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Old 04-24-2017, 09:27 AM   #1
MAwolcott
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Helpful hints

A little back story.. My wife and I bought our first travel trailer in 2006. I however, had a pop up before that and towed things on the farms in Pa and towed aircraft around in the Navy, so I was used to towing and backing things up. When my wife (love her dearly!) wanted to help direct me backing in, I used to get so frustrated because I had no idea what she wanted me to do. Her arms were waving around so badly that I didn't know if she wanted me to turn left, right, or if she was waving off the space shuttle! I read an article recently and put it to use this past weekend leaving our spot at Grandfather Mountain Campground. 3 words; Driver, Passenger, Straight. If I needed the rear of the camper to go towards the drivers side, she said driver...and so on. It worked great and we were out of a site not meant for big rigs (even though they said it was) in no time! So for those of you that have the communication issues like we did, try it, I think you'll be happy you did.
 
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Old 04-24-2017, 12:52 PM   #2
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We use walkie talkies. The problem with signals is that it is not always possible for the driver to see the person doing the spotting. The spotter is often moving around a lot to check all sides of the rig so he/she is not always visible.
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Old 04-24-2017, 02:41 PM   #3
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can`t make this stuff up

ditto on the walkie talkies, some times I play with her and tell her she needs to stand on the magnetic north side of the trailer so I can see her
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Old 04-24-2017, 06:28 PM   #4
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We use portable radios also but using those 3 words would help am awful lot. Thanks for the tip!!
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Old 04-24-2017, 07:22 PM   #5
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X3 on walkie talkies. My wife and i use them all the time.
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Old 04-24-2017, 07:55 PM   #6
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did away with walkie Talkies.....now us cell phones - that way I can have mine on speaker- phone laying on the dash. hands on wheel....

IF I DO SEE HER IN MY MIRROR - I DO NOT MOVE THE TRAILER!!
If I do not understand her signal - I do not move the trailer.
Be safe - Not sorry.......
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Old 04-24-2017, 09:12 PM   #7
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did away with walkie Talkies.....now us cell phones - that way I can have mine on speaker- phone laying on the dash. hands on wheel....
X-2....The cell phones took the place of the walkie-Talkie.
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Old 04-25-2017, 02:49 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by MAwolcott View Post
A little back story.. When my wife (love her dearly!) wanted to help direct me backing in, I used to get so frustrated because I had no idea what she wanted me to do. Her arms were waving around so badly that I didn't know if she wanted me to turn left, right, or if she was waving off the space shuttle!
You must be my brother-in-law, because, my wife and yours had to have been separated at birth by negligent hospital nursery staff!

Indecipherable hand and arm movements, ...but, I have yet another impediment. My wife(who is evidently your newly discovered S-I-L) also mysteriously becomes a deaf-mute at the same time. I think it is just about the only time her mouth quits moving.
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Old 04-25-2017, 05:15 AM   #9
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The only reason we don't use cell phones is because Hubby's cell phone is on a pay as you go plan. He does not use it a lot as it is more just for emergencies or if I need to call him about something when I am out and about. My phone has unlimited calling so we use it more. Also, we got the walkie talkies before he got the cell phone.
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Old 04-25-2017, 09:12 AM   #10
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Joyce calls my cell from hers and I get the instructions thru the radio of the truck. Very handy.
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Old 05-14-2017, 12:35 PM   #11
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I ignore my wife and pretend I'm listening, problem solved.
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Old 05-14-2017, 04:06 PM   #12
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Cellphone or what jjfleck said.
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Old 05-14-2017, 04:50 PM   #13
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I ignore my wife and pretend I'm listening, problem solved.


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Old 05-14-2017, 05:37 PM   #14
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We've gone through three pairs of walkie talkies and they all died withing six months. Different brands and models too. Cell phones are the best unless you don't have any coverage wherever you end up at. I've come to truly love my power mirrors and exercise them completely every time I'm backing into our driveway or anywhere else. I tell my wife to give me one signal only - STOP! Anything else, I get out and look.
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Old 05-24-2017, 10:28 AM   #15
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I ignore my wife and pretend I'm listening, problem solved.
😂😂 after some intense training and a couple heated discussions we do OK now, but the time I looked back to see her holding her left hand up in the ✋ position, and her right was enthusiastically giving me the c'mon back motion. 🙃🙄

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Old 05-25-2017, 09:52 AM   #16
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I ignore my wife and pretend I'm listening, problem solved.
Funny but tru dat
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Old 05-27-2017, 12:58 PM   #17
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can`t make this stuff up

The real reason there seems to be a problem has yet to be posted.

I`m not going to are you crazy she could be reading this post.
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Old 06-22-2017, 09:11 PM   #18
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There some great advice on this and some that would cause a divorce in my house - thank you all!
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Old 06-23-2017, 09:41 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe in Texas View Post
did away with walkie Talkies.....now us cell phones - that way I can have mine on speaker- phone laying on the dash. hands on wheel....

IF I DO SEE HER IN MY MIRROR - I DO NOT MOVE THE TRAILER!!
If I do not understand her signal - I do not move the trailer.
Be safe - Not sorry.......
I think you mean IF I DON'T SEE HER IN MY MIRROR - I DO NOT MOVE THE TRAILER!!
Cell phone idea is great as long as you have signal.
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Old 06-23-2017, 10:52 PM   #20
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If you come to the Fall Rally, they usually have a "Hand Signals Class". Great advise from those putting on the class and also by those that attend and have been backing for years! We use full arm (both arms) to signal each other and if I or the DW can't see each other in the mirrors we stop and don't move until we do!
I do like the idea of the cell phone also since we have the Bluetooth system in the truck and it connects automatically when my phone rings.
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