5th wheel "backup mirror"

Papaz8

Advanced Member
RV LIFE Pro
Joined
Jan 2, 2024
Messages
55
Location
Gretna, NE. (for now)
Hello all-

Again, this may have appeared in another thread, but I will ask the question.

I seem to have a problem lining up my truck when backing up to hitch our 5er. I always need at least three or four attempts before getting it within the zone of error. My backup camera on the truck is great, til I have to drop the tailgate. Then I am blind. I use the rear view mirror and side mirrors, but always seem to be off. My wife saw a 5er in the campground the other day that had a mirror mounted on the nose cap down above the hitch. When she came to show me the next day on our evening walk with the dog, they had left. I've looked on Amazon but not seeing what I Think she was looking at.

Any thoughts? This always seems to be a bone of contention with us. I'm sometimes tempted to say, "Fine, you back it up"! We've only been doing this for a year, and I keep hoping I'll get better at it. :pray:

Cheers,

Papaz
 
For most people it gets easier with more practice. If I can look out the rear window and see the fifth wheel hitch I just concentrate on that and don't use the side mirrors except to check for safety. If you have a tool box or bed cover that blocks your vision of the hitch then pay attention to how the rv looks in the mirrors when towing and then you have to try to duplicate that look when trying to hitch up. I have never found any cure-all easy trick to back up to hitch. Makes you have a little more appreciation when you see a semi driver back under a trailer and he has a sleeper cab to contend with. Some of them make it look easy and others I would not want driving my rig.
 
It gets easier but I find myself getting out of the truck very frequently when hitching. When DW is along, we communicate with walkie-Ts or cell phone while I'm backing up. If I'm on my own, I get out Frequently to check. Just don't be in a rush. I hooked up a couple of months ago to take the RV to repair shop. I pressed hitch height on the panel, but the RV didn't go up as high as it should have. Since I was on my own, I didn't get out. I know have a nice depression in the top of my tailgate. You will see GOAL a lot - worth getting out and looking if you have no help.
 
I have a toolbox that blocks the view of my hitch. I put a piece of black 2" duct tape on the tool box lid. I watch the rear view mirror and line up the tape with the centerline of the trailer nose and usually hit first time. I bought a magnetic mount battery operated camera to use, but discovered I just didn't need it. And practice certainly helps.
 
My Ford f-350 has a bed/hitch camera mounted on the back of the cab. It points directly into the bed at my hitch. It also has a vertical line that aligns with the receiving groove on the hitch that you put on the pin when you back up. When you put the truck in reverse, are there two squares in the upper left corner of the screen? If so, press the left button and row of squares will appear across the top of the screen. These are all of the available camera views. One of these should be the bed camera.
 
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The mirror is found on many 5ers from the factory. They're often a film. You could add any wide angle that fits. You might find, however, an alignment stripe as mentioned works better. I actually retrofitted a later RAM's cargo camera on my truck to one-person hitching a snap.
 
Our Jayco had that nose mirror but honestly I maybe used it the 1st few times then I can't say I ever used it again. Just the rear view mirror
 
I used to just prop myself up in the seat, turn around and look directly at the hitch and pin (truck in sig). Practice, practice, practice.
Rich
 
When I am hitching, I get out of the truck usually 2-3 times to make sure the pin is lined up properly, and the pin is high enough, or low enough to properly hitch. I hitch solo, although even at a trailer place after some warranty work with the workers trying to help, I still got out, didn't trust them.
 
Hello all-

Again, this may have appeared in another thread, but I will ask the question.

I seem to have a problem lining up my truck when backing up to hitch our 5er. I always need at least three or four attempts before getting it within the zone of error. My backup camera on the truck is great, til I have to drop the tailgate. Then I am blind. I use the rear view mirror and side mirrors, but always seem to be off. My wife saw a 5er in the campground the other day that had a mirror mounted on the nose cap down above the hitch. When she came to show me the next day on our evening walk with the dog, they had left. I've looked on Amazon but not seeing what I Think she was looking at.

Any thoughts? This always seems to be a bone of contention with us. I'm sometimes tempted to say, "Fine, you back it up"! We've only been doing this for a year, and I keep hoping I'll get better at it. :pray:

Cheers,

Papaz

Yes, I have a mirror mounted on the top of my hitch that helps me line things up. I got it on Amazon, but it is no longer available there. This thread describes a DIY approach that should work.
 
I bought a piece of 1/2" wooden dowel rod and cut it to the length that I wanted, then used a round magnet with a hole in the center of it, and screwed it to one end of the dowel rod. I then painted the other end of the dowel RED. When I get ready to hook up, I climb in the bed of the truck and stick the magnet/dowel rod exactly dead center of the opening for where the hitch pin goes into the B&W Companion hitch. Then, in my truck, where the center headrest was (I removed the headrest...we never have anyone in that center seat area), there are two holes in the top part of the back seat where the headrest mounts...if it was there. It is exactly dead center of the truck, so when I start backing up towards the trailer, I line up the magnet/dowel rod perfectly in between the holes that I referred to and back it in. Once I got a feel for it, I can usually back it right in on the first try.
 
