For Beginners: How to Back Up a Travel Trailer (Airstream / Towable RV)

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[LongLongHoneymoon]

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AFFILIATE LINK DISCLOSURE: Friends, making a quality Loloho video is kind of like making sausage – only slightly more violent. It's a ridiculous amount of work that typically involves high dollar camera drops, blue-screen-of-death computer crashes, and at least one angry shotgun wielding old man shouting, “Hey! Get the hell outta here!” Once the final video is posted, rewards here on YouTube are few and far between (unless you are a masochist who enjoys being verbally abused by anonymous trolls). One saving grace is our affiliate links. JUST CLICKING THESE LINKS HELPS TO SUPPORT OUR LITTLE SHOW. Think of this clicking as like tipping - except that it doesn't cost you anything extra! If you eventually make a purchase via one of our affiliate links, we will receive a few pennies (and Sean typically invests these pennies in duct tape and video gear). Again, it doesn't cost you anything to click these links, and it's a great help to us. As always, safe travels, happy camping, and THANK YOU!

[FloppyHatPhotos]

I've been backing trailers since I was 8 around the farm and have found a great tip to teach newbies is to place their hand on bottom of steering wheel the move that hand the direction they want the trailer to go. 
Great tips.

[BillSprague]

I use an old trucker trick (taught to me by and old trucker 😉). Just put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and move it in the direction you want the back of the trailer to go. You are spot on with "the scoop, " move slowly, and make tiny adjustments. Well done!

[bikernu]

I have been driving a tractor trailer since 1985. So I have a lot of backing up miles under my belt. You wouldn't believe the places that I have had to back into by myself. I have no helper. If I could make a few tips on backing up a trailer. 1st of all, try to NEVER,  EVER back up on the blind side ( passenger door side ) if possible. The driver can see a lot better on the drivers door side. 2nd. If the driver isn't sure, or confused about where the trailer is going, Get out and look!! It is better to get out and look a hundred times than hitting a tree, a picnic table,  another camper or some kid that is more focused on that football than a camping trailer or motorhome backing into a spot. If you don't have someone to help spot for you,  ASK someone to help spot for you. There is no such thing as a accident, only preventable accidents. I hope I was able to help someone too. :)

[georgenelson]

Great video. First time RV owners here and used your suggestion to get 2-way radios. This occurred the first time backing out new RV. Unfortunately we didn't take the rule of the observer not moving behind the RV when backing up as seriously. While backing my wife disappeared from my site, however, due to the radios we could still talk. I directed me straight back which I did. After moving backward a number of feet I heard her scream "STOP!". Interestingly her voice came through my open window, not the radio. We had purchased the radios and charged them 2 weeks before getting the RV. We had not used the radios since charging and assumed they were still sufficiently charged. Her radio chose that moment to lose charge. She had been telling me to stop a number of times but I wasn't getting the signal. She had to hurry out of the way. After this incident we both sat in stunned silence as we contemplated what could have happened. Lesson Learned: as you state in your video, The driver must always see the observer. Radio's are a convenience but not a replacement for direct sight.

[michaelmorgan]

Just purchased our new 26' travel trailer, and can't wait for spring to take it out and try "the scoop!" We are new travel trailers, and although I've been a city bus driver for 28 years, I am still a little nervous about backing up the trailer, don't regularly have to back up my 40' or 60' articulated buses. Your tips made me feel much better about the whole process... THANKS!!

[MrDannyg]

I just wanted to let you know that I used the scoop today to back my rig into a kinda tight storage slot. AND IT SO WORKED!! It was amazing! My wife was so proud of me. 😊

[danielsmith]

I have driven a semi truck for over 30 years, I never heard the term 'scoop' but it is a very good description of the proper way to set up for backing up. You would be shocked by the number of truck drivers that don't understand this concept.

[joebullington]

I can't thank you both enough. I picked up my 1st ever RV (bumper pull TT) and needed to back it alongside my house (8 inches of clearance on either side). Your tips on this video were incredibly valuable to me and my wife. While we did forget our walkie talkies, she was able to guide me in on the very first time by simply taking our time, using terms like "driver's side" "passenger side", using the swoop, and having trust/faith in one another. It worked like a charm and I couldn't have done it without having viewed your video beforehand. Thanks so much and Happy Camping!!

