A little help please...for the the trailer backing challenged

[parrothead365]

So, I haven't stayed at the Fort for way too long now and the last time was in a 35'class A. Now I'm pulling a 39' fifth wheel and I'm not the best at backing the beast yet. BUT I'm really Jones'in to get back to the Fort. Are there any better loops than others that are easier to get into? I am assuming there are still no pull-thru sites. Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

 

[AnotherAlice]

Me and DH take walkie talkies with us so he can hear me "direct" him into the sight without everyone else having to hear us! Thank God for that!

 

[parrothead365]

We use these too. I'm just not sure how easy backing 39' of trailer with a full size quad cab truck will be at the Fort. If I have enough wiggle room I will be fine. This is just 10 more feet than I'm used to. Our last RV was a 29' fifth wheel.

 

[retired and happy]

They had a couple of pull thrus a couple years back, but closed them off, so everything is back in now. The premium sites have a much wider concrete entry that makes backing in easier. The concrete is also longer and wider so you have more latitude as to where to park. It also makes for more parking space up front for your tow vehicle. Some sites are at the "corners" of the loops so backing in is close to being a straight back-in. Sorry, I can't call any numbers off the top of my head.

 

[parrothead365]

Thanks

 

[becky1960]

I have found the Preminum sites so far are the easiest. When they put in the preminum sites I noticed they also cleared out some of the obstacles like small fences directly across from driveway and moved some of the old garbage cans they were permanately in the ground...

 

[Magicbus]

I'm always impressed when I see someone back those rigs into place on the first try. Not sure if I have the patience.

 

[devores]

I have a 40' fiver and a mega cab, so Im about as long as they come. I have not found a site I couldnt get into at the fort yet. I would avoid the 300 loop for sure. I got in ok, but had to have the sites acrossed the street move thier vehicles so I could get out.

The 500 loop is mostley good and 541/543 are the easiest. Pretty much a straight back with minimal turning. Stick to the premium loops. They are more expensive, but well worth the money (saves your marriage too). They are easier to back into and offer more "living" space for the longer rigs. The 700 (if I remember correctly) is a good one as well.

Dont let the fear of backing drive you away from the fort though. There is always someone around who will offer help and with some practice, they are not much of a challenge.

 

[disney4dan]

Call Donnie, he'd be glad to help!

I know what you're saying though, I was amazed at how much of a difference there was switching to a truck with a longer wheelbase for my TT. Backing into sites is a lot more challenging now.

 

[medic9016]

Find an empty parking lot and practice. Take your time and you will get the hang of it in no time.

 

[stacktester]

The trick is to pull about 20' past your site and get the trailer turning towards the site and let the truck follow the trailer in. This is for a 5'er. A TT is much easier than a 5'er. If someone has there car on the edge of the road don't hesitate to ask them to move. Get your obsticles out of the way before you get stressed. I also use the radios in tight spots.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Our TT is about 35ft from ball to spare tire, being towed by a crew cab 4WD truck. Some sites are a little more a challenge and some are just flat out of the question with this setup. IIRC there are a couple on 1400 loop near the canal that were 90degrees to the road and there was no physical way I was gonna get in it (although I tired it once just to say I did) we went back to the front and asked for another site and were given one with no problem.
I will say that over the years I must have been on the crummy site list. Last Christmas we got the 600 site next to the sidewalk and before that we got a site in the 1600 that was designed by an orthopedic surgeon that needed more work. I am pretty much all done taking sites that arent right for me, I have been there enough times that I am gonna start throwing a hissy fit if I dont get one I like.

 

[Fort Fanatics]

Over the 4th of July weekend, I decided to take our 32' fiver to the Fort, along with my mother, sister and niece. My DH is currently working in Alaska, so being that Im a female, driving our Ford F-350 quad cab, with long bed, I was able to back that sucker right in! I agree with most, that I too had one of the premium sites, in the 500 loop. I created some sort of crowd as my neighbors were all out watching, and oohhhhing and ahhing as I was able to back that in in one swoop! We used to have a 40' class A that my DH always made me drive, and that was much easier to back in. It is and can be a bit tricky with a TT or fiver, but your best bet is in one of the premium sites. Much more room to work with! Good luck!!

 

[krhewitt]

400 loop isn't bad either. We have a 37ft fiver and a 1 ton dually. We got into 424 fairly easily in June. Room to park the truck too without feeling like we were sticking out in the road. I agree with several that said stay away from 300 loop. We had problems getting a 27 ft in there back in '04. (There may have been updates since then). We had to back it in where the door was over the tent pad to make room for the truck.

 

[parrothead365]

Thanks for all the help Hope to see you guys at the Fort soon!

 

[Cindy F]

I'm always impressed when I see someone back those rigs into place on the first try. Not sure if I have the patience.

Me too...especially since it took us quite awhile and the intervention of a more experienced camper to get our popup backed into a spot

He was very patient with us and explained exactly how to do it, he also helped us put up the awning when we couldn't figure out all the poles. We took him and his wife flowers and a gift card to thank them. They were so very kind and helpful to us.

Just wanted to send a shout out to George and his wife

OP, good luck backing in and I hope if you run into any trouble, there's a camper around that's as kind hearted and helpful as "our" George was!

 

[ghester]

My DH can back but I can't direct My plan is to take a look around and say sir will help direct my DH into our site so we can stay married for the rest of our trip. Were campers, campers are the nicest people.

 

[RocklandRVers]

Find an empty parking lot and practice. Take your time and you will get the hang of it in no time.

I totally agree that practice makes perfect. I sometimes tote a 16' cargo trailer (particularly when we drag down our Christmas decorations) and until we got it, I had very little experience with backing. So, just like this suggestion, I practiced. I practiced hooking it up. I practiced hauling it down the road loaded up and over a long bridge notoriously subject to crosswinds to see if it would sway. The most of my practice was in an empty area of a Walmart parking lot backing into spaces while DS "guided" me. As I got braver, I got good enough to slide in between cars. I got so good that I could back that sucker anywhere. Once we got fouled up in a Motel 6 narrow parking lot that dead ended with no way to turn around. It must have been 1/4 of a mile to back out, but I was able to go straight backward to the entrance to find a off to the side that would fit the rig.

 

[figmentfan1]

This is why I thank God for my DH each and every time we camp. I can't back anything attached to the truck to save my life. He backs it in our 26' TT on our long bed truck with no problem... probably comes from driving those big trucks in the USMC. Ohhh rah!

JE

 

[Magicbus]

It's assumed that backing a 40' MH into a site is just routine if you've driven a bus. The reality is that WDW buses hardly ever need to back up. If I have any expertise in backing up, it all comes from backing the MH, which I usually have to do without a spotter. And the rear view camera is not much help. It looks cool in the cockpit though.