Any Tips on Backing Into Campsites?

Take Your Time! It's not that hard - just take your time and make small turns with the steering wheel. I bought some mirror extenders from Camping World to help see vehicles behind the camper and it helped me see better when backing up. Don't sweat it if you have to pull forward several times...practice makes perfect! ;)
 
I especially like the results of the first attempt.

Of course it had to be a woman driver :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

Truce just kiddin' :peace:
 
Got home from work, hitched up the Scamp, drove over to my friend's house to show it off. She used to be a DNR enforcement officer, so was really good at backing up a trailer to get her boat in and out of lakes. She had her grandkids over, so couldn't get away to help me practice. :(

I drove all over town (pop. 1,250) to both schools and the churches. Forgot that Wednesday night is church night. Every parking lot had people and cars.
Drove home and left the trailer hitched to my van. Will take it to Perham tomorrow ('cause that's where my shop is) and practice there. They have more and bigger parking lots.

Thanks to all of you for your input! :applause: Love that Swoop (oops...s/b Scoop) video!
 
Found a church parking lot and picked a spot to back into. That Scoop video had me thinking this'd be a piece of cake...NOT! I found it incredibly easy to jackknife the Scamp.
So then I thought I'll just try to back up straight. Going slo-o-w-wly, it took many tries to keep it straight more than 5-10 feet. Made it halfway across the parking lot finally once. The trailer seemed to want to go left very easily (it has a short tongue), then when I'd steer right it would just keep going left. Maybe I'm getting the trailer and the car mixed up, you know, thinking right for the car instead of the trailer.
I know, practice, practice, slow, practice, slow, practice. There's always tomorrow night.
Or, if the campground isn't very busy, I'll just park in the road and bring a REALLY long extension cord. :twisted: :LOL:
 
Don't you worry, you will get the hang of it, I promise you. I've been towing boats, campers and trailers since I was young. I was taught as a teen to back the boat in the water, ride the boat on the trailer and bring it out. It just takes practice, practice, practice. But that doesn't mean I don't have to pull forward, back up, pull forward, turn, pull forward (again!), back up....but I take my time and it works out.

My mirror extenders have helped big time. I can see more on the sides and vehicles directly behind my camper when towing. You just have to gain Confidence. Just be Confident and stayCool! :thumbsup:
 
Thanks, Becca. I know it'll just take time and...yes, practice to get this down. I teach people to spin wool fiber into yarn and I'm always telling them the same thing...it just takes practice. Keep patient and I like what you say about confidence.
BTW I do have mirror extenders that I just mounted on the minivan, and they do help with seeing cars behind and beside.
Thanks again...
 
well at least you are trying. as said above with practice you will get it.

but i must say that i gave a chuckle from your description. sort of reminded me of my first time backing here in my own yard. i finally told my hubby that at least i got it into the back yard, now putting it where you want it is up to you.
 
All good tips on here, but one thing that might give you a visual is to think of making an elongated "S" pattern when turning the steering wheel. That keeps me from over-steering to one side or the other. Shorter trailers turn very quickly, as you have found.
 
slowcowboy":1vprlqld said:
who cares how many times you have to pull ahead. you on your own time.
and no one is testing you to see if you can get backed into the camp ground spot.
Click to expand...

I have to stop and pull forward *everytime*. :LOL:

Bruce
 
Thanks again everyone! Your words give me a little more peace of mind slow. :)
Read about my adventure in reverse as it unfolds here
 
well i must remember all the advise here (including my own) as i will be doing a day trip tomorrow and i might have to back up all by myself. :shock:
 
Wayne in maryland":2bqtrhag said:
I told ya Louella...just unhook the darn thing...it's a foamie ;)
Click to expand...

Or do like me and practice going backwards down Wayne's hill. LOL

Hugs,
Ratkity
 
eaglesdare":b0zz1xjf said:
well i must remember all the advise here (including my own) as i will be doing a day trip tomorrow and i might have to back up all by myself. :shock:
Click to expand...

I think I might open each page of this thread separately on my laptop and leave it on so I could refer to everyone's advice and comments while attempting my manuevers. :twisted: :LOL:
 
THE SCOOP WORKS! i was so proud of myself. i should have recorded my back up. almost perfect.

so with all my over confidence once i got it back home. i tried the scoop in my backyard, but i ended up wedging myself into a corner. turned the car off and just gave the keys to hubby. :LOL: he then did waynes version and hooked it and moved it by hand. :roll:
 
eaglesdare":3qkisp1m said:
THE SCOOP WORKS! i was so proud of myself. i should have recorded my back up. almost perfect.

so with all my over confidence once i got it back home. i tried the scoop in my backyard, but i ended up wedging myself into a corner. turned the car off and just gave the keys to hubby. :LOL: he then did waynes version and hooked it and moved it by hand. :roll:
Click to expand...


:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :applause:
 
After you pull forward and stop, LOOK into your side mirrors, make an observation as to exactly what you see of the trailer in each mirror. Make a reference to something on the trailer to something on your tow rig,

Before you move, Look where you are going, use the mirrors.

Reverse, GO SLOW Make slight adjustments and look at your references,

and when you need to go forward to straighten things out, thats just part of making it all happen

:)
 
So, I pulled into Crow Wing State Park, paid for two bundles of firewood at the check-in station, then headed into the campground to choose my site. I passed a pickup with a box camper on the corner by the check-in station. Sorta panicked when I got to the campground and picked a site just because it was close to the privies (full restrooms are closed this time of year in MN), started backing up into my hastily selected campsite, had to pull forward twice. Then the guy with the camper came up the single lane road. I pulled forward to let him pass, and as he passed by, he stopped and offered to back my Scamp into the campsite. It only took half a second for me to make a decision....I caved and said "Sure, that would be great!" It took him literally less than a minute to back the Scamp into the site. I tried to run beside him to see how he steered, but he was just too fast. I was humbled...but hopeful that some day, I too might be as competent. :roll:
 
Hey..I've let someone back my pop-up into a campsite before. Didn't bother me a bit, and it certainly was much faster.

Just keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of it.
 
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