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I use an old trucker trick (taught to me by and old trucker 😉). Just put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and move it in the direction you want the back of the trailer to go. You are spot on with "the scoop," move slowly, and make tiny adjustments. Well done!
I have been driving a tractor trailer since 1985. So I have a lot of backing up miles under my belt. You wouldn't believe the places that I have had to back into by myself. I have no helper. If I could make a few tips on backing up a trailer. 1st of all, try to NEVER, EVER back up on the blind side ( passenger door side ) if possible. The driver can see a lot better on the drivers door side. 2nd. If the driver isn't sure, or confused about where the trailer is going, Get out and look!! It is better to get out and look a hundred times than hitting a tree, a picnic table, another camper or some kid that is more focused on that football than a camping trailer or motorhome backing into a spot. If you don't have someone to help spot for you, ASK someone to help spot for you. There is no such thing as a accident, only preventable accidents. I hope I was able to help someone too. :)
Thank you Bill for the great advice! We probably should do a follow up video that considers this task from the solo traveler's perspective. I started to mention the blind side backing in the video, but some of the campgrounds we frequent (such as the example used in the video) unfortunately require blindside backing. I agree that it's best to back on the driver's side if possible.
you are right. there is no such thing as an accident. only unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. you control the unsafe acts and eliminate the unsafe conditions. problem solved.
I've been backing trailers since I was 8 around the farm and have found a great tip to teach newbies is to place their hand on bottom of steering wheel the move that hand the direction they want the trailer to go. Great tips.
FloppyHatPhotos I tell the new drivers that the trailer moves in the same direction as the bottom of the steering wheel when backing, no matter where there hands are placed. Same thing, but the point is which way to turn the steering wheel, not where your hands are.
FloppyHatPhotos I drove trucks for a livin'. That's how I was taught. Hands at the bottom of the steering wheel. Then, you "push" the trailer left or right.
Loving your channel. Just bought our Travel Trailer and preparing for an eight month trip with our 3 pre-teen kids this June. Soaking up your videos to get edjamecated in RV Life! Thanks.
Great video. First time RV owners here and used your suggestion to get 2-way radios. This occurred the first time backing out new RV. Unfortunately we didn't take the rule of the observer not moving behind the RV when backing up as seriously. While backing my wife disappeared from my site, however, due to the radios we could still talk. I directed me straight back which I did. After moving backward a number of feet I heard her scream "STOP!". Interestingly her voice came through my open window, not the radio. We had purchased the radios and charged them 2 weeks before getting the RV. We had not used the radios since charging and assumed they were still sufficiently charged. Her radio chose that moment to lose charge. She had been telling me to stop a number of times but I wasn't getting the signal. She had to hurry out of the way. After this incident we both sat in stunned silence as we contemplated what could have happened. Lesson Learned: as you state in your video, The driver must always see the observer. Radio's are a convenience but not a replacement for direct sight.
Yikes! Thanks for sharing your story -- an excellent reminder that technology is not a replacement for direct sight. Also a good reminder to keep those batteries charged. (We use rechargable Sanyo Eneloop.) Glad your situation turned out okay.
Many thanks for this video. My wife and I, when backing up our tent trailer, were prone to getting.....grumpy.....with each other when backing up. When we moved up to a 36' travel trailer, we researched backing up, and came across this video. The advice to use radios, and to stop using 'left' and 'right' was incredibly useful. No longer do we need to bellow instructions to each other across a campsite, getting confused about which direction to turn, while trying to be heard over the sound of four tired children who are serenading us in four part disharmony. Instead, we could speak normally, with the windows up, which lowered the stress for everyone...... Marital harmony while backing up. Who coulda thunk it? .....Now if you could only post a video on dealing with cranky kids.....
As a truck drive that had to back up large van on to the ak marine hiway a lot. A good tip is to always remember that if you are helping guide if you cannnot see the driver he/she cannot see you. for the driver also should walk around the vehicle with your spotter.
Hey! I do the "scoop" also, but I call it the tuck and jive. :) great tips! No matter how much I know on these topics, I still enjoy your format and humor and always come away with something that I can use. Thanks!
hey guys I tried the scoop my last 3 camping trips and it's amazing it really does work! I know you guys have a patent on this scoop let me know if I owe you any money thank you! lol backup confidence is way better
If at all possible put space you are going to back into on driver side .Pull pass space and turn out as told by Loloho crew .Try to get trailer aimed as much as possible toward space you are trying to back into while pulling pass. When backing a trailer you turn steering tires of your vehicle in opposite direction from which you want trailer to go. Remember a important acronym truck drivers use. GOAL-Get Out And Look.Use this when not sure. Backing is not a speed competition. Take your time.Thankyou for the channel. I enjoy it.
I just wanted to let you know that I used the scoop today to back my rig into a kinda tight storage slot. AND IT SO WORKED!! It was amazing! My wife was so proud of me. 😊
Thanks for the good info! What kind of walkie talkies are you using in the video... the Amazon link in these description is for a 2 pack of Motorolas for $330?!?!
I can't thank you both enough. I picked up my 1st ever RV (bumper pull TT) and needed to back it alongside my house (8 inches of clearance on either side). Your tips on this video were incredibly valuable to me and my wife. While we did forget our walkie talkies, she was able to guide me in on the very first time by simply taking our time, using terms like "driver's side" "passenger side", using the swoop, and having trust/faith in one another. It worked like a charm and I couldn't have done it without having viewed your video beforehand. Thanks so much and Happy Camping!!
Wow! Thanks much for your comment. Stories like yours are very motivational to me... I really appreciate the positive feedback and am glad our video was helpful to you. It makes the work on the video worthwhile.. Congrats on your new acquisition, and safe travels to you both! --Sean (& Kristy)
Do you disconnect the sway control bar and load leveler system chains when backing, especially in tight turns? Seems it could cause it to bind up and twist / break something.
+redroofretriever yes, best practice is to disconnect that stuff before backing, especially if the turn is tight. At the very least, loosen the anti sway bar.
I typically am doing it by myself and my best advice is to practice often in open areas before having to do it at a crowded campsite, and always, always get out and walk your expected path to be sure it is clear of obstacles. Never be afraid to pull forward, go slow, and get out to verify all 6 sides of your rig as you go.
Thanks for sharing your ideas, I have driven heavy articulated trucks and also caravans for many years now but I learnt something today, i.e. the radios and driver side and passenger side, so easy when you think about it. Thank you
Thanks for the tips! I don't have a partner to help me, but the Scoop sounds like a worthy placement technique. I'll have to give it a try. I got stuck in a parking lot once because it didn't have 2 exits, and after entertaining the diners in the restaurant for 20 minutes, someone took pity on me and helped me out. Thank Goddess for the kindness of strangers!
Hi guy's. First of all, you both rock!! Love your videos, always entertaining and informative, please keep them coming. Are you marriage counsellors too? My wife and I just watched your video and you just diffused a potentially tense situation for us. We have the radios already and we WILL be using them. I was trying to teach her to use very clear hand signal communication as I sometimes will " tag" a crane at work and they have very specific hand gestures for signals to tell the operator what to do. The radios just put all that to rest, just say it in the radio... Duh. And the " passenger side" "drivers side" just eliminated a whole discussion of my right you right blah blah blah discussion. So in short: thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!! Hope our paths cross some day!
Another great video. Even with good second set of eyes I usually get out and walk around. I am a newbie but used to drive tractor trailers and just got in habit of getting out and looking myself if there is ANY doubt..I found it is less expensive that way LOL>...I may or may not have learned this the hard way :)
I will soon purchase an RV. I am very sure it will be an Airstream. I considered length of 31 foot. A new AS is way out of my price range ($148,000), so I will go with a used AS.After visiting my son in the Smokey Mountains, I concluded that 31 feet will be too long tonegotiate mountain roads with my 21 foot F-250 Supercrew. That would combined length of over 50 feet. I notice that you use a 25-26 foot AS. But there are only two of you travelling. With your experience, do you feel that by adding 1 or 2 travelers with you, there would be insufficient room for them? These extra travelers would only be with me for 1 to 2 weeks. Also, are you satisfied with you heat in the AS in cold conditions? Does your AS use the factory forced air system, or do you use something else? I plan to used removeable skirting, should I be located in a colder climate, that can be easily stored and packed away. You are doing a great service with these videos to current and future RV'ers. Thank you, soldierjack.
