A little nervous about hauling the monster

[teamam]

Guys, We are trading our 23 ft trailer in and getting into the pool with you guys and buying a 375RE. Starting to get a little eeeby jeeby about hauling all that fibreglass and metal behind me. I KNOW IT IS TOO LATE NOW :>) Any advise for a first timer hauling a 5th wheel.

 

[JCR GD]

Take your time and watch for the trailer cutting the corners more than you are used to, you will get the feel pretty quickly.

 

[offtohavasu]

First, is easier said than done, is relax. If you don't, you don't enjoy the trip. Next, use your mirrors, a 5th wheel turns differently than a bumper pull, so use the spot mirrors going around corners. Find some empty parking lot somewhere (it will have lines painted for you already) and practice, practice, practice. Practice pulling straight, backing straight, jack knife (parallel) parking, all that stuff you did in driver's ed, but with a trailer.

And from what I've recently learned towing with a family (this also applies to the relaxing part), NEVER expect to leave on time, EVER! If you want to be on the road with everyone AIS, tell them you want to leave 2 hours before your actual departure time.

Lastly, HAVE FUN! That's why you bought it right? Take it low and slow until you are comfortable and your confidence is built. You WILL get to a point when pulling the best is second nature. Until then, take it easy. Arriving late is better than not arriving at all!

 

[mandolin57]

Teamam, we went from a 27ft TT last fall to the Solitude 305. Hubby was nervous like you but does fine with it. He says it's actually much easier to maneuver than the TT was. You'll be fine, and remember....there is a ton of people to help you out. When we get stuck with something, I'm not above asking for someone to give us a hand. Relax and have fun!!!!

 

[teamam]

Thanks so much all of you, feels better knowing that I have a group that is out there if I need them. THANKS SO MUCH

 

[LCBoyer]

Don't worry, be happy. Take your time, find an empty parking lot if you can and practice

 

[SMSgt B]

I'm right there with you as I jumped all the way in with our 38' 350M as our very first RV. Yes it was (and still is somewhat) scary as **** trying to maneuver that beast, but I love a challenge. Best thing I have found out is keep your cool as things go even worse when my blood pressure and temper start flaring up.

 

[Ciaran1]

You will do fine. You will need to eyeball your fuel stops a bit more closely. The deisel pumps at some convienience stores and gas stops can be pretty tight when the stores are busy. Getting the "beast" in and out can get close at times so I look for stops with plenty of room to manuver the beast. Relax and have fun!

 

[Abqscott]

My advice would be to plan out all of your turns. If you have a double turn lane always use outside lane. When neccessary, use more of the adjoining lane when having to make a tight turn. When parking temporarily, plan your exit before you park. Last, enjoy the ride, these rigs pull great, watch your stopping distance, use a tpms system for you tires. Relax...your on vacation.

 

[Hootie]

Like everybody has said practice practice and practice, get use to where things are in your mirrors in relation to the beast, tree limbs will come out of no where as an example, and then your beating your self up while you clean the marks off the side of the beast, I learned from experience on that one, on my first 5er, and more, take your time, think a head of your next move, do not wait till you get there and say, I should of put myself in a wider postion for turn, do not let drivers get you upset, might be they are clueless of what it takes to pull one of these, ( Iwas polite with that statement) happing camping,

 

[Jim and Lonnie]

Remember to keep a can of WD40 for the Pullrite hitch, I love how it moves the trailer back when you turn!

 

[Scott and Jan]

First - congrats on your new rig! Like has already been said, patience and practice. We moved up from a 30' TT, it's a little different backing andturning, but it won't take long for you to realize 5ers tow much nicer. Remember to look up, you are taller now! Have fun!

 

[wrp75_CO]

If you're really nervous, Google RV driving trainer in your area. We'd never pulled anything before our 380TH- but 2 days of training and I feel like we are ok. There are still exciting moments, but I don't feel terrified every time I get ready to hook up.

 

[Sandi]

Welcome to the family!!! Ditto on everything everyone else has said!! MY biggest advice is stopping distance. It takes a bit more to get these beasts stopped. I can promise you none of the other drivers know that or care! After 2 years and 10,000 miles it still makes me nervous in heavy traffic particularly. None of the other drivers want to get stuck behind our monster so they dart out and in front of you never thinking that we can't "panic" stop like you do in a car!'
Happy camping!! You WILL get used to pulling that monster!

 

[teamam]

EVERYONE, thank you so so much for your great advise. I am excited about our next adventure and now knowing that everyone is there when I have questions makes me feel better...

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi teamam,

We are just one year into this whole experience as well and all the advice on this thread is great!

The only thing I could add is don't be afraid to go (painstakingly) slow when backing into a site. (Even if someone is waiting in the lane)
This gives you time to correct when the coach is tending in the wrong direction.
My experience is that as long as you are moving, folks see progress and are willing to wait patiently.

Remember that the guy who whips the coach into the tight spot in one quick move . . . has probably been driving 18 wheelers for his whole life .

If you get past about 30 degrees to the path of the coach when backing, you probably need to pull ahead and straighten up (unless you are "parallel parking" as Curtis describes )

Rob

 

[Jfelliott]

My first time pulling a fifth wheel was to a college football game. I pulled forward into the parking lot, parked parallel to my spot that I had to maneuver into then proceeded to ask a bunch of on-lookers for a volunteer to park my RV for me. I explained how new I was and had never done this before with a FW. They all laughed. I had a couple volunteers but they encouraged me to stay in the drivers seat as they helped coach me. Needless to say, we had a great football season with some new friends. They enjoyed telling their story about the newbie to their friends. I always had great help the entire season.

 

[JCR GD]

There are usually peeps in camp grounds that will come around and give you a hand if needed. (Mostly helpful)

Last time we went to a camp ground we stay at regularly I pulled in and several people came out to admire the Grand Design and a few commented on the size of it. When they realized where my spot was and how tight it was to get into, they started taking bets on how many tries it would take me. I stuck it first time! Of course I've been pulling trailers of all shapes and sizes for 40 years.... and that particular maneuver was pretty much exactly the same as I have to do to get from my street into my side yard.

So never let anyone rush or pressure you into hurrying cuz it's your rig and you're learning. Everyone started somewhere.

 

[Racerx]

When planning to make a right hand turn, keep your truck and trailer as far to the left of that lane as possible. Pull out into the intersection as far as you can, than turn right. Watch that curb on the right. Vice- versa for left turns. Stay to the right as far as you can, pull into intersection as far as you can before turning left. Watch for that vehicle that always stops past his stopping point and does not want to move.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Second Chance]

Transitioning from a 25' TT, I found the fiver to be easy for turning and backing (I use the convex lower mirrors on the tow mirrors a lot). We use a couple of hand-held, two-way radios and my wife spots when backing. Leave plenty of space in front of you at all times. My only white-knuckle experiences have been two bridges: 1) a very narrow two-lane bridge on HWY 301 crossing the Potomac in northern Virginia, and 2) the F. Scott Key bridge over the Patapsco River getting through/around Baltimore. The Key bridge is four lane (though narrow lanes), but the height of the bridge made me feel like I was flying the pattern at a regional airport! I'll take the steep grades in the mountains any day. (Ever met an acrophobic pilot?)