I've got my fifth wheel in a parking lot and I can't turn around!

[Th1onein]

I simply don't know how to drive this thing yet. The parking lot is big enough, but I'm just not good at backing up. Any suggestions?

[trof]

1. Meditate and levitate?

:shrug:

[Nickster]

2. Fifth wheel? What are you talking about? n/t

[Maddy McCall]

4. trailer in which the mount is in the bed of the truck, instead of on the bumper.

The trailer hitches to the "fifth wheel" in the bed of the truck instead of on a bumper knob.

[Nickster]

6. Ohhhhhhhh, that's what I thought.....:-) Not....LoL n/t

[Maddy McCall]

3. Do you have to back up to get out of that parking lot?

Might better spend a day practicing before you get out there and drive with it.

[LaurenG]

5. I think your supposed to turn the steering wheel the opposite way

that your trying to go. Other than that, practice as Maddy suggested.

[trof]

This should be good.

'Talking' someone through how to back a trailer.
:rofl:

[uncle ray]

13. at least it isn't a farm wagon!

the hardest thing to back up is a farm wagon, you know, just like a little red wagon. i grew up on a farm and had to learn to back a wagon at probably ten years of age, fun stuff.

[Blue-Jay]

7. Make friends with a truck driver.

[trof]

8. Yeah. HEY...LIBERALTRUCKER? YA OUT THERE?

You're needed in the Lounge.

[Blue-Jay]

10. Or Droopy.

Unfortunately, he's an Ohio homeboy.

Has he been around lately? I miss his "Tales from the road" posts.

[skygazer]

9. Take it slow

Don't get flustered. And whatever you do, don't jacknife - you'll never get out of there.

[Th1onein]

11. Actually, I think I have it worked out.

There's enough room to pull it up, and then turn to the right and then straighten it out and back it straight back, and then take another right out into the parking lot, facing towards the street I will be exiting on in the morning.

Usually "RVers" are pretty nice about doing this kind of stuff for novice RVers. But I'm here in Albequerque and I pulled into an Econolodge to get a room for my manager. We're on our way to Victorville, CA and we're stopping here for the night. Don't want to travel with this RV at nighttime in strange territory; especially with the mountains and the cold weather and everything.

Thanks, folks, for your help. It feels so strange to be able to go from my truck back to my little "house" and just spend the night almost anywhere, but it has it's pitfalls. Thank God this thing is insured to the hilt.

[Kali]

12. When you have some time

find yourself some of those swiming pool noodles, attach them to some trafic cones and go to a large empty parking lot and do some practicing. Even if you have experience with a bumper pull, fifth wheels are way different. Practice backing and getting out of tight spaces. Gates can be the hardest if you panic - practice!

And never be embarrassed to un-hitch, straighten out your tow vehicle and start over!

[ironflange]

14. I second that. Practice practice practice.

Good trick: grab the bottom of the steering wheel, the end of the trailer will go the same direction as your hands. However, I've been backing trailers up for twenty or so years, and I still have to stop and think frequently. It still sometimes seems counter-intuitive.

You can try http://www.rv.net, they have lots of lively forums. People there are helpful, most are very nice, some are such freepers it's hilarious.