No Room To Turn

[Hballer21]

Living in the mountains of NC, we have very little flat ground. We just built a new home and carved out a spot for a barn and RV parking area . As a result, we have a parking spot for our 5er next to the barn. The problem is making the 180 degree turn at the top of the drive to exit the property. It was originally going to be wider, but with the stability of the property paramount, the grading had to me minimized on the turn.

So, that being said, here is my thought to turn the 31’ 5er: Replace the two feet on the landing gear with heavy duty casters. Pull the rig up to the top of the 180 degree turn. Lower the gear and chock the tires (really well) and unhook the truck. Now, attach a cable to the pin on the RV and pivot it, keeping the back of the rear wheels chocked so it pivots on the inside back wheels in the curve. Once in proper position, chock both back and front wheels so there’s no movement. Reattach the truck, raise the gear and head out.

This is the best solution I have thought of. Other options are keeping it in a remote storage lot or buying one of those industrial tugs that are about $5k to tow it around the 180 degree curve.

Thoughts?

[flybouy]

I'm no fifth wheel expert but I can assure you the landing gear is not meant to have lateral forces imposed upon it using it as a dolly. What you are propsing sounds like a disaster. Pulling it with a "cable" means you have no controll in stopping it. The forces of using the landing gear to pivot would likely end up with bent landing gear and a twistef or broken frame.

[JRTJH]

no !!! No !!! NO !!!!!!!!!!

All you'll need to do is catch a rock with one of those casters, bind it from turning and buckle the front landing gear !!!!! All of that resistance to turning is going to be carried laterally by two 2x2 square tubes that have holes drilled every 1.25" on two sides.

Then, think about the tremendous lateral resistance created by 4 tires, on a 33" or 35" wheelbase, hung on thin steel straps welded under the frame rails, hanging down 3", with springs "bolted to the bottom of those straps, as you "try to pull the trailer around by a cable. Not only will you be "sliding the tires by making them skid", but you'll be "applying forces that are going to bend or tear those steel spring hangers off the frame rails" ....

What you're trying to do will result in bent landing gear, potential front frame damage and, if you're trying to do this on blacktop or concrete (where the tires have good traction) add tire tread/carcass separation issues (interply shear) and potentially bent spindles/broken bearings, damaged springs/wetbolts, cracked welds on the spring hangers or even bent frame rails.....

Then, consider the "total wreck of the day" if/when that trailer starts rolling "with the cable" and you have no way to stop it as the trailer slides into your truck or whatever you're using to pull the trailer, and the cable folds to "just let it all happen"...

Not a good idea !!!!!

[JOEJ]

Back it in.

[Hballer21]

That’s exactly why I asked FIRST, lol. I am looking for a better alternative. When we first bought it, I backed it down into our main drive. That is a little over 1/4 mile curving around on a mountain road. I promised myself we would get a motor home (no, not that!!) rather than do that again.

I appreciate and value all your input. Aside from a remote storage lot, I welcome any ideas.

[vampress_me]

If you have to, consider dropping the camper (on its landing gear ) , reposition the truck at a different angle, rehook up, and continue the turn to where you need.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Hballer21

That’s exactly why I asked FIRST, lol. I am looking for a better alternative. When we first bought it, I backed it down into our main drive. That is a little over 1/4 mile curving around on a mountain road. I promised myself we would get a motor home (no, not that!!) rather than do that again.

I appreciate and value all your input. Aside from a remote storage lot, I welcome any ideas.

If you could post some pictures or even a sketch with some measurements it might help folks vizualize the situation, otherwise it's a guessing game and you'll get everything from "just drive around the house" to "just make a 3 point turn".

[Hballer21]

I’ll post pictures tomorrow when it’s light out. Thanks for the help.

[slow]

Not sure of your budget, but here is a proven option: Railroad style turntable.

[Badbart56]

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...t=0&ajaxserp=0

Maybe not the cheapest solution but.....

[wrvond]

I watched several YouTube videos of people happily pushing their horse trailers, travel trailers and even fifth wheels around in the street and up their driveways with a Parkit 360.
So I purchased their Parkit 360 Force Ten - claimed to be able to move up to a 10,000 pound trailer around easily on up to a 6° slope.
I tried to move my 7,000 pound travel trailer with it but it wouldn't budge.
Now I have a Can'tParkit360 sitting in my basement.

[Hballer21]

Here is the layout. The 5er sits to the right of the building. I have to come up the hill and make a very tight turn to get up the road.

[Hballer21]

I looked at the writ up for it. You know, with a simple bracket, those will move private planes. I’ve seen similar tugs at an airport I used to go to. Aircraft related stuff goes for MORE $$ than RV.

[Hballer21]

Here is the layout. The 5er sits to the right of the building. I have to come up the hill and make a very tight turn to get up the road.

[JeepersCampers]

Turn it around at the barn. I'd gravel the back of the barn if you have room back there. Turn around behind the barn and back it up to the house then drive forward down the driveway.

[bsmith0404]

Hard to tell from the pic, but looks like there’s a lot of grass, I’d be widening the driveway and make a wider swing. Looks like it’s only a problem when leaving and trying to make the left turn.

[Hballer21]

This is mountainous property. It’s almost 35° angle down. The ground is soft as well. I looked at grading to possibly give me a turning area. They said the ground isn’t stable enough for 10,000 lb + vehicles. It would probably be cheaper to put that train turntable in.

[hankpage]

What I would do is look for a used fork lift or bucket loader/tractor that would handle your pin weight. The tractor would have other uses around the property and could be used to bring the 5r past your tight turn also. JM2¢, Hank

[wrvond]

Originally Posted by hankpage

What I would do is look for a used fork lift or bucket loader/tractor that would handle your pin weight. The tractor would have other uses around the property and could be used to bring the 5r past your tight turn also. JM2¢, Hank

Genius!

[rlh1957]

The landing gear is not built to take lateral or side force nor having caster wheels attached and rolled. If it were that easy the manf yard would have developed quick connect wheeled gear to roll around the yard.
They don’t, the tow and move on the yard with fifth wheel hitch on tractor or fork lift.

Landing gear is to hold nose up when parked thats all.

You are dealing with a old issue that has plagued us.
Maybe you can figure out a safe and inexpensive solution. Don’t forget to patent.