Backing a Trailer behind a camper

I see where Jim contributed:

 >I pull a small center console behind a van. I find that if I put the
 >pole mounted steaming light in, I can maneuver the trailer by watching
 >the light.

Huh?

Try sobering up before posting.

Will Sill
 >> Stay informed about: Backing a Trailer behind a camper 

Will Sill wrote:

 >
 >
  >>I pull a small center console behind a van. I find that if I put the
  >>pole mounted steaming light in, I can maneuver the trailer by watching
  >>the light.
 >
 >
 > Huh?
 >
 > Try sobering up before posting.
 >
 > Will Sill
The question was, "How do you back a trailer when you can't see it?"

My reply was that my "all around light" is on a removable pole. If I
put the light in place, I can see where the trailer is.

Hard to understand?
 >> Stay informed about: Backing a Trailer behind a camper 

Do you travel with other people? A spotter standing in front of you can walk
back and forth across the front of the truck while you back it down and give
you signals as to where the trailer is going.

OR

Have a custom hitch mount and ball installed on the front of the truck. When
you get to the ramp just swing the trailer into position. Then drop the
trailer and turn the truck around. You will now have the trailer in front of
you with clear vision. I have handled a truck and trailer in this fashion
many times. It really is easier and faster.(boat yard trick)

John C.



"JohnH" wrote in message

 > On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 20:18:58 -0800, Lloyd Sumpter

 >
  >>On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 01:30:15 +0000, Tony Thomas wrote:
  >>
   >>> Mirrors will definetly help but everyone I know that has ever done
   >>> tandem
   >>> towing disconnects before backing (back only one unit at a time).
  >>
  >>He he...
  >>
  >>I've noticed that what we do for camping almost seems unique in North
  >>America: we have "slide-in" campers that fit on the back of pickup trucks.
  >>You see them EVERYWHERE in BC and the American "pacific northwest", but
  >>rarely anywhere else.
  >>
  >>The "camper" I'm referring to sits in the truckbed - it's not a separate
  >>trailer. The problem with it is that it's wider than the truck (or the
  >>boat!).
  >>
  >>Here's what a "big one" looks like:
  >>http://www.virtualproperties.ca/j1058/
  >>
  >>and this is more what I have in mind:
  >>http://cargobody.com/camper.htm
  >>
  >>Lloyd
  >>
 >
 > Lloyd, if the problem is only one of backing the boat, why not just
 > open the camper doors and use your rear view, or look through the back
 > window of the pickup?
 >
 > John H
 >
 > On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
 > on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!
 >
 > "Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to
 > resolve it."
 > Rene Descartes
 >> Stay informed about: Backing a Trailer behind a camper 

I see where Jim contributed:

   >>>I pull a small center console behind a van. I find that if I put the
   >>>pole mounted steaming light in, I can maneuver the trailer by watching
   >>>the light.

SInce that was unintelligible to me, an rv'er and not a boater, I
responded with "Huh?" and a recommenbdation to sober up.

Now he says:
 >The question was, "How do you back a trailer when you can't see it?"
 >
 >My reply was that my "all around light" is on a removable pole. If I
 >put the light in place, I can see where the trailer is.
 >
 >Hard to understand?

Yes, it was impossible for some of us who were not familiar with your
lingo. And you did NOT call it an "all around light", leaving many in
the dark. Pun intended. Not only that, the information was of no value
to the OP, who does NOT have a van but plans to get a truck camper.
Most of THEM completely block vision through the middle.

He needs the correct MIRRORS, not a steaming light.

Sorry if you felt insulted, but when you cross-post to a NG frequented
by readers who know little or nothing of the buzzwords for your
aquatic hobby, you'll get a lot of "Huh?".

Will Sill
 >> Stay informed about: Backing a Trailer behind a camper 

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 16:44:33 -0800, Lloyd Sumpter
wrote:

 >Hi,
 >
 > I want to go fishing/camping in my 1990 Nissan with a SMALL camper
 >(I think they're called "camperettes") on the back, towing my small boat
 >(12ft aluminum skiff, with some addons like a floor so I can't just heave
 >it on top).
 >
 > The problem: even the smallest of campers are wider than the truck, and
 >I don't think I could see the boat at all behind me. How do you back it
 >down the ramp? REALLY wide mirrors (there goes the ol' fuel economy!)?
 >Closed-cct tv? Surely there are others that do this...
 >
 >Lloyd Sumpter
 >"The Tin Boat" Mirrocraft 12

If you've never tried tandem backing, try it.... and in your case it
is going to be even more difficult because you can't see the boat for
the camper. You'll soon conclude that it is much easier to drop the
camper where it needs to be and back the boat individually.

Do yourself a BIG favor and get the mirrors. You'll need them on the
highway more than you will backing the boat.

