RVing message boards > Trailers & Fifthwheels
Backing up a fifth wheel
baba:
Being a new owner of a great fifth wheel trailer, I am having trouble backing it up. Is it better to go very slow and steady or what. I have practiced in a parking lot but I will get there but is it very frustrating. If I cramp the wheel it will turn but then won't straighten out. I have heard about holding the steering wheel it at the bottom but I can't seem to master it. I NEED HELP (in order to save my 40 year marriage). Thanks to all who will contribute.
Barry
BruceinFL:
Practice, practice, practice and patience. Try not to overturn and start leading out of the turn early. Turn the bottom of the steering wheel in the direction you want the camper to go but remember that the unit will not straighten out as quickly as you get it to turn. It'll all come together after a while. Don't give up.
Carl L:
1. Use a guide standing on the outside of your turn. They should stand where they can see your side mirrors. Accept directions from that person only -- refer kibitzers to the guide.
2. Have the guide instruct you on the direction of the rear of the should go.
3. Place your hand on the bottom of your steering wheel and push it in the direction that the rear of the trailer is to go.
4. Remember that you have to allow the trailer to describe arcs of circles as it turns. Start your turn and then ease up to let it follow thru on the arc.
5. If you go too far, reverse the steering part way and pull forward to re-aim the rear and then back again on a new arc.
6. Realize that the whole process will be slow and while you are learning with lots of backs and corrections.
7. Do not be afraid to give up on a bad cut, pull out and start over again. Style points are not being awarded for the efforts here. ;D
8. When you position yourself in the access road prior to backing remember to allow yourself room on the opposite side of the road to avoid conflicts there. You can get too close to the far side and find obstacles like 42 foot motorhomes obstructing your turn.
Gary RV Roamer:
With a fifth wheel, you have to crank in a lot of steering input to get the turn started, but must quickly back off to a very small turn of the wheel once the trailer begins to turn. The exact timing of that change is a matter of experience with your tow vehicle and trailer. Fifth wheels are not easy to back up - it is a skill that has to be acquired.
Lou Schneider:
To start the 5th wheel turning, you have to get an angle between your truck and trailer. To make it stop turning, you have to get the truck and trailer in a straight line with each other.
To back up your truck by itself, you have to turn the front wheels in a direction that moves the front of the truck towards the outside of the turn.
To back up the trailer, you have to do the same thing - position the truck so it's pushing the FRONT of the 5th wheel towards the outside of the turn. Then to keep the turn radius the same, the truck has to follow the trailer through the turn - keeping the same angle between the truck and trailer. If you don't follow the trailer, the radius of the turn will get tighter and tighter.
To stop turning, you have to get the truck and trailer in a straight line with each other.
Sometimes it's easier to pull forward slightly and position the truck at an angle to the trailer, then begin backing.
Likewise, if you reach the end of the turn and can't get the truck and trailer straightened out to stop the turn, or you find you can't get the truck to turn sharply enough to straighten itself out with the trailer, stop, crank the wheel over the other way and pull forward slightly until the truck and trailer are in a straight line. Then straighten out the wheel and resume backing.
And, while backing, watch the wheels of the trailer - that's where the trailer will track, not at the rear bumper. You'll drive yourself crazy if you try to back up watching the position of the rear bumper instead of the wheels.
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