Technique for Tightest U Turn

[Taftcoach]

The road closed sign was down and we were on a state forest road without shoulders. Approximately 2' of knee high weeds on each side of the road then a steep ditch. Stuck 1.3 miles from the easiest turnaround.

After calculating I wasn't going to make the U Turn another driver blocked traffic while I spent 45 minutes backing up. I complained nicely to the workers and by the time we got out the barricades were in place.

My question is, what technique produces the tightest U turn? Pulling straight as far over and then starting the turn or having the trailer more on the pavement then making the turn?

 

[Camper_bob]

I'm just here for the replies.

That sucks Coach...

 

[markb5900]

My method:

 

[craigav]

On the State Forest roads I have traveled, it would be impossible to do a u-turn even with a short truck\trailer. Hopefully your backup skills are good. The best option would be if you can find another road or trail off of the Forest road to back the trailer into and then complete your turn-around. ~CA

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

My method:

 

[txloser]

This is the stuff of nightmares. lol. Been in this situation with my FW. Had the wife walk behind me in shame diverting traffic as I backed up a 1/4 mile.

My situation was a loop at the end of a campground road near the campground beach. Google maps looked good. My dumb &&” didn’t take into account there’d be cars all around the loop parked.

Another time in Yellowstone after a flat tire. Had a nice park ranger help me out there. I was able to do 100 pull forward/backup sequences and get turned around.

 

[klassic]

Unhook, move truck and reconnect on an extreme 90 degree. Turn the trailer as much as you can. Unhook, move truck, repeat.

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

Doing an extremely tight U-turn on a hard surfaced road can easily do damage to your suspension, not to mention the possibility of breaking the bead on a tire.

Always best to check your route on Google Earth before the trip.

 

[norty1]

I have been in that situation a few times, when GPS let me down or I let myself down.

Several suggestions have been mentioned, you just have to have the experience to assess the circumstance and do what is required.

My worst was making a wrong turn into a motel with a covered walkway over the road in the dark and at the top of a hill. I had to back down hill in the dark with my wife walking behind us for guidance.

Another- GPS directed me down a road that dead ended at a drainage ditch. Backed up 600 yards.

Usually I just keep driving and looking for a place to turn around if I can.

 

[craigav]

I am not sure I would call this a technique however, when I did have a bumper pull and had to park it in a location that required the sharpest turn, I would always remove the equalizer bars otherwise they would bind when the truck\trailer was at a sharp angle. With doing that, it was still required to have someone watch as the hitch and coupler was still limited with the tightest angle that it could be without hitting the bumper or rear of the truck. ~CA

 

[Russc25]

I woulda gone the 1.3 miles.


Simple geometry, get your combination as far right as you can. Then hard left lock while moving as slow as you can (so less linear travel while at less than full lock) and hold it there while you watch for jackknifing too far. If your truck can't make a u-turn in the lanes available, ain't no magic in the world gonna make it happen with a trailer. If you need to go tighter, without a trailer you'd do multi-point turns but if you don't have room to turn the trailer sideways all you can do is back up.

At least with a camper the length slows down reaction to turns while backing. Mine's way easier than my utility trailer that's less than half as long.

 

[Taftcoach]

It was 45 minutes in reverse. No shame because the drivers that reached that part were annoyed that the road was closed. I had checked the route the day before when it was the Google Maps and RV Life choice. Waze offered a different route. In hindsight they may have known if the unexpectedly longer road closure.

Also in the equation was if I slipped off the roadway it would require a tow.

The Ford pro trailer assist really made it easy to spend that much time in reverse.

 

[craigav]

I have a drone that I rarely travel with anymore as so many people and places don't like for anyone to fly one, but I may carry it with me in the future again especially if I plan to boondock off of some forest areas and roads, then I could fly it up a few hundred feet and get a better idea of the road ahead prior to going down the road. My thought is it is much better to avoid such situations as the OP described than it is to risk turning around. ~CA

 

[Redhawk 26M]

I tow a car on a dolly and situations like that scare the heck outta me...

 

[pconroy]

This is the stuff of nightmares.

Absolutely!

About five years ago, we were cruising up Colorado 119 to Estes Park when we hit the roadblock. Road closed, fatality accident. Two lane road. Mountain on the right, sheer drop off to the left.

The only way out was a U-turn.
The Rescue Squad guys helped me.

It took about 12 back-n-forths.

There were a handful of times, I had the last 6' of the RV off the cliff. Back tires up to the edge. I think the Rescue Guys got a kick out of how wide my eyes were.

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

I tow a car on a dolly and situations like that scare the heck outta me...

Been there done that. Twice when I had a Class A I towed a Honda Civic on a tow dolly and got myself stuck. Had to take the car off the dolly, unhook the dolly from the MH, turn everything around and then reconnect everything again. A wasted 45 minutes because I got in hurry and wasn’t paying attention.

A reminder…. Look for the RV pumps at truck stops!

 

[mikeplaneguy]

I second the hitch/unhitch method if you have a few feet of play. Just leave the WDH bars off until you get going the right direction.


One of our very first outings we got a late start and arrived after dark to the WRONG campground... that was closed and gated for the season. I turned myself into an impossible spot to escape. I always keep a bunch of tools in there and this time it paid off. I dismantled the gate, pulled through and did a leisurely U-turn, put the gate back together and off we went. Haven't blindly trusted a GPS since!

 

[Redhawk 26M]

A reminder…. Look for the RV pumps at truck stops!

Hate to change / alter the thread but your post got me thinking... I'll be starting my 1st long distance trip via interstates that will require refueling. Any special lane(s) that I should be using? Regular gas, RV towing a car. I was guessing regular car lane and just wait my turn?

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

If RV pumps are available, why not use them ?? They usually have gas and diesel, extra space for turning around, and not as busy as the regular pumps. Love’s, TA, Flying J are some that have the special lanes.
A little pre-trip planning will save time on the road.
Have a great trip….

 

[CAG-JAY]

Hate to change / alter the thread but your post got me thinking... I'll be starting my 1st long distance trip via interstates that will require refueling. Any special lane(s) that I should be using? Regular gas, RV towing a car. I was guessing regular car lane and just wait my turn?

Dragging the thread off topic.