Newbie Rv owner

[MadBeach]

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the information I have received from reading all the threads. I really appreciate you all taking the time to post and with such detail and good humor. I have been to Disney about 40 times, and have tent camped before. My husband just retired from the Police Department so we got a travel trailer. I am finding it a big learning curve, from hooking it up, driving, and the dreaded backing into a space. I have the inside all kitted out, and it felt like setting up my first apartment minus the furniture. It is funny I have a running tally of the weight that I am putting into the trailer. I am having fun with it, but I am a bit anxious as well. The 30 foot travel trailer didn't look very big on the dealers lot, surrounded by all those behemoth motor homes, but it looks huge in my driveway! Just a silly question, how long does it take before a person gets comfortable towing and backing up a trailer?

 

[Teamubr]

Congrats on the new trailer!

I love getting a new trailer and trying to figure out where to put things and how to set things up.

As for getting used to towing and backing, practice, practice, practice.

Seriously. I have been towing things for over 30 years. I started with a little 4 ft utility trailer and pull a 48 ft, 21,000 lb race car hauler now. You will get more comfortable the more you do it.

Find a big parking lot that is fairly empty. Use the lanes to practice parking, backing and getting used to tight turns. It's safe and gives you an opportunity to make all the mistakes you want without risking things.

My DW's best friend just bought a T@b trailer and has been doing the same things this week. I backed it into the parking spot the day she brought it home, but told her she needed to do it from now on. (And those short wheel base trailers are A LOT harder to back than our 48 ft hauler.)

j

 

[MadBeach]

Thank you Team Ubr,
We are following your advice and practicing as often as we can. We are going on our first trip to Disney in late August for the Villians party. I have to admit to a bit of trepidation in backing into the space at Disney. I am hoping it doesn't take us forever! I figure for everything there is a first time, so I hope the other campers will be understanding. We plan on arriving a bit after normal check in so as to not be caught up in the others trying to get settled as well. My awesome husband can do all sorts of high speed maneuvers and backing in his cruiser, but the poor guy just can't get a handle on backing up the trailer, so I am pinch hitting.

 

[Teamubr]

Here's a couple of more things to make backing a little easier. I still do most of these regardless of what I'm towing.

1. Pull much farther forward than you think you need to. This gives some room to start backing in a straight line so you can see which way the trailer wants to move and you have time to correct before you are past the actual site. After a while, you will figure out to steer over to the opposite side from the site. This puts the trailer and TV at a better angle to start backing.

2. Try to put the site on your left. It is easier to look out the driver's window and look back to see where the trailer is actually going than it is to depend on the passenger side mirror.

3. Once you have pulled way up the road. Get out and look around at where you want to put the trailer. The Illinois Class A- Non-CDL license test actually has this as part of the exam. You have to get out and do a "survey" before backing in. It does help visualize where things should go and what hazards may be there.

4. Try the old trick of putting your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Move your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go. This doesn't work for me, but I've been doing this too long. I grab the top of the steering wheel and for some reason when I'm looking in the mirrors, my hand just moves in the correct (opposite where you want the trailer to go) direction.

5. Go SLOW. I still back in fairly slowly compared to others. It takes your brain a little extra time to process the whole mirror image/move you hands backwards/where am I thing. Going slower seems to give my brain time to process it all.

That's all I can think of now. I'm sure everyone else will chime in.

j

 

[rgrimm]

Teamubr's information is Great. I will add one little trick I use that helps me.

I adjust my Tow Vehicle's (TV) outside mirrors down so I can see the Trailer's tires. I use that view relative to the edges of the road and the edge of the site to give me a perspective of the trailer's alignment relative to the edge of the site.

I have used this technic with a 39' TT, a 36' 5th Wheel and my current Motorhome.

I also have my DW outside (in view in my mirror) as a set of eyes to look for trees and other obstructions that are near the TV and/or Camper. This is especially important with TT's and 5th wheels because as your start your turn one side of the camper is no longer visible in the mirror.

The other thing you have going for you is that people who Camp are some of the friendliest Folks around and always willing to help a fellow camper. You are part of a very special group.

You will do fine. We have all been 'new' at some point.

Enjoy the Journey and your stay at The Fort!

- Russ

 

[MadBeach]

J and Russ,
Thanks for the tips, I am ambidextrious so I am hoping my constant doing things backwards will actually come in handy in backing. I seem to be catching on faster than my Husband. I figure worse case scenario if it get into a bad position I can always get out and unhook the trailer and then straighten out the truck, Hook it back up, then continue to back in. I am told that it is not done and folks will laugh at me for doing it, but I am a big girl and can take a little bit of ribbing. I really appreciate the tips and the kind words of encouragement. I will keep practicing!

 

[sippican]

Congratulations on your new TT. Camping at the Fort is one of our favorite retirement activities. I empathize with your worries. We have had a number of units, from a pop-up, to a large Class A. My DH never got the hang of backing up our 24 ft TT, even after three years - it was a major headache at the start of each trip! I never got the hang of giving him directions in a manner that was very helpful either! And I agree with a previous poster, the shorter trailers are more of a challenge. Although most improve with expereince, that was never the case with us. We are now very happy with our RV, it's a snap to back up!
Don't worry about what your fellow campers think, they will most likely be very eager to help if you ask. Have a great first adventure.

 

[MadBeach]

Hi Sippican,
I think we are neighbors I live on the gulf coast as well. I appreciate the words of encouragement. I am hoping that in time I will be able to do a credible job backing up the trailer. So far it is the only downside I see to moving up from the tent. The TT is much more comfortable than a tent, I feel like I have a room at the Waldorf Astoria every time I walk into it. No real roughing it in a TT. but I do have kind of a wistful nostalgia about the tent. After being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis we decided to go for comfort. My husband was never a huge fan of a tent, so he is thrilled!

 

[sippican]

Hi Sippican,
I think we are neighbors I live on the gulf coast as well. I appreciate the words of encouragement. I am hoping that in time I will be able to do a credible job backing up the trailer. So far it is the only downside I see to moving up from the tent. The TT is much more comfortable than a tent, I feel like I have a room at the Waldorf Astoria every time I walk into it. No real roughing it in a TT. but I do have kind of a wistful nostalgia about the tent. After being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis we decided to go for comfort. My husband was never a huge fan of a tent, so he is thrilled!

We spend 6 months, spring and fall, in Venice. Our neighbors think we are crazy; we ski and head for NH in the winter! I know what you mean about the nostalgia - I still really miss the open air, outdoorsy feeling of our tents and pup (but certainly not enough to ever go back). We'll take the Waldorf! I am sure you will be a pro at backing up in no time at all!

 

[MadBeach]

Sippican,
We live in Pinellas county and we have friends and neighbors who do the same thing you do. Holidays in Florida have a totally different feeling to up North. It is the price one pays for living in paradise. We are moving back home to Texas next year, but all our kids are here and we will be back often. We figure we will stay at Disney and the kids can come to see us, payback for all that carpooling we did for the 3 of them.