*Truck and Towing thread........ask your questions here.*

These recent discussions have me thinking now...since we are about to pick up our new 40.5' 5er this weekend. I'm currently assigned to a FHU site (had a 28' TT originally). I'm confident in my ability to back into just about anything and having the truck in overflow isn't a deal breaker, but seeing other fellas that pull long rigs say they stay premium exclusively gives me pause. Seeking advice if I bite the bullet and upgrade to premium?
I always pick premium for the extra space. The biggest problem for me is if someone parks right next to the road in the site across from me. Mine doesn't bend in the middle.
 
PTP,

When I was down in September, we were staying with our friends in their MH. We were in the 2100 loop, a Full loop now. I took the cart and looped through the 1600-1900 loops looking to see how many I could fit on (pre-planning to see if I could save some money on a reservation). My 5er is 42 ft and the truck, another 23.

There are definitely individual Full sites we will fit on. Overall, the Full loops are as easy to navigate as some of the Premiums. And definitely easier to get around than the Preferred (100-300) The issue with some is the sites are narrower. 12 ft on average vs 18 for the Premiums. They also have the rock/sand "tent" pad that impacts the amount of pavement.

If you are comfortable backing into some tighter spots and have a good handle on how much road you need to get around corners, you should be ok. I would definitely have your overall length added to your reservation. I call down and have a note added, even with a Premium reservation. There are less long Full sites, but there are some.

j
 
Thanks @Stratman50th.

The issue with some is the sites are narrower. 12 ft on average vs 18 for the Premiums. They also have the rock/sand "tent" pad that impacts the amount of pavement.

Thanks. With pulling my cargo trailer for many years, I feel pretty good on where I can shove a long 5er/gooseneck, but there is such a variation on sites. Your reconnaissance reports are helpful.

Perhaps it comes down to $200 extra for 18' and having the truck parked on the site v save money and the possibility have a small husband/wife...driver/spotter fight as it takes me a while to squeeze my rig into a smaller site.

Thanks
 
Sometimes backing up is just a mind set also. I put my TT on the small tent pop up sight in 2 seconds. Avoided trees, garbage cans and everything else. When i moved sites and was rushing took 10 tryes to back up into a steight site. Lol. After screwing up the first time i let the 2nd guessing get the better of me. So if you mind is right, it will not be a problem.
 


and the possibility have a small husband/wife...driver/spotter fight
One other comment about Full sites. Don't forget the 2100 loop. It use to be cabins. I really liked the loop when we were there in September. It feels very open and would be very easy to navigate around.

Here was our loop and site. 2108. The first pic is walking in from the loop entrance. Our friends MH is 37 ft. They probably could have gone back another 5 ft or so, but didn't need to.

20190907_174644-1008x567-jpg.433621


20190907_174704-1008x567-jpg.433622


Ahhh. The DH/DW/spotter discussions...

I have tried all of the options to make this work. Verbal (epic fail- go "that" way?!?, or "move right"- my "right" or yours), hand signals (beyond fail, would stand where I couldn't see them in my mirrors), walkie talkies (see verbal). We finally settled on DW stays in the truck. I get out and do a thorough walk around. DS, if he is with us, gets out and just yells if I'm about to hit something (usually high tree branches I can't see in my mirrors)

I think the biggest problem is having someone help that has never done it. They have no point of reference to what I can see (or not) and then how to communicate what they see. We just gave up trying. That saves a lot of stress.

j
 
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Ahhh. The DH/DW/spotter discussions...

I have tried all of the options to make this work. Verbal (epic fail- go "that" way?!?, or "move right"- my "right" or yours), hand signals (beyond fail, would stand where I couldn't see them in my mirrors), walkie talkies (see verbal). We finally settled on DW stays in the truck. I get out and do a thorough walk around. DS, if he is with us, gets out and just yells if I'm about to hit something (usually high tree branches I can't see in my mirrors)

I think the biggest problem is having someone help that has never done it. They have no point of reference to what I can see (or not) and then how to communicate what they see. We just gave up trying. That saves a lot of stress.

j
We got this one figured out, but not without some gnashing of teeth and blown blood vessels... Ok, and some yelling...
First we use walkie talkies. Lots of folks say they use cell phones. I have been in several places where there was no signal- cell phones useless.
The communication part. We got the words figured out long ago.. "turn this way" doesn't work for us. We (not me) have a tendency to drag feet on departure the result being getting in after dark more than once. At our former residence the bus parking was to the side of the actual driveway. It didn't run the full length having an angle in at the front. (It was originally for my daughter's Silverado, not 45' of coach). The only way our coach would fit was to kind of parallel park it. The rear hung over the landscaping timbers and the front wheels just made it in after the angled entrance. After several issues of less than illuminating instructions I made her come back and get into the driver's seat. "Ok, look into the mirrors.... what do you see?" "Nothing". "Exactly! let's be a little more specific in our directions please". Once we got the driveway figured out there really wasn't anyplace we can't park in given enough room. Actually haven't had a problem since then. In fact, the wife is the only one I'll let spot for me now.
 
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Everyone has the fun, even if it someone familiar. The point of having the spotter sit in the truck for a second is a good one.

