How to Back Your RV in a Campsite
8 tips for backing you RV into a campsite.
We all know the pressure of trying to back into a campsite on a one lane road with other campers waiting on you and let’s face it, watching you as well. Anxiety can build and we may feel rushed to get out of the way. But if you are able to slow down and take the time you need to safely and correctly get into your site you’ll be starting your stay on a much better foot.
In this post we are sharing a step by step RV back in tutorial.
GET OUT AND LOOK
You’re all checked in at your campground, followed the map to your site and are getting a first look at where you need to go.
The first thing to do when you get to a new campground before backing into your site is to get out and look. This helps the driver have a frame of reference of where you are and how you might have to turn to get where you need to be in your site. This is also helpful to prevent hitting something in the site or the surrounding area. Will you have to make a sharp turn? Are there trees to look out for? Where are the connections located? At any time when you are backing in, get out and look if you need some clarity on where you need to go or which direction you need to turn. This never hurts to do.
USE A PHONE OR WALKIE TALKIE
Once you and your partner have examined your site and are ready to back in, pull out your phone and get on call with each other.
Communicating with your partner via phone call is an easy way for the spotter to give a live update to the drive how they are doing backing in and if the driver is understanding the spotters directions. This way you are in direct communication with each other and don’t have to yell which can easily lead to frustration with one another. Communication is key when backing any RV into a campsite.
PULL FORWARD
You’re on the phone, you know where to go, now it’s time to get set up to back in.
The third step to backing into a campsite is to give yourself a lot of room by pulling far forward in front of the campsite. This way you have more space to make small adjustments as you back in to get where you need to be in the site. If don’t give yourself enough room when backing in you may have to keep starting over because you don’t have enough space to maneuver your RV in the right position.
KEEP CLOSE TO YOUR BACK IN SIDE
On top of pulling forward enough stay closer to which ever side you are backing into. For example, if your site is on the left side of the road then when pulling forward stay to the left side of the road. That way as you back in you have enough space to turn into the site. If you are in the middle or on the right side of the road then you don’t have much space to turn because you will be too close to the sites on the right hand side of the road.
KEEP IT GRADUAL
Now it’s time to start backing in. Place your hand at 6 o’clock and gradually turn the steering wheel to the right to bring the RV to the passenger side and to the left to bring the RV to the driver side.
When backing in to a site it’s helpful to make your turns gradually. This allows you to make minor adjustments as you go and gives you more control of the direction your RV is going. When backing in too sharp it can take more time to make adjustments because your truck has to straighten out a bit to make those small adjustments. Some campsites do require a sharp turn to get into them in which take the turn sharp. However generally back ins do best with a gradual turn into the site.
KEEP YOUR CONNECTIONS IN MIND
As you are backing in make sure you have room on either side for your slides to go out as well as for your water hose, electrical plug, and sewer hose to reach.
When backing into a campsite, don’t forget to keep in mind your hookups and slides. There’s nothing that kills a mood than thinking you are all backed into your site to realize your slide can’t go out or the water spigot is too far.
STAY CALM
If you are having trouble, stay calm, and take your time.
This is really a must do when backing an RV into a campsite. Nothing gets done well when you are frazzled. If you are having a difficult time getting into your site, stay calm and you will most likely get in quicker and easier than if you get frustrated. Mistakes happen when we move too fast and don’t take the time to think things through. Sometimes you may be holding people up when getting into your site and that is okay. Give them a wave to acknowledge you see them and continue backing into your site. Most of the time whoever is waiting isn’t trying to rush you. And if they are, oh well, they have to wait anyway. Using a calm voice and words of encouragement creates a positive atmosphere and both roles will feel supported.
Let us know in the comments your best back in tips!
KEEP READING
HEY THERE, WE’RE MIKE, DEANDRA
A family of 5 adventure seekers traveling the U.S in our 37 FT. travel trailer. We share our life on the road and travel guides to our favorite destinations.
This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Our RV home birth story.