Okay, folks, time to fess up: How long does it really take you to back into a campsite?
Are you a pro? Do you get it right on the first try every time? Or does it take you a few back-and-forths to get it right? Are you bad enough at it that you spot the campground neighbors peeking over from their picnic table to watch you? Or do you just let your co-pilot do it because you can’t?
Some of you will swear you’ve master ed the art of backing in with calm precision—while others have created a full-blown spectator sport out of it. There’s no shame here: crooked, sweaty, or perfect, you’ve probably done it all. Bonus points if you’ve ever yelled, “I am turning the wheel the right way!” during the process.
Backing into a site can test your relationship, your turning radius, and your sense of humor—sometimes all at once. But, hey, that’s half the fun, right? Whether you’re the type who needs a few tries or someone who nails it blindfolded, your approach says a lot about how you roll.
So go ahead, cast your vote, then tell your story. If you’ve ever made a six-point turn while a stranger sipped their coffee and silently judged, you’re in good company.
MORE POLLS YOU MAY ENJOY
• If you buy another RV, will it most likely be motorized or a towable?
• Do you wish your RV were five feet longer or five feet shorter?
• Which campsite do you normally choose, a pull-through or back-in?
• For couples: Are you or your partner a better driver?
RVDT2653
I can usually get it in on first try. Many people watching will comment, that’s good backing for a women? Little do they know, I drove tractor trailers for 30yrs before retiring.
I can’t explain it but there are times when I have no issues and back right in. Then the next time, I look like I’ve never backed a camper!
Ditto
Me too. It also helps that I learned to drive in a handicapped vehicle, where you have to use your mirrors.
Same here, usually the first time. Got you beat by 2 years. Went 32 years before hanging up the keys.
Really depends on a lot of factors: width of the site, angle of the site to the feeder road, width of the feeder road, surrounding trees and poles, etc…. All this of course without driving off the concrete, paving, or stone base……
1st time, almost every time. Our tactic is: my wife backs it in with me giving directions. After working in the same campground for 4 years I’ve gotten really good at directing rigs/drivers into sites. So we use that to our advantage when we travel.
Just back up till hear metal!
The “Braille Method” works every time!
Once at our site, I jump out to look up and around to ensure there is nothing that would stop us from parking the rig in the site. I go behind the rig, get in sight of the rearview mirror and motion for hubby to start backing up. We have a great system of hand signals and can usually do this only one time, with no yelling! Then, we go sit in our lawn chairs with a refreshment and watch others back in time and time again, and finally just leave their rig where it is. So much fun!
Being honest. Sometimes all net, no rim, but with a short wheelbase, single axle trailer, I tend to easily drift.
DW is self-admittedly after several years of coaching still learning if she can’t see me in the mirror, I can’t see her. I have recently achieved success in getting her to tell me which way the trailer’s back bumper needs to move rather than attempt to tell me which way to point the front tires. Adding a rear camera also helps. 5-15 minutes from 1st reverse to parked in a FHU site is typical.
if it’s a pull-behind trailer, or anything similar to that, I can put it anywhere I want the first time. If it’s a fifth wheeler, forget it. I’ve been trying for ten years, and still can’t get it right. Those people who say a fiver is much easier, are as full of S&%T as a Christmas goose.
Walkie Talkies and lots of YouTube videos eliminated all the stress and yelling!
I can usually succeed in 1 to two attempts unless its unusually narrow or there are other obstacles. On one occasion we had a narrow site with large bushes on each side and a very long trailer sticking out in the road. After a few tries I came in the wrong way on the one way drive but got it parked on the first try.
I just traded our travel trailer for a Diesel Pusher, which is far easier to back into a site than our travel trailer was. I take my time and make sure when backing in nothing is going to be in the way of the RV. I usually get it in the space on the first try but then I go forward and try to get it exactly in the middle of the pad as I have slides on both sides of the RV.
45 years ago I was taught how to back up, with or without trailers, by a professional OTR truck driver…my father-in-law. My FIL and MIL were team OTR drivers.
The best of the tips was to put my hand on the bottom of the wheel and the back of the trailer will go the same direction as my hand. Makes backing in with mirrors a breeze.
Assuming this is not counting disconnecting the toad….I usually get it on the first try, Truly.
My husband is a retired truck driver. We have a 36′ 5th wheel, and he is the one that drives and backs in usually in the first try unless he wants to readjust the trailer.
Get out first, walk the site looking for trash and test power, (ESP surge protector) then formulate a plan noting overhanging branches and location of everything, and execute it. But I have a 45 ft DP and tow an enclosed 20 ft trailer so90% of the time I book a pull-thru site.
I can usually back our 45 foot class A on the first attempt. I can’t back up a trailer though to save my life. I always let the wife back up trailers.
It totally depends~ we have had some tough spots!
That’s one of the advantages of a Class B, it handles like a car. No sweat.
Since the question is “time” not tries about 5-10 minutes after I’ve done my GOAL “get out and look”.
What makes backing in challenging is when the DW is trying to get us straight guiding using the site border on the passenger side while I am looking at the driver’s side border. Site borders in many sites are not parallel……LOL! I like to be parked as straight as possible while she is far less concerned with such things.
Our RV is drivable, so much easier than backing a towed RV. DW guides me and is impeccable in her directions. The larger consumer of time is unhooking the Jeep before backing can commence. Have a great day and safe travels!
I put my Wife in the driver’s seat! I guide her and she does exactly what I ask her to do with a promise that because I’m ground guiding, if we hit anything, it’s my fault!! Also, she knows to come to a full stop if she can no longer see me in front or in the mirror. Always great success!!