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Old 03-20-2019, 09:19 PM   #21
TBW Ventures
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Good to hear the range how people deal with this. There is no right or wrong answer.
 
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Old 03-20-2019, 10:55 PM   #22
2019 montana
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buy "walkie-talkies"
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Old 03-21-2019, 05:53 AM   #23
WeBeFulltime
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Trucked for 20 years and been full timing for 8.5 years and don't need/want help hooking. DW finds something else to do for a few minutes and knows not to interrupt me while I take care of it. Same applies to the things that only she takes care of. I don't interrupt or interfere with her. Works for us.
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Old 03-21-2019, 06:40 AM   #24
MxBound
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No help needed here for hooking or unhooking.
We have 2, talk about radios we use while I back in places.
Before we start, we go over where we want the unit, then she is on the radio to give me directions.
Never a problem.
It also helps that I drive a semi !
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Old 03-21-2019, 07:37 AM   #25
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Nothing new to add really. Certainly not a one size fits all solution. Personally, I use a reference point in the truck to line up with the pin box. She steps in, with truck in park, when I get close to make sure it's lined up. Then it's a matter of lowering/raising pin box to be slightly below the hitch. Be aware that backing up the last couple of feet can change the height of your hitch by a lot making for an unsuccessful connect.


I've hitched alone; my DW has spotted for me; she has also backed in while I spotted; and, if necessary, I think she could do it herself with a little practice and encouragement.


The key to it ... time, patience, and communication. You're retired so no more hurrying for anything. :-)
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Old 03-21-2019, 07:42 AM   #26
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Originally Posted by DQDick View Post
I use a pillow to sit on only for hitching while my wiife adjusts the height of the pinbox. Then and when we are parking she calls me on her cell phone and we talk back and forth thru the radio of the truck.
Hubby generally does the backing up and I do the spotting/aligning for both backing into the spot or hooking up. We use the handheld radios, but we never thought about just using the cell phone and truck radio! That is an excellent idea. I have yet to drive the Montana more than traveling the road into our storage site and backing it in to our storage spot..but intend to go somewhere to practice with it. I was comfortable driving with our travel trailer but it was only 30' long. I feel it is important for both of us to know how because we have been in a situation with friends where due to a health emergency the wife had to drive their rig to the hospital..and leaving from there I had to drive our rig while my husband drove theirs home for them. You just never know!
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Old 03-21-2019, 09:00 AM   #27
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I always hitch up solo and I can see my hitch even over the bed locker rolled all the way up and I painted orange stripes on the hitch top and the kingpin in center to line them up as I back up.
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Old 03-21-2019, 09:14 AM   #28
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Loneoak and about the Pullrite ball hitch. At Camping World I got a set of magnetic adjustable antennas, with a bright yellow foam ball on end. I put one just dead center in front of the bowl and the other center front of the pin. The bright yellow foam balls are extended to a height I can see in the rear view mirror. As I am backing they line up and just touch, that's when I check to see if I can lower the unit. It has simplified the mounting procedures and eliminated the need for a spotter. This is even better than the attachable magnetic camera I tried using previously.
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Old 03-24-2019, 06:59 AM   #29
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Men are from Mars

Men don't take direction very well, we plug in what we want to hear. Women don't give clear instruction but take direction much better than us men.. See the problem. My wife parks AND hooks up. Men are from Mars
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Old 03-24-2019, 09:14 AM   #30
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I don't need help hooking up I can see my hitch in the rear view mirror. I never miss.

If I have to back into a spot only thing my wife tells me is if I am going to hit something and if I am back far enough. I just get out make a plain and let her rip. I am not a truck driver by profession. LOL
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Old 03-24-2019, 09:20 AM   #31
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We use walkie talkies to communicate. I back the truck up and DW monitors hitch height. My only advice is to stay calm and don't yell.
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Old 03-24-2019, 09:47 AM   #32
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Practice - Perform an activity or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one's proficiency.

He will never get better without it.
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Old 03-24-2019, 12:43 PM   #33
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Get a 5er tailgate and he can do it himself. I only need to get out once to check/adjust pin height.
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Old 03-27-2019, 01:09 PM   #34
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I let DW hitch up the camper. I only watch too make sure the height is correct. I also painted a stripe on the tool box.
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Old 03-27-2019, 01:15 PM   #35
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The last time the wife helped it ended with me laughing so hard I could not see to finish the job. She intended to give me the crossed arm signal to stop but crossed her arms in such a way that it ment F.....U..... In my misspent youth it was called the Italian Salute!
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Old 03-27-2019, 01:26 PM   #36
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Backing up

Great question. Wife and I have been doing this for 35 years. It’s still a little stressful to her. As others have said arm signals easier to decipher than hand signals. If you can’t see his face in mirror he may not be able to see you. I think the class is a great idea for both of you. Practice and laugh at your mistakes. Have fun at all cost!
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Old 03-27-2019, 01:52 PM   #37
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You can start out with hand signals. If that does not go well you can always use finger signals.
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Old 03-27-2019, 02:00 PM   #38
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Originally Posted by piperterri View Post
Hi everyone. My husband retired 2 weeks ago so now the fun really begins. We are brand new to RVing. My problem is I have trouble helping him back the truck up to hitch the 5th wheel. He has never gotten "short tempered" with me but it might only be a matter of time. HAHA. Does anyone have any helpful tips for me?? This issue is becoming very stressful for me. Thanks for all your help. Terri
The DW (me) does it. So much easier.
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Old 03-27-2019, 02:01 PM   #39
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Practice, practice, practice!


Connecting a 5th wheel can be done without seeing the hitch or the pin. Use your mirrors to center the truck in front of the trailer. Make sure the hitch pin is about an inch below the receiver before final attachment.



Semi drivers do it every day. just takes practice.


Practice, practice, practice!
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Old 03-27-2019, 02:10 PM   #40
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I use a swift hitch camera that transmits a wifi signal that you can connect your phone to. Download their app to phone and you can see the camera picture. The camera has a magnetic base so you can mount it on the pin box behind the pin sit the phone on dash behind steering wheel and watch the pin and hitch plate as you back up. Don’t forget to take camera off pin bid after hitching.
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