Where can I learn to maneuver a 5th wheel?

[boonsur]

I had no problems with my 30' travel trailer (getting in and out of tight spots, etc. ). But, I'm a little anxious about how different a 5th wheel will be. I also think there are tricks to be learned. Does anybody know of good videos, or text books that could teach me some new methods. Are there any informal courses (short of truck driving school) that I could attend (Midwest area)? Some of my questions:



Turning around in tight areas: The Pullrite video shows them doing a U-turn with a long TT, by jacknifing the trailer first. I have always looked for a strip to shoot the trailer into. Does anybody use the jacknife method (seems really slick)?



Are there similar tricks to back the trailer into tight campsites (via. jacknifing)? How/where do I need to set-up the wheels for the backward turn (how is it different than a travel trailer)?



How about turning a sharp corner on the streets? Seems the 5th wheel will cut the corner a lot closer than the TT did. Do I need to go straight longer, before starting the turn (do the "?" shape)?



The biggie, how about approaching a steep incline (from street into driveway). I assume I want to be swinging as the truck approaches the ramp, so the corner of the trailer goes down the center of the bed. But doesn't this cause the wheels to hit the curb?



Thanks for your patience & advise.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Try a large, empty parking lot that does not have light poles in your way.

 

[klenger]

I have found it is much easier to backup if you have something to mark the boundries as a guide. I had to back my 5er about 200' out of a 1 lane forest service road, and found that it was really easy because I could see exactly where the tires needed to be. You might try some cones, or maybe even a garden hose laid out as a guide. Have fun.

 

[cwsoules]

Try a parking lot. Try to back into spaces where you can see it from your drivers window. It is much harder if you have to turn toward the right side of your truck. I carry about 50' of light line which I lay down along the line I want the left hand trailer tire to follow. There are lots of suggestions on how to back up. One common one is to place your hand on the bottom of your steering wheel and while watching your mirrors move the wheel in the direction you want your trailer tires to go. I find that for me looking back works best. My wife assists with hand signals which often I can understand. She got much better when she learned that if she could not see my mirrors I could not see her hand signals. I also put the transmission in neutral, set the brake and walk back to see for my self. As soon as your trailer starts to move where you want it ease off on the steering wheel or you will go too far. Practice helps. I need to get it over with quickly as my transmission heats up quickly when backing. If it gets up to 240, and I can stop without blocking traffic, I shut down and start working on site set up for 15 minutes or so to allow the transmission to cool. I am still not satisfied with my backing skills.



When on the road and making turns turn wide and go well into the intersection. I use the round McKesh mirror to help me see if the trailer is getting too close to something when turning. Your 5er will turn inside your truck every time.

 

[Casey Balvert]

This website has a lot of useful information. They have a video available for under $10. 00. Hope it helps.



I am also a big fan of using FRS radios or something similar for communicating with your spotter at the back.



Casey



http://www.rvsafety.com



http://www.rvaa.com/drivesaf.php3

 

[gbraden]

My new 5th-wheel trailer arrived at the dealer this weekend. I've towed a travel trailer for years, but this will be my first expericnce with a 5th-whee. I too am apprehensive about parking it and/or getting in and out of tight spaces.



Ken L. , where is the Forest Service road you referred to? I need to make sure to avoid that place.

Glenn

 

[y-knot]

The only thing that will make you comfortable behind the wheel while towing is seat time and practice. The ideal of going to a large parking lot and practicing is great. You can get a few small cones at any sporting goods store,We have Dick's here, and lay yourself out a few obstacles to maneuver around. If you have a wife,girlfriend,significant other? Bring them along and have them practice with you. They have a role to play in this just as you do. You guys need to talk it over as to how you want your signals. Where it is best for them to stand, while you are backing. They need to know that there signal needs to be over exaggerated so you can easily tell what they want. I would just keep practicing till you have a good feeling about it. You will get better, it just takes some effort on your part.

Backing is very important, almost every camping site requires you to back in. It's kind of funny, cause every time a large trailer comes into the camping grounds, everyone stops what they were doing and watches you. It is funny, but sometimes very entertaining. But that is also how you need to practice, in the parking lot you will have very little to be nervous about. But, with everyone watching you at the camp ground, it can and will make you very nervous. Especially if you are on your tenth pull-up, or back into the power pole. I know we always get that reaction, seems as if everyone watching for the big mess-up. But if you have practiced and you and your partner are comfortable with the process's, it will go smoothly.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by boonsur

The biggie, how about approaching a steep incline (from street into driveway). I assume I want to be swinging as the truck approaches the ramp, so the corner of the trailer goes down the center of the bed. But doesn't this cause the wheels to hit the curb?

Set yourself up so you cross the opposing lane when you turn off of a road onto a driveway or whatever with an incline. Keep your swing wide. This way, the trailer has the most chance to become straight with the truck.



Avoid "jacking" the trailer as much as possible. This manuever is very stressful on your tires/wheels/suspension. For example, you have your truck jacked hard to the left making a 90 degree combination with your trailer. Your left front trailer tire is not turning, the right one is. Both tires on the rear axles are turning but also being slid sideways. In real life, the turning, twisting, stopping of each tire will be relative to the turn and the terrain as well as the road surface. Concrete or blacktop is the worst. Gravel or grass is more forgiving if you must jack.



