hubby is my hero!

[Roamin Cat]

Wow, I am so impressed with my husband! He backed the AS onto the driveway from the street, centered right between the mailbox and the light post ! The movers took out the mailbox when they moved us in

The he backed it up the 350 feet or so of curvy, uphill driveway and planted it at the top. Woohoo! Didn't hit any of the trees or lamp posts that the PO so kindly lined the driveway with

Me, I cannot get the hang of backing up. I can't make it go straight on a straight, fairly flat street! I had to tow it through the whole campground this week when I couldn't back up right to reposition it

Oh, well. Glad one of us can do it!

[Alumatube]

That's awesome!

Both the fact that he did it, and that you are posting about it! All too many people know how to do nowadays is criticize, so it is a breath of fresh air to have someone congratulate!

And keep working on those backing skills! You'll get there!

Susan

[Roamin Cat]

thanks Susan

I didn't mention that this is his first time ever towing anything, so he (and I!) are learning new skills. I am very impressed with how easy he made it look! Can't wait for the day when I realize that I do it easily

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by Roamin' Cat

. I can't make it go straight on a straight, fairly flat street! I had to tow it through the whole campground this week when I couldn't back up right to reposition it

Don't be so hard on yourself. I think it's harder to back up straight than it is to back up a curvy driveway.

Not taking anything away from your hero, though.

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Don't be so hard on yourself. I think it's harder to back up straight than it is to back up a curvy driveway.

Not taking anything away from your hero, though.

What he did'nt tell you was that the pink flamingos were spotting for him! It's an Guy secret, so don't let on that we told you.

[TomW]

Out of curiosity, did he do the fantastic job with the factory mirrors? My best backing-up jobs require good mirrors.

Tom

[fotochop]

hang on to that dude, he's one in a million!

here's a neat trick: hold the steering wheel at the BOTTOM (not sides, not top) and move the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go...it made backing up a lot easier for me to (sorta) learn...

[maxandgeorgia]

Roamin' Cat, check in with the We Can Tow It thread. You'll find a whole group of women dedicated to learning to handle their Airstreams, including that infernal backing up! ~G

[Roamin Cat]

Oh! I was the pink flamingo this time

Tom, we have the extendable tow mirrors on our '08 Silverado - Ford has power ones, we have to pull these out ourselves (twice had to pull over to do it, gotta add this to my preflight checklist!). Work great though, once we figured out how to adjust them properly.

Rick, thank you for the wheel trick, that might explain why I am having such trouble.

And thanks, Georgia, the We Can Tow It thread has many great people on it! I had hoped to attend their rally, but it was too much too soon for me. Hope to catch - or help organize - the next one!

[pmclemore]

RE - Hubby's your hero...

Natch. That's his job.

Pat

[juel]

I'm impressed every time I watch my husband back either of these trailers. I think it's got something to do with testosterone. I have tried and tried to back one and I can get it back a little and then it all goes to %^#*. I tried to back the boat into the water 13 times until some guy who wanted to use the ramp made me get out and he backed it in. It's sad, but thank heaven I have Bob.

[overlander63]

If you want to practice backing, find a large, empty parking lot, and back in figure 8's. Slowly, of course. You'll be surprised at how little you have to move the wheel to get the trailer to turn.

[empresley]

Sorry Cat... your hubby is having a dream and you are in it.

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by overlander63

If you want to practice backing, find a large, empty parking lot, and back in figure 8's. Slowly, of course. You'll be surprised at how little you have to move the wheel to get the trailer to turn.

Terry has it right, less is more! Practice in an empty lot.

Hands on bottom of wheel, to make rear of trailer go left, move wheel til hands are at 9 o'clock, right - 3 o'clock. OBSERVE how quickly trailer starts to turn, release wheel once the turn starts or you'll be jacknifing in a heartbeat.

Paula

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, Roamin' Cat. I'm jealous, my wife never posted about my parking. [just to me, in person]

[Jaxon]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, Roamin' Cat. I'm jealous, my wife never posted about my parking. [just to me, in person]

Now that's some tight parking, Bob! Have you ever taken it out since then?

I tell you what, if that were my parking place, I sure wouldn't mind about 3 more feet of concrete on the side! If you sneeze halfway back, you're doomed!

[Bob Thompson]

Every backer should have a good spotter, someone at the back of the trailer to tell the driver how things are going. You can use hand signals, but the wife and I find a pair of walkie-talkies is the best. The walkie-talkies also help to find the wife after an hour or two at a big Flea Market!

[utee94]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, Roamin' Cat. I'm jealous, my wife never posted about my parking. [just to me, in person]

I like the orange warning cone. Just in case somebody missed the giant 25' Aluminum cylinder.

[juel]

That all sounds good, but if Bob's not home I can't even get these trailers to an empty lot! Then getting them home ......well the world is not ready for me in front of a backing trailer. Don't get me wrong "I am woman, hear me roar", but if I don't have to learn right now, well..... I take care of all the computer stuff and cell phone teaching and project planning and lawn care and everything else to do with the house, besides a full time RN job. Sooooo I think I'll let Bob do the carpentry work and back the trailer.

[Stefrobrts]

My hubby immediatly got the hang of backing up, despite having never towed before - five years later and I'm still learning! I think men have it by instinct or something!