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06-14-2018, 05:24 AM
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#41
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Washington
Posts: 21
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Been towing since around the age of 21. Open car haulers to move project vehicles around, utility trailers for scrapping metal and moving furniture with friends, jet skis, towed a big wedge gooseneck car hauler once for a friend (first time that large, gooseneck, and through roundabouts). Worked my way into my old 21’ checkmate, and now a 35’ fifth wheel. I even get to move 48’ semi trailers around the yard at work from time to time. Especially when painting one.... like threading a needle to back it into my paint booth. I’ve been very seriouly considering towing double to bring a golf cart with us when camping too. I respect it, but it doesn’t scare me. I didn’t start earlier because there was never a need to. When my kids get old enough they will start towing almost as soon as they start driving (pending natural skill level). I feel as though it’s basically Part of learning to drive. Maybe one day I’ll even teach the wife!
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06-14-2018, 07:20 AM
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#42
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Rockett, TX
Posts: 481
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My first experience towing at 16 was coming up I95 from Virginia Beach in Dad's '70 Caprice towing a Pop Up. Started raining, trailer started fishtailing, Dad asking what the H I was doing. When we got home (lived in MD at the time) and opened the trailer it was found that "somehow" some items had been packed in the rear of the instead of the front.
__________________
Jerry & Debbie
with Fur Babies Sasha & Sam
2018 Alpine 3401RS
2019 Ford F350 SRW
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06-15-2018, 04:43 AM
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#43
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Puyallup
Posts: 244
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I'm a newbie and baby at towing!
I tent camped for 60 years, then that wasn't so much fun anymore, towed a small Forester popup trailer the past two years, and this year got me a 20' 6,000 lb 18RS Outback trailer with a 2014 Ram 1500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4 5.7L V8 Hemi 395 HP & 410 TQ w/392 gears to pull it with.
Yup, a newbie and sure appreciate this forum.
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07-14-2018, 08:20 PM
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#44
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Grenfell
Posts: 187
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Well, maybe this doesn't count, but I was 18 when I first drove a semi, hauling cattle into Winnipeg, about a 600 mile round trip. I am 70 now. Started pulling tt about five years ago, logged probably somewhere around 30,000 miles or more since then. Semis are actually easier to drive, in my humble opinion, especially the modern ones with big horsepower and way nicer cabs.
__________________
2020 F150 ECO SC & 2019 Cougar 22RBS HT
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07-26-2018, 07:40 AM
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#45
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Rainier, Oregon but my heart is still in Arizona and my wife's heart is in Oregon.
Posts: 232
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Late bloomer, I started 2 years ago at the age of 65.
__________________
Larry/Sharon Ellison
U.S. Navy Retired
Retired from Armstrong World Industries
Retired Period, But Not From Life
2007 Toyota Tundra
2017 Keystone Hideout 22KBSWE
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07-26-2018, 07:47 AM
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#46
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Puyallup
Posts: 244
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LarrySharon
Late bloomer, I started 2 years ago at the age of 65.
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Ha! I started two years ago myself at age 63. After tent camping all my life, got a Forester Popup Trailer, then traded it in for a Keystone 18RS Outback with a Ram Truck to tow it this year. I'm I playfully made fun of Mom & Dad when they switched from tent camping to trailer camping when they hit 60. Dad's gone now, Mom now 90, can't do any camping, doesn't stray far from retirement home. I do take her on day drives from time to time, last year to Mt Hoods Trillium Lake.
__________________
2015 Starcraft AR-ONE 14RB
2014 Ram 1500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4
5.7L V8 Hemi 395 HP, 410 TQ 8-speed auto, w/3.92 rear ratio
K&N 71-1561 Air Intake w/FlowMaster Exhaust system.
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07-26-2018, 07:59 AM
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#47
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: St. Louis, Mo
Posts: 13
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35 - with a pop-up, then 3 years later a travel trailer and then 8 years later and even larger travel trailer. I'm only up to a 29', but I don't think that's too bad for a girl!
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07-26-2018, 08:34 AM
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#48
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BeckyMax
35 - with a pop-up, then 3 years later a travel trailer and then 8 years later and even larger travel trailer. I'm only up to a 29', but I don't think that's too bad for a girl!
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We were in Myrtle Beach, when the park is full the sites are tight backing into, a good size 5th wheel pulls up, a guy 6'2"+ gets out, the woman 5' nothing gets behind the wheel, he stands right at the drivers headlight & points, she never looks away from him & she nails the spot dead on the 1st shot. We were so amazed that we applauded her when she got out.
I have trouble trying to figure what my DW is trying to signal me back there waving her arms like she's swatting bugs.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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07-26-2018, 11:24 AM
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#49
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Utah
Posts: 12
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First time I towed I was about 8....yeah a farm kid. We were out in the field and I could not reach the pedals. My Grandfather put it in granny gear and put a rock on the gas pedal....