[peterkeen]

Many thanks for this video. My wife and I, when backing up our tent trailer, were prone to each other when backing up. When we moved up to a 36' travel trailer, we researched backing up, and came across this video. The advice to use radios, and to stop using 'left' and 'right' was incredibly useful. No longer do we need to bellow instructions to each other across a campsite, getting confused about which direction to turn, while trying to be heard over the sound of four tired children who are serenading us in four part disharmony. Instead, we could speak normally, with the windows up, which lowered the stress for Marital harmony while backing up. Who coulda thunk it?

if you could only post a video on dealing with cranky

[ChopLiquor]

Brilliant! We just upgraded to a larger trailer and you've got it down. The CBs. That's it. And the driver/passenger. You did it. You solved the puzzle!!

[roxannegordon]

My husband and I have never had a problem with our Winnebago Minnie Drop except for the first time we took her out and there was this... TREE, of course, in our way with a very tight corner. I think the campsite always had a hard time renting this site. Nobody ever wanted to rent it for a good reason: THAT TREE!! So us new-bees showed up. We got our Winnie in there though without killing any trees. Now we can relax.
That was a while ago now we back her in anywhere. But then she's only 24' long.
We always use hand signals. We just did it without thinking. There's no yelling right, left, drivers side, slow down...or panic stricken STOP. I'm the one outside the camper. I have signals for every movement. It works for us.
So far!! Happy Trails everybody.

[carolinefreeebyrdacwly]

Hi Loloho's - I love your videos. I've been towing trailers from a very young age. One tip my father taught me way back when which has helped alot - When backing up - place your hand on the bottom of the stearing wheel instead of the top and that way right is right and left is left verses hand on top of the steering wheel in which case right is left and left is right. So if I' haven't towed for awhile and I get a little fuzzy when backing I just place my hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. I've taught many people this method and have found it helpful especially if their a newbie to towing. Just wanted to share. Happy trails! Best Caroline

[heidi]

Thanks for the tips! I don't have a partner to help me, but the Scoop sounds like a worthy placement technique. I'll have to give it a try. I got stuck in a parking lot once because it didn't have 2 exits, and after entertaining the diners in the restaurant for 20 minutes, someone took pity on me and helped me out. Thank Goddess for the kindness of strangers!

[KeepYourDaydream]

Loving your channel. Just bought our Travel Trailer and preparing for an eight month trip with our 3 pre-teen kids this June. Soaking up your videos to get edjamecated in RV Life! Thanks.

[brianlackey]

If at all possible put space you are going to back into on driver side .Pull pass space and turn out as told by Loloho crew .Try to get trailer aimed as much as possible toward space you are trying to back into while pulling pass. When backing a trailer you turn steering tires of your vehicle in opposite direction from which you want trailer to go. Remember a important acronym truck drivers use. GOAL-Get Out And Look.Use this when not sure. Backing is not a speed competition. Take your time.Thankyou for the channel. I enjoy it.

[scotbets]

We watched this video many times before purchasing our 2016 RPod 180. When we picked it up, we went to a large empty parking lot and practiced. I still think of this video each time I back up.

[lelandplume]

Absolutely agreed with Sean’s approach of looking over the right shoulder when backing up my trailer. I have the same type of dislexia perplexia if I look over the left side. You’re not alone Sean!

[AuburnAlum]

Solo camper here. I always GOAL (get out & look) several times when backing in. Good tips, especially the scoop & going slowly. 👍

[audreyadams]

Great video, especially if you have 2 people. Unfortunately, after camping in a tent trailer for 33 years, with my husband doing the vehicle backing, I suddenly had to become the "expert" backer and also can't rely on my husband for instructions because he gets very confused. (Parkinsons is the pits.) Wrong instructions are worse than no instructions. Now I need an instructional video of your wife backing a trailer by herself into a tight spot. I figured out the backing into a campsite pretty quick (since there is usually good room for a 12' tent trailer in most campsites), but backing to the side of my house while missing the large fir tree and the rock wall is another story! Geesh, what we do for the love of camping!...not to mention the love of a dear husband. I truly did enjoy your insightful video, however, in spite of our unique challenges. I love the scoop tip!