Help Me Back the Trailer

[RogerR]

I have my wife on speaker phone in the car so she doesn't have to yell and have had a couple of people offer to help, I just say "thanks, she helps me out" and never had anyone complain.

[Lake Huron]

Only once did someone "help" me back into a site and it was a staff person. Policy to escort to the site and "help" get it on the site. Fortunately it wasn't his first rodeo working with someone or mine backing. With the size of our trailer being so huge I think most people feel intimidated and the rest just want to pull up a chair and watch for a backing debacle to unfold. Not patting myself on the back by any means but I'm pretty good at it and the chair watchers get disappointed. Only twice did someone come over and ask me to back their trailer in their site. Once they didn't even try because they openly admitted they just can't back a trailer. The other was a few failed attempts and they gave up and asked me because " if you got that on your site you can get ours on our site."
As far as me helping people, I'll ask if they need me to move my tv and borrow some real estate to make it easier or I'll give clearance guide on a blind side to keep them from hitting an obstacle if things get tight or they are having troubles. Otherwise I leave people alone and let them do it on their own because most already have a system that works for them.

[JFlightRisk]

We just changed tow vehicles, and now the truck and wheelbase is longer. The first time backing the trailer into a site might prove to be interesting. I might be the next guy to sit and watch, looking like it's my first time!

[TaftCoach]

I always appreciate an extra set of eyes. I'll give them something to do like make sure I don't get too close to that tree (which may be 300 feet away).

But I enjoy meeting people.

[Big Steve]

First I’d ask if you needed help I too hate when a stranger comes in out places my wife and kids . A normal man doesn’t need directions in anything and every other man should know this ! Lol ! But I have found the great answer to avoid this exact issue ! My youngest kid and our biggest dog . Our dogs are very friendly unless a adult approaches our children they will bark not rip tear at their leash but warning bark that hey your too close to my child back off until someone says it’s ok . I’d say the littlest dog but actually she may be the one ripping and tearing with teeth showing lol. Works 100% of the time !

[deewaltguy]

I usually tell them I’m good backing up, but I could use some help hooking up the sewage hose.
They usually remember something else they needed to do

[jimmoore13]

Possible Response: "My wife and I are well practiced at maneuvering our RV. She's equipped with two-way communications to guide me. But it would be helpful if you could position yourself well back on the opposite side of the RV and holler if you see that I'm going to hit something. Thanks."

[RVcoffee]

On our first outing with our former TT, a group of nearby campers flocked to help us back in. We were soooo grateful. A year or two later, we went to a small wooded campground that didn’t have a lot of clearance and they booked us a site that wasn’t sized right for the Tow vehicle and TT even though we had given dimensions when booking. A nearby camper tried to help us, claiming experience, but had we listened, we likely would have hit a tree. We ended up leaving that site and going to another campground. Today we have a Class C. Occasionally we will let the CG staff if it’s an especially tricky spot but usually we just smile and say “thanks, we got this.” Bottom line, it depends on situation!

[rhermsen]

Toss them a beer and tell them to "Sit down, shut up, and enjoy the show. I've got this!"

[Rgruber]

We bought our first trailer (355 mbqs) in 2018 and then took 3 months and drove out west and back. We NEVER turned down help because we didn’t know what the hell we were doing and it showed. On the way back after we had two months of experience, seemed like nobody offered anymore. I even helped a couple out in Bakersfield. Circle of life, I guess.

[fentonbill]

I generally get mine in before anyone can come offer to "help". But then again, I drive trucks for a living, often backing into much tighter quarters than a typical campsite. I've usually got a plan, and wife/kids/volunteer help only needs to tell me when I'm getting close to obstacles rather than telling me which way to go.

I agree it can be a good icebreaker at times though

[robert9999]

GTHO of the way unless you want to be crushed as I have no insurance so I can't afford survivors.

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

Out of deference and politeness early on I occasionally allowed park staff to direct me but they never knew my trailer, my car, my turning radius, my skill level. One of them had me swinging from the blind side into a giant oak tree... Not any more! We get out, check the site, figure the logistics, I tell DW where I want the a specific part of the trailer and we park it.

My wife, who has directed me in almost everything I do for the past 50 years, can direct me to park - way better than anyone else can. Actually we have hundreds of miles of very rugged Utah jeep trails behind us and Ruth is an excellent spotter. She knows our trailer, our vehicle, and my tendencies and I trust her implicitly.

Park staff may have good intent but they have none of the above characteristics. My response now is something like this: "Thanks, but my wife has been an excellent spotter with this rig for several years and can set this camper on a dime. Looks like a nice camp. We'll call if we need anything. Thanks again!"

Few camps have been as tricky as our last stop. We back off a busy street on the blind side through a nine foot wide gap between a brick wall and a cement post, along a cyclone fence past a bay window, through a dog-leg and gate into our back parking area. It takes some finesse and a super spotter who knows me, the car and the trailer.

[Kelly K]

Politely respond with: "My husband has been driving equipment for a living and semis since he was 9, we are good but do appreciate the offer." Direct and clear. No room for misinterpretation.
But we are willing to offer our help to others as well, if someone is struggling we offer before overstepping.

We have a system it works, either of us can tow or back in/out with a spotter, yet aren't afraid to ask for it if needed or to shut someone down for overstepping.

[spark of insanity]

I remember one time my darling daughter helped me back in. Then some person said O let me help. My DD told me don't. He almost backed us into a tree. Glad she was there. Otherwise I would have been very grumpy pants indeed. Otherwise I do do a good back up if do say so myself. If the husband is not around.

[Cheekjo]

A friend of mine in his 40’ coach drove into a RV Resort. A young man wearing a resort shirt showed up at his site and began assisting him backing into his site. Suddenly he heard a huge crash, looked up and saw a tree limb sticking through the rear of his coach. The young man turned out to be the mentally retarded son of the park owner.

[annie oakly]

I will let my neighbor help me back in, I live on busy street, And I back in the driveway beside my house, ( I do not want to hit the roof) But I can back it in by myself if they are not home ( more practice for me)
Even out camping I have had people want to back it in for me. I say NO Thankyou If I cannot back it in then I should not be driving it, It take a few extra minutes but I get it in the spot

[ETCrockett]

I have seen a few comment on backing in solo. I’m often solo when returning my FW to storage. It doesn’t get any tighter than this with a 10’ x 45’ spot with a Class A one one side and FW on the other. I couldn’t do it without the observation camera! My other truck is 2 tall orange cones. The first cone I place on the driver side and this tells me where the FW tires need to go around the cone (closer the better) and I know I’m clearing the Class A on my blindside. The second cone is also on the driver’s side at the back of the lot and positioned so the rear of the FW will tip it over when I reach the desired spot. So far I have not had to park solo in a campground but if I did I would be getting out my cones.

[WA5thwheeler]

You men should consider yourselves lucky! You should see how much ‘help’ I’m offered as a woman 5th wheel driver. Have even had offers to back it for me. Not on your life, buddy. I thank them politely then try to ignore them & depend on my own spotter, rear view camera, mirrors and experience. I’m always grateful, though, for someone taking time to stand by some immovable object I can’t see where the truck will swing by.