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Ann83 · 09-22-2021, 05:12 PM

Excited to pick up new 27 foot Flying Cloud soon. Plan to tow with Chevy Silverado 2500 that has a long (8foot) bed. Have run numbers & feel good about ability of truck to tow but….Interested in your thoughts the length of the bed (8foot) may have on towing and/or backing/maneuvering the travel trailer.

We’re excited & want to be best prepared.

Thanks!

Ann

uncle_bob · 09-22-2021, 05:18 PM

Hi

Longer trailers are easier to back up than shorter trailers for most folks. Bed length generally is a "longer is easier" thing as well.

What does that all mean? The rate of turn of the trailer vs steering input is lower. Things are not as "twitchy". You still are dealing with a rig that's fifty something feet long and that has a pretty major turning radius. Pulling into a tight parking space at the mall .... not so much.

Bob

CRH · 09-22-2021, 05:18 PM

I have no trouble with my 8ft crew cab

tbrowne · 09-22-2021, 05:42 PM

In very tight places, shorter is better. Otherwise it makes little difference, however, long bet truck cannot maneuver in parking lots and the occasional parking garage as well.

ROBERT CROSS · 09-22-2021, 06:26 PM

Put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel, and move it in the direction that you want the back of the trailer to go.

It's easier to back up using the driver side mirror, some thing I try to do as often as possible.

If you have a partner use them. Four eyes is better than two.
But, at the campground more eyes can be a real pain in the buttski, specially if they're all drunk sitting around the campfire...laughing.

But don't worry that will never happen to you tehee tehee tehee.

Actually though the most important thing is do it all very slooooowly.

Bob
🇺🇸

Boondocker · 09-22-2021, 09:00 PM

I think you find longer will improve towing. As far as backing whenever in doubt just get out and look.

Ann83 · 09-23-2021, 04:13 AM

Each of your responses are so much appreciated. Yep-already almost got stuck in parking garage due to long bed-won’t try that again. ��

Thanks again to ya all!

Ann83 · 09-23-2021, 04:17 AM

Love the song about rising above the timberline!

Luna1967 · 09-23-2021, 09:34 AM

[QUOTE=ROBERT CROSS;2540250]Put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel, and move it in the direction that you want the back of the trailer to go./QUOTE]

Truer words were never spoken in terms of learning to back up a trailer! 13-years later, I still revert to putting my hands on the bottom of the steering wheel when thinks get tight/tricky.

We tow with an F250, ext cab and 8’ bed. With our 1967 17’ Caravel backing up can be dicey. As Uncle Bob says, everything is twitchy. With our 31’ Ecxcella backing up was a whole different experience! Much easier!

Have fun!!

K

gypsydad · 09-23-2021, 10:06 AM

I have 6.5'bed and it can be a challange if you don't have someone helping. The rear camera helps, but not as good as was mentioned: 4 eyes watching while backing in tight spots, vs just your 2

... hard to see on passenger side when backing up, how close you are to a post or object...

helwigc · 09-23-2021, 10:08 AM

I have no regrets with my f250 crew cab long bed. But it does take up more than one parking spots in most parking lots

Mollysdad · 09-23-2021, 10:24 AM

Backing will. be easy, if you know the secrets.
My advice is go slow.....even slower.
Once the trailer starts to wander off, don't try massive corrections, pull forward and try again.
Rear camera helps but you can't see the corners of the trailer. I put a strip of SOLAS reflective tape in the middle back wall. I try to keep that centered. I also have a cone that I try to back to the bumper.
I think it's hard to judge "squareness" after backing. It can look fine, then you get out and look and your cockeyed. (as my granny would say Caddywompus)
The solution? Try again.

superChop · 09-23-2021, 11:58 AM

1. Practice backing in a large parking lot with orange cones.
2. Swallow pride and ask a veteran camper/host at the campsite/RV park to back it in for you IF you do not feel confident. This worked great on our first outing to Jekyll Island in the great state of Georgia where we got “stuck” between some trees!

RamRider · 09-23-2021, 12:14 PM

Not a lot of issues backing up. Crew Cab/Long bed 2500. You will notice a better ride with the longer Truck.

Chief Gill · 09-23-2021, 12:19 PM

A few thoughts:
1. Should not be a problem with a long or short.bed
2. Safety first
3. Always check the area you are backing into; poles, low hanging limbs, rocks ect.
4. Another always, have a spotter and it’s a good idea the spotter have a whistle.
5. Finally make sure you and the spotter are on the same page as where you want to put the trailer.
If you do not have backup camera to help with hooking up the camper, highly recommend getting one, it saved my marriage😎
Happy Camping

dnas · 09-23-2021, 12:20 PM

Four eyes may be better than two, but these four eyes didn't see when the driver "jack knifed" into the trailer and squished the panel. Ouch! I was checking out the other side so he wouldn't hit a tree, and he was backing it up, trying to get into a scenic spot. After much finger pointing, and cursing we just decided to go for a less scenic spot, and do our usual "it is what it is", and figured we would take care of it at another time. We didn't let it ruin our vacation. Motto: Don't try any tricky maneuvers after many hours of driving.

Ray Eklund · 09-23-2021, 12:49 PM

OK... backing up with the trailer attached and the left and right figured out, what next? After a week towing around, backing up and getting very good at it...

Once detached... try backing up just the tow vehicle. Oops...

You will discover you have to relearn HOW that use to work... now opposite.

Ha ha ha... says the trailer.

ROBERT CROSS · 09-23-2021, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ann83

Love the song about rising above the timberline!

Thank's

Glad someone noticed.
"Tahawus" is Native American for Mt. Marcy the highest peak in the Adirondacks.
It translates to "Cloudsplitter", or in our case a perfect name for an air stream.

Bob
🇺🇸

Mikemdd · 09-23-2021, 04:53 PM

It is also a good idea to practice using your mirrors and watching the WHEELS of the trailer rather than the end of the trailer for where it is going

uncle_bob · 09-24-2021, 09:01 AM

Hi

One thing to avoid:

Don't spend a lot of time here reading "I can't back up my trailer" threads. You can easily get scared to death about how unique and impossible an AS is to backup.

I've towed this and that for many decades. Before we got the 30', I spent some time here doing research. After reading threads here, I was convinced that some how / some way an AS was magically impossible to back up. I very much was spooked.

Once we got the trailer and I had a chance to do this or that with it .. poof !! ... those concerns vanished. I calmed down a lot and it got even easier. There is nothing magic about these trailers. They back just like any other trailer. Longer is always easier to steer ....

Now about the "turn left / turn right" instructions delivered in a normal voice from the back of a 30' trailer ... we're still working on that part ... 5 years later ...

Bob