Neighbors….
I had some lousy ones. I won’t go into great detail except to say…excessive LOUD profanity, excessive LOUD drunkenness, excessive LOUD boombox, and WAY excessive LOUD generator. (Please note, I’m not anti-generator. I have one, and I use it sometimes, and I am not against other people using theirs, within reason…).
Out here in the beautiful Ponderosa Pine woods, can you say GROSS!
So I pack up and move.
I find a nice site at the end of a road and begin the backing in process. Kerry volunteers to help and I thank her and tell her I want to see if I can do this myself this time. I’m absorbed in my task, and doing quite well I might add, when I realize….well DUH….this site is set up so my door is facing away from the picnic table and camp site area. This won’t work!
Mind you, there are two pull-through sites that I choose not to take for various reasons. The only other site I feel good about happens to be next to Kerry. It’s a long back up but it’s a straight back up. “A piece of cake” you say?
NOT.
But thanks to a tip from Sharron, whom I met in Quartzsite, I’m willing to attempt it.
Graciously, Kerry goes into her house and promises not to watch. I begin backing up. Slowly. And the tip from Sharron: Watch your side mirrors and the instant you see the trailer begin to turn one way or the other, adjust the steering wheel to correct it.
I know. That’s just common sense right? Yes, but I need simple statements like this because common sense flees when I even think the words “back in”.
Here is another tip. Talk to yourself out loud. I learned this from Kerry when she was directing me into my last site. “I want the trailer to turn left, so I turn the steering wheel to the right. Ok. Now I’m going a little too far to the left. I want the trailer to go to the right so I will turn the steering wheel to the left.” It becomes a long conversation with myself because I’m going slowly, and getting out to check frequently. If I get panicky enough to forget which is left and which is right (and yes, this happens to me), I look at my hands. Somehow I know my right hand from my left hand. 🙂
One more tip! Don’t assume my front tires are straight. Check them. I have often been so irritated because I believe my steering wheel is centered, therefore my front tires should be straight, yet when I start backing up, the trailer is turning like crazy. I need to open the door and peer out at the front tires to make sure. I find I can easily be a whole steering wheel turn off from center and not realize it.
Ok folks, these are tips from a worst case scenario backer-upper, who is actually beginning to learn, after a year and a half.
See the long back in? I was able to pull forward enough though, to make it almost a straight back in.
See how straight! 🙂 And it only took maybe 10-12 minutes.
Kerry and I discuss the back up issue…she has trouble too, yet we both feel we are reasonably intelligent people. We figure it makes sense to start in kindergarten. If backing up is an issue, or you seem to be missing the back up gene like me, don’t try to start learning by attempting 90 degree back ins. Start by learning to back up straight, with plenty of space. Go slowly and make tiny adjustments.
Our new campsite. Annabelle is visiting.
One more thing. The ‘place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and turn the wheel in the direction that you want the trailer to go’ advice makes sense and works for some, but it only serves to confuse me further, I find.
Wandering Spirit 
It’s not that you can’t do it, it’s that girls/women have been programmed to think this is something only boys/men can do. We tend to fear the unknown/unfamiliar. The more you do, the more familiar you’ll get with and fear it less and less. I’m so proud of you because I know you can do anything you set your mind to do. Keep practicing.
Cat Lady
Thanks Cat Lady. 😃 Another thing that helped was that there was no one around during these back in maneuvers the last couple days. It takes a lot of pressure off when no one is trying to get past me, or just watching for entertainment.
Great! Glad I was helpful in your pursuit of relaxed backingup.
Hi Sharron. Yes thank you! I think it set off a thought process for me that made me realize I REALLY need to learn to back up straight, and then I’ll start learning to turn while backing up. I know that sounds ridiculously simple, but, well, that’s what I need to start with!
Proud of you.
Thanks Badger Rick!
Good job Micky!
Thanks Patty!
WOW!! You did a fantastic job Micky!! As for the wheels being straight…I hear ya. Someone once told me that when the Ford logo on the steering wheel was not upside down your wheels were straight. That worked pretty well for me. Of course, I avoided backing up as much as possible.
I loved your last post about how you became who you are today and it was really great. Happy to hear that you are HAPPY!!
I am happy also 🙂 My granddaughter Nora is beyond adorable and I cannot get enough of her. The house I bought is “coming along”. It is really perfect for me and 6 miles away from my daughter Erika and Nora. Life is good. I cannot wait for Spring so I can get out and plant flowers etc. I have 1.75 acres, a nice view of Burke Mountain and no close neighbors. LOVE that.
Take care of yourself and the kids. Stay happy and safe.
Krystina
Hi Krystina, I’m glad things are going well with you and I’m glad you are a happy girl! It sounds like you have a wonderful spot there, and I’d be excited about the gardening too. Someday maybe I’ll do that again…
You know, I too thought as long as the Ford logo on the steering wheel was upright and straight, then my tires would be straight. But what I just discovered was that I could be a whole steering wheel turn off…Ford logo straight and wheel feeling correct…and tires pointing one way or another. So now I open the door, step out on the running board, and look down there. As often as not, I have to correct!
congrats on your back up skills!
I don’t have a trailer yet, but I know I’ll have issues backing up. I can’t even back up a car if I have to rely on my side mirrors. So I will have a longer learning curve than you. Nothing worse than having an audience when you’re already feeling insecure….. that was a smart move to do it on your own.
Thanks Caroline. Well I’m just starting to learn. Amazing. 😊.
I too have difficulty backing up just a car or truck alone. While you are waiting to get your trailer, maybe it’s a skill you could work on. It couldn’t hurt and it will help pass the time till you are on the road! We can do this. We really can!
I found your blog via Sue rvcrew. I wondered if you were the gal we saw at White spar!!! It is!
I first thought when I saw your rig you might be Sue until I saw the tow vehicle. Those neighbors!!!! We had them for 3 nights and it was crazy. You spoke to my husband about them dragging a guy out and an ambulance coming to get him. What a crazy time. That generator was like none we had ever seen out on the road. The place was wonderful other than the few nights with the neighbors. So beautiful. We stayed our full 2 weeks. After being in the desert for a few months it reminded me of home in eastern Washington. We’ve been gone since July and I missed the trees. We are now in the Grand Canyon enjoying the granduer of it all. I will be sure to say hello if our paths cross again. Safe travels.
Diane
Hi Diane! Yes that was us at White Spar! So glad you found us here through Sues blog.
The neighbors were something else, weren’t they? They have to qualify for the most disruptive neighbors I’ve had to date.
How great that you and your husband are at the Grand Canyon! I’ll be headed that way in April and I’m looking forward to it.
Yes, I can imagine you miss the trees, being from Washington…it’s SO green and lush there, at least in the western part…just beautiful.
Enjoy your journey back home and I hope we cross paths again.