This article originally appeared on RVshare and is syndicated by Cheapism.
One of the most intimidating things about heading out on your first RV trip? Parking the rig. RV parking is very different from parking a car, and learning how to park a trailer or a motorhome can definitely give a person anxiety.
Fortunately, parking an RV doesn’t have to be impossible. In fact, if you go in with the right tools and knowledge, we’re betting you can get your RV into a campsite with just a bit of finagling and a good helper.
Wondering what you need to be successful when attempting to park a motorhome or travel trailer? That’s why we’re here today. Below, we’ve put together an article that is chock-full of everything you need to know when parking a trailer or motorhome. Following these instructions (and using a bit of patience as you get everything just right) will have you parked, leveled, and having fun before you know it!
Akos Helgert / Pexels
Parking Different RV Types
The first thing we must address is the fact that there are different types of RVs. Each of these will feel different to park than the last, and really, even RVs of the same type will park differently from one another based on a variety of factors. Still, there are some basic things to know about parking different RV types that will help you out as you learn your rig.
Motorhomes
At its most basic level, backing up and parking a motorhome isn’t actually all that different from backing and parking a car. The major difference? Size. You will definitely need to keep your size in mind when backing a motorhome into a site—not just in terms of length, but also width and height.
You will need to take turns wider, which will change how you angle the rig as you back up. Keeping an eye out for trees on all sides and low-hanging branches is also a challenge you’ll need to take on. It helps to have a “backup buddy” standing outside and directing you as you attempt the maneuver.
Trailers and Fifth Wheels
Trailers are a bit trickier when it comes to backing up. Not only will you need to keep your size in mind, you’ll also have to account for the way the trailer angles relative to the tow vehicle. Small adjustments at a slow pace will get you what you want more quickly than dramatic changes and fast driving will. One thing to know is that as you back up, the trailer and truck will create a ‘V’ shape. The sharper you turn, the sharper the V will become, and eventually you will jackknife—something you want to avoid.
A good way for newbies to learn which direction to turn to get the response they want involves putting their hand at the bottom of the wheel, rather than the top. From there, the direction you move your hand is the direction the trailer will turn. It takes some getting used to but you will eventually get a feel for it.
Another thing to know? Trailers will take a bit longer than you might expect to respond to you turning your wheel. Additionally, straightening out while backing up is nearly impossible—especially if you don’t have much wiggle room to work with—meaning you will often want to pull forward to straighten up and readjust.
Michal Matlon/ Unsplash
Tips for RV Parking
You have your tools gathered and packed, you’ve driven to the campground, and you’ve found your campsite. Now what? Below are our tips for getting your RV into your campsite without any issues.
Eliminate Distractions
Before anything else, make sure you eliminate any and all distractions that could pull your attention away from the task at hand. This means turning off the radio and ensuring any kids or pets are entertained and able to keep quiet for a bit while you park.
Keep Kids and Pets In the Vehicle
You might be tempted to let the kids and pets outside in order to ensure they don’t distract you. While this does make a sort of sense, we actually recommend against it. It’s too easy for a dog or toddler to run out behind you and end up hurt. Besides, you won’t be able to keep a good eye on your charges while you’re backing up, and your spotter will be pretty busy as well.
For these reasons, it’s probably best to keep all pets and kids inside the vehicle while you park the RV.
Watch Your Angle
Angles are very important when backing a trailer or large rig into a site. Usually, campsites on any given street will all be angled one direction, meaning there is a “correct” way to drive down each road. Take a look at the angle of your site and make sure you are headed the correct direction to get into that site based on how it is angled.
If you’re going the opposite direction, figure out how to get turned around before you begin.
Get Out and Look Around
Before you even attempt to park, get out and walk around the campsite. Make sure your rig will fit, keeping slideouts in mind. Take note of any obstacles that might be in your way, and remove any branches or items that might have been left in the site.
Use Cones as Landmarks
If all looks good, go ahead and set up any cones you intend to use. Like we said earlier, we recommend using these near any trees, boulders, or other obstacles that you could accidentally hit. Setting a couple of goal posts to aim for can also work well. Do what you think will help you most and give it a try. You can always move the cones if they aren’t helping.
Always Use a Spotter
As mentioned above, you will absolutely want somebody to be out of the RV or truck spotting you and helping guide you into the site. Even if you feel 100% confident in your abilities and the spotter has never had to say something in the past, this is a must, as it could be what saves your rig from terrible damage.
So go ahead and have your spouse or friend step outside, hand them a walkie talkie, and tell them to give you directions and yell if you’re going to hit something. This is more helpful than you imagine.
Give Yourself Space
Before you start to back up, pull forward. You’ll probably need more time to adjust than you’d think, especially if you’re backing a trailer. Starting super far forward is always better than starting out too close to the site, so go ahead and pull up and give yourself some extra adjustment room.
Take It Slow
At this point you are as ready as you’ll ever be, so all that’s left for you to do is actually back up into the site. We said it before and we’ll say it again: Small adjustments and slow driving will get you where you need to go. Take things as slow as you need to. If you need to pull up and start again, do it. Adjust as many times as you need to.
Remember, parking your RV is not a race, and we’ve all been newbies before. Nobody is going to judge you for taking your time so you can get it right. (You might even end up having friendly neighbors come over to help out.)
Level with Blocks, Not Jacks
Even once you get your angle right and make it into the site, you might have to move again. This is because your RV is likely to be at least a little bit unlevel.
After working with your rig to get it into the site, it might be tempting to attempt to level the RV with the stabilizer jacks. Don’t do this. Stabilizer jacks aren’t RV levels, and are likely to break under the stress of leveling your rig.
Pulling up onto blocks is actually pretty easy once you’ve gotten situated in the site, so just take the time to do a tiny bit more driving and level yourself out the right way.
Still don’t feel confident in your abilities? You can always head to an empty parking lot to practice. Another option is to book a pull-through site where available, which will allow you to avoid backing up altogether. Finally, keep in mind that campers are some of the most friendly people out there, so someone is sure to be happy to guide you into your spot if you’re having trouble.
In the end, parking an RV does take practice to perfect, and even the most experienced RV drivers still use backup cameras and spotters, but even as a beginner, we’re betting you are able to park your rig and have a blast camping with your family!
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