Save a marriage. (Backing Up a Trailer)

[Tom_OC]

After a couple of years of backing up the trailer my DW and I have come to the conclusion that we may not survive this. Without getting into specifics (that can go on for days) we are at a crossroads, What I am looking for is a toy truck and trailer where the front wheels turn. We both agree if we saw how it worked with a model, she would be a better spotter and me a driver. I have checked amazon. Quite a few truck and trailer toys but no move able wheels.
Thanks

[Murff]

If after a couple of years you don't have this figured out, well, my first thought is to put SWMBO in the driver's seat and you direct. You may find she is good at it. (Vise-versa if she is already driving).

Can't help with the toy truck and trailer, sorry. You might give these Youtube videos a look see:

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...ravel+trailaer

Murff

[glsimms]

Here you go, a simple video with good ideas.

https://youtu.be/bmn8LxyKqgo

[need-a-vacation]

Not sure of a toy truck like that.

When your wife gives direction, does she tell you what way to move the tt, or is she telling you what way to turn the trucks front wheels or steering wheel?

When I back into a site, my wife only directs by telling which direction the tt needs to move, and watches to make sure I don't hit anything I can't see. I worry about what way to steer the truck to get the trailer in the correct direction.

Another thing you can try is going to a large, empty parking lot nearby and practicing how to back up if you don't have very much experience. That way you become more comfortable and don't have to stop and think about what way to steer.

Good luck!!!

[Jhowemca]

Best advise I've gotten "just have her watch the trailer and shout out if you're about to hit something".

That's all we do!

The driver should be in charge of the driving, not the spotter trying to drive from outside.

That advise has saved many camping trips for us!

[glsimms]

The main thing is to avoid "campground sex". You know when you hit that tree or picnic table and you say WTF you doing? And they say well Eff you and so on, you get the idea.....

[Camper_bob]

I built my own model out of Legos. Worked pretty well, even if the wheels didn't turn!

ETA: DW is there to make sure I don't hit stuff. I use a lot of GOAL (Get Out And Look) and a lot of practice. DW tried it once when I hurt my back, and it drove me nuts, she wouldn't listen. I ended up steering the wheel from the passenger seat while she operated the Pedals. We both know our roles and what they entail now...

[Rootus]

My wife and I give each other a great big hug before we start backing into our spot. It helped that early on she tried to back the trailer up in front of the house and got a big dose of reality. She's not too critical now. And I mostly just have her keep me from hitting anything, I use mirrors and my feet to figure out where/when/how to park. Would be better if she could help effectively but it's not worth the stress to try.

[theoat]

As lame as it might sound, whoever is doing the backing up could take a quick lesson from a truck driving school.
Then as stated, the spotter just needs to make sure the driving doesn't hit anything.

I hadn't backed a trailer in years. A guy down the street just happened to own a trucking school. As a rookie, I'll never forget the pointers that guy taught me.

Either that or trade in for a Class-C

[A2Z_Adventures]

Mine tries to direct my steering wheel. It is quite the challenge and you guys are headed in the right direction by trying to identify the issues.

Take it to a large parking lot and drop some cones or set up a zone to try to park. Have her try to park it, you do the same. Hehe... I dragged ours around behind us for a week, trying to put it into some odd locations.

Personally, I prefer to have the wife just keep us from damaging anything as she just keeps an eye out for obstacles. We will get better at the communication as we play with it more.

[Doug]

I was always taught to put my hand at the bottom of the steering wheel.
Push the wheel in the direction you want TT to go. :-)

[Northern Jay]

Some good points here. SWMBO and I discussed before we bought our TT. She had some experience guiding our Northern Lite into some tight spaces as well.
Our method is to pull up and walk the campsite first to identify possible issues and where we want the TT to be parked. I then jump in truck and with windows down do the basic approach to the site and start to back in. She stays in my mirrors and directs me with ARM signals as I am 40+ ft from where she is, where she wants the BACK of the TT to go. If she disappears from my sight I STOP. We have never raised voices or had a fight about parking.

Most times we get to where we want TT on the first shot. After that it is decide how many Lego's to get level and we set them right beside the tires with a chock at the back. I pull ahead, she slides the Legos into place and then I back up to the chock. Double check level and we be done. Usally under 5 min. Then disconnect and grab a bevview. ..
Happy Camping

[Doboy Dawg]

Kiss method, keep it simple. Place wife behind trailer back up until screaming stops, park trailer and enjoy peace and quiet.

[Dropnaduece]

You get real good and tell her to go walk the dog until your done with the set up Also I use both my kids 15 & 11 to help me especially at night. They have flash lights. I have them stand about 8-10' from the edges of the pad and point the flash light right where I want to have the tires to sit. My oldest tells me which side needs blocks because I get it backwards every time

My 11 year old is my hitch man and my 15 year old boy makes sure all windows are secure, that I have everything clear before I drive off, and that I have not left anything on the bumper of the trailer. I have left the bike stuff for the rack, hitch lock keys, and a bike cable on the bumper on three different trips. cause I'm tired and ready to go home.

[TxTwoSome]

This is the way we do it.

Wife calls me on her cell phone I have hands free in the truck she talks to me while I am backing up. She tells me if I am going to hit something.

No yelling involved and I can hear her plain as day works great for us!

[norty1]

We always use walkie-talkies. I drive, she looks.

[Duke_26]

Originally Posted by Doboy Dawg

Kiss method, keep it simple. Place wife behind trailer back up until screaming stops, park trailer and enjoy peace and quiet.

I got a good chuckle out of your sense of humor [emoji4]

Originally Posted by norty1

We always use walkie-talkies. I drive, she looks.

X2. Walkie talkies are standard issue in the truck before we leave the house so that they are ready to go when we arrive at the campsite. We both do a quick walk around the site, I tell her my plan and she keeps an eye on the blind side. Works out good (so far anyway [emoji6]).



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[Marcm157]

I agree with the walkie talkie's - My DW's role is simply to act as my backup camera and make sure I don't hit anything. I walk the site prior to backing to get a good idea of where I want the trailer to land.

[33 RLDS]

My wife does not get out of the truck. I get out as many times as I feel I have to to scope the spot, usually just once unless its a tight spot with many obstacles, and I back her in. I need to see for myself. Somebody yelling directions don't work for me. I'm camping, not at work. Lol

[culleokapapa]

I do as I,m told .the same way for the last 42 years, happy wife happy life,all the time backing the way I feel is the right way .IT works out great.(most of the time she is right about where the trailer has to go)