Adding Visible Back Up Aid on Pop Up Camper

December 19, 2021 Post a Comment

Chuckster New Member

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I am a new owner trying to get a feel for backing the pop up into the campsite. Anything other than practicing and experience that can help, I would be grateful. Simple encouragement works well, too. Thanks, Chuckster.

Have someone spotting the TAIL of the pop up on your blind side. this will keep you from hopefully backing into things ( trees, tables, rocks, etc etc)
take it SLOW and dont try and rush the wheel turning when backing up. the rule of opposites when steering in reverse is great...99% of the time. turn it to fast and you will find you can not straighten out fast enough...

practice in an empty parking lot, using the parking lines as a guide. or bring some cones along to use as markers....

alot of CG have some tight corners and entry ways to maneuver around and into... be careful and take the time to adjust...

Of all the pup-related issues, backing up is my biggest concern. I've been practicing, but after doing a drive through of the campground last weekend, it hit me just how unprepared I may really be for getting the pup right where it needs to be on a site.
GULP!
I have a few tips for you.
Rule 1: Relax. If you feel yourself getting frustrated pull over, grab a cool drink and calm down. Frustration while backing a trailer only leads to more frustration.

Rule 2: The shorter the trailer the faster it will react to whatever you do in the TV. Keep this in mind and make only small movements of the steering wheel and as soon as the trailer starts to react you need to start counter steering. If the trailer starts to turn too sharply stop. Counter steer and pull up slightly, just until the trailer achieves the angle you want.

Rule 3. Don't worry about looking like a pro. It is not important if you get into your space on the 1st try or the 10th. The only thing that counts is that you get in there.

Rule 4: The better your setup the easier it is to back in. When pulling up to your space pull up as close to it as possible then when the front of your trailer is about in the middle of your space turn away from it and proceed as much as the road will allow then turn back and stop. With any luck the back of your trailer is now at about a 45 degree angle to the camp site The real goal though is to lessen the degree you trailer is from the space. The closer to 90 degrees you are the harder the back will be. Before starting to back up straighten your wheels. Since you are most likely already at an angle to the trailer be prepared to counter steer and follow the trailer into the space. When the trailer just starts to turn past the center of the parking space stop, and pull forward until you are straight and then back right in. If all went well you now have a short straight back to finish parking your rig.

Rule 5: It is not uncommon to become somewhat disoriented when backing into a space. An easy solution to this is to place something easily visible of the front cornet of the space on the same side that you are backing towards. I went to Wal Mart and picked up a 3 pack of small orange cones from the sporting good department. They are rubber/plastic so if I run over one it doesn't hurt it or my vehicles.

Rule 6: Use a spotter if one is handy. Have them stand where they can view the blind side and rear of your trailer and where you can easily see them. Before starting agree on terms and signals, especially for stop.

Rule 7: Always remember rule 1.

Backing is not the easiest thing in the world to do, but with a little practice you can become proficient. Finally remember that no two backs are ever identical. They can be similar, but will never be exactly the same even if you are backing into the same campsite.

Oh yes.....trying to remember which way to turn the steering wheel.

There are a few different tried and true tricks that each person must decide what works for them, and some people end up coming up with something totally unique to make it click:

Tried and true tricks:

Hand at top of steering wheel: Steer the opposite way you want the trailer to go.

Hand at top of steering wheel: If looking in your side mirrors steer towards trouble, meaning if you see too much of your trailer in the right mirror turn the wheel right.

Hand at bottom of steering wheel: Turn the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go in.

So what are you waiting for. Go hook up to that camper and go find a decent sized parking lot somewhere and have some fun, laugh at yourself, put some cones down for markers and have a blast "killing" them and before you no it backing won't be such a mystery.
Just remember we all had to go through this, so don't worry about the other campers watching. They all had to start somewhere. Stay calm is the best, if you start getting worked up take a couple deep breaths and know that you can do it.

My husband had trouble when we first started, but now it is much better. So practice has really helped. Also someone told him to put his hand on the bottom of the steering wheel to steer it that way. I don't know why it works, but it seems to have helped.
Good luck and let us know if you come up with any tricks.
3pillons Press hard, Five copies.

