Will a 31 footer fit in my driveway?

[Eaglemate]

We are moving up from 24 to 31 feet. We live in a suburb and I have been backing our 24 foot in. Should I anticipate problems with the extra 7 feet?

[HowieE]

There is a myth about trailers that is just backwards. "The longer it is the harder it is to back up." Reality is just the opposite.

[urnmor]

Not really except that you might be 7 feet closer to the garage door or a tree in the back of the driveway

[jcanavera]

I went from 28' to 31' and other than the length itself, which was not a problem with the driveway, I did have to adjust my back in technique. I live on a cul-de-sac which required me to change my pivot point and pull a little further away from the drive prior to starting the back in process. The key is in the back in angle and pulling away further allows you to compensate for that extra length.

Jack

[purdytj]

It also depends on the wheelbase of your tow vehicle... K-5 Blazer? Easy! Suburban... a bit more Austin Powers back-and-forth may be necessary.

[m.hony]

Do you have 7 more feet to the street?
I have never tried backing mine into the driveway, but it looks like the tongue would be almost in the street.

[Luigi123]

Key is to go slow, use a second person, tape measure before attempting--I am new to the 30ft world and just experienced this adjustment. I have a 12 ft cargo trailer single axle, and I would agree backing the dual axle, 30 ft was more manageable than the 12 ft. always back up with the view of trailer on your drivers side.

[m.hony]

Originally Posted by m.hony

Do you have 7 more feet to the street?
I have never tried backing mine into the driveway, but it looks like the tongue would be almost in the street.

Now I have backed it into the driveway. The driveway is much longer than I realized. I have 50' from the house to the street.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Eaglemate

We are moving up from 24 to 31 feet. We live in a suburb and I have been backing our 24 foot in. Should I anticipate problems with the extra 7 feet?

On factor I have not read mentioned:


The longer trailer will have a longer distance between the rear tires and the rear frame ends. If there is any dip and/or rise involved, the rear of the frame may touch the ground where the 24's would not. Probably not a factor, but watch for it.


Ken

[m.hony]

Here in the Mississippi delta it is not a factor, but I have bottomed it out in a dip in a gas station entrance in Texas. There is a piece of vertical steel welded under the bumper/rear frame rails I assume to give it more strength to keep it from buckling if it bottoms out.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by m.hony

Here in the Mississippi delta it is not a factor, but I have bottomed it out in a dip in a gas station entrance in Texas. There is a piece of vertical steel welded under the bumper/rear frame rails I assume to give it more strength to keep it from buckling if it bottoms out.

I think those are a kind of sacrificial skid plate to make a bunch of noise and warn you that if you continue your present ways, you will most likely bend the frame. I stuck them fairly deep into a sandy soil perm once, because they failed to screech in that soil. They cut right into it like a knife. I have found that the 16 inch tires and wheels help that clearance a surprising amount.


Ken

[m.hony]

It was just a millisecond, but the people following us noticed. I ground off a little bit. I hope to never ever bottom out again.

[Lumatic]

Reminds me of the pneumonic I had to learn for 7th grade print shop "Large Elephants don't fit in small Ford Garages"

AFTER you have mastered the art watch the trailer backing scene in Lucy and Desi's "The Long, Long Trailer".

[Jim Foster]

Originally Posted by Eaglemate

We are moving up from 24 to 31 feet. We live in a suburb and I have been backing our 24 foot in. Should I anticipate problems with the extra 7 feet?

You can measure to find out of the longer trailer will fit into your driveway.
The question is, can you get it into your driveway?

A banana will fit into a two liter soft drink bottle. Getting it there is another matter.

[m.hony]

Originally Posted by Ag&Au

I think those are a kind of sacrificial skid plate to make a bunch of noise and warn you that if you continue your present ways, you will most likely bend the frame. I stuck them fairly deep into a sandy soil perm once, because they failed to screech in that soil. They cut right into it like a knife. I have found that the 16 inch tires and wheels help that clearance a surprising amount.

Ken

You really only gain 1/2" more clearance with the 16" wheels, but 1/2" clearance could be the difference between clearing the obstacle or a catastrophe...
In the back I regularly dig dirt with those reinforcements with no I'll consequences. The driveway thing is the result of 2 other things- us having a monsoon right now ( it is too wet/muddy in the back- I will get stuck) and recently getting low tree limbs cut so the trailer would fit under.