My Parking Dilemma

[Scooter241]

Hello all,
Thanks in advance for good thoughts sent my way about my parking dilemma!

I’ve signed the papers for my new Classic and am now in preparation stage for a mid April arrival. Currently my biggest concern is backing into the driveway from my narrow street that often has parked cars. I tow with an F250.

Even with Beauty, my 25’ 2004, I had to jump the curb on occasion. I worry that the additional 6’? length could make the turning radius into the driveway all-but unmanageable. I guess I could build curb ramps?? Any such project on the forums? Or other solutions/ideas/techniques?

Would a front hitch receiver help or be too much hassle?
Any info would be appreciated. The anticipation is great; the uncertainty, not!

[Msmoto]

To really assess the issue one would need exact measurements. But while the new trailer is 6' longer, it has only about 3' more overhang and may be able fit in tight spaces.

My suggestion would be to set up your limits on a large empty parking lot, using cones or other markers, and practice. As to jumping curbs, place some boards next to the curb to provide less curb height for the wheels to roll over and go for it!

I think the expense of a front hitch is not necessary, just go very very slowly while backing and do not be afraid to work back and forth a bit if you cannot get it exactly correct the first time.

I back my 30 footer from an extremely narrow street about 120' through a 12' wide door each time I come back home. Practice makes perfect.


Ms Tommie Lauer
Greensboro, NC
2015 Serenity 30 RB / 2008 Dodge Cummins 4 X 4
WBCCI #4165 AIR #31871

[Scooter241]

Msmoto,

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

I keep imagining the worst--and that's not good. Your advice about laying it out is good. I'll take my measurements and practice at the dealer's and on my way home. Boards are also a great idea--lightweight, cheap, and easily put into place!

BTW, for me the notion of backing 120 feet is way scary!

"How do you get into the driveway?"
"Practice, practice, practice!"

[paiceman]

I have a similar issue, does not sound as severe as yours but similar, plus I back down hill and then up into my driveway. To make is easier and put less of a strain on the hitch and bars I remove the bars prior to starting my backing into the driveway. This allows for a much tighter turn while backing without putting strain on the bars. I learned the hard way by bending the outside snaplock, in my case the right side completely flat due to the excessive force generated on the outside when backing in and up hill.

So, in short I would remove the bars, in fact when I pick ours up from storage and bring it home I don't even bother to put the bars on anymore. Then when I pull out of the driveway for a trip I stop and but them on.

Works for me, no real issues. OH, I did relocate our mailbox from the upside to the downside of the driveway and I did pull some plants our and put down some gravel to allow me to turn into and out of better.

Good luck. And congratulations on your order of your new AS.

Bud

[Skater]

Originally Posted by Scooter241

Boards are also a great idea--lightweight, cheap, and easily put into place!

They need to be fairly stout - 9,000 lbs of trailer has to go someplace... and that place is the tires (for the most part). We are lucky - rolled curbs in our neighborhood, rather than square ones.

[Scooter241]

Hi Paiceman,

I never thought of removing the bars. Cool idea. I'll try it when I take my beloved Beauty to the dealer's for the swap.

We always stop once we get out on the street, anyway. I'll be able to practice without the bars at the dealer's to see the difference it makes.

Love this feedback and support. Very grateful for the tips.

Oh, I even removed a bush or two, trimmed others way back, and got asphalt all the way up the drive. Still seems too narrow when I'm backing in!

[Scooter241]

Originally Posted by Skater

They need to be fairly stout - 9,000 lbs of trailer has to go someplace... and that place is the tires (for the most part). We are lucky - rolled curbs in our neighborhood, rather than square ones.

Hi Skater,

Ours are square, 7" high, and there is a dip going into the driveway.

So, not just 2x4s stacked, but maybe 4x4s or more like 2x10s? Nailed and glued together?

Thanks again for the insight and ideas.

[xrvr]

Lay the boards parallel to the curb. They do not have to be a ramp. They are just there to lessen the height of the curb. I use a two by eight. Peace,jim

[Scooter241]

Hi Jim,
Yea! That I can do for sure.
TY and peace back at ya!

[paiceman]

Scooter

Just be careful not to put too much torque on the truck when going over the boards as they can shoot out when the torque from the rear wheels hits them. I have used boards and try not to apply any acceleration as I am rolling over them. First time I did have them shoot out and hit the front wheels. Not a big problem, just a little disconcerting the first time.

Practice at the dealership. Then take her home. Of course hopefully by then the snow will be gone. I had a dual major at Oswego State, one in Meteorology, so I know a little about upstate NY snow and experienced it many times as well.

Take Care, you'll do fine, I tend to obsess over things like this as well. As my wife continually points out, "it will be fine, it will work".

Enjoy

[Scooter241]

Today it's 2 degrees with a forecasted high of 18. Today it's a toss up between the snow and cold as to which is most annoying!

Good tip about not accelerating over the makeshift ramp. I've abused the lynx levels that way a couple of times which did cause one of them to shoot out. Some of us don't learn the first time..!

My intent is to take time thinking about the problem, ask people with experience for help and then just do it. It's the waiting that wears me down.

Maybe I can get a forecast from you as the big day approaches!

Thanks again for chiming in.

[LiLNomad]

I back my 30 footer from an extremely narrow street about 120' through a 12' wide door each time I come back home. Practice makes perfect.