DW and I usually have no problems. Verbal is better because I can't get standardized signals going.

What I don't care for is when a RV park escorts me to the site and then attempts to back me in and gets offended when DW hops out to take over.
 


What I don't care for is when a RV park escorts me to the site and then attempts to back me in and gets offended when DW hops out to take over.
This is the best.

I have a funny story about this one.

We were camping at Camping on the Gulf in Destin. We had reserved a "Beach Front" site. If you haven't been to Camp Gulf, the beach front sites are VERY narrow. They used to only allow slides on the street side OR an awning on the curb side. Not both. Here is a pic. The gap in the middle between the Class A and the MH is an open site.

CampGulf.jpg

They also had (have? it's been a long time since we were there) a large number of workcampers. Some direct you to your site in a golf cart and assist with backing into the narrow sites. Workcampers are generally very helpful, because they are also RV owners. One trip I had our 2nd camper, a 33ft TT, so actually 36 ft long, with a huge tail swing on it. The workcamper pulls up and puts his golf cart behind the trailer and off to a corner and starts to direct me in. I get out and look around first. It was tight (narrow lanes , in addition to really narrow sites) and I ask him to move the golf cart because the tail swing will hit the cart. He brushes it off. I ask again, and then he gets condescending about it. I knew it would be close, but that the big bumper on the trailer would likely get it. After the 3rd denied request, I back into the site. Got it pretty squared up and settled. The workcamper then sees the windshield on the cart broken and the window frame torn off the front of the cart on one side. He then starts yelling at me for hitting his cart.

My DW walks up to him and says you had 3 chances to move it and refused. Sounds like you have some explaining to do to your boss.

Luckily my trailer had zero damage. It had a pretty strong boxed steel bumper that could take a pretty solid hit.

Funny, but I never heard anything else about it the rest of the week.

j
 
DW and x2 DDs know their roles when it comes to backing in.

Sit still

Make not a single sound

Make sure your head is not blocking view of the passenger mirror

Do not even think about touching the door handle to exit the vehicle until I give the all clear


This seems to be the safest way we have found to handle this situation.
 
@tiggerdad MY DD knows not to make a sound or hop out with mom while dad is backing in. Now my wife will know where and where not to walk. When we got the new trailer in 2018, it came prewired for a Furrion camera. Now when my DW decides to walk behind the trailer, I can see her in the 5 inch screen. Also it works well for hand signals. Last year during one of the last back ins of the season, we had a tight maneuver. It actually required another person to help me get the sight line to back it in due to a tight roads, people and a hard cut. Worst part, there was a much flatter and wider spot just down the lane in which I could have swung the trailer in within a shot maybe 2. However I got the trailer in. The last trip of the season was to DC. We had a mid evening arrival. I think it was around 7PM. It was dark out I got the trailer in 3 shots since I didn't like the look for the first shot and my second shot was over corrected. So I said the next shot is going to be the final. It was. I was happy and the wife was happy. However, if I keep up these night time arrivals, I am thinking about getting a couple of portable lights to light up the approach so I can see where the trailer is going and tracking plus give a little extra insurance for guiding in. I hate nights were I cannot see the trees, tables or even fire rings in the area of the back up.
 
@tiggerdad MY DD knows not to make a sound or hop out with mom while dad is backing in. Now my wife will know where and where not to walk. When we got the new trailer in 2018, it came prewired for a Furrion camera. Now when my DW decides to walk behind the trailer, I can see her in the 5 inch screen. Also it works well for hand signals. Last year during one of the last back ins of the season, we had a tight maneuver. It actually required another person to help me get the sight line to back it in due to a tight roads, people and a hard cut. Worst part, there was a much flatter and wider spot just down the lane in which I could have swung the trailer in within a shot maybe 2. However I got the trailer in. The last trip of the season was to DC. We had a mid evening arrival. I think it was around 7PM. It was dark out I got the trailer in 3 shots since I didn't like the look for the first shot and my second shot was over corrected. So I said the next shot is going to be the final. It was. I was happy and the wife was happy. However, if I keep up these night time arrivals, I am thinking about getting a couple of portable lights to light up the approach so I can see where the trailer is going and tracking plus give a little extra insurance for guiding in. I hate nights were I cannot see the trees, tables or even fire rings in the area of the back up.

A friend of our had a Spacecraft Trailer built, and had lights put all the way around the top, bright LED's so if they arrived at night they can see. Having backed ours in at night, have had that same thought, need some area lighting.
 
I have LED lights on the back of the truck, and I think the only mod I might make is if the LED strips dont go all the way down the side of the RV would be to add ones near the rear axles and tail. After that I know melissa can help me back in.

Thanks to racing, I have taught melissa to describe things in the standpoint of the driver. So if I need to shift the trailer she will tell me "the tail needs to turn drivers right" or "the wheels need to move drivers left". This is after we talk about where I want the trailer to land.

We have 177 foot driveway, and the only time I went off the pavement was when I didn't have her help and it was getting dark. That was when I thought about the new LED light strips and just a few sections in the right place down low to show where you are at would be perfect.
 

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