We took our fifth wheel over to a feed store in a nearby town to get the truck and camper weighed so that we would have an idea of how much we could get into the camper. After weighing total weight of both vehicles and then backing off axle by axle to get a good idea of weights, we started to leave town.
As we were getting into the truck, it struck me, so I asked Jo if she was ready to drive the rig with the trailer on behind. (She has driven the F450 dually alone a few times, but never the whole thing.)
She first hesitated and then said, "I gotta do it sometime." So she drove it out of town, and then roughly a 20 mile circuit through about 4 communities. We drove on 4 lane roads with paved shoulders and two lane roads with no shoulders. She made her left and right turns without any trouble. I think she did quite well.
However, she refused to back the fifth wheel back into our drive and onto our camper pad. You see, we live on a cul-de-sac and with the 38 foot Mobile Suites, we have to back off of the one street into our cul-de-sac and then down our "somewhat" curving driveway.
So, I guess some Saturday we need to hook up, find a church with a large parking lot, and then let her do some backing. She has never backed a fifth wheel, although she has backed horse trailers and cargo type trailers. I told her that the 38 footer is actually easier to back up because it doesn't respond so fast and get out of line of one's intended route.
All in all, she did really good.
For those in the learning process, be calm but focused, and don't take any guff from your friends and spouses.
Terry
Ckerr said
04:22 PM Aug 5, 2010
Good job Jo! Terry's right -- don't take any guff from spouses or friends. My other suggestion is that once you guys have a system for communicating and getting the rig parked and set up, tell all those well meaning folks who offer to help you park, "Thank-you very much but we've got it. Come over and visit once we get set up..."
two travelers said
05:21 PM Aug 5, 2010
You go Jo... I still have not driven our 5th wheel and it is smaller than yours.. I said next year..patti
Paul and Jo said
09:28 PM Aug 5, 2010
Great job Jo!
I'm sure it will be awhile before I try that, but you sure have given me the courage to at least think about it.
Jo
TxYellowRose said
10:56 AM Aug 6, 2010
Alright Jo!!
It's not so bad, eh?
I think it's great, really a necessity, that both parties be able to tow/drive the rig in case the primary driver is unable to do so.
Dave has taken our 5er for a slow spin, so he can say he has towed.
That's fine; he prefers to ride and I prefer to tow!
You are Woman! See you tow!
Cheers!
RodnReal said
11:33 AM Aug 6, 2010
Congratulations Jo!
My wife Connie does most of the towing of our travel trailer. She likes to do it and I'm a much better navigator than she is so it works out well.
I hate to admit it but she backs it up much better than I do. I think it's from years of backing the boat down the ramp while I sit in the boat directing. At least that's my explanation and I'm sticking to it.
--Rod
The Bear II said
02:22 PM Aug 6, 2010
Sounds like she did great and it's something to be proud of.
Your story brought back memories of the time my wife tried to parallel park our 5th wheel. One of our favorite camping spots the spaces are nose to tail so you have to parallel park when the camping area is full.
We were in a big parking lot and I setup cones to mark a parking area the same length as the campsite. She wanted to try it on her own the first time with no directing from me. She backed up the rig, made a couple of corrections and then looked at me and said, "There I did it, I'm in between the cones".
Only problem, she had parked perpendicular instead of parallel.
She did get it parked parallel after a few trys.
jagco said
09:09 PM Aug 6, 2010
Ckerr wrote:
My other suggestion is that once you guys have a system for communicating and getting the rig parked and set up, tell all those well meaning folks who offer to help you park, "Thank-you very much but we've got it. Come over and visit once we get set up..."
Amen to that! Well meaning neighbors can cause more problems than they help. They've got their way, you've got your way. Work out your own system with each other and stick to it.
Sounds like you did a great job driving the rig!! Many congrats!!
picolina said
06:05 AM Aug 7, 2010
Good job! You should be proud!
Postalpair said
09:48 PM Aug 7, 2010
Way to go Jo!! We have a 40ft 5th wheel toyhauler. When we first got our rig, we went to the RV driving school. BEST thing we ever did, besides buying our rig. They train you in YOUR rig. By the end of the first day I was having no problems putting this rig wherever I needed it. To this day I drive, back up and hook up....whatever needs to be done. Hubby has no problems taking a nap while I drive. Hang in there Jo.....it will all come to you. Practice makes perfect!! PS.....buy a set of hand held walkie talkies. we call them the marriage savers. Sooooo nice, no yelling and makes life alot easier!! See ya down the road!!
We took our fifth wheel over to a feed store in a nearby town to get the truck and camper weighed so that we would have an idea of how much we could get into the camper. After weighing total weight of both vehicles and then backing off axle by axle to get a good idea of weights, we started to leave town.
As we were getting into the truck, it struck me, so I asked Jo if she was ready to drive the rig with the trailer on behind. (She has driven the F450 dually alone a few times, but never the whole thing.)
She first hesitated and then said, "I gotta do it sometime." So she drove it out of town, and then roughly a 20 mile circuit through about 4 communities. We drove on 4 lane roads with paved shoulders and two lane roads with no shoulders. She made her left and right turns without any trouble. I think she did quite well.
However, she refused to back the fifth wheel back into our drive and onto our camper pad. You see, we live on a cul-de-sac and with the 38 foot Mobile Suites, we have to back off of the one street into our cul-de-sac and then down our "somewhat" curving driveway.
So, I guess some Saturday we need to hook up, find a church with a large parking lot, and then let her do some backing. She has never backed a fifth wheel, although she has backed horse trailers and cargo type trailers. I told her that the 38 footer is actually easier to back up because it doesn't respond so fast and get out of line of one's intended route.
All in all, she did really good.
For those in the learning process, be calm but focused, and don't take any guff from your friends and spouses.
Terry
I'm sure it will be awhile before I try that, but you sure have given me the courage to at least think about it.
Jo
It's not so bad, eh?
I think it's great, really a necessity, that both parties be able to tow/drive the rig in case the primary driver is unable to do so.
Dave has taken our 5er for a slow spin, so he can say he has towed.
That's fine; he prefers to ride and I prefer to tow!
You are Woman! See you tow!
Cheers!
Amen to that! Well meaning neighbors can cause more problems than they help. They've got their way, you've got your way. Work out your own system with each other and stick to it.
Sounds like you did a great job driving the rig!! Many congrats!!
Hang in there Jo.....it will all come to you. Practice makes perfect!!
PS.....buy a set of hand held walkie talkies. we call them the marriage savers. Sooooo nice, no yelling and makes life alot easier!!
See ya down the road!!