Question for the Guys

[ugadog99]

We leave Sunday for our first camping trip to the Fort (well, not my first trip but with my girls). In March I purchased a 98 Bayside and have practiced backing up some and pulling. (For those that don't know, I'm a widow with two girls-11 and 14-also taking a friend this trip.) I am comfortable with pulling and all the set up. The only major issue I'm still having is backing up. I just can't do it very well. If I get too frustrated I know I'll make us all miserable before the vacation even starts. So, do you think I could find some really nice guy near my site to back in for me? I'm going to try it, but I know if I don't get it the first few times it would be in everyone's best interest to get some help. So, what do you think? If you saw some crazy woman with 3 kids who was having no luck backing in, would you help?

 

[tim5055]

Yes, I would help. But, an easier solution would be to ask when you check in if one of the working CMs is good at backing. They have been known to help out lots of times.

 

[stillh2o]

Camping people are Great if you ask someone with a travel trailer for Help you find they will be happy to help. I have help other like you. The camp site at FW are hard to get into even for a pro so just ask for help you will get it. Have Fun....

 

[ugadog99]

Thanks, ya'll! That has been my biggest worry.

 

[Live4FW]

A girlfriend of my wifes met up with us one time camping and she was pretty new at trailering. I couldn't explain how I do it. I just know how to do it.

However, the campground host showed her a trick to backing that seemed
pretty neat. I don't use it but it makes a lot of sense.

When backing place one hand at the bottom center of the steering wheel. Move that hand the direction that you want the trailer to go. For example, you want to move the trailer to the right, move you hand to the right. She said that this worked wonders for her in helping her back her trailer. Good luck and I am sure several folks (CMs, other campers, etc) will be more than happy to help you down there.

 

[mantaz]

You could ask if one of the pull thru sites is available and even try calling before you go to request one. If they aren't open then ask for a very easy back in. They have a scale of 1 to 5 for rating their back in sites. Good luck. I know my brother in law hates backing in some of those spots.

Angela

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

At a place as friendly as FW someone will no doubt offer to help.


P.S. you have a 14y/o and your biggest worry is the trailer ?

 

[ugadog99]

Live4FW, that makes total sense to me. One of my biggest challenges has been trying to decide which way to turn the steering wheel. That little tip should definitely help me.

bigdisneydaddy, my 14 year old is a strange one. She doesn't have a lot of the normal teen issues. The one that worries me is the 11 year old!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Ours boys are the opposite, the 12y/o knows exactly what he wants to be, the 14y/o pretty much wakes up and decides day by day.
The 12y/o has his own tools and can fix many things and even knows how to weld. Everything the 14y/o owns or touches is broken some way. The contrast are amazing.

 

[my3princes]

I am not a guy, but I do fine backing our 30ft TT. I just remember that whichever way the back of my front tires are pointing is the way the camper is going to move. Make small movements as you will over adjust if you don't. I grew up with lawn tractors and little trailers, same idea, just bigger equipment. Practice some more and you will be fine.

 

[rangebob]

I normally camp over at FW in a tent. I have gone over and helped people with backing their trailer. I think one time there were 5 different people that came over to help spot this one person. He didn't need help with the backing he needed help with spotting the trailer and his truck.

 

[geniegirl]

my WIFE could do it for ya no problem, but we wont be there. Want to pay for us to come down so SHE could back it in for ya, besides we need to head back down now that we have a camper of our own.


Just remember GIRLS CAN DO ANYTHING BOYS CAN DO ONLY BETTER

 

[Teamfour]

Get a pair of cheap family radios. This makes it easier to communicate with the person guiding you into the spot.

 

[rbork]

Our sites were paved. Look at it this way. If you get it into the general area, you can just push/pull it manually into the "right" spot!
Good Luck!

 

[MySonAdoresPoohBear]

I know you asked for help from the guys, but I thought I'd chime in. I'm a girl and I often end up asking for help at the campsites. I can drive the stick shift truck, put up the camper and take it down myself, but when it comes to backing up I just don't get it.

So, I inevitably look for someone who has a trailer and ask if they would be so kind as to back it in for me. I've never had anyone say no.

I also do try and get pull-thru's when possible.

We have a Bayside as well and we love it.

Joyce