on a cold Adult Beverage and have a good chuckle...

hankaye

[flybouy]

I park our 35' TT in our driveway typically with one "pull forward and straight out once". I have a a driveway that is fairly steep towards the garage and the TT fits if the back is very close to garage door and the curb side wheels are right on the edge of the concrete. Then I can fit the F150 King Ranch beside it and still exit the truck, my F 250 gets to rest on the street. Why am I telling you this, because when I back in the utility trailer (4' X 8') the show begins! Even with back up cameras that little so and so will jack knife as soon as you blink an eye. More than once I've conceded and unhitched it on the street and pushed it in by hand...... We all have those days

[CaptnJohn]

I have too many of those days with the 5er. Have zero with the boat and near zero with a TT but our 5er hates to back up. When on the road looking for an overnight stop my wife starts about 3:30 calling nearby CGs looking for a pull-through site. Depending on my mood a 450 mile day can easily turn to 750 without backing into a site.

[Ken / Claudia]

Yes and just last week. I normally use the F350 to tow the boat. I picked up the boat after some engine work using my 2002 trail blazer. With the f350 1 or 2 attempts at it is parked where I need it. I tried around 10 times with the TB to park it into that same place. It makes a big difference with the longer wheel base of the f350 vs TB but, also the smaller vehicle lacks a lot of the vision that the bigger truck provides while backing. Even at the boat ramp backing with the smaller vehicle is harder. Any guys backing a RV with a smaller suv and can do it, my hats off to you.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

Yes and just last week. I normally use the F350 to tow the boat. I picked up the boat after some engine work using my 2002 trail blazer. With the f350 1 or 2 attempts at it is parked where I need it. I tried around 10 times with the TB to park it into that same place. It makes a big difference with the longer wheel base of the f350 vs TB but, also the smaller vehicle lacks a lot of the vision that the bigger truck provides while backing. Even at the boat ramp backing with the smaller vehicle is harder. Any guys backing a RV with a smaller suv and can do it, my hats off to you.

In my case, that 172" long CC wheelbase and my driveway are not made for each other as the combo doesn't react quick enough. The short WB of the last truck was better for parking pretty long 5th wheels.

I agree with a small SUV and a TT. We watched a young couple last weekend struggle for an hour in a pull thru across from our usual seasonal site. Instead of making another circle around the CG, they sawed back and forth to get it right. In their defense, it was the first time out for them and in a brand new ultralite TT

[jgilliam1955]

I use a motorized trailer mover. To scared to try to back it in with a vehicle.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by jgilliam1955

I use a motorized trailer mover. To scared to try to back it in with a vehicle.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Unfortunately with a long 5er, not much of a choice unless you have a modified fork lift

[gkainz]

Originally Posted by jgilliam1955

I use a motorized trailer mover.

Which one?

[SAABDOCTOR]

I HAVE a small 6x10 ft trailer and i move it around in my drive way with my john deer garden tractor with a front hitch. no looking over your shoulder.