Tommie your my hero
LilNomad

[paiceman]

Scooter, HA. I'd hate to tell you the equipment we had when I majored in Meteorology, nothing like today and although the accuracy is better, nothing much beyond 72 hours is accurate, if that long. So you can ask, I can give you a forecast, but no guarantee, especially in upstate. We used to be called by our professor at 2:00AM in the morning if a Lake Effect was building on Lake Ontario and we would assemble, then some would stay on campus and others would trek over to the Tug Hill Plateau to measure winds, snow fall etc. No fancy Doppler for us, no sir, hand held instruments only. But we all loved it.

[mefly2]

A front receiver mount is relatively inexpensive (under $150) compared to the cost of your AS ... it makes the job much, much easier and -from my perspective- much safer, too. Once the AS starts the actual turning, you can directly see down the whole length of the trailer on the inside of the turn and make those minor adjustments to the arc before they are problematic. Better view is provided of what is going on and no neck aches from straining to see both in the mirror and actual direct vision of the AS while your TV is in reverse. As you have no doubt already concluded, the turns for proper positioning must start many feet in advance. The front connection to the TV provides a much faster acting and more precise adjustment to the trailer tracking.

With your 3/4 T rating, the front suspension should be able to handle the TW for short stints of parking ... not sure that I would recommend the front receiver for AS of heavy TW and TVs without very HD suspension however. It has worked well for us on the last three TV / AS combos. YMMV

[FollySteve]

Front receiver may not be necessary but is a great backup plan to have "just in case". It might not be the answer for vertical clearance but I have a difficult horizontal approach into my backyard and front hitch is the only way.

The big advantage is not vision, as you would expect, but the fact that you can turn much sharper without jack knifing and, most of all, that the TV follows the trailer path without swinging wide. This is a huge advantage for threading tight turns with obstacles.

Funny thing is that I must pull back out conventionally (which is also easy). If you "back up" with front hitch the geometry again becomes unworkable. But "pushing" the trailer in and "pulling" it out is an absolute cake walk.

[Glenritas]

Another thought ...

Have a wireless camera system installed on your trailer and you will be able to see where the trailer is going. Eliminates blind backing.

[carl2591]

I agree with front mounted hitch.. not a large cost but can make the backing of a trailer less troublesome and save a transmission.

A lot of boat yards use front mounted balls to move boats around as it easier for a tractor to push and the ability to see is better by far. same for RV dealerships.

Only thing i would not like would be having to relocated the fog lights on my 03 f-250 SD lariat.

Originally Posted by mefly2

A front receiver mount is relatively inexpensive (under $150) compared to the cost of your AS ... it makes the job much, much easier and -from my perspective- much safer, too. Once the AS starts the actual turning, you can directly see down the whole length of the trailer on the inside of the turn and make those minor adjustments to the arc before they are problematic. Better view is provided of what is going on and no neck aches from straining to see both in the mirror and actual direct vision of the AS while your TV is in reverse. As you have no doubt already concluded, the turns for proper positioning must start many feet in advance. The front connection to the TV provides a much faster acting and more precise adjustment to the trailer tracking.

With your 3/4 T rating, the front suspension should be able to handle the TW for short stints of parking ... not sure that I would recommend the front receiver for AS of heavy TW and TVs without very HD suspension however. It has worked well for us on the last three TV / AS combos. YMMV

[Scooter241]

Originally Posted by paiceman

Scooter, HA. I'd hate to tell you the equipment we had when I majored in Meteorology, nothing like today and although the accuracy is better, nothing much beyond 72 hours is accurate, if that long. So you can ask, I can give you a forecast, but no guarantee, especially in upstate. We used to be called by our professor at 2:00AM in the morning if a Lake Effect was building on Lake Ontario and we would assemble, then some would stay on campus and others would trek over to the Tug Hill Plateau to measure winds, snow fall etc. No fancy Doppler for us, no sir, hand held instruments only. But we all loved it.

Paiceman,

There's a saying in Texas as well as up here in NY: If you don't like the weather, wait a minute.

Forecasters get the blame for Mother Nature’s fickle ways--unimaginably hard to predict even with new tech, much less for students tramping in the snow with hand held instruments!! so many variables. It's amazing it's as accurate as it is, especially outside the 72 hr window.

[Scooter241]

Originally Posted by mefly2

A front receiver mount is relatively inexpensive (under $150) compared to the cost of your AS ... it makes the job much, much easier and -from my perspective- much safer, too. Once the AS starts the actual turning, you can directly see down the whole length of the trailer on the inside of the turn and make those minor adjustments to the arc before they are problematic. Better view is provided of what is going on and no neck aches from straining to see both in the mirror and actual direct vision of the AS while your TV is in reverse. As you have no doubt already concluded, the turns for proper positioning must start many feet in advance. The front connection to the TV provides a much faster acting and more precise adjustment to the trailer tracking.

With your 3/4 T rating, the front suspension should be able to handle the TW for short stints of parking ... not sure that I would recommend the front receiver for AS of heavy TW and TVs without very HD suspension however. It has worked well for us on the last three TV / AS combos. YMMV

I like the idea of a front receiver even though I've never used one. How about pushing the trailer up a slight incline? The apron is on an incline as would be the curb ramp stacked 2X8s.

Is it terribly time consuming to unhook and then rehook w/the trailer out in the street? My neighbors are somewhat used to my jockeying around, but a procedure that takes too long might try their patience too much!

[Scooter241]

Originally Posted by carl2591

I agree with front mounted hitch.. not a large cost but can make the backing of a trailer less troublesome and save a transmission.

A lot of boat yards use front mounted balls to move boats around as it easier for a tractor to push and the ability to see is better by far. same for RV dealerships.

Only thing i would not like would be having to relocated the fog lights on my 03 f-250 SD lariat.

Good point. My TV also has fog lights....uh oh.