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I personally prefer to watch the driver side tire of the PUP in my side mirror. My wife is out back to be sure I'm clear on the other side, but I can line up the tire and side of the camper pretty well and adjust accordingly. It makes it real easy to come in straight and close enough to the hook-ups. It's especially easy if the site has a straight line to it such as pavement or borders.
I use the hand at the bottom of wheel and it seems to work pretty good. I am still not perfect myself. Just remember you can always pull forward and start again.
We have a large boat, and visibility is limited to only the side mirrors. Here's how I learned to back it up perfectly (and it's funny at the boat ramp to watch all these fishermen thinking this little blonde gal's gonna take forever to get the boat in, and then 2 minutes later I'm outta there!):
Put your hand around passenger seat and turn your head to face the rear. Then think, whichever way you want the trailer to go, turn the wheel in the OPPOSITE direction. Make small movements with the steering wheel, not large ones. If you consistently watch out the back window and focus on the trailer, you'll have no problems.

Good luck and remember, we've all been there!
I use the mirrors also (learned to back up HUGE RV trailers in HS working at a RV dealership). Going slow is the first thing to remember, only bad things happen quickly. I tend to try pull up and line up the pup so I have as straight of shot into the site as possible when I arrive. I try to make it so that I have to come more towards the drivers side so I can see it better with my mirror as I am backing up. DW's main job as a spotter is to watch the rear passenger corner and let me know if I am back far enough. Don't be afraid/embarrassed to get out and look for yourself! As a last resort, depending on the size of your pup, you might be able to pick up the tongue and move it by hand or with the help of a neighbor!
I STRONGLY recommend a parking lot practice session. Don't cheat either, as it won't help. Try to put the PUP in a spot. If you don't make it, pull forward a little and keep working at it. With some practice, you will learn how your PUP responds to movements in the steering wheel. Remember to follow through the turn (you might start out with the TV wheels all the way to the left to get the PUP going in the right direction, but you will need to start to center and then turn the TV wheels right to straighten the pup out and get it going straight back).

Also, if you ever really need help, just ask. Other campers will always help (after we get done laughing and remembering when we all had our own problems with the learning curve)!
A semi driver gave me the best tip when I first started to tow trailers...pretend there is arrow pointing directly towards the bottom of the steering wheel, right at you. Where ever that arrow points is direction the trailer is going to go. For long back ups in the open I look over my shoulder to see where I am going (absolutely useless if your driving a car however...you usually can't see over the trailer), for finer turns like backing up a long narrow alley I use the side mirrors.
It's so true about never being able to do it the same way twice. Some days I can make the 500' backup down my narrow back laneway with a 90 deg turn in the middle without slowing or stopping to straighten out...other days I jackknife the trailer before I've even leave the street...lol
My first time backing my camper up (any type of trailer for that matter) last year went about as perfect as could be. I had about 3 different sites watching me so I was pretty relieved. I was pretty nervous though.
As other people have said... Stay calm.

Now... if my DW would have been driving, things might have turned out differently... (Hope she doesn't read this thread!)
I would recommend going to an empty parking lot and try backing into the painted parking spots.No need to get nervous..as said by many...we all had to do it.
You will do just fine.
Daryl
One member of our Great Lakes Club has the forum name of Cantbackupwell - classic! I would use it except I prefer to focus on the positive aspects of my trip.
Time, practice and patience are key. And remember even the campers that are chuckling have sympathy. They've been there too.

4 years ago, we got back into pop up camping and I was really proud of how fast the back up part came back. Then we bought a new much bigger camper and it took me years to adjust to the longer frame.

You will get there!
When we back ours up, my wife and I use walkie-talkies. It's hard to see over or around our Niagara, especially at night. She simply stands near the rear of the trailer and tells me to move the trailer either to the "passenger" side or the "driver" side. That way, there is no confusion about right or left. It makes it really easy to park the trailer exactly where you want it every time!
Dan
masher 2003 Coleman Taos

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I do it the same way.I've been real lucky so far.I also learned with my boat trailer.
I've got my boat trailer in some tight spots in between boats, it's nice to see where you are going out the back window.
I have a buddy of mine and his wife that yell at each other while he's backing up making a big production out of it, but when it's all done they act as if nothing ever happened.
Put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. back up slowly gradually turning the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go. When you move the steering wheel with your hand at the bottom to the left the trailer will go left and vice versa when you want to right. Just straighten the wheel when you want to straighten the trailer. Just remember go slow, gradual movements, pull slightly forward if the trailer starts to jack knife and then steer in in the direction you want to go when backing up. It will take practice and i suggest a local shopping mall parking lot to practice. Practice makes perfect!!