Just purchased our new 26' travel trailer, and can't wait for spring to take it out and try "the scoop!" We are new travel trailers, and although I've been a city bus driver for 28 years, I am still a little nervous about backing up the trailer, don't regularly have to back up my 40' or 60' articulated buses. Your tips made me feel much better about the whole process... THANKS!!
Another option as I Solo also: buy a set of those little orange cones kids use to mark corners, etc., when playing sports. Scoop it, baby. Get out, double check for o and select the perfect path into the site. Lay down an arc of cones into the site on driver or passenger side.
...whichever will be on the INSIDE of the arcwith the last cone next to where the back trailer tire position will be. Adjust that side tow mirror down to view trailer tire(s) and first and second cones. Slowly inch back keeping tire about 6 inches OUTSIDE the arc by each cone. Stop and recheck as gut feelings recommend. When backed in perfectly, hop out, and bow to approving nods and applause from smiling bystanders. Backup mirrors tend to smug, fog over, or be distorted by rain. More usefull on tow vehicle.
Backing up is pretty easy as long as your site is on the driver's side. If you can back up that way you always should. Its just easier to see what the trailer is doing. I pull a 35 foot trailer pretty regularly and I have no problem backing up to the drivers side. Backing to the left I need a spotter for sure. Apparently I have been using the scoop method for years without realizing it. Who knew! Some good safety tips here though. Good video.
Thank you SO much for your incredibly helpful video. I just bought my first T@B teardrop travel trailer and am learning how to back it up. All of your advice has been invaluable, even for my small trailer. I appreciate your encouraging comments at the end about going slow, not caring if others are looking and laughing, and believing I can do it! Your wisdom and experience is a huge gift to others.
Great video, especially if you have 2 people. Unfortunately, after camping in a tent trailer for 33 years, with my husband doing the vehicle backing, I suddenly had to become the "expert" backer and also can't rely on my husband for instructions because he gets very confused. (Parkinsons is the pits.) Wrong instructions are worse than no instructions. Now I need an instructional video of your wife backing a trailer by herself into a tight spot. I figured out the backing into a campsite pretty quick (since there is usually good room for a 12' tent trailer in most campsites), but backing to the side of my house while missing the large fir tree and the rock wall is another story! Geesh, what we do for the love of camping!...not to mention the love of a dear husband. I truly did enjoy your insightful video, however, in spite of our unique challenges. I love the scoop tip!
Great tips as we've just purchased our first camper. I will be towing/parking it from time to time and the last I read anything about this topic was many a year ago, when I got my driver's license. Great pointers and hopefully it will be nearly as easy, as you make it look!
just watched your vid on backing loved the scoop method how ever i drove a tractor trailer for 20 years and if i turned over my shoulder id back into something, even without a trailer drives my wife nuts great vids glad i subscribed
that's me....the total backup scaredy-cat!! I had a horse for 15 yrs and fortunately, did not have to use my trailer much....backing up my Logan 2 horse trailer was scary for me. about all I can afford is a travel trailer, but am, at present, deathly afraid of the whole backing up process for a 20-25ft trailer in addition to the length of my truck.
Woww fantástico Thanks a lot! We’ll a buy a Travel Trailer. and I have never practiced backtracking with a trailer and it terrifies me. But your video make me calm down.
So im very new to this... why is it everyone (at least in my experience) makes fun of people who are new at backing up a trailer, rather than giving helpful advice? Its very annoying
Just watched this vid again. I have a motorhome that will be for sale in the late winter. I have bought a Ram 2500 and a 18 ft travel trailer (cheapie to use till the unicorns bring me an Airstream) I have only backed a short utility trailer with my old Ranger and that was a bear, the shorter the trailer the more difficult as it reacts quicker, too quick. Two big issues for me will be backing alone, and the truck is a straight shift. Lots of getting in and out to check. May buy some orange traffic cones to place as targets to help with the process.Thanks, I enjoy your videos more than any other RV ones on TH-cam.
Just so ya know a old single chick can back up alone. Not sayin it's a beautiful site but I'm gettin' better. Patience is #1... and occasional long suffering.
Thanks RG, if we were making this video today I think I would phrase some things differently. You can definitely do it alone. These days the backup cameras have changed the game (for the better) a bit too. We may do a “sequel” to this video to make these points. Maybe we’ll interview you for it. 😄
Thx guys. Been trailing many moons but your patented scoop should really help with the evil 90 degree tight backins. Also going to acquire the walkies again. Gracias amigos!
I'm looking at buying my first rv/TT and am one of those very concerned about backing it up. only previous experience was with a small u haul trailer! also will be solo-and worry about relying on nearby campers to help. love the tip about hand on the bottom of the steering wheel-very helpful! any more tips for a solo parking adventure? also thought about practicing in a big empty parking lot between cones before heading out to a campgrounds-that's how my mom taught me to parallel park many, many years ago! love your videos! so much information! well done!
Sean and Kristy....I've learnt so much from your channel, countless hours dreaming about having the freedom you have to explore! Feel much more confident in fulfilling my family's dream to own an airstream knowing I can reference your videos for advice! So here's a huge thankyou to you both for keeping it real!!! Take care, can't wait to follow you guys on your next adventure and I'll be sure to follow LoHo Photo!!!
We watched this video many times before purchasing our 2016 RPod 180. When we picked it up, we went to a large empty parking lot and practiced. I still think of this video each time I back up.
I watched this video awhile back and enjoyed it. I am a single lady and pull a travel trailer. I Often "rely on the kindness of strangers" to help me back up to park. I Was looking at back up cameras that have a strong magnet to hold them on the trailer or tow rig. Have you ever used or evaluated one of these types of cameras?
Thanks so much for posting this video! It was extremely helpful. I even shared it. We are newbies and we're now heading out for our very first back in site. Wish us luck! Hahaha
Great video! We just brought our new trailer home today (a Rockwood Roo 19) and were a little nervous about getting it into our extremely narrow driveway with a slight curve. We did the scoop and I was very careful to move in inches (or even fractions of an inch). My wife and I watched several videos on backing up trailers and I don't think I would have been able to do it without this video. Thanks!
Great idea the walkie talkie. A tip I was taught hold steering wheel at the bottom. If your hand goes left, trailer goes left. If your hand goes right trailer goes right.
Loved your comments, another secret always have your spotter stand on the same side of the vehicle. It makes it easier to spot the spotter if needed. Of course this comes from driving a 40 foot commercial bus.
All your videos are awesome. Clear precise and very helpful. Even when it is not exactly new to me I enjoy watching you guys. A very heartfelt thank you.
Thanks for this great video! Just getting our first travel trailer this week and watching this made me a lot more confident on handling the towing and especially backing up! The only part about becoming a trailer owner that is concerning was the towing/backing up and your videos helped me get over that. Keep up the awesome work!
Great video! However, THE BEST video on backing a trailer is from youtubers "Wandering Wagners" "HOW TO BACK YOUR RV and Tail Swing". That is THE MASTERCLASS, especially if you're solo! Watch both videos and you're gold!
In the trucking world we use the term "G.O.A.L. GET OUT AND LOOK Before backing walk around your rig to check your setup and visually scan for hazards. And at anytime during the maneuver if you're unsure of what's going on or where your rig is then stop & G O.A.L.
