HOW TO BACK YOUR RV (And Trailer 'Tail Swing')

***Link to cone setup below***
The most common piece of advice that is given to new RV owners is to go out to a parking lot and practice backing up around cones. That is good and all but HOW should you setup the cones???

The maneuvers in this video are setup to teach control of the trailer, and build confidence in the driver. The best drivers are confident and relaxed.

This link shows diagrams of how to setup each maneuver. Yes these are the same backing maneuvers used to test CDL drivers. If new truck drivers can parallel park a semi truck, YOU can parallel park an RV.

#swagnation #howtorv

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[crispyspa]

no no no no no.... everything about this video is completely and utterly wrong. when teaching the spouse how to back a camper or a trailer there must be yelling, screaming, and crying. and always of course accompanied with some damage and the wife stomping off and not talking to you for the whole weekend. this way you have a peaceful weekend. LOL

seriously though, great vid.

[katherineolson]

Ok!!
I did it !
Solo
In the pouring rain
Backed my trailer into a narrow campsite with my boat already parked on one side of the space 😎

I took a photo for you, but realize I can’t post it here….

I had to do Some yoga breathing, and talking to myself through it (out loud 🙈)

That part about straightening the wheels before the next move is priceless! It totally resets the rig and orientation

Sorry if I’m too excited

I parked the boat too

I’m a 66 y/o girl still determined to be independent ✊

[jaycray]

I just got my CDL by just watching this video. Thanks man

[nm]

6 years and i am just finding this now?!?! Best video ever!!! Should be required for all new backer-uppers. Thank you much for this. You, sir, are the GOAT!!! 🐐

[tennesseetraveller]

Now this is the best backing video on YouTube!

[Rvdaydream]

You have no idea how beneficial this video will be for RV'ers for years to come.. Really great video.. Give it about a year and check the number of times this video has been watched.. The view count on this video will be one of the highest on your channel.. Very good job!

[timkidd]

Must watch for first time towers. First watched this video 1.5 years ago. It was a big help to me at the time. My wife and I had just purchased our first travel trailer, a 36ft behemoth. It gave me the fundamentals to have the confidence in backing it up. I have even used the parallel parking tips (didn’t think I could pull it off) to park at a campsite. I have come back and watched it again a few times for a refresher when I know I have a difficult camping spot to back into. TIP: I always scout out our camping spots on google earth to know what we are heading into.

[carlajobe]

THANK YOU, Thank You, thank you!!! This was so informative, I will be watching it over and over again. After 25 years of RVing where my husband towed a 5th wheel, he is no longer with me and I decided to go back to RVing with a travel trailer. Naturally, I have a lot to learn and practice! Your video has been most instructional and helpful! Bless You!

[wintermute]

I drove a big rig. Had my Class-A CDL. A pickup with a travel-trailer is a much different beast because your pivot points are completely different.

[lauraweiss]

Thanks to you and this fabulous video, I bought my orange cones before I picked up my trailer. I not only used them for practice, but I also use them on site. They have red lights on top to help guide me when it’s too dark to see my obstacles. Since it’s just me and the dog, I needed this video to give the knowledge and confidence to safely maneuver my trailer.

[wraithconscience]

A tedious but excellent video !!! A must watch !!! View the video 25 times, then practice each of the demonstrated manuvers 25 times and Bob's your uncle !!! --Truly excellent. A must for 5th wheelers, sailors, fishermen, campers !!! An absolute must !!! Thanks and God bless !!
UPDATE !!! -- I was forced to use most of these techniques at various points on a 17-hour drive with my 24-foot sailboat-on-trailer. On the way, rest stops, gas stations, toll booths, pulling over to check the straps and mounts, wrong turns, narrow mountain passages, super croweded gas stations, manuvering into a dark boat hanger at 2 a.m. in the morning -- every horror you can imagine. These tips saved my pretty man ass !!! (I was also hauling with a semi-vintage convertible and had no damage to this old classic either.) Thank you Wandering Wagners. This video is an absolute MUST for anyone driving an RV, trailer or even thinking about doing so. FIVE STARS !!!

[agentstarling]

Hand on top of steering wheel and turn toward the darn simple and true. My goodness this is the best tutorial I have seen. GREAT

[NiceguyEddie]

Excellent educational video. That eleven o'clock, one o'clock tip is huge! That's how my old man taught me. It keeps you from getting into crazy angles and the nose of the truck getting away from you 👌

[fiveoaksfarmofgeorgia]

I've been backing trailers for decades and I still managed to learn a few things. Thanks. Great vid!

[Silverbreez]

as a 1st time RV'er about to pick up my Travel Trailer, this perspective, and explanation is INVAUABLE.. extremely well done, and a heartfelt THANK YOU!

[jasonrowland]

Just when I start to think the internet is a vast, block hole of insanity, I see helpful videos like this. Thank you kind sir!

[nicholasjuleen]

OMG, you have no idea how this is the first video that I have seen in which your hands are at the top and not bottom for backing in, which always more sense to me and seeing you do it has made me feel so much better. LOVE THE TIP on correcting into the problem and the 11 and 1 o'clock position. THANK YOU SO MUCH

[ventozero]

"Steer towards the problem" that was the key to pass my driving licence additional practical test here in Europe!!! Thanks a lot!

[avlisk]

When I got my CDL, the best backing advice I ever got was "knock it back". Just like you say, (5:00 mark), with your hand at the top, pretend you are knocking it back when you see the trailer come out in one mirror or the other. I used to struggle with backing up, until I learned to "knock it back". Now, I can back all day long. Your "11 O'Clock/1 O'Clock" advice is priceless. A great video!

[georgecurving]

This is by far the best instructional video. I paid $1000 for a 2 day training course and learned nothing. After watching this video and using these tips I passed by New Jersey CDL TEST