|
|
02-07-2013, 08:08 PM
|
#1
|
2 Rivet Member
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Ocean Springs
, Mississippi
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 28
|
Backing up tip
After the usual yelling, hand signals, starts and stops, flared tempers, etc. during the normal course of backing up my 25' FC, my wife said why don't I just call your cell from my cell and we can discuss your backing up over the bluetooth. No need to get walkie talkies, your hands free system in your truck works great! A real marriage saver for us.
|
|
|
02-08-2013, 09:14 PM
|
#2
|
Len and Jeanne
2005 16' International CCD
2015 19' Flying Cloud
Creston Valley
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,793
|
Oh, gosh. And we had just perfected our yelling and screaming!
|
|
|
02-08-2013, 09:23 PM
|
#3
|
4 Rivet Member
2012 27' FB International
Fremont
, California
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 268
|
Very, very good idea and I'm going to try it next time.
__________________
"The bad news: there is no key to the universe.
The good news: it was never locked."
Swami Beyondananda
https://polakoff.com/RamblinRose/
Our travel log
|
|
|
02-08-2013, 09:34 PM
|
#4
|
65th Anniversary CLIPPER
1996 36' Clipper Bus
Tub City
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 3,309
|
If you use the cell phones out of state, you may be charged roam charges??? Certainly out of country would apply.
The hand held wakie talkie's work for many things, including shopping in the big box stores. That way you can shop separately and then meet at the till when ready to go. No wasted time in the shoe department when you could have been in the hardware.
Dave
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 03:34 AM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
2008 27' Safari FB SE
Pfafftown
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 918
|
We've tried both. Prefer the cell phones. The walkie talkies have a couple of second delay when moving from receive to transmit. Phone is instant.
The good news is after over a year of backing into various campsites I am getting much better at reading DW's hand signals and she is doing a better job of staying visible in the one of the two outside mirrors. Plus I'm much more skillful maneuvering so there is much less likelihood of drama! However, I have noticed whenever she is making calls to campgrounds the first thing she asks is, "Do you have pull through sites available?"
__________________
Chuck
Airstream - 2008 Safari 27FB SE (Sweet Pea)
TV - 2022 Ford F350 King Ranch, 6.7 Diesel, 4X4 (Big Red)
WBCCI 3823 - Unit 12 | AIR 48265
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 07:35 AM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 811
|
We tried walky talkys but found the best solution to be hand signals. Facing backward, her right is my left and is confusing.
Hand signals are especially helpfull backing in the tow vehicle to the hitch when inches count.
Like any somewhat complex motor activity, skill greatly improves with practice. Tell her you need the practice when she suggests a pull through.
Our challange comes at night when there are no outside lights. It is hard to interpret the waving flashlight (it is going both ways) and I don't have any visual clues about where the AS is relative to the site. Walky talkys might be helpful then but we try to get in before dark.
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 07:48 AM
|
#7
|
Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,156
|
We've been through the yelling, hand signals, and walkie talkies. We stared using the cell phones a couple of years ago, and found this method to be head and shoulders above the others. The cell phones also work great in the supermarket. We don't have any roaming fee on our plan, therefore, location doesn't matter.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 08:04 AM
|
#8
|
Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,615
|
If you go the cell phone route, I would suggest that you also use hand signals at the same time. Technology can be a wonderful thing, but it can also fail at the worst times. Campgrounds are sometimes located on the edge of a cell tower signal and as you back into a site one of the phones could fail to work. Not hearing the word STOP could be disastrous.
__________________
Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 08:21 AM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,721
|
Don't you use Facetime? Have her stand in the spot and point her phone at the trailer.
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 09:27 AM
|
#10
|
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeymourAC
After the usual yelling, hand signals, starts and stops, flared tempers, etc. during the normal course of backing up my 25' FC, my wife said why don't I just call your cell from my cell and we can discuss your backing up over the bluetooth. No need to get walkie talkies, your hands free system in your truck works great! A real marriage saver for us.
|
Always back up to the left.
Always use hand signals, no voices needed.
Make sure the guide and the driver are on the same page, regarding what hand signals mean what.
Andy
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 09:32 AM
|
#11
|
begorragirl
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Denville
, New Jersey
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,029
|
I avoid all that, travel alone most of the time. For hitching up I can get it correct as easy as four times in and out of my car (and everytime, I turn car off, take keys and put brake on) or my record...in and out of car 24 times to center the ball. Somedays you have it, some days....well you get a lot of exercise. As for backing in...same method, always check out where I am going first and then look for possible things to hit. sbb
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 09:42 AM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
|
Our walkie-talkies have instant response. They weren't terribly expensive either.