Might I ask ask you about propane. Given that you have been living aboard the Airstream 24/7, I was wondering if you have calculated propane use during your boon-docking experiences. In other words, with stove top cooking, the hot water heater, and heating the Airstream with the furnace, how many days of 24/7 boon-docking are provided with two full propane tanks? Many Thanks!
Here is an idea. Backing up is confusing because people make it so. Stop making backing up so confusing: goes the opposite way, put your hand here, click your heels three times. It is so SIMPLE; Which ever way the front of the tow vehicle goes so will the back of what ever you are towing!!! Simple FRONT AND REAR GO THE SAME WAY ALWAYS!!!!!!!! This is going FORWARD or BACKWARD. You have less control with your hand(s) that are spending so much time going forward by using a different position on the wheel, that now you have to think about that instead of what you are doing. Where ever you put your hand(s) on the wheel is how you do it. Do not think about it just use the toys you show and prove it to yourself. All you have to do is decide how far and how fast you need to move the front of the tow vehicle to get what you are towing where you want it. And that just takes practice. If your assistant can not see the driver in a mirror the driver can NOT see the assistant! Your GOAL ( Get- Out- And- Look) is to get it in the hole. So do that, get out and look, with/without an assistants. What one of you think is far or close may not be the same to the other. The operator of the tow vehicle IS in control. Two signals from the Assistant are required, and can be seen in mirror Stop and OK. What signals you use is between you, decide BEFORE you back up. A SIMPLE piece of paper ( one side yellow one red). Ever notice how far you see them at construction zones? But you decide. Diver does NOT need their hand holding a walkie talkie they should be controlling the rig. Spotters are always better than not. If you have use them. CDLA Drivers ( I am one of them) back into parking spaces, loading docks, etc. most of the time without, but always safer if available to use. Practice BEFORE you hit the road. Go to an auto parts store pick up a few safety cones, get then collapsible so you can run over them as many times as you need. Short one stack/store the best. Find an empty parking lot ( get permission if needed)and play bang the cones. If people continually tell you it is hard and you listen: So it will BE!
I pulled a 30 foot gooseneck horse trailer all over the us and now a travel trailer. I can thread a needle backing up all kinds of trailers. Up hills around corners etc. the absolute worse thing in the world to me is another person trying to help. LOL. I HAD TO LAUGH WHEN YOU SAID IT WAS A TWO PERSON JOB. oops. Oh, and I don’t usually look over my shoulder, I use my mirrors. My Dad would roll over in his grave if I looked over my shoulder. Love your videos. Mostly hahahaha
Great video and all but what I really want to see is your wife back the trailer into a tight space or onto a car ferry. That would really be worth watching and I would share it with all my friends.
You should read some of your comments about your hand on the bottom of the wheel. I drove a $1,000,000.00 NASCAR type hauler tractor-trailer for 20 years and coukld put a 53 foot trailer in any space I needed to...by learning the bottm of the steering wheel method. And always looking forward and using mirrors. Once learned, it is an invaluable method and easiest way to back up.
I use Old Nextel (iDEN) phones for 2 Way Yes the Nextel Network has been shut down in the USA BUT! certain model (iDEN) Motorola phones have a Feature in them (Moto Talk) that make a great off network 2 way walkie talkie radio they have great range and are pure digital, you can even use them in a private mode so no others can hear your conversation. This is my Hack I kept to myself until now ( In know others may have done this I never saw a conversation about it. this may not be as convenient as pulling 2 purpose made Talkies out of your glove box but I find them useful in situations were the average Talkie doesn't work well if I am in a area were many others are using them etc. They are Loud realy Loud if you turn them up They are designed to work in noisy environments like construction site and they are very durable I ran one over with a F550 once and it survived with just a few scratches :) They are built to Military Specs read the Wiki link below. and great Job Guys We are preparing to go fulltime soon once our newly acquired Rig has all the kinks worked out. I am a Retired Network Engineer that loves to Macgyver Useful Tech and help keep at least some Cell Phones out of the Landfill Supertramp1966 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOTO_Talk (It is the same system as used with Motorola's stand-alone DTR-series walkie-talkies) (The off network feature on the iDEN phones work for up to a six-mile radius and will communicate with all other iDEN phones in the area on the same channel and code access number. The off network walkie talkie feature has a total of 10 channels on newer phones and within those 10 channels, the phones can handle 15 separate group codes. This means there can be 15 conversations operating on each of the 10 channels within any single 6 miles radius)
Thank you for your video. I buy houses and the number one problem is appliance delivery. The companies give me a 4 hour window so I am waiting 4-8 hours in a vacant house waiting to get my appliances delivered. One day I had a 11-3 delivery time and they showed up at 9:30 at night! With this video I will be able to rent a trailer at $14.95 US deliver the appliances myself and be on my way, 1 to 2 hours tops! Probably won't take 2 people since I can see what is behind me.
2 more good reasons to carry walkie-talkies: single-lane entrance/exit roads and NOAA weather reports. I've been in a couple of campgrounds where the only way in and out is a single-lane steep road with no turnouts and with blind curves. If you're going one way and you come face-to-face with someone else going the opposite way, the driver going downhill must back up to a place where the other vehicle can safely pass, which may be all the way up the hill to the road off which this access driveway comes. Backing like that is no small feat whether you're driving a truck-and-trailer or a motorhome. So what I've done is to send my camping companion with a walkie-talkie out to the other end of the ingress/egress road to control traffic and give me the all clear message when I can have the road to myself. The second handy use is that some walkie-talkies have a receiver for NOAA weather radio: www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ . This is a free public service of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At the push of a button, the walkie-talkie tunes to a station that broadcasts a frequently updated weather report for the region in which the particular weather station is located, giving such important information as forecasts, warnings, alerts to dangerous weather conditions, and even notices about earthquakes, avalanches, oil spills and other environmental hazards. NWR is not available in absolutely every county of the US, but there are over 1000 stations and nearly everywhere can receive a signal. The website has a coverage map and list.
"If you liked the video give it a thumps up! If you've dislike the video well fuck you! Lol Jk! That would sound soo badass. Great tips, me and the wife love watching your vids keep them coming! Sorry I have a foul mouth/mind sometimes. Hahaha
Have y'all ever camped at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores Alabama?. If you haven't, I highly recommend it. We just got back from there, and we loved it.
Great content, guys. thanks for doing this. ive been horrible at backing up for years, from our popup, to our tear drop, and now........just bought a looong travel trailer,. first back in is tomorrow. love the scoop thing. I feel like maybe I do this naturally? not sure, Ill let you know how it goes. Love the drivers side/passenger side thing. brilliant. also - go slow. thanks for the reminder. I feel better about tomorrow after seeing this. but...yeah, Ill probably ask for pull throughs when I can. but at state parks (tomorrow is jordan lake - near raleigh - ALL the good water front sites are back in, so..here we go! lol happy camping, honeymooners.
Absolutely agreed with Sean’s approach of looking over the right shoulder when backing up my trailer. I have the same type of dislexia perplexia if I look over the left side. You’re not alone Sean!
Thanks, I have taken some heat for looking over my right shoulder, but it always felt more natural and intuitive to me. This is a case where I am simply reporting my honest personal preferences rather than parrot the usual advice. Of course I also use side mirrors, but avoiding "dyslexia perplexia" as you say does help one have smooth backing experience.
Love the videos! But, what about those of us who are alone and do not have someone to help park? :( I just bought my first Airstream and, I won’t lie, I’m terrified of hooking it up, towing it, backing it in/parking it by myself.