Plan ahead. Don't just pull in to a situation. Access your escape route first.



Intersections: There are two basic approaches, again, try to access the situation going into one. Staying straight, hug the left line. When you proceed forward, go straight until you think your trailer will clear then make your right turn. You want to avoid crossing the stop line for the oncoming traffic as you swing around. The other is called a buttonhook. This is good when your on a road with multiple lanes. Stay in the right lane until the last moment then swing your truck into the left or outside lane. This leaves your trailer in the right lane, effectively blocking people from passing on your right when you make your turn. When you can proceed, again, you go straight if you must prior to turning right. For left turns, if you have more than one lane, stay in the right lane. Proceed straight then turn left at the last moment effectively keeping the trailer from crabbing into the other lane.



Remember, just because your big does not mean everyone yields to you. Nor are they automatically obligated.



Practice your intersections during the "off hours". Industrial parks can be a good place to practice too, especially on an off day.

 

[Mad Bomber]

A TT is harder to move than a 5ver is

 

[barbwire]

If you had a bumper pull before, You are gonna love the 5th wheel!!!

They are much better to maneuver

 

[boonsur]

Thanks for the reply's.



I've always prided myself in being able to get the TT into any spot, straight, right away. I've also taken delite in watching people who are in over their heads. Guess that's why I'm so afraid of screwing up. I'll have to pick it up early in the day (so I have a long time to pratice before dark), and camp early in the spring, before the campgrounds get too full. Or, I could spend all my time in pull-thru's .



Casey, that video looks like it could be helpful. Has anybody seen it and/or would you recommend it? I'll probably check around the libraries this week. Sounds like there'd be a big market for a good how-to video.

 

[Mad Bomber]

Having a 2nd set of eyes as you back up always helps

 

[barkerdl]

Backing Advice

More unsolicited advice.



An inexpensive pair of FRS radios will save a lot of stress on your significant other. Just be sure to inform her that she must push the little button thingy before speaking!



If you lose track of your spotter, just stop. There is no shame in getting out and taking a look for yourself.



A simple piece of wisdom that has served me well came from a good friend who drives trucks for a living. "Always turn the truck (tractor) toward trouble" will keep you out of trouble with a trailer.



Try to forget that the whole campground is watching you mess up! That's why we get there early.



Have some fun!



Dennis

 

[Fireman]

boonsur,



It is different! I'm not used to it yet, but it isn't that hard. Practice, then go slow and use some good old comon sense and you'll be fine.



Fireman

 

[RChase]

Backing up a fifth wheeler is little different than a TT it just turns a little different due to the location of the pivot point of the hitch location it lakes more turning of the steering wheel to get the trailer to turn.

 

[rweis]

The first time I hooked up my 5er the driving part went smooth. HOWEVER, I could not figuer our how to get the 5er off the hitch. I asked a couple of other folks in the campground and they had no idea either. I asked a guy with a permanent 5er, he had someone tow it to the spot for him.



What I found out. With MY hitch, which may be different than yours. I have to BE SURE the box pin is fully in the FRONT of the hitch. By this I mean the last thing I do is back against a 4x4 chock at the trailer wheels. If my box pin is not at the FRONT of the hitch I can't open the jaws of the hitch.



Also I bought a new 5er. The old one I could lower my tailgate and hook the 5er. My new 5er does not have that much room between the 5er and the truck and the tailgate can not be down when backing or hooked up, so had to go with a V type 5er tailgate.



To get my wife to give me the directions on the FRS I wanted I put her in the drivers seat and I talked her into a spot. Then she understood what I wanted.



As stated above the transmission temp will rise significantly. I let mine go to 210* and then stop the backing process and let it cool. The reason it climbs is there is virtually no airflow across the transmission cooler when backing.



I have a MagHytec transmission pan, took the check valve out etc, but the transmission temp will still climb fairly quickly. It starts to scorch the transmission fluid at about 225* I think. So I try to keep it below that.



If you have a stock transmission the transmission fluid does NOT pump in park so you need to use NEUTRAL for the fluid to pump through the coolers.



I never thought of the rope idea for backing, I'll try that.



Bob Weis

 

[NVR FNSH]

Watch your overhead clearance - it's bit me a couple of times. And your spotter has to learn to anticipate what the trailer is going to do before it needs to be corrected because the 5th doesn't react as quickly as a TT when backing.



Brian

 

[klenger]

Watch out for this one from your assistant, ... "back, back, back, a little bit more, OK, now over to the left 6 inches".

 

[cwsoules]

We tried radios but because I use hearing aids I could not understand what my wife was saying. We shifted to hand signals.



There is a RV Park rule, if you back in with no problems NO ONE will be watching. Have trouble and the entire park will come to watch. We have learned only to listen to each other. Once the park folks show us the site, we rely on ourselves to park the rig.

 

[BigMike]

After replacing the rain gutter on the front if my house twice, I've decided that radio's are a must! I have no trouble understanding my wife (as long as she pushes the talk button)