__________________
385 Fuzion F350 DRW 4X4 We dont race on Elvis's Birthday
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07-26-2018, 06:59 PM
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#50
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Olathe, KS
Posts: 124
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Young
Grew up farm kid. Towed things to and from the field as young as 12. Several miles but realitely easy. The big test came at the last minute one summer. We were customer wheat harvesters. I was 16 and going to drive a large boxed wheat truck that summer, but only from fields to elevator. Not pulling anything from town to town. The day before we were to leave Kansas for Texas the other driver quite. He and my dad where driving the trucks pulling the combines down to Texas. Basically the next morning, Dad put my 16 yo butt in the seat and said stay behind me. Not too close. So I drove that truck pulling that combine from Kansas to Texas down the interstate and through Wichita, OKC, Wichita Falls, etc. all 25,000 pounds of the truck and 30,000 pounds on the combine at 12 plus feet wide at 16 years old. Driving on Farm tags. Not sure why Mom didn’t go through with the threatened divorse ofter that one.
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07-26-2018, 08:14 PM
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#51
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Oak Harbor
Posts: 127
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Thought it was inappropriate to ask age and belt size.
I have been towing utility trailers since I was about 16. Just started the big stuff a month ago; at 54.
__________________
2018 RAM 2500 Crew Cab 4X4
2021 Cougar 24RDS
USN (retired)
Retired Law Enforcement
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09-22-2018, 07:03 PM
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#52
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: meridian
Posts: 78
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans
As soon as he got his license would've been a good time to start, if not sooner.
I was about 10 or 12 in my granddads '49 International 1 ton 4 speed & a steering as big around as the tires.
In my opinion these new vehicles that back trailers for you is a HUGE mistake, looks like an accident waiting to happen. If you don't want to learn to back it up don't get a trailer.
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HA HA
Thats true. I start at 14 on the farm.
I was 17 when my 60 year old neighbor asked me to back up his 32ft boat in his back yard. Never to early.
Now when we camp i seat and watch people backing up and can tell right away if they just started to tow or they are pros.
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09-22-2018, 07:30 PM
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#53
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: prophetstown
Posts: 318
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Let him do it, my dad had me in a semi at 16. I remember dad always saying,,, remember you can't corner like you can in a car, you can't slow down as quick as you'd like,, and you sure as h cant stop as quick,, so just use your head. Looking back,, damn good advice
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09-23-2018, 03:23 AM
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#54
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Markham, Ontario
Posts: 1,942
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My first truck, my first trailer, at age 54. I did start learning to drive at 12. Commuted for years, driven a Zamboni for 35+ years as well as some other light heavy equipment. I am enjoying it, Immensely.
__________________
Dan & Serena
2019 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD SLE
2015 Cougar X-Lite 29 RET
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09-24-2018, 05:02 AM
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#55
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Sammamish
Posts: 256
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When I was 16 and had been driving about 6 months, my car was an automatic, big 1958 Chrysler. My father drove a 1964 Chrysler Wagon with 3 speed stick. One day he had me go with him to the store and after handed me the keys. I told him I didn't know how to drive a stick, and he said it was about time I learned, so I had to drive it home. About a week later I found out why the hurry. Where he worked was having a surplus equipment/furniture sale and he wanted me to bring the trailer. So my first time was pulling a 5'x10' utility trailer my second time on a stick shift, in San Francisco.
__________________
2017 Springdale 202QBWE, 2017 F150 XLT 5.0
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09-24-2018, 06:32 AM
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#56
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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Don't really remember, but probably 7 or 8 pulling hay trailers with the tractor. Got my DL at 14.
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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10-13-2018, 05:22 PM
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#57
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ok City, OKlahoma
Posts: 14
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4 years ago at age 64...before that didn’t know what a 5th wheel was. Now have over 13000 miles on our 2016 Cougar Xlite 27rks.
__________________
2014 F250 4X4 6.7 PSD
Pro Series 16k Manual Slider
Firestone 5000# Bags
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10-13-2018, 05:45 PM
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#58
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Farmington
Posts: 109
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Didn't get my driver's license until 18, but was driving, and towing utility trailers, several years before that. Maybe 13-14. Drove Semi at about 24, with a Chauffeur's license, prior to CDL's. Horse and stock trailers since, as needed. Had one previous travel trailer longer than the one I have now, maybe 28 feet, but didn't tow it much.
Have had the 24 foot Passport for about 3-4 months now. I really enjoy towing it.
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10-13-2018, 07:04 PM
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#59
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Muskegon
Posts: 356
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My daughter was 15 with her learners permit when I started her. Rig at the time was a Chevy CC, 10 1/2' camper and a 4 horse trailer. The summer she was 17 she even drove it by herself to a show 150 mi one way
__________________
07 GMC CC LB dually LBZ, Idaho Rob EFI, DeeZee boards, 50 gal TransferFlow inbed tank
05 32' Montana Mountaineer 5th wheel 2 slides
1941 Ford cpe 454/700R4
1917 T roadster 270 Hemi/4 spd
34' car trailer w/63" semi sleeper on the front
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01-30-2019, 10:16 AM
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#60
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: near lancaster, pa
Posts: 57
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when i was 14 yrs old i wanted a boat .. mother could not manage a trailer ... had to back it inside a garage that left 2" on each side for trailer fenders ... my mother made me a deal, i had to drive and back the boat and she would buy it ... i started towing a boat trailer at 14 yrs of age .. only 2 yrs before it was legal
__________________
2019 Cougar 29RDB 5th wheel
2018 Passport Ultra Lite Grand Touring 2520rl
2014 Passport Ultra Lite Grand Touring 2200rb
2010 Passport Ultra Lite Grand Touring 195rb
2019 Ram 1500 Larime Hemi w/eTorque quad cab
2019 Ram 2500 Big Horn 6.4L Hemi 5th whl prep
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