Great video! I just wanted to note that the Porsche 996 convertible, while a great car, is terrible for towing. You'll need to upgrade to a 997 4S Coupe for that. :-)
Hi guys. We are avid Amazon Prime shoppers and once again you have brought my ANXIETY levels down quite a bit and raising more confidence. I continue to watch your videos with absolutely no reason to watch any others. You’ve got me hooked! During our travels is there a way to communicate with you for advice and need assistance for issues that arise from our inexperience? I know this a lot to ask and I’ll bet you get this question quite often. Thanks for all you do!Deborah Frieze
Hi Deborah, we try to answer as many questions as we can, but with more than 100,000 "followers" it is very difficult. Plus there are a lot of people who ask questions who may not "follow or subscribe" (our videos receive almost 1,000,000 views a month). With that said, I think the best methods of communication are (1) Patreon --pretty much every patron question gets answered (2) TH-cam - posting a comment just as you have here (3) Facebook - Facebook.com/LongLongHoneymoon .... probably the worst is email because we get so much email every day (and a lot of spam) that messages sometimes get overwhelmed by the influx. If you have specific questions, you can always post them on TH-cam and if we have not previously answered them we'll try to make a video about it. We are always looking for good discussion topics! Thanks and we will do our best to keep the vids coming!
1. Reversing. I agree that reversing requires two people (indeed, it is the law on this side of the pond). However, I disagree that walkie-talkies are a good solution. I have been narrowboating for many years and have learned that effective hand gestures are more useful than walkie-talkies. My wife (who is sick and tired of hearing my voice) agrees with me. 2. Driverside/passengerside. Very good tip. Both the driver and the guider need to establish a good framework for communication, be it verbal or visual. The most important thing is that both understand each other. 3. Take your time. Very true - I have reversed many many trailers in my time and have messed it up frequently. Your advice is the best. One should never be afraid of slipping the stick into forward for a few feet and straightening the rig (to the uneducated onlooker, it looks as though you know what you are doing :-)).
Long long honeymoon, Being a single Mother I would only have the assistance of my 7yr. old Daughter to help me and being a Newbe back then I'd tell my little girl to either point to the right or the left as she stood way out of the way then also tought her the stop sign hand signal and I was lucky enough to park after one or two tries but one time I had to pull through a fenced area and got stuck, now I knew the whole camp ground was watching me but no one stepped in to help we'll finally got unstuck and the trailer with a standing ovation from the whole campground !!! by this time though it was not a happy time for me I was just very proud of my daughter for staying so cool under pressure even know it was my pressure !!! Anyway that was the worst I ever had to deal with in 20 yrs. My favorite was when people would say bring your husband down later and have a drink with us and I'd say "Well actually I don't have a husband and they say oh my who pulled that big trailer down here for you, mine being 28 ft. And I'd just laugh and say well actually it was just little old me !!! That's the best revenge !!! Lol 😊 Happy Camping and safe roads ahead !
My girl never gets out of the truck. I get out and look myself 3 or four times. The scoop doesn't work in tight areas as it will cause problems when the tow vehicle follows around if there are obstructions. 14 years 500 plus back ins and my driveway is the worst one. Always pull rear of trailer ten feet past your spot. I pull a 32 foot travel trailer.
I have a much shorter trailer than yours 16’ and one axle. My suspicion is that it’s response to towing vehicle is much shorter or quicker than a longer trailer would be. Any suggestions on best side to approach campsite from (drivers or passenger side) and where I should have trailer axle in relation to site entrance before I start backing? This is one of my favorite of your videos and I have used the scoop parking “Lucille” into her storage lot space but that has tons of room and not much to run into and it still took a couple of bailouts and restarts. I know I need more practice to gain confidence and if you keep making videos I’ll keep watching them.
Thanks for the great backing tips. We are picking up our first full sized trailer in two days (had a small pop-up before). We're excited and nervous, and fighting off the usual buyer's remorse. I'm going to remember the "scoop" in particular. Hopefully it won't take too long to master the skill. Say a prayer for us and thanks for posting.
You will do fine. Believe it or not, a lot of people find it easier to back up a longer trailer than a small one. I think shorter trailers are more likely to weave off axis when you are backing. Have fun and safe travels!
It's been over 3-decades since I hauled boats and horses (not at the same time). I plan to rent a long U-Haul trailer and practice on an empty parking lot with orange cones in place to see if I am still able to back into a parking space before I buy a travel trailer. I'm wondering if I can do it by using only the mirrors. I am hopeful since one old-guy told me that I could drive backward better than he could drive forward.
Old trucker here.. less is plenty in most cases, you normally don't have to crank the steering wheel to have a huge impact... also if at all possible have your intended parking spot on the left (drivers) side when beginning your maneuver.
I am a novice at this. Just bought a 6x8 mini camper. Never towed before. Like you side, i was afraid to back up. I must have watch all the camper back up video, yours and the Wagner guy are free best. You are good teachers.
i learned how to back a trailer by using hand signals if you are the person outside the truck that is how we do it on my farm and if possible giving voice commands with hand signals
Just stumbled across this video. Very well done. Could you make recommendations on how to maneuver a rig in a parking area on the right shoulder , where the driver wants to enter traffic on the opposite side of the road, essentially making a big u-turn? But where there’s not enough room t make a full u-turn, and only has a small amount of space to maneuver.
Best tip I got as a newcomer was grab the bottom of your steering wheel and whichever direction you push it is which direction the ass end of the trailer will go.
We just bought our first travel trailer and our leasing a seasonal spot. I’ve driven fire trucks before, many vehicles that I have had to use mirrors to back up, but I am never been more intimidated then the fear of backing this into our seasonal spot. So much so that I want to avoid it. I don’t have a partner to help me, my wife, god bless her, is intimidated because of my lack of patience. I guess it’s take it out to a big parking lot and practice
Great video. Me and my wife camp in New York state parks. They are full of problems when it comes to backing up a TT. Campsites can be really narrow. The roads are almost always one way, therefore the roads are really narrow. The driveways for the sites are often times directly across from each other, and with the sites being narrow and often times shallow, they park the tow vehicle on the road or close to the road. The end result is you have very little room to do anything.
Well good your method works for you. But really backing up a trailer is so much easier than you’re making it out to be. Just position your hand at six o’clock on the steering wheel and turn it the direction that you want the trailer to go. And that’s where the trailer will go. So easy If I were penning a a commercial I would say even a cave man could do it.
Thumb and pinkie up! If backing with mirrors: If you see the same amount of trailer on both sides, you're strait. If you see too much trailer on one side. steer like you are driving into it to push it away.
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Use your merrier’s.You don’t need to look over your shoulder.😄👍
I use an old trucker trick (taught to me by and old trucker 😉). Just put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and move it in the direction you want the back of the trailer to go. You are spot on with "the scoop," move slowly, and make tiny adjustments. Well done!
I have been driving a tractor trailer since 1985. So I have a lot of backing up miles under my belt. You wouldn't believe the places that I have had to back into by myself. I have no helper. If I could make a few tips on backing up a trailer. 1st of all, try to NEVER, EVER back up on the blind side ( passenger door side ) if possible. The driver can see a lot better on the drivers door side. 2nd. If the driver isn't sure, or confused about where the trailer is going, Get out and look!! It is better to get out and look a hundred times than hitting a tree, a picnic table, another camper or some kid that is more focused on that football than a camping trailer or motorhome backing into a spot. If you don't have someone to help spot for you, ASK someone to help spot for you. There is no such thing as a accident, only preventable accidents. I hope I was able to help someone too. :)
Thank you Bill for the great advice! We probably should do a follow up video that considers this task from the solo traveler's perspective. I started to mention the blind side backing in the video, but some of the campgrounds we frequent (such as the example used in the video) unfortunately require blindside backing. I agree that it's best to back on the driver's side if possible.
you are right. there is no such thing as an accident. only unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. you control the unsafe acts and eliminate the unsafe conditions. problem solved.
I've been backing trailers since I was 8 around the farm and have found a great tip to teach newbies is to place their hand on bottom of steering wheel the move that hand the direction they want the trailer to go.
Great tips.
That is a great tip, as well as the Go Pro idea, thank you!
Thanks for the great tip!
