THE SCOOP: How to Back up a Towable RV

[jjizabeast1]

i love the 6.0 sound.

[LightYagame1]

Krapper, just got my util trailer yesterday, took me 45 mins to just get it in,,, thanks for this information, I was almost ready to take the thing back :D

[walkaboutgroup]

@LightYagame1 Like everything else, it gets easier with practice. It's helpful (essential?) that you have a 2nd person outside observing and communicating to you. We usually use our cellphones or walkie talkies.

[WV789]

Why are people even towing a trailer if they can't back it up??

[altidude3]

@WV789 everybody has to start somewhere. kinda hard to learn to back it up until you're towing one.

[WV789]

@altidude3 I just think that people should spend time backing up a trailer in a parking lot until they can back into anywhere (i.e. straight, around corners, into campsites, etc.) in 1 shot. Its very frustrating getting blocked and therefore your time wasted by someone who doesn't know what they are doing.

[rlunderhill]

To back up anything hooked to your vehicle, use your mirrors. Turn the steering wheel in the direction the trailer goes. That will straighten it out. When the vehicle is going where you want it, just follow it into the spot you want. The curve is only your approach maneuver . You still have to back it in. The mirror Technic is what Truckers do to back up an 18 wheeler. I know, I'm a trucker.

[alisak68]

Thanks for the helpful and humorous video. I am pulling a 23' travel trailer for the first time. Spent time yesterday practicing and then decided I should watch a youtube video on it. The Scoop may be the ticket. I'll practice it before attempting my back-in site on Friday. Thanks again.

[walkaboutgroup]

@alisak68 I originally learned this technique from a professional truck driver. Sometimes little bits of knowledge like "The Scoop" make all the difference! I hope it helps. Just take a deep breath and go slow... :-)

[BullToTheShit]

Lol, thumbs up for crash/screaming effects.

[Iowaracefan]

Backing is easy. I park a 33 foot travel trailer between a fence and a flat bed trailer with only a foot on either side. So people who say it is hard just need to take time and relax. Over thinking the problem always makes it worse. Also use the force, Luke! LOL.

[walkaboutgroup]

@Iowaracefan Yes, take time, and use The Force (and THE SCOOP)! ;-)

[pooanddoo]

I actually just purchased an Airstream and never pulled a trailer in my life. I will try this maneuver and hopefully I get the hang of it right away.

Thanks very much for this funny buy informative video.

[walkaboutgroup]

@pooanddoo The most important advice is to GO SLOW. Make small corrections as you go. And of course do THE SCOOP.

We usually back with one spouse outside, watching, giving updates via cellphone or walkie talkie. MAKE SURE the outside partner is never in any position of danger (ie. between the trailer and a hard place)!

Fear not -- you will get the hang on it with a little practice.

[LoveRise]

Thanks for this because I will be backing up in Yosemite for the first time this weekend. Any tips for when the road is too narrow to do the scoop method?

[walkaboutgroup]

@LoveRise You can almost always do a little scoop. A little scoop beats no scoop! It's all about tweaking the angle of entry before you start backing up.

[LoveRise]

Well you can probably still smell my fear after being able to get into 50 percent of the 3 campsites I had while staying 3 weeks in yosemite. I will commit myself to practicing the scoop before becoming a fulltimer this winter in my local parking lot. Great video. I would love to see a 'live version' of this using a fullsize rv. Thanx...Laurie

[ajw1976Horn]

Thanks for that video. My Dad spent some time teaching me how to back up a trailer, but we gave up. This was back when I was a teenager. Turning the wheel the opposite way just confused me. After watching this, I want to go try again.

[walkaboutgroup]

@ajw1976Horn Thanks, I hope it helps. If you do the SCOOP and back up slowly, you'll get the hang of it!

[Libratarot]

Much better vid

Thank you so much for this tip.

[walkaboutgroup]

@Libratarot My pleasure! Thanks for letting me know about that flashing "strobe" effect previously - it was just a technical glitch. Thanks to your comment, I got it fixed. Happy camping!

[MundayMemo]

lol