--



Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Southport, NC.

<a rel="nofollow" style='text-decoration: none;' href="http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/" target="_blank">http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/</a> Homepage*
<a rel="nofollow" style='text-decoration: none;' href="http://www.southharbourvillageinn.com/directions.asp" target="_blank">http://www.southharbourvillageinn.com/directions.asp</a> Where Southport,NC is located.
<a rel="nofollow" style='text-decoration: none;' href="http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats" target="_blank">http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats</a> Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide

* If you find that you are denied access to my web page, Please respond here with
your IP address and I will see if I can open up access. I have been forced to
blackhole large geographic regions outside of North America due to incessant
spoofing and hacking attacks on my web server. Thanks.
 >> Stay informed about: Backing a Trailer behind a camper 

You see truck campers everywhere. Lance is the big one for big trucks. For
little trucks or people who want gas milage, get a slide in pop up camper.
I have a Palomino Bronco B-800. Weight is about 1100# for a cab over with
queen size bed. They make them for the mini-pickups. Lightest is Fourwheel
Popup camper out of woodland Calif. They will even connect you up with
someone selling a used unit. Mine is from
<a rel="nofollow" style='text-decoration: none;' href="http://www.palominorv.com/ftc.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.palominorv.com/ftc.shtml</a>
There are several other manufacturers. The camper is only about 8" high
above the cab when traveling. I do notice a milage hit, but not that much.
But I do drive a 2004 Duramax diesel Chevy.
Get a set of trailering mirrors at the local Wal-mart, autoparts store,
Canadian Tire, etc. They hang on the window sill and then a bungee goes to
the bottom to the door. Remove when not trailering.
Bill


"Lloyd Sumpter" wrote in message

 > On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 01:30:15 +0000, Tony Thomas wrote:
 >
  > > Mirrors will definetly help but everyone I know that has ever done
tandem
  > > towing disconnects before backing (back only one unit at a time).
 >
 > He he...
 >
 > I've noticed that what we do for camping almost seems unique in North
 > America: we have "slide-in" campers that fit on the back of pickup trucks.
 > You see them EVERYWHERE in BC and the American "pacific northwest", but
 > rarely anywhere else.
 >
 > The "camper" I'm referring to sits in the truckbed - it's not a separate
 > trailer. The problem with it is that it's wider than the truck (or the
 > boat!).
 >
 > Here's what a "big one" looks like:
<font color=purple> > <a rel="nofollow" style='text-decoration: none;' href="http://www.virtualproperties.ca/j1058/</font" target="_blank">http://www.virtualproperties.ca/j1058/</font</a>>
 >
 > and this is more what I have in mind:
<font color=purple> > <a rel="nofollow" style='text-decoration: none;' href="http://cargobody.com/camper.htm</font" target="_blank">http://cargobody.com/camper.htm</font</a>>
 >
 > Lloyd
 >
 >
 >> Stay informed about: Backing a Trailer behind a camper 

I agree with Will on this. I found the OP completely unintelligible. In
fact I find the explanation unintelligible.
TS
"Will Sill" wrote in message


 >
   > >>>I pull a small center console behind a van. I find that if I put the
   > >>>pole mounted steaming light in, I can maneuver the trailer by watching
   > >>>the light.
 >
 > SInce that was unintelligible to me, an rv'er and not a boater, I
 > responded with "Huh?" and a recommenbdation to sober up.
 >
 > Now he says:
  > >The question was, "How do you back a trailer when you can't see it?"
  > >
  > >My reply was that my "all around light" is on a removable pole. If I
  > >put the light in place, I can see where the trailer is.
  > >
  > >Hard to understand?
 >
 > Yes, it was impossible for some of us who were not familiar with your
 > lingo. And you did NOT call it an "all around light", leaving many in
 > the dark. Pun intended. Not only that, the information was of no value
 > to the OP, who does NOT have a van but plans to get a truck camper.
 > Most of THEM completely block vision through the middle.
 >
 > He needs the correct MIRRORS, not a steaming light.
 >
 > Sorry if you felt insulted, but when you cross-post to a NG frequented
 > by readers who know little or nothing of the buzzwords for your
 > aquatic hobby, you'll get a lot of "Huh?".
 >
 > Will Sill
 >> Stay informed about: Backing a Trailer behind a camper 

Will Sill wrote:
snipped
 > Sorry if you felt insulted, but when you cross-post to a NG frequented
 > by readers who know little or nothing of the buzzwords for your
 > aquatic hobby, you'll get a lot of "Huh?".
 >
 > Will Sill

Give it up Will, you just look dumber the more you write. OP
posted to both groups and his response made sense to those
with brains.
HD in FL enjoying the sunshine
 >> Stay informed about: Backing a Trailer behind a camper