FloppyHatPhotos I tell the new drivers that the trailer moves in the same direction as the bottom of the steering wheel when backing, no matter where there hands are placed. Same thing, but the point is which way to turn the steering wheel, not where your hands are.
FloppyHatPhotos I drove trucks for a livin'. That's how I was taught. Hands at the bottom of the steering wheel. Then, you "push" the trailer left or right.
True on the pulling forward does not look cool so many guys will just fight it for way to long to try and save face.
Thanks Patrick
Loving your channel. Just bought our Travel Trailer and preparing for an eight month trip with our 3 pre-teen kids this June. Soaking up your videos to get edjamecated in RV Life! Thanks.
+Keep Your Daydream Thanks, it sounds like you have a grand adventure ahead! Glad to hear our videos have been helpful to you. Safe travels!
+Keep Your Daydream wow and look where you are now! Congrats on the new rig
@@78blc We love you both!
Just bought my first trailer and was feeling a little intimidated! Thanks for the tips, especially the "scoop"!!!
Great video. First time RV owners here and used your suggestion to get 2-way radios. This occurred the first time backing out new RV. Unfortunately we didn't take the rule of the observer not moving behind the RV when backing up as seriously. While backing my wife disappeared from my site, however, due to the radios we could still talk. I directed me straight back which I did. After moving backward a number of feet I heard her scream "STOP!". Interestingly her voice came through my open window, not the radio. We had purchased the radios and charged them 2 weeks before getting the RV. We had not used the radios since charging and assumed they were still sufficiently charged. Her radio chose that moment to lose charge. She had been telling me to stop a number of times but I wasn't getting the signal. She had to hurry out of the way. After this incident we both sat in stunned silence as we contemplated what could have happened. Lesson Learned: as you state in your video, The driver must always see the observer. Radio's are a convenience but not a replacement for direct sight.
Yikes! Thanks for sharing your story -- an excellent reminder that technology is not a replacement for direct sight. Also a good reminder to keep those batteries charged. (We use rechargable Sanyo Eneloop.) Glad your situation turned out okay.
Many thanks for this video. My wife and I, when backing up our tent trailer, were prone to getting.....grumpy.....with each other when backing up. When we moved up to a 36' travel trailer, we researched backing up, and came across this video. The advice to use radios, and to stop using 'left' and 'right' was incredibly useful. No longer do we need to bellow instructions to each other across a campsite, getting confused about which direction to turn, while trying to be heard over the sound of four tired children who are serenading us in four part disharmony. Instead, we could speak normally, with the windows up, which lowered the stress for everyone...... Marital harmony while backing up. Who coulda thunk it?
.....Now if you could only post a video on dealing with cranky kids.....
Peter Keen to
Having NEVER towed a trailer, this video was definitely helpful!
As a truck drive that had to back up large van on to the ak marine hiway a lot. A good tip is to always remember that if you are helping guide if you cannnot see the driver he/she cannot see you. for the driver also should walk around the vehicle with your spotter.
Hey! I do the "scoop" also, but I call it the tuck and jive. :) great tips! No matter how much I know on these topics, I still enjoy your format and humor and always come away with something that I can use. Thanks!
hey guys I tried the scoop my last 3 camping trips and it's amazing it really does work! I know you guys have a patent on this scoop let me know if I owe you any money thank you! lol backup confidence is way better
If at all possible put space you are going to back into on driver side .Pull pass space and turn out as told by Loloho crew .Try to get trailer aimed as much as possible toward space you are trying to back into while pulling pass. When backing a trailer you turn steering tires of your vehicle in opposite direction from which you want trailer to go. Remember a important acronym truck drivers use. GOAL-Get Out And Look.Use this when not sure. Backing is not a speed competition. Take your time.Thankyou for the channel. I enjoy it.
What Brian said. In your video your blind side ing. Most find that more difficult
I just wanted to let you know that I used the scoop today to back my rig into a kinda tight storage slot. AND IT SO WORKED!! It was amazing! My wife was so proud of me. 😊
Thanks for the good info! What kind of walkie talkies are you using in the video... the Amazon link in these description is for a 2 pack of Motorolas for $330?!?!
I can't thank you both enough. I picked up my 1st ever RV (bumper pull TT) and needed to back it alongside my house (8 inches of clearance on either side). Your tips on this video were incredibly valuable to me and my wife. While we did forget our walkie talkies, she was able to guide me in on the very first time by simply taking our time, using terms like "driver's side" "passenger side", using the swoop, and having trust/faith in one another. It worked like a charm and I couldn't have done it without having viewed your video beforehand. Thanks so much and Happy Camping!!
Wow! Thanks much for your comment. Stories like yours are very motivational to me... I really appreciate the positive feedback and am glad our video was helpful to you. It makes the work on the video worthwhile.. Congrats on your new acquisition, and safe travels to you both! --Sean (& Kristy)
Pop😂🎉
Such a simple terminology fix! "Driver's Side, Passenger Side" - Thank you! I shoulda thoughta that!
Do you disconnect the sway control bar and load leveler system chains when backing, especially in tight turns? Seems it could cause it to bind up and twist / break something.
+redroofretriever yes, best practice is to disconnect that stuff before backing, especially if the turn is tight. At the very least, loosen the anti sway bar.
This should have been mentioned in video.
🤔 Need to find a video on this topic for solo travelers or a trucker's perspective. 😉
Or for a really short camper that turns totally different than a longer camper!
I typically am doing it by myself and my best advice is to practice often in open areas before having to do it at a crowded campsite, and always, always get out and walk your expected path to be sure it is clear of obstacles. Never be afraid to pull forward, go slow, and get out to verify all 6 sides of your rig as you go.
Thanks for sharing your ideas, I have driven heavy articulated trucks and also caravans for many years now but I learnt something today, i.e. the radios and driver side and passenger side, so easy when you think about it. Thank you
Thanks for the tips! I don't have a partner to help me, but the Scoop sounds like a worthy placement technique. I'll have to give it a try. I got stuck in a parking lot once because it didn't have 2 exits, and after entertaining the diners in the restaurant for 20 minutes, someone took pity on me and helped me out. Thank Goddess for the kindness of strangers!
Hi guy's. First of all, you both rock!! Love your videos, always entertaining and informative, please keep them coming.
Are you marriage counsellors too? My wife and I just watched your video and you just diffused a potentially tense situation for us. We have the radios already and we WILL be using them. I was trying to teach her to use very clear hand signal communication as I sometimes will " tag" a crane at work and they have very specific hand gestures for signals to tell the operator what to do. The radios just put all that to rest, just say it in the radio... Duh. And the " passenger side" "drivers side" just eliminated a whole discussion of my right you right blah blah blah discussion.
So in short: thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!
Hope our paths cross some day!
Thanks for your post! We're glad the "drivers side / passengers side" system is of help to you... Yes, it is potentially a marriage saver! :-)
I have found that I cannot back up if I turn around. I have to use the mirrors. Love your videos.
Another great video. Even with good second set of eyes I usually get out and walk around. I am a newbie but used to drive tractor trailers and just got in habit of getting out and looking myself if there is ANY doubt..I found it is less expensive that way LOL>...I may or may not have learned this the hard way :)
David Jones : I’m single so I don’t have a choice but to get out a lot! 😕
@@bradleypollack5658 get a wireless camera you can stuff on the back of the trailer
Great tips. My husband is great at backing but we cannot always communicate. These tips are great.
I will soon purchase an RV. I am very sure it will be an Airstream. I considered length of 31 foot. A new AS is way out of my price range ($148,000), so I will go with a used AS.After visiting my son in the Smokey Mountains, I concluded that 31 feet will be too long tonegotiate mountain roads with my 21 foot F-250 Supercrew. That would combined length of over 50 feet. I notice that you use a 25-26 foot AS. But there are only two of you travelling. With your experience, do you feel that by adding 1 or 2 travelers with you, there would be insufficient room for them? These extra travelers would only be with me for 1 to 2 weeks. Also, are you satisfied with you heat in the AS in cold conditions? Does your AS use the factory forced air system, or do you use something else? I plan to used removeable skirting, should I be located in a colder climate, that can be easily stored and packed away. You are doing a great service with these videos to current and future RV'ers. Thank you, soldierjack.