My Ford f-350 has a bed/hitch camera mounted on the back of the cab. It points directly into the bed at my hitch. It also has a vertical line that aligns with the receiving groove on the hitch that you put on the pin when you back up. When you put the truck in reverse, are there two squares in the upper left corner of the screen? If so, press the left button and row of squares will appear across the top of the screen. These are all of the available camera views. One of these should be the bed camera.

My F250 Lariat only has the backup camera in the tailgate. I'd love to have the hitch camera, but not avail. But, thanks!

PapaZ
 
Hello all-

Again, this may have appeared in another thread, but I will ask the question.

I seem to have a problem lining up my truck when backing up to hitch our 5er. I always need at least three or four attempts before getting it within the zone of error. My backup camera on the truck is great, til I have to drop the tailgate. Then I am blind. I use the rear view mirror and side mirrors, but always seem to be off. My wife saw a 5er in the campground the other day that had a mirror mounted on the nose cap down above the hitch. When she came to show me the next day on our evening walk with the dog, they had left. I've looked on Amazon but not seeing what I Think she was looking at.

Any thoughts? This always seems to be a bone of contention with us. I'm sometimes tempted to say, "Fine, you back it up"! We've only been doing this for a year, and I keep hoping I'll get better at it. :pray:

Cheers,

Papaz

I have a tonneau cover that blocks my view of the hitch. I have a 2ft piece of pool noodle that I insert in the hitch, line that up to the pin in the rear view mirror & back up to the pin. Remove the noodle then finish backing up. Been using it for years.
 
I love the idea of a pool noodle. I will try that. Also, when my wife and I got our first trailer, and were working out the logistics of who is backing the truck and who is giving directions, she asked me "which side of pissed off do you want to be on?" To this day we laugh about that question. Practice and truck cameras help but it still is easier with two people to line it up and get it connected.
 
I love the idea of a pool noodle. I will try that. Also, when my wife and I got our first trailer, and were working out the logistics of who is backing the truck and who is giving directions, she asked me "which side of pissed off do you want to be on?" To this day we laugh about that question. Practice and truck cameras help but it still is easier with two people to line it up and get it connected.
I'm just the opposite, I don't really want any help when it comes to lining up the hitch. Backing into a site is sometimes easier with help though. Though not always. :)
 
I bought a piece of 1/2" wooden dowel rod and cut it to the length that I wanted, then used a round magnet with a hole in the center of it, and screwed it to one end of the dowel rod. I then painted the other end of the dowel RED. When I get ready to hook up, I climb in the bed of the truck and stick the magnet/dowel rod exactly dead center of the opening for where the hitch pin goes into the B&W Companion hitch. Then, in my truck, where the center headrest was (I removed the headrest...we never have anyone in that center seat area), there are two holes in the top part of the back seat where the headrest mounts...if it was there. It is exactly dead center of the truck, so when I start backing up towards the trailer, I line up the magnet/dowel rod perfectly in between the holes that I referred to and back it in. Once I got a feel for it, I can usually back it right in on the first try.

Great idea! I too, have removed that headrest, as it was blocking what view I had. But I have a roll up tonneau cover that partially blocks my view too. This should help me out!
Thanks,

PapaZ
 
I have a tonneau cover that blocks my view of the hitch. I have a 2ft piece of pool noodle that I insert in the hitch, line that up to the pin in the rear view mirror & back up to the pin. Remove the noodle then finish backing up. Been using it for years.

Genius! I have one already cut that I was using as a slide out measure for tight spaces. I just tried it and it fits my PullRite hitch perfectly. We leave for another campground on Friday and I will try this.
Thanks to all!

PapaZ
 
Hello all-

Again, this may have appeared in another thread, but I will ask the question.

I seem to have a problem lining up my truck when backing up to hitch our 5er. I always need at least three or four attempts before getting it within the zone of error. My backup camera on the truck is great, til I have to drop the tailgate. Then I am blind. I use the rear view mirror and side mirrors, but always seem to be off. My wife saw a 5er in the campground the other day that had a mirror mounted on the nose cap down above the hitch. When she came to show me the next day on our evening walk with the dog, they had left. I've looked on Amazon but not seeing what I Think she was looking at.

Any thoughts? This always seems to be a bone of contention with us. I'm sometimes tempted to say, "Fine, you back it up"! We've only been doing this for a year, and I keep hoping I'll get better at it. :pray:

Cheers,

Papaz

Even though I have the Anderson 5th wheel hitch, I use this (link below.) It would also work in a typical 5th wheel setup.

https://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Alig...-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
 

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