jpajax

It seems that I can not get through to my wife that if you can't see me I can't see you when she is be behind camper. When I try ed to explain it again she informed me that she could see the mirrors just fine. So does anyone have a backup camera on their fiver.

FiverBob

I tried a back up camera plus I had them on my motorhomes - - I would not trust backing in using one without a spotter.

I think the hardest thing for my wife to learn was always be on my blind side but out far enough for me to see her. The best thing I ever did was make her back the sucker in a couple of times. Then she understood the problems and could help me much better. We do use the FRS radios - - much better than hand signals.

Bob

jka

jpajax.....I've never tried Fiverbobs idea but it sounds like a good one (let her try and back it up)

This is what we do...When my wife is backing me up if I lose site of her in the mirror I immediately stop. If the trailer is stopped she knows right away I can't see her and she moves into the line of sight....so to speak.

So far so good...haven't hit anything yet....touch wood.

CD in NM

I stand whoever is helping me where I want my LR/drivers side corner to finish when parked. I look for them. That keeps them in one place instead of bobbing around for me to run over.

I have a CB walkie and a CB in the truck, we have excellent communications. When they are standing there, they are facing the same way you are oriented, hard for them to screw up left from right in the directions. If you have power mirrors, you can move them some to help widen your view and take out some of what are stationary blind spots with fixed mirrors.

When I am all by myself, I have 2 nice 12 volt work lamp that I put where I want the LR corner to end when parked and on the right side to define a boundary I do not want to go past. I shoot for that 'space' in my BU process. Nice part about the lamps - they work night or day AND no domestic frustrations to begin a trip with and have looming for days on end.

Haul your trailer to a big open lot somewhere, put her behind the wheel, tell her to place one hand on the bottom center or the steering wheel, whichever way she directs her hand/the wheel, that's the way the trailer will back. Keep the hand there for practicing backing. Set out a couple of cones/markers straight behind the trailer about 75 ft and let her go at them. She will more than appreciate giving directions, will learn to back the trailer, and all will be good for the both of you.

I trained my better half with my BP flat/equipment hauling trailer, had a better view down the sides and openess where other trailers do not. We moved up to the 'barn' with no view, blocking everything out, other than down the sides once there was success with an open view. It did not take long to learn to back the trailer and it didn't take long for ME to be the one backing all the time. Best part is, if ever a trailer has to be moved around when I am not there, it gets moved without any damages.

Relying on a back up camera an it's field of view with distortions plus the small monitor is a good way to get into trouble, real fast trouble. You need a helper or you need real clearly defined objects that you can see in your mirrors and in the camera monitor.

CD

gomulego

It's taken me a while to train my gf, but 2 things were mentioned that works for us well. Let her try it at least once herself (in a safe zone of course) and radios. She was thoroughly excited (and should have been) when she carefully backed it into a spot that I directed her on for the first time. Just that taught her what has to happen in the mirrors.

But since we ride horses a lot and sometimes we aren't real close together, we use those nice little shortrange Motorola radios. They work great, especially when you're backing at night and can't even see what's back there. I haven't needed a camera yet and can't comment on how they'd even work at night.

Jeff in TD

I have to blind side back around a 90 degree corner to get in my yard, and often don't have a spotter. Since I pull in there frequently, I've gotten used to it.

I'm about to pick up a big one (40') though, and I was considering getting the $70 Shucks wireless backup camera for this one...

Does anyone know if the signal from those reaches that far?

Otherwise I'll have to find someone to spot, or get out and look frequently, until I get used to where this thing is...

WhiteMule

I can't comment on the back-up camera but I can tell you that I feel your pain. The wife and I have the same problem. My father in law directed me back in today and we hit the hole the first time. I like the hand held radio suggestion.

Totallyrad

Other than stop, my wife's hand signals all look alike. I like the idea of letting her try it, makes sense.

Bonshawman

I've found the trouble w/back up cameras is the distortion and size of viewing screen. I'm a guy....I want a 52" flat screen, but where to mount it....

Another trick is once lined up (IE: space on both side to back up straight, as through a gate or door), a spotter can keep an eye on one side, and so long as that is unchanged, the other side will be as well. That's how I often back my big rigs up and I've never had a problem....the rig doesn't expand as it goes through the opening.

1-2-3

Once you get about 30-35 years of backing experience you'll get it down. Only thing I need the wife for is to tell me where she wants it. Then she can go walk the dog. I won't admit it, but if I do need a spoter, I'll use my 13 year old son. He can allready put the 5'er in the spot by himself so he understands and can guide me back where it needs to be. He can also direct me over a tad to make sure it ends up on a level spot. I guess he's been around it for 13 years so he oughta be pickin up on a few things by now.

It also seems to help if you've had a chance to start under someone that knows how to teach you. I learned alot from an old coot named Calvin Ross. His grandfather was a slave. He was really a neat old guy. He was an old school truck driver. The other drivers would complain about how slow he piddled down the road, but he alwys seemed to be at the delivery sites before everyone else. Calvin broke me in on a 40' when I was about 19.

FiverBob

One of the biggies in backing to a spot is starting in the right position. The first thing I do is walk the site, monitor where the utility stands are and how high - - are they going to hit the slide when extended. I step off the amount of distance needed to clear, then stretch out a 20' white rope along the position I want for the utilities side of the rig with the end about where I want the back bumper. I then pull the rig forward in the road at 3' out from the curb (if there is one, or equivalent) until the rear bumper is past the rope alignment by 6' (4' for rigs 34' and under). I then crank the wheel full and start the backing process and follow the rig into the hole. I find the 6' will usually put the wheels right beside the rope. The alignment of the rope gets me square in the hole which is a little hard to determine from the cab of the truck. The only thing the spotter needs to cover is my blind side to make sure the overhang does not wack something, especially those mid-rig high utility stands.

As suggested, practise this in an empty parking lot using milk cartons for space markers.

12valve@heart

I still use the old-fashioned GOAL method. It saves both of us frustration. Yep, I'm in and out of the cab a few times on some locations and I do like 5erBob and walk the site before I try to line up but I haven't found a good substitute for seeing the situation with my own 2 eyes.




















Get
Out
And
Look

Foxborough

I had the same problem with backing the truck up the driveway to hitch up to the boat. I went to this site http://www.rvcams.com/ , they were very helpfull. I got the 56-CHNV and attached it to the right of the safety chain holes. Works great even whent it's "pitch dark" . The monitor is in the console, I just plug it in when it's needed. The monitor is used occasionally as a second viewer on the road trips.

A second camera could be hooked up to the monitor to view behind the trailer, I don't need that but it's an idea for you.

Using the backup camera took a little getting use to. The depth perception is the hard part to judge. After a few times now I am able to back up and place the ball directly under the trailer hitch. I don't see it being too difficult to use it at the rear of the trailer. But keep in mind on selecting monitors & cameras look at resolution, and lighting. You tend to get what you pay for. But like I said the guy a t rvcams was very helpfull in helping me select my setup. He actually talked me into a less expensive one after I explained what I was doing with it.

1-2-3

I thnk he's talking about backing the entire trailer, not just seeing better to make a clean hitch.