Just purchased our new 26' travel trailer, and can't wait for spring to take it out and try "the scoop!" We are new travel trailers, and although I've been a city bus driver for 28 years, I am still a little nervous about backing up the trailer, don't regularly have to back up my 40' or 60' articulated buses. Your tips made me feel much better about the whole process... THANKS!!
So as a solo traveler I should stick a back up camera on the trailer and monitor in my cab
Another option as I Solo also: buy a set of those little orange cones
kids use to mark corners, etc., when playing sports. Scoop it, baby.
Get out, double check for o and select the perfect path into the site.
Lay down an arc of cones into the site on driver or passenger side.
...whichever will be on the INSIDE of the arcwith the last cone next to where the back trailer tire position will be. Adjust that side tow mirror down to view trailer tire(s) and first and second cones. Slowly inch back keeping tire about 6 inches OUTSIDE the arc by each cone. Stop and recheck as gut feelings recommend. When backed in perfectly, hop out, and bow to approving nods and applause from smiling bystanders.
Backup mirrors tend to smug, fog over, or be distorted by rain. More usefull on tow vehicle.
The people who disliked this video are the ones whose "scoop" fell off the cone and crashed!!
Backing up is pretty easy as long as your site is on the driver's side. If you can back up that way you always should. Its just easier to see what the trailer is doing.
I pull a 35 foot trailer pretty regularly and I have no problem backing up to the drivers side. Backing to the left I need a spotter for sure.
Apparently I have been using the scoop method for years without realizing it. Who knew!
Some good safety tips here though. Good video.
Thank you SO much for your incredibly helpful video. I just bought my first T@B teardrop travel trailer and am learning how to back it up. All of your advice has been invaluable, even for my small trailer. I appreciate your encouraging comments at the end about going slow, not caring if others are looking and laughing, and believing I can do it! Your wisdom and experience is a huge gift to others.
Agree on the lookies and laughter - gave me better confidence too
Great video, especially if you have 2 people. Unfortunately, after camping in a tent trailer for 33 years, with my husband doing the vehicle backing, I suddenly had to become the "expert" backer and also can't rely on my husband for instructions because he gets very confused. (Parkinsons is the pits.) Wrong instructions are worse than no instructions. Now I need an instructional video of your wife backing a trailer by herself into a tight spot. I figured out the backing into a campsite pretty quick (since there is usually good room for a 12' tent trailer in most campsites), but backing to the side of my house while missing the large fir tree and the rock wall is another story! Geesh, what we do for the love of camping!...not to mention the love of a dear husband. I truly did enjoy your insightful video, however, in spite of our unique challenges. I love the scoop tip!
I love the patented "The Scoop" method!!! Thanjs Thanks guys for the post, great encouraging info.
Great tips as we've just purchased our first camper. I will be towing/parking it from time to time and the last I read anything about this topic was many a year ago, when I got my driver's license. Great pointers and hopefully it will be nearly as easy, as you make it look!
just watched your vid on backing loved the scoop method how ever i drove a tractor trailer for 20 years and if i turned over my shoulder id back into something, even without a trailer drives my wife nuts great vids glad i subscribed
I remove my swaybar now before backing after I jacked up my hitch. Just saying.
winky phillips Probably a wise policy.
winky phillips That is an absolute must.
winky phillips Thanks for that!
that's me....the total backup scaredy-cat!! I had a horse for 15 yrs and fortunately, did not have to use my trailer much....backing up my Logan 2 horse trailer was scary for me. about all I can afford is a travel trailer, but am, at present, deathly afraid of the whole backing up process for a 20-25ft trailer in addition to the length of my truck.
Thank you for a fabulously useful video for us newbies.
Woww fantástico Thanks a lot! We’ll a buy a Travel Trailer. and I have never practiced backtracking with a trailer and it terrifies me. But your video make me calm down.
So im very new to this... why is it everyone (at least in my experience) makes fun of people who are new at backing up a trailer, rather than giving helpful advice? Its very annoying
Sean and Kristy, today I'm pulling and backing for my FIRST time! 😬 Thank you for sharing this video!!! 🙏
you guys make a great duo. how about a video on finding a good partner and team dynamics? ;-)
Just watched this vid again. I have a motorhome that will be for sale in the late winter. I have bought a Ram 2500 and a 18 ft travel trailer (cheapie to use till the unicorns bring me an Airstream) I have only backed a short utility trailer with my old Ranger and that was a bear, the shorter the trailer the more difficult as it reacts quicker, too quick. Two big issues for me will be backing alone, and the truck is a straight shift. Lots of getting in and out to check. May buy some orange traffic cones to place as targets to help with the process.Thanks, I enjoy your videos more than any other RV ones on TH-cam.
Just so ya know a old single chick can back up alone. Not sayin it's a beautiful site but I'm gettin' better. Patience is #1... and occasional long suffering.
Thanks RG, if we were making this video today I think I would phrase some things differently. You can definitely do it alone. These days the backup cameras have changed the game (for the better) a bit too. We may do a “sequel” to this video to make these points. Maybe we’ll interview you for it. 😄
Yay you! 'm also single lady and have become a good backer through practice, patience, and being careful. Still enjoyed the video -- good tips!
I use mirrors only and “chase the problem.” Trailer drifting left, turn wheel to left...drifting right, turn to right.
I’ve been told to remember “GOAL”. Get Out And Look😊
Thanks for the tips! Backed our TT into a very tight spot behind our house on the FIRST try. Cheers!
Thx guys. Been trailing many moons but your patented scoop should really help with the evil 90 degree tight backins. Also going to acquire the walkies again. Gracias amigos!
I'm looking at buying my first rv/TT and am one of those very concerned about backing it up. only previous experience was with a small u haul trailer! also will be solo-and worry about relying on nearby campers to help. love the tip about hand on the bottom of the steering wheel-very helpful! any more tips for a solo parking adventure? also thought about practicing in a big empty parking lot between cones before heading out to a campgrounds-that's how my mom taught me to parallel park many, many years ago! love your videos! so much information! well done!
Sean and Kristy....I've learnt so much from your channel, countless hours dreaming about having the freedom you have to explore! Feel much more confident in fulfilling my family's dream to own an airstream knowing I can reference your videos for advice! So here's a huge thankyou to you both for keeping it real!!! Take care, can't wait to follow you guys on your next adventure and I'll be sure to follow LoHo Photo!!!
We watched this video many times before purchasing our 2016 RPod 180. When we picked it up, we went to a large empty parking lot and practiced. I still think of this video each time I back up.
First and foremost - GOAL; Get Out And Look!
I watched this video awhile back and enjoyed it. I am a single lady and pull a travel trailer. I Often "rely on the kindness of strangers" to help me back up to park. I Was looking at back up cameras that have a strong magnet to hold them on the trailer or tow rig. Have you ever used or evaluated one of these types of cameras?
Thanks so much for posting this video! It was extremely helpful. I even shared it. We are newbies and we're now heading out for our very first back in site. Wish us luck! Hahaha
Not sure if this is still active, but I found these tips very helpful. I especially liked giving directions based on "driver" or "passenger" side.
Great video! We just brought our new trailer home today (a Rockwood Roo 19) and were a little nervous about getting it into our extremely narrow driveway with a slight curve. We did the scoop and I was very careful to move in inches (or even fractions of an inch). My wife and I watched several videos on backing up trailers and I don't think I would have been able to do it without this video. Thanks!
Very cool channel
Love from Saudi Arabia
Great idea the walkie talkie. A tip I was taught hold steering wheel at the bottom. If your hand goes left, trailer goes left. If your hand goes right trailer goes right.
