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12-04-2018, 01:34 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 19
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Question about campsite help
When I start to travel I will be by myself. I don't think that I will have much of a problem getting the TT into a campsite but when I go to leave and want to hook it up to my SUV are other people willing to help me getting the hitch in position?
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12-04-2018, 01:37 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Posts: 3,542
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As a general rule finding someone willing to help is easy to do, just ask.
BUT, keep in mind, it's not their stuff, so they may not be as careful as you think they should be. Ultimately it's up to YOU to make sure it goes right.
You might consider a backup camera on your truck so that you can see that hitch as you back up to it.
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2013 Winnebago Sightseer 36V
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12-04-2018, 01:48 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Gulf Coast, Alabama
Posts: 2,450
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As podivin said, back-up cameras are cheap and easy to install; I think mine was less than $50 or at the most less than $100. Makes things real easy; especially when you're trying to do it in the rain/snow and your "neighbors" won't answer the door when they see you coming
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Rick and Sandy
2003 American Eagle, 59K miles
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12-04-2018, 01:57 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Palm Coast Florida
Posts: 12,995
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I have a friend that says when he is setting up or getting ready to leave he tries to hurry before people walk over and try to help...[emoji4] .
I can use the mirrors and get out and look and do better than having 7 guys helping. Once people were waiting for me to arrive at a seasonal RV Park where I was in a Clique' . Anyway 7 people helping, I never did get the 5th wheel backed in the way I wanted it...until a few days later when people were gone
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12-04-2018, 02:40 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,582
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There are probably people around that would help at a campground but I suggest you practice doing it somewhere with an experienced helper the first few times. Like riding a bike its really not that hard once you get the hang of it.
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12-04-2018, 02:48 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Nanuet, NY
Posts: 138
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Generally speaking, I like to have everything hooked up and ready to go before I ask the Mrs. for help. (Domestic Tranquility ) Use a backup camera and take your time. Take a look around for the tennis ball gizmos that help when lining up the hitch to the trailer. Frankly, I would be more concerned about backing up the trailer into the site than hook up.
__________________
2018 Coachman Apex Nano 191 RBS
2017 Chevy Colorado
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12-04-2018, 03:07 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Aldergrove, British Columbia Canada
Posts: 205
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GOAL - Get Out And Look.
Back up a bit. Put the tow vehicle in park. Take a look. Repeat as necessary. A couple of inches in the right direction is better than a foot in the wrong direction.
I've been hooking up to trailers for 30 years and I STILL get out and look every time even though my tow vehicle has a very passable integrated backup camera.
I figure it's better to look silly by getting in and out of my vehicle than look stupid by hitting something because I was too proud/lazy to get out and have a glance.
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TT: 2018 Outdoors RV Blackrock 20RD "Rolly House"
TV: 2016 Ford F150 XLT FX4 2.7EB EAT6
Aldergrove, British Columbia
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12-04-2018, 03:40 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 472
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Go to Home Depot and pickup a driveway marker and stick it in the coupler release on the trailer. When you pull up on the coupler release there’s enough space to stick a thin driveway marker in the hole it creates from being pulled up. Markers come up to 48”. Seeing it through your rear view will allow you to center up on the hitch. Should also give you a sense of how far back you need to come. Just a thought!!
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12-04-2018, 07:09 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 227
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They make magnetic poles that you stick one on the trailer hitch and one on the ball, I used to use them on my boat trailer (my wife wasn't interested in helping me hook up the boat at 5 am).
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"One life, don't blow it" Kona Brewing "If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles" Gary Larson
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12-04-2018, 07:17 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 472
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Even better.. when you knock the pole off the ball you’re lined up perfectly.
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12-04-2018, 07:31 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,731
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I wouldn't 'count' on someone to be there to help!
RV'ers need to be self sufficient!
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Ben & Sharon
2008 43' Holiday Rambler Scepter PDQ
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12-04-2018, 07:36 PM
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#12
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,590
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As a general rule, RV'rs are quite helpful. Look helpless & someone will come.
However, you really need to learn how to do this yourself. It's not hard to do. I learned to do it for all the RV's we've owned (TT/SUV, 5-r/truck, motorhome/toad).
There may come a time when there's no one around to help & the person who wants in your site because they have the reservation will not be happy you haven't vacated it.
Lori-
__________________
Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
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12-04-2018, 07:49 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Rigby, Idaho
Posts: 3,902
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It's easy to do by yourself, it's just easier with a spotter. If that spotter is your spouse, and she is -- how do we say it -- way more beauty than brains, sometimes it's BETTER to back it in by "your own stoopid self, you jerk", as my beautiful half once suggested. I use my mirors to get centered, and back in till I feel close, hoping to be about 2 feet away. I put it in park, set the park brake, open the driver's door, get out and go look at the alignment and distance. I use my hands to force my brain to SEE the distance. I figure in my mind the amount of turn to put in the wheel to get the ball centered under the coupler. I make sure my coupler is above my ball by a good amount, not even close. I get back in the truck, stand on the foot brake and release the park brake. I do not close the door. I crank the wheel what I think might be enough, then I look left, out the door, on to the ground where it meets my runningboard. I plan the distance the ground needs to go against my runningboard. Then I release my foot brake slightly while still looking left at the ground, and back the planned distance, like till that pebble on the ground is against that scratch on the runningboard. Once planned distance is covered, I stand on the foot brake, set the park brake, and get out to check the coupler/ball alignment. It may take a few tries, but you get better real fast. You don't have to be "right above", half a ball width is close enough. Crank it down to just set the coupler on the ball and use your foot against the trailer tongue to push it on. When it drops on, say "BOOM" to yourself, and continue to crank it down.
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Cheers,
TonyMac
2006 Monaco Safari Cheetah 40PMT
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12-04-2018, 08:00 PM
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#14
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,302
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I always found tha even if I’m not having any issue, but just look like I am, someone will usually come over to see if they can help. RVers always seem to pitch in to help.
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Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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