I don't completely trust the cell solution, either - we've camped in a couple places were there was no cell coverage. For some people on here, that's the entire point - to go where there is no cell coverage!
Hand signals are great until she simply HAS TO stand in a spot where I can't see her. Like backing in at our house, a fairly common activity. This is what caused us to switch to the walkie-talkies in the first place.
With her being ~50 feet away, over the diesel engine, there's no way I can hear her voice without the radio.
I'm mostly getting "left," "right," and "back" instructions - usually, I can see well enough, but there was one time in the dark, pouring rain when I needed a "start to straighten out now" instruction. I'm not sure how to train someone to know that, but my mom and dad do it as second nature after decades of camping.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 11:59 AM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,917
|
We Use T-Shirts
Hers says, "Stop Shouting at Me" (sob)!"
His says, "I'm not shouting, DAMN IT!"
__________________
Ken L 2019 Flying Cloud 27FB
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 6.2L Max Tow Four Corners Unit WBCCI #5783
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 01:25 PM
|
#14
|
Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,942
|
We use "Glow Sticks" like these
It's a small version of what they use to park airplanes. They are less than $10 and two of them end any confusion as to what direction your guide wants you to go. They really show up after dark. Here is their web site. Glow Sticks - Emergency LED Glow Stick With Flash Light - Life+Gear
__________________
Cheers, Dan
________________________________________
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."
~ Margaret Thatcher ~
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 01:27 PM
|
#15
|
Len and Jeanne
2005 16' International CCD
2015 19' Flying Cloud
Creston Valley
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,793
|
Alumaholic, we hear ya!
Leaving St. George, UT for Furnace Creek at Death Valley tomorrow. Fortunately the Bambi is small enough for most NPS and NFS campsites. Unfortunately a small trailer appears to be more ticklish to back in than a long one.
We did bring our cell phones, but coming from Canada, the voice phone is very expensive and very limited. Then our service provider (Fido) doesn't connect to Verizon cell phone towers, so far as we can make out. Its AT&T "partner" seems much more limited in the western states.
The good news is that with our cell phone travel pac, text messages are abundant and cheap.
So maybe we will see if texting works with one another as we try backing into the next devilishly awkward campsite.
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 01:46 PM
|
#16
|
65th Anniversary CLIPPER
1996 36' Clipper Bus
Tub City
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 3,309
|
Now you want the driver to be distracted with text.
I think thats $167 fine here?
The other option is to learn real sign language.
Dave
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 01:51 PM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master
2006 19' Safari SE
Tucson
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,627
|
We use hand signals to get the trailer where we want it...that, plus one hard and fast rule: "If I can't see you in the side view mirror, I stop cold until I can."
__________________
TB & Greg and Abbey Schnauzer
AirForums #21900
PastPrez, 4CU/WBCCI
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 01:56 PM
|
#18
|
Rivet Master
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,917
|
What We Really Do
We both get out to look.
We decide where we want the trailer to sit within the assigned space.
I pace the width of the trailer to determine that spot where left rear tire will be when we have finished parking.
I explain to my "Director of Backing" what I intend to do and show her the path I expect my left rear trailer tire to travel.
I calmly reminder "Her Directorship" that if she can't see my mirror, I can't see her.
She takes her post as I return to the driver's seat.
Then, we begin screaming at each other.
At some point we become exhausted and decide it's good enough.
__________________
Ken L 2019 Flying Cloud 27FB
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 6.2L Max Tow Four Corners Unit WBCCI #5783
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 03:05 PM
|
#19
|
Rivet Master
1960 28' Ambassador
Vintage Kin Owner
1998 25' Safari
Avonton
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,331
|
Simple method to save the screaming. We arrive at the campsite she picks out, she gets out and goes to visit neighbour Airstream, I park the trailer. No hand waving, no yelling.
__________________
Doug & Terry
VAC - TAC ON-1
60 Ambassador Int.
1950 Spartan
|
|
|
02-09-2013, 04:56 PM
|
#20
|
Rivet Master
1976 31' Sovereign
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,017
|
Do as pro truck drivers do, stand on left side within 6 inches at rear where you want to be on spot use mirrors if they move stop easy way when you are spotted they raise arm with closed fist. I am not pro trk driver have used 53 yrs still works
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|