Loved your comments, another secret always have your spotter stand on the same side of the vehicle. It makes it easier to spot the spotter if needed. Of course this comes from driving a 40 foot commercial bus.
All your videos are awesome. Clear precise and very helpful. Even when it is not exactly new to me I enjoy watching you guys. A very heartfelt thank you.
Thanks for this great video! Just getting our first travel trailer this week and watching this made me a lot more confident on handling the towing and especially backing up! The only part about becoming a trailer owner that is concerning was the towing/backing up and your videos helped me get over that. Keep up the awesome work!
Very good video, This will help a lot of newbies... I'm a motor homer....
We always used port and starboard.
Yeah, but did you set the fenders and ready the dock lines first?
I found that putting hand on bottom of steering wheel works , turn the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go.
Great video! However, THE BEST video on backing a trailer is from youtubers "Wandering Wagners" "HOW TO BACK YOUR RV and Tail Swing". That is THE MASTERCLASS, especially if you're solo! Watch both videos and you're gold!
In the trucking world we use the term "G.O.A.L.
GET
OUT
AND
LOOK
Before backing walk around your rig to check your setup and visually scan for hazards. And at anytime during the maneuver if you're unsure of what's going on or where your rig is then stop & G O.A.L.
Might I ask ask you about propane. Given that you have been living aboard the Airstream 24/7, I was wondering if you have calculated propane use during your boon-docking experiences. In other words, with stove top cooking, the hot water heater, and heating the Airstream with the furnace, how many days of 24/7 boon-docking are provided with two full propane tanks? Many Thanks!
Here is an idea. Backing up is confusing because people make it so. Stop making backing up so confusing: goes the opposite way, put your hand here, click your heels three times. It is so SIMPLE; Which ever way the front of the tow vehicle goes so will the back of what ever you are towing!!! Simple FRONT AND REAR GO THE SAME WAY ALWAYS!!!!!!!! This is going FORWARD or BACKWARD. You have less control with your hand(s) that are spending so much time going forward by using a different position on the wheel, that now you have to think about that instead of what you are doing. Where ever you put your hand(s) on the wheel is how you do it. Do not think about it just use the toys you show and prove it to yourself. All you have to do is decide how far and how fast you need to move the front of the tow vehicle to get what you are towing where you want it. And that just takes practice. If your assistant can not see the driver in a mirror the driver can NOT see the assistant! Your GOAL ( Get- Out- And- Look) is to get it in the hole. So do that, get out and look, with/without an assistants. What one of you think is far or close may not be the same to the other. The operator of the tow vehicle IS in control. Two signals from the Assistant are required, and can be seen in mirror Stop and OK. What signals you use is between you, decide BEFORE you back up. A SIMPLE piece of paper ( one side yellow one red). Ever notice how far you see them at construction zones? But you decide. Diver does NOT need their hand holding a walkie talkie they should be controlling the rig. Spotters are always better than not. If you have use them. CDLA Drivers ( I am one of them) back into parking spaces, loading docks, etc. most of the time without, but always safer if available to use. Practice BEFORE you hit the road. Go to an auto parts store pick up a few safety cones, get then collapsible so you can run over them as many times as you need. Short one stack/store the best. Find an empty parking lot ( get permission if needed)and play bang the cones. If people continually tell you it is hard and you listen: So it will BE!
I pulled a 30 foot gooseneck horse trailer all over the us and now a travel trailer. I can thread a needle backing up all kinds of trailers. Up hills around corners etc. the absolute worse thing in the world to me is another person trying to help. LOL. I HAD TO LAUGH WHEN YOU SAID IT WAS A TWO PERSON JOB. oops. Oh, and I don’t usually look over my shoulder, I use my mirrors. My Dad would roll over in his grave if I looked over my shoulder. Love your videos. Mostly hahahaha
Great video and all but what I really want to see is your wife back the trailer into a tight space or onto a car ferry. That would really be worth watching and I would share it with all my friends.
Another GREAT VIDEO!! Thank you!
You should read some of your comments about your hand on the bottom of the wheel. I drove a $1,000,000.00 NASCAR type hauler tractor-trailer for 20 years and coukld put a 53 foot trailer in any space I needed to...by learning the bottm of the steering wheel method. And always looking forward and using mirrors. Once learned, it is an invaluable method and easiest way to back up.
I use Old Nextel (iDEN) phones for 2 Way Yes the Nextel Network has been shut down in the USA BUT! certain model (iDEN) Motorola phones have a Feature in them (Moto Talk) that make a great off network 2 way walkie talkie radio they have great range and are pure digital, you can even use them in a private mode so no others can hear your conversation. This is my Hack I kept to myself until now ( In know others may have done this I never saw a conversation about it. this may not be as convenient as pulling 2 purpose made Talkies out of your glove box but I find them useful in situations were the average Talkie doesn't work well if I am in a area were many others are using them etc. They are Loud realy Loud if you turn them up They are designed to work in noisy environments like construction site and they are very durable I ran one over with a F550 once and it survived with just a few scratches :) They are built to Military Specs read the Wiki link below. and great Job Guys We are preparing to go fulltime soon once our newly acquired Rig has all the kinks worked out.
I am a Retired Network Engineer that loves to Macgyver Useful Tech and help keep at least some Cell Phones out of the Landfill
Supertramp1966
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOTO_Talk
(It is the same system as used with Motorola's stand-alone DTR-series walkie-talkies) (The off network feature on the iDEN phones work for up to a six-mile radius and will communicate with all other iDEN phones in the area on the same channel and code access number.
The off network walkie talkie feature has a total of 10 channels on newer phones and within those 10 channels, the phones can handle 15 separate group codes. This means there can be 15 conversations operating on each of the 10 channels within any single 6 miles radius)
Thank you for your video. I buy houses and the number one problem is appliance delivery. The companies give me a 4 hour window so I am waiting 4-8 hours in a vacant house waiting to get my appliances delivered. One day I had a 11-3 delivery time and they showed up at 9:30 at night! With this video I will be able to rent a trailer at $14.95 US deliver the appliances myself and be on my way, 1 to 2 hours tops! Probably won't take 2 people since I can see what is behind me.
2 more good reasons to carry walkie-talkies: single-lane entrance/exit roads and NOAA weather reports. I've been in a couple of campgrounds where the only way in and out is a single-lane steep road with no turnouts and with blind curves. If you're going one way and you come face-to-face with someone else going the opposite way, the driver going downhill must back up to a place where the other vehicle can safely pass, which may be all the way up the hill to the road off which this access driveway comes. Backing like that is no small feat whether you're driving a truck-and-trailer or a motorhome. So what I've done is to send my camping companion with a walkie-talkie out to the other end of the ingress/egress road to control traffic and give me the all clear message when I can have the road to myself.
The second handy use is that some walkie-talkies have a receiver for NOAA weather radio: www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ . This is a free public service of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At the push of a button, the walkie-talkie tunes to a station that broadcasts a frequently updated weather report for the region in which the particular weather station is located, giving such important information as forecasts, warnings, alerts to dangerous weather conditions, and even notices about earthquakes, avalanches, oil spills and other environmental hazards. NWR is not available in absolutely every county of the US, but there are over 1000 stations and nearly everywhere can receive a signal. The website has a coverage map and list.
"If you liked the video give it a thumps up! If you've dislike the video well fuck you! Lol Jk! That would sound soo badass. Great tips, me and the wife love watching your vids keep them coming! Sorry I have a foul mouth/mind sometimes. Hahaha
Have y'all ever camped at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores Alabama?. If you haven't, I highly recommend it. We just got back from there, and we loved it.
