Noob to the Momentums and 5th wheels

[210craig]

I'm not new to long trailers. I had a Jayco Eagle flat top, 40 footer all behind the tailgate. I brought the 397 from the dealer to the storage lot, straight out and straight in. I'll admit it is a strange sensation with the unit basically in the back seat with you.

Easily apparent totally different beast from the backing aspect. Fortunately my son is a over the road trucker. He can put a 53ft van (filled with 41000 lbs of Dos XX) into a 10ft wide hole the first time. He's coming home in a couple of weeks and we are heading off to the local mall (mostly closed), but huge parking lot and I told him we are not leaving until I can put the 397 in a 12ft wide full ninety hole (I'll give him the 2 feet). He's been bragging. We will find out.

 

[el Rojo]

Any idea where the trailer with the Dos XX is parked? LOL.

You're lucky you have someone to show you the ins and outs. Most of us are still learning after several years. I just go slow with the wife as a spotter and get it parked eventually.

Red

 

[D2Reid]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new trailer. Please report on your sons impression of backing a 5th wheel. Swivel point and mirror visibility are different than a tractor trailer.

The other thing is to take some cones, paper cups, or other markers and study on the effects of tail swing. Ditto with figuring out how much clearance you need to make a 90 degree turn onto another street.

 

[JCR GD]

And don't forget to work with the tail swing for that trailer to figure out the extra space it requires in turns that most 18 wheelers don't have. Also a good time to measure for your actual height. Enjoy!

Edit: Dallas beat me to it.

 

[CoChris-MGRV]

I'm not new to long trailers. I had a Jayco Eagle flat top, 40 footer all behind the tailgate. I brought the 397 from the dealer to the storage lot, straight out and straight in. I'll admit it is a strange sensation with the unit basically in the back seat with you.

Easily apparent totally different beast from the backing aspect. Fortunately my son is a over the road trucker. He can put a 53ft van (filled with 41000 lbs of Dos XX) into a 10ft wide hole the first time. He's coming home in a couple of weeks and we are heading off to the local mall (mostly closed), but huge parking lot and I told him we are not leaving until I can put the 397 in a 12ft wide full ninety hole (I'll give him the 2 feet). He's been bragging. We will find out.

I too would be very interested in your sons comparison of backing a tractor/trailer vs a PU/5th wheel. Please let us know.

Chris