Great content, guys. thanks for doing this. ive been horrible at backing up for years, from our popup, to our tear drop, and now........just bought a looong travel trailer,. first back in is tomorrow. love the scoop thing. I feel like maybe I do this naturally? not sure, Ill let you know how it goes. Love the drivers side/passenger side thing. brilliant. also - go slow. thanks for the reminder. I feel better about tomorrow after seeing this. but...yeah, Ill probably ask for pull throughs when I can. but at state parks (tomorrow is jordan lake - near raleigh - ALL the good water front sites are back in, so..here we go! lol happy camping, honeymooners.
Absolutely agreed with Sean’s approach of looking over the right shoulder when backing up my trailer. I have the same type of dislexia perplexia if I look over the left side. You’re not alone Sean!
Thanks, I have taken some heat for looking over my right shoulder, but it always felt more natural and intuitive to me. This is a case where I am simply reporting my honest personal preferences rather than parrot the usual advice. Of course I also use side mirrors, but avoiding "dyslexia perplexia" as you say does help one have smooth backing experience.
Love the videos! But, what about those of us who are alone and do not have someone to help park? :( I just bought my first Airstream and, I won’t lie, I’m terrified of hooking it up, towing it, backing it in/parking it by myself.
Great video! I just wanted to note that the Porsche 996 convertible, while a great car, is terrible for towing. You'll need to upgrade to a 997 4S Coupe for that. :-)
Hi guys. We are avid Amazon Prime shoppers and once again you have brought my ANXIETY levels down quite a bit and raising more confidence. I continue to watch your videos with absolutely no reason to watch any others. You’ve got me hooked! During our travels is there a way to communicate with you for advice and need assistance for issues that arise from our inexperience? I know this a lot to ask and I’ll bet you get this question quite often. Thanks for all you do!Deborah Frieze
Hi Deborah, we try to answer as many questions as we can, but with more than 100,000 "followers" it is very difficult. Plus there are a lot of people who ask questions who may not "follow or subscribe" (our videos receive almost 1,000,000 views a month). With that said, I think the best methods of communication are (1) Patreon --pretty much every patron question gets answered (2) TH-cam - posting a comment just as you have here (3) Facebook - Facebook.com/LongLongHoneymoon .... probably the worst is email because we get so much email every day (and a lot of spam) that messages sometimes get overwhelmed by the influx. If you have specific questions, you can always post them on TH-cam and if we have not previously answered them we'll try to make a video about it. We are always looking for good discussion topics! Thanks and we will do our best to keep the vids coming!
1. Reversing. I agree that reversing requires two people (indeed, it is the law on this side of the pond). However, I disagree that walkie-talkies are a good solution. I have been narrowboating for many years and have learned that effective hand gestures are more useful than walkie-talkies. My wife (who is sick and tired of hearing my voice) agrees with me.
2. Driverside/passengerside. Very good tip. Both the driver and the guider need to establish a good framework for communication, be it verbal or visual. The most important thing is that both understand each other.
3. Take your time. Very true - I have reversed many many trailers in my time and have messed it up frequently. Your advice is the best. One should never be afraid of slipping the stick into forward for a few feet and straightening the rig (to the uneducated onlooker, it looks as though you know what you are doing :-)).
Long long honeymoon, Being a single Mother I would only have the assistance of my 7yr. old Daughter to help me and being a Newbe back then I'd tell my little girl to either point to the right or the left as she stood way out of the way then also tought her the stop sign hand signal and I was lucky enough to park after one or two tries but one time I had to pull through a fenced area and got stuck, now I knew the whole camp ground was watching me but no one stepped in to help we'll finally got unstuck and the trailer with a standing ovation from the whole campground !!! by this time though it was not a happy time for me I was just very proud of my daughter for staying so cool under pressure even know it was my pressure !!! Anyway that was the worst I ever had to deal with in 20 yrs. My favorite was when people would say bring your husband down later and have a drink with us and I'd say "Well actually I don't have a husband and they say oh my who pulled that big trailer down here for you, mine being 28 ft. And I'd just laugh and say well actually it was just little old me !!! That's the best revenge !!! Lol 😊 Happy Camping and safe roads ahead !
So is it still just little old you?
@@patb9375 yes
No one would ever help a single woman
My girl never gets out of the truck. I get out and look myself 3 or four times. The scoop doesn't work in tight areas as it will cause problems when the tow vehicle follows around if there are obstructions. 14 years 500 plus back ins and my driveway is the worst one. Always pull rear of trailer ten feet past your spot. I pull a 32 foot travel trailer.
I have a much shorter trailer than yours 16’ and one axle. My suspicion is that it’s response to towing vehicle is much shorter or quicker than a longer trailer would be. Any suggestions on best side to approach campsite from (drivers or passenger side) and where I should have trailer axle in relation to site entrance before I start backing? This is one of my favorite of your videos and I have used the scoop parking “Lucille” into her storage lot space but that has tons of room and not much to run into and it still took a couple of bailouts and restarts. I know I need more practice to gain confidence and if you keep making videos I’ll keep watching them.
Thanks for the great backing tips. We are picking up our first full sized trailer in two days (had a small pop-up before). We're excited and nervous, and fighting off the usual buyer's remorse. I'm going to remember the "scoop" in particular. Hopefully it won't take too long to master the skill. Say a prayer for us and thanks for posting.
You will do fine. Believe it or not, a lot of people find it easier to back up a longer trailer than a small one. I think shorter trailers are more likely to weave off axis when you are backing. Have fun and safe travels!
Thank you for the tips! Getting an AS tomorrow and will put them to the test.
It's been over 3-decades since I hauled boats and horses (not at the same time). I plan to rent a long U-Haul trailer and practice on an empty parking lot with orange cones in place to see if I am still able to back into a parking space before I buy a travel trailer. I'm wondering if I can do it by using only the mirrors.
I am hopeful since one old-guy told me that I could drive backward better than he could drive forward.
I swooped & it worked great! Thanks for the handy video :)
Old trucker here.. less is plenty in most cases, you normally don't have to crank the steering wheel to have a huge impact... also if at all possible have your intended parking spot on the left (drivers) side when beginning your maneuver.
...and the "Spotter" should never, EVER, turn their back on a moving vehicle. Tell the driver to stop until the spotter gets in position.
I am a novice at this. Just bought a 6x8 mini camper. Never towed before. Like you side, i was afraid to back up.
I must have watch all the camper back up video, yours and the Wagner guy are free best. You are good teachers.
i learned how to back a trailer by using hand signals if you are the person outside the truck that is how we do it on my farm and if possible giving voice commands with hand signals
Just stumbled across this video. Very well done. Could you make recommendations on how to maneuver a rig in a parking area on the right shoulder , where the driver wants to enter traffic on the opposite side of the road, essentially making a big u-turn? But where there’s not enough room t make a full u-turn, and only has a small amount of space to maneuver.
Best tip I got as a newcomer was grab the bottom of your steering wheel and whichever direction you push it is which direction the ass end of the trailer will go.
We just bought our first travel trailer and our leasing a seasonal spot. I’ve driven fire trucks before, many vehicles that I have had to use mirrors to back up, but I am never been more intimidated then the fear of backing this into our seasonal spot. So much so that I want to avoid it. I don’t have a partner to help me, my wife, god bless her, is intimidated because of my lack of patience. I guess it’s take it out to a big parking lot and practice
Great video. Me and my wife camp in New York state parks. They are full of problems when it comes to backing up a TT. Campsites can be really narrow. The roads are almost always one way, therefore the roads are really narrow. The driveways for the sites are often times directly across from each other, and with the sites being narrow and often times shallow, they park the tow vehicle on the road or close to the road. The end result is you have very little room to do anything.
Well good your method works for you. But really backing up a trailer is so much easier than you’re making it out to be. Just position your hand at six o’clock on the steering wheel and turn it the direction that you want the trailer to go. And that’s where the trailer will go. So easy If I were penning a a commercial I would say even a cave man could do it.
Thumb and pinkie up! If backing with mirrors: If you see the same amount of trailer on both sides, you're strait. If you see too much trailer on one side. steer like you are driving into it to push it away.